Pretty hard to watch the normally vibrant Jack Layton at today’s press conference. Having seen this look before, this appears an extremely serious and sad situation. Like everyone, I wish only the best for Mr. Layton and his family, he’s a core warri…
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CalgaryGrit: "If I have tried to bring anything to federal politics, it is the idea that hope and optimism should be at their heart"
Very sad news today, with Jack Layton announcing he is now battling a new form of cancer. He will be taking a leave of absence as party leader to focus on getting health, and has recommended that Nycole Turmel take over as interim leader.
Continue readingJack Layton stunner. Taking time off to treat ‘new cancer’. Nycole Turmel to be interim leader.
Good luck, Jack. Hope you return healthy and cancer free. We need you. God, we need fighters.Turmel’s profile.Prediction: Blogging Tories will claim Layton is just doing it for attention. UPDATE: Too late.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Compare and contrast
One party’s response to a limited amount of Parliamentary resources:“New Democrat MPs were responsible for 56 per cent of all private members’ motions, and 59 per cent of all private members’ bills. Compared to other parties, that’s four times …
Continue readingCowboys for Social Responsibility: Canada prepares to de-register Norway masscre weapon
Preparing to massacre his fellow Norwegians, Anders Berhing Breivik found it impossible to illegally acquire a machine gun.Having failed in that effort, he purchased a Ruger Mini-14 which he described as “the most “army like” rifle allowed in Norway, a…
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Let’s give the Tea Party credit
Americans were plunged into the financial meltdown a few years ago, brought on by the excess and readily available credit that the US has been living on for several decades. And many Americans have now had their wings clipped, and have been stripped of…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Unclear on the concept
Quick, try to make sense of this passage from Postmedia’s coverage of the Cons’ plans to reintroduce gun registry legislation this fall:In October 2010, the bill was killed by an opposition motion, which passed by a slim margin of 153-151. The motion w…
Continue readingCowboys for Social Responsibility: More NDP hypocrisy on guns
When guns are killing people in foreign places, the NDP has a clear position, Canada should do whatever we can to stop it.When they’re killing vulnerable women and children in Canada, not so much.
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Orange Wave to Orange Crush: looking ahead to an era of stable, effective New Democrat government
Acting Liberal Leader Bob Rae contemplates the future of his party … and his bellbottoms. (Actual federal Liberal leaders may not appear exactly as illustrated.) Below: Stephen Harper, all hat… (Grabbed from www.stephenharperisatotallynormalguy.com…
Continue readingCowboys for Social Responsibility: A handful of questions
During his most recent infrequent visit to Calgary, Stephen Harper told Conservative supporters that his government would finally get around to repealing the life saving long gun registry.Three questionsNow that the NDP is the Official Opposition, will…
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Harper’s Assault on Libya NOT Sanctioned by UN
I wondered why Harper took the extension of the so-called “mission” in Libya to Parliament. He didn’t have to. As prime minister he alone can decide whether or not to go to war.One of the arguments was that it was sanctioned by the UN. However, what go…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: June 16, 2011
While June 16 was a shortened day due to the NDP’s weekend convention, it wasn’t lacking for a few notes of interest.Issue of the DayWhile the Cons took the opportunity to serve notice of their intention to impose back-to-work legislation at Air Canada…
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Mushy Middles, Dirty Words and Why we Must Rebuild the Centre
When I posted on why Jack Layton should drop the “brothers and sisters” socialist talk if he hoped to survive the next four years, I received several comments and many emails, telling me that I was wrong.Many of his followers actually fully support the…
Continue readingBeing Oppositional, ‘Socialist’ Filibuster Drinking Games, Pandering to the Misinformed, Attempting To Debunk Some Myths
Finally, I post my thoughts about the NDP filibuster of Stevie Spiteful’s draconian Back to work legislation of locked out Canada Post workers and the press coverage it has received, along with many Canadians’ attitude toward it. I’m not only concerned at Canadians’ attitudes toward Bill c-6, but also all the misinformation that . . . → Read More: Being Oppositional, ‘Socialist’ Filibuster Drinking Games, Pandering to the Misinformed, Attempting To Debunk Some Myths
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Since I Can’t Comment on My Blog I Must Explain Jack Layton Post
After posting my piece yesterday: Jack Layton Needs to Spend the Summer Taking “Speech” Lessons I received a couple of comments in defense of the Layton strategy.I’m still unable to respond on my own blog, so I thought I’d explain myself. I don’t want…
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Jack layton Needs to Spend the Summer Taking "Speech" Lessons
Matt Latimer, a former George Bush speechwriter, wrote a book on his experiences at the White House. Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor.In it he speaks of how excited he was to be hired to write presidential speeches. Pearls of wisdom that wou…
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Why the NDP Filibuster Could Help Liberals in the Long Run
The NDP has dropped their filibuster, and naturally the Conservatives are rightfully claiming a resounding victory.The Conservative benches erupted in cheers and backslapping as the final vote was held Saturday night, signalling that the official Oppos…
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Have the NDP Fallen Into a Trap?
Tom Mulcair and Jack Layton – Protecting Canadian UnionsIt’s possible Jack Layton doesn’t know Admiral Ackbar, but one wonders whether the two should meet.The longer the NDP filibuster continues on, the more I feel that they’ve fallen into a highly cle…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Tabatha Southey eviscerates the Cons’ determination to force Canadians into a state of constant and unregulated online surveillance at their own expense:Bill C-51 seems to indicate a shift. It makes accessing…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Underestimated
Others have already noted how refreshing it is to have an Official Opposition which is willing to take a stand on issues of substance. But it’s also worth highlighting another important factor in the NDP’s strategy for this week.One of the main blind s…
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