Since I arose uncharacteristically late this morning, I am still working on today’s post. In the interim, I take the liberty of reproducing some letters from Star readers on a topic dear to the heart of progressives: Harper’s attack ads: Re: Tory ad war drowns out debate over free speech,
Continue readingTag: harper government misdeeds
Politics and its Discontents: Some Thoughts From An Ontario Perspective – UPDATED
While acknowledging that Ontario politics is likely of little interest to those living outside the province, I think there is much wisdom in former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill’s observation that “All politics is local.” If it affects a constituent ‘where he or she lives,’ either in the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Leading Climate Scientist Responds To Joe Oliver And His ‘Neanderthal Government’ – UPDATED
The other day I wrote a blog post on one of our national disgraces, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver. While in Washington recently promoting the proposed XL Keystone pipeline through the United States, Oliver took the opportunity to insult and denigrate one of the world’s leading climate-change scientists, James Hansen.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Some Well-Deserved Ridicule
I suspect only the party faithful and the ‘true-believers’ would find these pictures objectionable: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Is this A New Crime In Harperland?
While the word commit has several meanings, when it is used without the preposition ‘to’ (as in, He is committed to her cause), it is invariably associated with something heinous (John committed arson; Shelley committed fraud; Lorne committed murder). It is therefore not likely a slip of the tongue when
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: This Can’t Be Healthy
As deeply suspicious and cynical as I am about institutions, it is probably not surprising that I view with a jaundiced eye the events surrounding the arrest of two terror suspects accused of a plot to blow up a Via Rail train. Many have asked questions about the sudden urgency
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper’s Thuggish Contempt For The Environment
This video probably speaks for itself, but for its full context, click here. H/t rabble.ca Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More On Harper’s Attack Ads
I hope to write an actual blog post on an entirely different topic later today, but since the latest poll shows a very strong reaction against the Prime Minister’s puerile attack ads directed against Justin Trudeau, I can’t resist reproducing a few of the letters from Star readers in this
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper Hypocrisy on Full Display
In his column this morning, The Star’s Tim Harper points out something that I think many of us are all too aware of: Stephen Harper is a hypocrite. There really is no other way to describe the despicable partisanship that permeates our Prime Minister’s deformed soul, most recently on display
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Incoming Editorial Cartoon
Oh, I do so savor The Toronto Star. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Is Nothing Sacred?
Apparently not to Stephen Harper, who used the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings to try to attack Justin Trudeau. Apparently the Prime Minister discourages any rational consideration of crime in favour of his well-known modus operandi, knee-jerk reactions and demagoguery. Watch the following and decide for yourself: Recommend this
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: For Your Further Consideration
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Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper Hate-Mongering
The latest attack ad, this one against newly-appointed Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau, serves as a timely reminder of the Harper government’s seemingly endless capacity for hateful and divisive propaganda. In this, I make an all-too obvious observation. But I have, for some time, wondered about the audience for those
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pernicious Effects of Harper Politics on the Young
This, I assume, requires no further comment: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Conservative Attack Ad – UPDATED
I suspect many will agree that this ad says more about the Conservative Party behind it than it does about its subject: UPDATE: This Star editorial provides some useful context for and analysis of this attack ad. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: And Now, A Word About Kellie Leitch From The Salamander
The question of personal integrity is one that is very near and dear to my heart. Since literature at its best is a reflection of some of the deepest truths about human nature, during my teaching career, it was a topic I explored with relish every time the curriculum permitted
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Speaking of Political Integrity …
See if you can detect even a modicum of it in Kellie Leitch, who starts talking at about the 9-minute mark of this video dealing with the massive abuses in the Temporary Foreign Workers Program: Somehow, I don’t think this is what Judith Timson meant when she talked about authenticity.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Rogue’s Gallery
Just two pictures, so perhaps not a real gallery, but I think the descriptor is accurate. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Cancer, E.I., and Government Hypocrisy
The Faces Of Common Humanity Without doubt, to battle cancer must be a grueling and depleting experience. But to face rebuke and betrayal at the hands of one’s government because of the circumstances of that battle must be almost as traumatic. Such is the almost unbelievable tale of Jane Kittmer,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Face of Integrity
With a transcript of the extended interview. H/t Alex Himelfarb Recommend this Post
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