There is much to be said about the utter failure of Michael Ignatieff’s Liberal Party during the recent election campaign. Here I’m going to look at the demise of the “Natural Governing Party” from a historical perspective.Since 1984, when Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives won a large majority of federal ridings
Continue readingFirst-past-the-post creates a conservative English Canada vs. a progressive Quebec
The NDP scored a number of firsts for itself in the 2011 election: the first time with seats in the triple digits, the first time as Official Opposition, the first time with strength in Quebec, and so on.
This is also the first time it has beaten the …
Continue readingJames Laxer: The Liberals: From Natural Governing Party to the Political Wilderness
There is much to be said about the utter failure of Michael Ignatieff’s Liberal Party during the recent election campaign. Here I’m going to look at the demise of the “Natural Governing Party” from a historical perspective.Since 1984, when Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives won a large majority of federal ridings
Continue readingBlevkog: Market calm as uncertainty ends
^NOT^ The Conservatives won the election, right? With a majority? So what the fuck is happening to the market? I thought all of the business papers said that such an outcome would calm the markets down, provide stability, etc., etc. I didn’t want…
Continue readingExcited Delirium: MayDay 2011 Aftermath: Let the Distractions and Deflections Begin
Constantly lampooning the NDP for having the only youth in their party may provide a short-term distraction from the crimes of the Cons, but it ain’t gonna last.
Continue readingDemocratic Progress: Come Back
Thanks to everyone who read my last piece, by the way (even if you didn’t leave comments).
Here’s what I have to add today.
The way for the Liberal Party of Canada to return to relevance is to work on small-L liberalism. I fervently believe that’s wh…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pension Reform’s Opponents
Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti has written a good article entitled Canadians betrayed on cpp reform that discusses the need for reform to the Canadian Pension Plan and how efforts by the financial industry have convinced the Conservat…
Continue readingThe Adventures of Diva Rachel: Iggy says teaching gig = end of political life
Ignatieff says U of T teaching position to mark ‘end of my life as a politician’.http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ignatieff-says-u-of-t-teaching-position-to-mark-end-of-my-life-as-a-politician/article2011390/?service=mobileHe *still* doesn’t …
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Pushing Back Against the Climate Change Deniers in the Media, Government
This is a copy of an unpublished letter to the editor of the Sudbury Star, submitted on April 21st in response to an article written by Sun Media’s Monte Sonnenberg (“May’s Green Party on the fringe for a reason”, Sudbury Star, April 21 2011).I note th…
Continue readingCathiefromCanada: Shorter
Shorter Republican presidential debate:Still crazy after all these years.
Continue readingThings fall apart, the centre cannot hold
My friends, there’s no denying the impact of the past couple of days. The way it stands now, we’re going to have to live with a Harper majority for the next four or five years. And while it’s nice to fantasize about the Conservatives doing themselv…
Continue readingMolly'sBlog: Molly’sBlog 2011-05-06 01:08:00
CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT MONTRÉAL:THREE REQUESTS FROM THE MONTREAL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR:The premier anarcho-event of the year, the Montréal Anarchist Bookfair, is coming up on May 20 to 22. Here are three requests from the organizers. Help out if yo…
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Oil Spills: The beavers do it better.
Media scan: David Suzuki – Alberta’s biggest oil spill in 30 years is a call to action for Canadians BBC – Oil spill in Canada’s Alberta ‘biggest in 35 years’ Sun – Spill making kids sick Market Wire – Lubicon Lake Nati…
Continue readingCowboys for Social Responsibility: A prairie literacy test
Does the word coop have one or two syllables?
Continue readingCowboys for Social Responsibility: In which it is possible that David Herle may be wrong
A couple of days ago, former Liberal organizer David Herle was asked by the CBC to set down his views on the desirability of a merger between the Liberal Party and the NDP. He doesn’t much like it. That column can be found here.
As a Liberal Party…
Continue readingHarper Valley: Barak Obama – The Great White Hope (less)
In many Black circles he’s known as an Oreo (black on the outside, white on the inside). In his home state of Hawaii he’s known as a Coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside). He actually supports the Akaka Bill, legislation that would create a reservation system for indigenous Hawaiians!!! Makes me wonder […]
Canadian Soapbox: Why would anyone doubt the killing of Osama bin Laden?
So Osama bin Laden is now officially dead, okay.
Still there are tons of people out there who doubt the story. Some think he’s still alive and others contend he’s been dead for years. There are plenty of American citizens who doubt what thei…
Co2 Art: Ruefrontenac Shuts Down Print Weekly
Searching for Honest Journalism: ruefrontenac.com
A rather unique model of alternative journalism, ruefrontenac.com is the creation of the 253 members of the Syndicat des travailleurs de l’information du Journal de Montréal who were thrown out of w…
Continue readingJust Another Willy Loman: Leave that little girl alone
As far as I am concerned the new MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau, is just great and the Cons, Libs and media should fuck off. Who cares if she didn’t campaign, or lives 300 km away or that her french is weak, the citizens of Berthier–Maskinongé voted for t…
Continue reading