Surely it’s time for the reality based community – that’s us, my progressive friends – to start making some new democratic realities! In 2015, as you will recall, many of us overcame our reservations and voted for Justin Trudeau’s Liberals on the basis of his firm, clear, unequivocal promise to
Continue readingTag: Karl Rove
Alberta Politics: Russian boots on Syrian ground create new reality for Canadian leaders, whether they discuss it or not
PHOTOS: Russian President Vladimir Putin – creating new realities for Canadian leaders to talk about … or not. Below: The three Canadian debating amigos, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair. As the three principal contenders for the job of running the country
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Who ends up allied with whom in a ‘Pizza Parliament’? It may not be as simple as you think
ILLUSTRATIONS: Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, right, get together in a liaison dangereuse … actual Canadian politicians may not behave exactly as predicted, or expected. Below: The real Mr. Harper, NDP Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair, the real Mr. Trudeau and notorious Republican
Continue readingPolitics Canada: Harper government a textbook Karl Rove approach
That the Harper government is anywhere near the top of the polls is a testament to their discipline and adherence to the political strategies of Karl Rove. The Conservative Party of Canada applies Rove’s strategies more effectively than any other organization, including the George W Bush administration. Stephen Harper has
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Why Is the West Spoiling for a Fight with Russia?
At a time where the commercial media, or much of it, serves to whip up hysteria over challenges from ISIS, the so called aggressive actions of Putin and other US/Nato driven issues we can be grateful for the internet, bloggers and social media. Murray Dobbin’s articles would get short shrift
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Six pieces of ID and still not allowed to vote-Elizabeth May
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger The controversy swirling around the democratic right to vote has been increasing in its velocity. Canadians are recognizing that this plan targets voters who are unlikely to vote for the Conservatives. This abomination is right out of US Republican Karl Rove’s playbook and has no place in
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Caught in an apparent conflict like Chuck Strahl? No problem! Just double down!
Manning Centre-Security Intelligence Review Committee Chair and Enbridge lobbyist Chuck Strahl. Below: Former would-be Reform Party prime minister Preston Manning; Reform Party prime minister in waiting Jason Kenney. All these slightly out-of-focus profile shots were taken by your blogger during his infiltration of the 2013 Manning Centre conference in Ottawa. When
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Got trouble with ‘overbearing urban planners’? The Manning Centre wants to help!
A civic election all-candidates’ meeting in Calgary. “Why don’t we pass the time with a game of solitaire?” Actual Manning Centre supported candidates may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Manning Centre namesake Preston Manning; Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Calgary developer Cal Wenzel (CTV photo). If on Oct. 21 the
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Why We’re ALL On Stephen Harper’s Enemy List
When I first read that Stephen Harper had an Enemy List I was not surprised. For it's his madness that makes him so dangerous.But I was worried about my country and its democracy. For no democracy can survive in such an atmosphere of intimidation.And of course, I was also worried that I was
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Tom Flanagan, neoconservative spiritual leader, consigned to utter darkness
Conservative icon Tom Flanagan’s defining moment. Below: Dr. Flanagan in happier times; the six signatories of the Alberta separatist Firewall Manifesto; Richard Nixon saying goodbye during his 1952 Checkers speech. Unlike Dr. Flanagan’s likely career trajectory, Mr. Nixon came back. Who could have predicted that yesterday would be the pope’s
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Perfesser Dave explains negative TV advertising and the job-killing Tory carbon tax
Zap! You’re frozen! … In the dark! The Harper Tories’ latest TV advertising attack on NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair. Perfesser Dave, below, explains why Prime Minister Stephen Harper will do the same thing he’s accusing Mr. Mulcair of planning if he manages to get re-elected. Below Perfesser Dave: Robert Stanfield, the underwear guy, Allan Fotheringham …
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Petals Have Fallen Off the TurdBlossom
Mojo No MoGeorge w. Bush gave Karl Rove the nickname “turdblossom.” It’s a west Texas term for a desert wildflower that can sometimes grow out of cow dung.The Republican strategist/organizer went into overdrive in the runup to the 2012 elec…
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Mitt Romney and the Con Cicadas
Oh boy. I don't know how to say this, but I feel I almost owe Mitt Romney an apology. For while it's true that he's a shameless huckster who lied so much he almost fooled enough Americans into making him President. Which scared the bejee…
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Thanks to a murderous nut, long gun registry will be Harper’s first post-PQ test – he will likely fail
Gavrilo Princip under arrest in Sarajevo in 1914. But a speedy arrest wasn’t enough to avert a long war. Below, Quebec Premier Designate Pauline Marois. If you think about it – and you can bet on it that the Canadian gun lobby will refuse to do so – the murderous
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Post-Confederate Albertans in Ottawa, the PQ in Quebec: Can Canada afford a national leader with no national vision?
Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes note of Quebec’s aspirations. Alberta politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Mr. Harper exhibiting the post-Confederation Alberta zeitgeist (Calgary Herald photo); PQ Leader Pauline Marois. With the PQ back in power in Quebec City, no matter how tenuously, one prays Stephen Harper can
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS Doubles Down On Gas Price Talking Points
Karl-Rove.jpg The Karl Rove-helmed lobbying group Crossroads GPS (in conjunction with their parent group American Crossroads) has decided to double down on the debunked talking point that President Obama is to blame for the spike in gas prices. Their latest ad, titled “Too Much,” specifically takes aim at the President’s
Continue readingSaskboy and Jymn rub The Globe’s nose in #RoboCon | #cdnpoli
RoboCon: Journalism Failure at the Globe – UPDATED | Saskboy’s Abandoned Stuff: “And what’s the reason that John Ibbitson, a professional journalist for a national newspaper, treats Giorno with so much respect and kid-gloves that he talks him up as some sort of non-lying politician, while a nobody blogger in
Continue readingL. Ian MacDonald quacks: “Even if there were robocalls, Stephen Harper won fair and square”
Old MacDonald had a wank I, L. Jymn Parrett, almost spit a mouth full of Cazadores over my PC reading that headline from Postmedia. The lede is just as good: “Dirty tricks are nothing new in politics. Sometimes they’re even part of the fun.” I realize that modern journalism is like
Continue readingL. Ian MacDonald wanks: "Even if there were robocalls, Stephen Harper won fair and square"
MacDonald relaxes at home I, L. Jymn Parrett, almost spit a mouth full of Cazadores over my PC reading that headline from Postmedia. The lede is just as good: “Dirty tricks are nothing new in politics. Sometimes they’re even part of the fun.” I realize that modern journalism is like
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Did the Cons Steal the Last Election?
When I first heard that Elections Canada is investigating attempts to suppress the vote during the last election, I wrote that at the very least bye-elections should be held in the 18 swing ridings that were targeted by robot calls. But now I believe that it must declare the last
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