The below updated lyrics to the Phil Ochs classic “Love Me I’m a Liberal” (click on the Justin Bieber — I mean Trudeau — photo for a Youtube video of the original song) were inspired by recent stories about Liberal Party wrongdoings in Canad…
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Alberta Diary: Latest Calgary poll results – perhaps aided by party’s sophisticated moves – show Green Wave developing
Calgary Centre Greens get ready to surf the Green Wave, expected momentarily. Actual Green Party supporters may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Chris Turner, Joan Crockatt and Naheed Nenshi. The latest poll of residents of the Calgary Centre riding shows a Green Wave developing among opponents of the Conservative Party in the Nov. 26 …
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: He’s not that into you, either #nlpoli
Some reporter decided to ask Paul Antle if he was interested in the Liberal leadership now that Dean MacDonald has decided he had better things to do that try and become Premier of the province. Sure, says Paul. Love to. But gee, the timing on this wh…
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Calgary Center by-election: Move over, Peek a Boo Tories, here comes the Red Tide!
Jack Layton’s stunning success in the May 2011 election broke the grip of the do-nothing Bloc in Quebec, and made it legitimate for voters across Canada to consider the unthinkable.Now along comes the by election of Calgary Centre, and the polls have t…
Continue readingThe Progressive Right: Justin Trudeau in Port Perry #lpcldr
Just back from Port Perry where I got a chance to see Justin Trudeau speak on behalf of his leadership campaign and on behalf of Grant Humes, the Durham Liberal candidate for the November 26th by-election. Some highlights of the stop. Justin started off with a little humour by launching
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: Remembrance Day 2012 at Queen’s Park,…
Remembrance Day 2012 at Queen’s Park, Toronto
This year, since November 11 fell on a Sunday, I managed to attend two Remembrance Day ceremonies at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
First I obse…
centerandleft: Idealism for Ideals
In the middle of the summer, I was asked by my friend Joseph Uranowski to write an article on whether or not Justin Trudeau should run for the Liberal leadership. In sum, I argued that he should run, contingent on whether he could manifest big ideas that would be otherwise
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: You Can’t Open the Door If You Won’t Pick Up the Key
The keys to a Liberal comeback are at their feet. What remains doubtful is that they’ll ever pick them up. Canada is facing a few enormous challenges. Let’s call them, in the political context, “issues.” Political parties either take up issues or treat them as non-issues. It’s a matter of
Continue readingImpolitical: Today’s big poll
“Liberal poll numbers climb over NDP as leadership starts.” A few quick thoughts… I looked at the dates over which this poll was conducted, first: “The telephone survey of 1,000 Canadians was conducted between Oct.4-11 and is considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of
Continue readingThe Progressive Right: I Support Justin Trudeau
I support Justin Trudeau for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. For the record, this will be my second* Liberal leadership campaign as a federal Liberal. You’re going to hear a lot from the commentariat that Justin’s too young, that he’s too inexperienced, that he’s too whatever. What Canada
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: The Liberal Party needs a competitive race
With the rules that will govern the race now in place and more candidates about to put their names forward, the race for the Liberal Party of Canada is about to move from the quiet summer exploratory phase to a season of coast-to-coast fall campaigning. Officially, the starting gun will
Continue readingFive of Five: Motion to examine definition of human being defeated in Commons
Toronto Star: OTTAWA—A Conservative MP’s pro-life bid to have Parliament study the definition of a human being has gone down to defeat in the House of Commons. Stephen Woodworth’s motion was voted down 203-91. Eight cabinet ministers voted in favour of the motion, including Status of Women Minister Rona Ambrose,
Continue readingFive of Five: Motion to examine definition of human being defeated in Commons
Toronto Star:
OTTAWA—A Conservative MP’s pro-life bid to have Parliament study the definition of a human being has gone down to defeat in the House of Commons.
Stephen Woodworth’s motion was voted down 203-91.
Eight cabinet ministers voted in fa…
Scott's DiaTribes: The aftermath of M312 – for Liberals that is – and the case for primaries.
Motion 312 – The motion by Conservative MP backbencher Stephen Woodsworth asking for the House to re-open the study of when life begins – was defeated this evening by a vote of 203 – 91. Among those 91 in favor of it were 4 Liberals – well known pro-life Liberals.
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Kay on Justin Trudeau: He’s not just a Pretty Face
Jonathan Kay of the National Post has an interesting reply to those commentators who describe Justin Trudeau as a lightweight politician: Justin Trudeau into the ring? It’s fashionable to write off Mr. Trudeau as a lightweight, and his party as a spent force. But recent events in Quebec — specifically,
Continue readingcalgaryliberal.com: UofC Liberals sign up 150 young liberals
Liberalism is alive and well in Calgary. As of September 21st the University of Calgary Liberal Association signed up 148 young Liberals from the annual week long clubs week held by the Students’ Union. The membership now counts more than 170 with renewed members, in addition to several new federal
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: The Folly of Balanced Budget Laws in BC
The news is out. Due to declining natural gas prices, the BC Liberal government is projecting a budget deficit of $1.14 billion this year — $173 million more than expected. And while the government still insists that it plans on finding enough savings to balance next year’s (election year) budget,
Continue readingCuriosityCat: The key to renewed Liberal Party power: The Untouched Constituency
Just started reading Fear and Loathing: One the Campaign Trail ’72, by Hunter S. Thompson, and came across this passage early on: There are only two ways to make it in big-time politics today: One is to come on like a mean dinosaur, with a high-powered machine that scares the
Continue readingCalgary Grit: The Race Is On
Justin Trudeau and Martha Hall Findlay appear ready to roll The Liberal Party has released the rules for its leadership race, effectively sounding the starting pistol. The finish line will be April 14th in Ottawa, when the leader is announced. There’s still no word on exactly how that vote will
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Quebection Projection
Apparently I haven’t learned my lesson since predicting a Peggy Nash victory in this year’s NDP leadership race. I may not have the statistical wherewithal or ear-to-the-ground perspicacity of an Eric Grenier, but I cannot resist the peculiar temptation — that siren song that has marked the downfall of politicos
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