Ezra Levant, the self described expert on free speech in Canada, is Outraged! over the cancelation of Ann Coulter‘s scheduled Tuesday appearance at the University of Ottawa. Levant’s been busy on twitter, Facebook, TV and radio, desperately trying to sell the public his version of events and paint himself and Coulter
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bastard.logic: Ann Coulter in Canada: Of Fire Alarms and Flaming Hyperbole
by matttbastard (Photo: Jimbo Wales, flickr) Aw, poopsie: After protesters at the University of Ottawa prevented Ann Coulter from giving a speech on Tuesday night, the American conservative writer said it proved the point she came to make – free … Continue reading →
Continue readingbastard.logic: Red Meat Straight Outta Ann Coulter’s Rider
by matttbastard No, just…no: Even before she opened her mouth for the first of three speeches this week on Canadian soil, American right-wing antagonist Ann Coulter had already scored a victory of sorts. Coulter, who spoke to an audience of … Continue reading →
Continue readingbastard.logic: Unintended Consequences, Redux
by matttbastard (Photo: Paul Keller, Flickr) Jane Mayer on the sudden prominence of ex-W speechwriter (and current Hiatt-approved pro-torture propagandist*) Marc Thiessen and why those who don’t pop wood for enhanced interrogation [sic] should be wary: The publication of “Courting Disaster” suggests that Obama’s avowed … Continue reading →
Continue readingA. Picazo: Playing With Guns
“An Albatross and an embarrassment.” On Saturday, that’s how Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner labelled the gun registry during her address at the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Annual General Meeting. Bill C-391, Hoeppners private member’s bill to abolish the long gun registry, was spared the axe of prorogation and
Continue readingA. Picazo: Thinking Big, With Small Minds
On Saturday March 20, Calgary will take its turn to host a conference touted by the organizer as “the political event of 2010.” The ‘Think Big Conference: Inspiring The Leaders Of Tomorrow‘ is presented by the Société Macdonald-Cartier Society (SMCS), an organization founded by Immanuel Giulea that describes itself as
Continue readingA. Picazo: Stephen Harper Takes Your Questions!
Pre-screened questions, pre-scripted answers, and a pre-taped interview. That, in essence, is as authentic as Stephen Harper gets. The ‘much’ anticipated You Tube question and answer session with the Prime Minister was supposed to allow Harper to avoid the (alleged) filter of traditional media, so instead it was fed to
Continue readingPop The Stack: The Simplest Argument for Electoral Reform
Take a look at this simple and clear article on Democractic Reform from Fair Vote Canada. This is what Canadians need, a clear argument why our democracy is broken. There are some great basic arguments here that anyone interested in fixing our democracy should be repeating over and over to everyone they talk to about […]
Continue readingPop The Stack: Liberals Need to Stand Out and Stand Up
Gordon Gibson has a nice piece today in the Globe and Mail today on how the Liberals can differentiate themselves in the next election and help the country with a big problem at the same time. It turns out, Gordon agrees with me, that Electoral Reform is the safest and most exciting issue for the […]
Continue readingA. Picazo: Rahim Jaffer And The ‘Tough On Crime’ Facade
Former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer, who was charged with cocaine possession and drunk driving on September 11, 2009, has just been given a sweetheart deal: plead guilty to carless driving and pay a $500 fine in exchange for dropping the drunk driving and cocaine possession charges, and escape with no criminal
Continue readingPop The Stack: Why does Canada have so few women in politics?
Report today that Canada ranks 50th in the World in the number of women in politics. Is it time to consider a quota on minimum number of female candidates for a party? Some people worry that this might lead to forcing unqualified people into office. But that’s just silly, we all know there are large […]
Continue readingbastard.logic: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
by matttbastard Salon knows the score – no Hollywood wingnut roundup is complete without giving mad props to alpha-wingnut Victoria Jackson: Again – no Hollywood wingnut roundup is complete without giving mad props to alpha-wingnut Victoria ”There’s A Communist Living in the White … Continue reading →
Continue readingPop The Stack: What’s the Best Route to a Coalition Government?
An interesting article today in the Vancouver Sun about the need for a coalition government. The main idea of the two BC professors is that three three centre-left parties, the Liberals, NDP and Greens, need to form a coalition and run candidates strategically if they are to hope to ever defeat the Conservatives. You’ll remember […]
Continue readingbastard.logic: Bye Bayh, Mon Cowboy
by matttbastard Every Republican’s favourite soon-to-be retired moderate [sic] DINO gunslinger Evan Bayh refuses to quietly ride off into the sunset: “There’s just too much brain-dead partisanship, tactical maneuvering for short-term political advantage rather than focusing on the greater good, … Continue reading →
Continue readingbastard.logic: Irony is Dead, Redux
by matttbastard Education reformers were out in full force at this past Sunday’s Perry-Palin rally in Texas (I truly heart Moran Country). (Also, TEH NUGE!!!1one Ain’t no party like a Tea Party partaaaay.) h/t Adam Serwer Photo: Bryan Fotographer, Houston Press Recommend this … Continue reading →
Continue readingbastard.logic: Choosy Moms Choose Teleprompter
by matttbastard Much like wealth redistribution, she was for it before she was against it. (Read Katrina vanden Heuvel on ‘Palinland’, and then try your goddamndest to not give Palin’s latest scorchingly stupid [yet unfortunately all-too-effective] PR offensive any more … Continue reading →
Continue readingPop The Stack: Canada 2.0 – The Satirical Masses
You gotta love Canada. We are a humble people but we are also a deeply funny and self-effacing people. The latest political trend involves a deep fried ring of onion, a Prime Minister and the spicy dipping sauce of Facebook protest. The aforementioned onion ring, a very tasty looking one I must say, recently became […]
Continue readingPop The Stack: A Great Democracy Deserves a Great Protest
In response to this article about the latest degradation of American democracy. One senator is essentially holding up all nominations for government posts in order to get special funds, called earmakrs, for his state. I agree that if the Democrats capitulate and negotiate again like they did with Lieberman they have essentially ceded their majority […]
Continue readingPop The Stack: Harper plays games while democracy crumbles
My comment on the Globe and Mails recent story: Tories seek parliamentary extension This is a non story, by casting it as some kind of tricky dilemma for the Liberals and NDP the Globe is accepting the Conservative game. You can almost hear the writer salivating at the dramatic irony of the opposition voting against […]
Continue readingPop The Stack: Democracy in Canada 2.0 – Twitter
I my first article in my series Canada 2.0 I introduced the idea that social media technologies, Internet 2.0 or social media, are beginning to reach a critical mass in Canada that can enable a transformation of our democracy and society as a whole. Those who want to take part and shape this future need […]
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