Tag: Musings

…it’s more or less consistent with other, recent, polls. There are a variety of reasons for it, some of which I’ve written about. But – as I asked a couple Tories saw in Ottawa this week – my question remains this: “Did you Tories do your job too well?” That

In the morning papers, columnists regularly canvass the latest political excuse-makings here and here. Happens a lot, when you think of it. Here’s the three that bug me the most: There’s nothing more pathetic in politics than: I was quoted out of context/ He’s way better in person/ The other

Quote: If the Liberal Party claims victory in the next federal election, Justin Trudeau says, his government would end Canada’s bombing mission against ISIS in Iraq and Syria and restore diplomatic relations with Iran, in a dramatic departure from the path taken by the Harper government on foreign policy. “We’d

   Twenty five ‎years! Twenty-five years ago today, Jean Chretien became the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.  That’s a younger me, above, with my Dad, who was there as the Chretien campaign’s physician at the convention. We are waiting for the results of the vote, which our guy

The president said it. My gut tells me he shouldn’t have done so.  An older essay by comedian Jehmu Greene best explains why, on Fox News, of all places: The idea that “nigger” is powerless is a somewhat nonsensical sentiment oft repeated by those who make their living slinging it.

This is very sad.

(He sure is nicer when he wants something from you.)   

SWOT is an analysis technique consultants use to assess internal STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES – to a campaign, to a client, to a cause – and to evaluate external OPPORTUNITIES and THREATS. A SWOT analysis isn’t about a message – it’s about a thing, or a factor, that can help or

Brandon Blaine (of Plague Vendor) and me (of SFH) do Jim Carrey and Bill Murray impersonations, backstage in TO, midnight June 20, 2015.    

I’ve written a couple of books about extremists on the Left and the Right. Along the way, I’ve noticed a few shared characteristics of the extremists – the terrorists, really – on both sides of the ideological spectrum.  The manifesto of the Charleston killer – I refuse to use his name – is here. It

Here, amusingly (amusing because I have to use Google to find an example from one of my own books), is the etymology of the What Would Chretien Do? thing: Others have written about the high regard in which the Harper Conservatives hold my former boss, here and here and here.

My favourite single of all time was released in this week in 1978.  It was perfect because it introduced a whole generation of white punk kids  – like 17-year-old me, in faraway suburban Calgary, Alberta – to a whole generation of reggae and dub artists. And, on this sad and

Have loved this guy since I was a teen. Finally got to see him. Our Twitter exchange, which I shall treasure to the end of time: And, my (truncated) video of him playing his best-known tune, ‘Whole Wide World,’ which will be song number two played at the wedding reception

Not very strategic, boys and girls.

Here.  Listen only if you are bed-ridden and unable to do anything else at all.

I said, some time ago, that eliminating mail to-the-door delivery was dumb, dumb, dumb. To wit, my made-up Tory Talking Points about the move: “One, two-thirds of Canadians don’t get home delivery anymore. Why should that last one-third? We think everyone deserves to pay more and get less! Two, the

“The media does play a vital role in our democracy,” said economist Dave Brat. “And if we cannot depend on journalistic ethics, the nation’s in trouble.” Brat was talking about his own nation’s media, most likely. Given recent events – Brian Williams’ lies, the faked Rolling Stone university rape story,

Check it out: Trudeau has “collapsed” – but it’s “reversible”! I love Will’s comment. But, on the horse race stuff, it’s clear. And it means Trudeau needs new advisors, among other things: “Nationally, this latest poll shows the NDP slightly edging the CPC, with 36 per cent of decided support