Dirty Tricks
“Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.” – Benjamin Franklin Dirty tricks are a part of politics. Why do otherwise smart…
Brian G. Rice
A Father’s Daughter
Before you were born, I wasn’t sure I was comfortable with having a daughter. I didn’t know anything about little girls, and I didn’t understand what I had to offer…
Corbin turns 5!!!
Five years ago today your Mother and I were about to host Isabeau’s first birthday party. But then – setting a precedent for the rest of your life – you…
"Kids in Short Pants"
Chantal Hébert wrote an article in the Toronto Star this past week about the toxic culture of Ottawa and how it impacts the young staffers that work there. She correctly…
LPC Policy Equals CPC Fundraising?
The Hill Times has an article suggesting that Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party’s position on marijuana legalization has been a fundraising windfall for the Conservatives. While this may cause…
Liberal Women Running
Taking a quick look at the Team Trudeau site shows that as of the beginning of August, the Party has nominated 75 candidates. 23 of those nominated candidates are women.…
Occupying Oppenheimer Park is Damaging to the Cause
I was very proud of Andrea Reimer and the Vancouver City Council when they passed the motion recognizing that Vancouver sits on unceded indigenous land. While this is an entirely…
CPC MP Not a Fan of the SCC or the Charter
It has been pretty obvious, I think, to anyone who takes an objective view of the Stephen Harper government that they don’t really have a great deal of respect for…
The Politics of Prostitution
I have spent the last few days watching the live tweets of the committee hearings into Bill C-36, the Conservative’s new prostitution legislation (thank you, Kady O’Malley). This was not…
I endorse Jeff Jedras for LPC(O) Communications
Jeff Jedras is one of the hardest working, conscientious and principled Liberals that I know. He thinks deeply about all aspects of our party, and has an impressive understanding of…
Michael Ignatieff Is Not A "Loser"
In his opinion piece in the Jacobin, Will Johnson claims that Michael Ignatieff is a “perennial loser” and that his new job at Harvard is “failing up”. He claims that…
Politicizing Expenses
And this is what happens when you politicize expenses. One MP goes to Fort McMurray for legitimate parliamentary business – and attends party functions while he is there. He expenses…
Thank You For Your Service Mr. Flaherty
“Jim Flaherty was a dedicated public servant. Canada is poorer for his loss. RIP.”
Dim? Really? Justin Trudeau, intelligence and plain speaking
I just posted this in response to a comment from a troll about Justin Trudeau being “dim” on an Andrew Coyne Facebook post about Justin’s appearance on Strombo. I really…
The Council of President Call
When I hung up the phone after the 135 minute Council of President's call last night, I was wondering how I was going to write my blog entry in such…
On Communication and National Board of Directors
On Monday night the Canucks scored twice in the first period, apparently. I say apparently because I wasn't watching the hockey game, I was on a conference call with twenty…
A Clarification: When I say Policy what I mean is…
It has been pointed out to me that the definition of "Policy" is fairly broad and not as specific as I might have thought. What I mean by saying that…
Want to Help Rebuild the #LPC? Stop Talking Policy.
Nothing clarifies the mind like getting your ass kicked. I am seeing more passion about the Liberal Party now than I have seen in years. Forums, websites, Facebook, email: All…
Well, That Sucked. Now What?
I'm not going to bother spending a lot of time examining what happened during this election, at least not publicly. Mr. Igantieff, a leader I respect and admire, did the…
First Study of the Canadian Political Blogosphere
I just participated in the following study from the Université Laval. As part of their request for me to participate, they also asked that I post the following invitation on…