Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Debunking the Tory nonsense
The Galloping Beaver: Fisking the Tory talking points
I was quite interested to see the Tory talking points that were mailed
out to their loyal supporters in order to have them not only phone up
talk radio, but also use identical arguments. I'm very grateful to the
Montréal Gazette [http://tinyurl.com/5qcgby] for getting a copy of this
document and running it for the rest of Canadians who don't happen to
be members of Steven Harper's Foot Soldiers TM.
Unfortunately,
Harper doesn't do his foot soldiers and any favors when it comes to
making them look smart. The "arguments" that he furnishes them with
are, by and large, either pointless, pure propaganda or dependent on a
logical fallacy. Let's have a look.
I was quite interested to see the Tory talking points that were mailed
out to their loyal supporters in order to have them not only phone up
talk radio, but also use identical arguments. I'm very grateful to the
Montréal Gazette [http://tinyurl.com/5qcgby] for getting a copy of this
document and running it for the rest of Canadians who don't happen to
be members of Steven Harper's Foot Soldiers TM.
Unfortunately,
Harper doesn't do his foot soldiers and any favors when it comes to
making them look smart. The "arguments" that he furnishes them with
are, by and large, either pointless, pure propaganda or dependent on a
logical fallacy. Let's have a look.
It's beginning to feel a lot like Democracy...
DTK: Dear Santa: I Want Democracy
It's beginning to feel a lot like Democracy. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc
have formed a coalition to prevent the destruction of democracy in
Canada.
You think I'm being melodramatic? Sorry, no. The Conservative desire to use their 37% of the popular vote to steamroll the other parties in to nonexistence has finally forced the rest of the political sphere to ally against them.
It's beginning to feel a lot like Democracy. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc
have formed a coalition to prevent the destruction of democracy in
Canada.
You think I'm being melodramatic? Sorry, no. The Conservative desire to use their 37% of the popular vote to steamroll the other parties in to nonexistence has finally forced the rest of the political sphere to ally against them.
The coalition government accord
» The Opposition Accord Scott’s DiaTribes: My personal opinions on social and political issues from a progressive standpoint.
Preamble
The new Government is supported by parties that share a commitment to
fiscal responsibility, a progressive agenda and a belief in the role of
Government to act as a partner with Canadians and Quebecers. Where
appropriate, these goals should be pursued in full partnership and
consultation with the provincial and territorial governments.
Fiscal Principles
This policy accord is built on a foundation of fiscal responsibility.
All three parties agree that the Canadian economy and the fiscal
framework of the federal government have severely weakened since the
last federal budget.
As the Parliamentary Budget Officer concluded, due to the policy
choices of the Conservative government, the starting point of the
federal government is deficit. This new reality does not reduce the
necessity to stimulate the economy consistent with the understandings
arrived at by all nations in the G20. The following plan describes
common goals and sets out an outline to provide active stimulus for the
economy over the next two years, with a shared commitment to return to
surplus within four years.
Click the link above for the whole Accord.
Dictator Harper
Nobleton Clear: Harper "I am not a Dictator"
He had the nerve to stop parliament and prevent votes because he was not getting his own way. What right does he have to stop our elected representatives from fulfilling their constitutional rights??
This man has shown a total disregard for the majority of Canadian voters. He has shown disrespect toward the institution of parliament by continually being obstreperous, belligerent toward the majority our elected representatives.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Conservative tailspin
Peterborough Politics: The Conservatives Have Knives Too
the thing that the Conservatives really, truly need after being pegged as hyper-partisan, mean spirited and impossible to work with is a guy who is probably the most hyper-partisan, the most mean spirited and the most difficult to work with east of Calgary [John Baird].
James Laxer on "If Harper Prorogues the Short Parliament"
James Laxer: If Harper Prorogues the Short Parliament
They have delayed the vote on a Liberal motion of non-confidence, in the hope that over the next seven days the nascent coalition will self-destruct. In the background lurks the suggestion that the Conservatives might attempt to prorogue Parliament until late January. This would allow the Harperites to return with a budget as the first order of business.
If Stephen Harper goes to the Governor General to ask her to prorogue the current session, he will be hijacking our democracy. For the next seven or eight weeks we will have an illegitimate government that is clinging to office by refusing to allow the people’s representatives to deliberate and to vote.
The National Post (The Regional Boast) - "is now less respectable than say The Weekly World News"
Troy's Scribbles: As for The National Post, I wouldn't even wrap a fish in it
I've been avoiding CTV News and The National Post (and derivatives) for a couple days now, especially any article that contains the names John or Ivison. This past weekend, the Asper media empire has come undone, losing any and all pretence of being about news. It is truly now trying to create the news, rather than report it. It is now less respectable than say The Weekly World News, because at least they knowingly hire comedy writers. Asper has truly followed Harper's lead down a path of irrelevance.
The NP's coverage of the on-going events of the past few days, dealing with the coalition government's formation, have been way off and/or very misleading - less news stories and more of a propaganda outlet for the Harper Tories.
New Planet of the Apes prequel
Here Comes That Planet Of The Apes Prequel You Never Asked For | Hecklerspray
To be set on Earth, year 2009.
To be set on Earth, year 2009.
NDP's Conversations For Change
NDP plans “Conversations for Change” in support of a progressive coalition | Jerad Gallinger
As the opposition parties firm up details of a coalition, Conservative activists are organizing to turn Canadians against the nascent partnership. So what are progressives doing in response?
As the opposition parties firm up details of a coalition, Conservative activists are organizing to turn Canadians against the nascent partnership. So what are progressives doing in response?
The NDP just sent out an email to supporters asking them to take
part in nationwide “Conversations for Change” on Thursday, December 4.
Full details are forthcoming, but you can read the call to action
below. In addition, the Public Service Alliance of Canada is organizing a rally on Parliament Hill
in favour of coalition government on Thursday, December 4. Nothing yet
from the Liberal Party, but that isn’t exactly a surprise—their weak
ground organization is part of why they have been floundering in recent
years.
Ensuring the success of pro-coalition
rallies is a big part of swaying public opinion to the side of
progressives. I will post more details about the Conversations for
Change as they arrive, and I encourage readers to send a message of
change from their neighbourhood to Parliament Hill by taking part in
this important effort.
Quebec supports the coalition
Accidental Deliberations: On supporters
70% of respondents and 86% of Bloc voters want to see the Bloc support a coalition government on confidence votes. Which should significantly rein any any reason for concern that a coalition would be unstable from the Bloc standpoint - or that Duceppe be in a position to make unreasonable demands as the price of his party's support.
Hey Conservatives - where's your real economic plan - do you know what you are doing?
Random Noise: The Coalition Already has Proposed More and More Anonymous Liberal Sources
For the Conservatives to do anything (e.g. ask for a prorogue, further delay confidence motions, etc.) but put out a real economic plan, that can take effect ASAP would be tantamount to admitting they either have not the willingness to do what's necessary and what Canadians have asked of them or they are devoid of any ideas of how to deal with the current situation.
Harper thinks politics is war, instead of working together for the good of the country
The Vanity Press: Enemy
In reality, of course, rival political parties are not "enemies." That's a war metaphor imported into politics -- but politics is the alternative to war. It's how you distribute and exercise power without the use of force. The idea of "killing" other parties in favour of single-party rule is abhorrent to politics and democracy, and especially reprehensible in a minority parliament. Yet, there's that sentiment, expressed by someone who seems to have been working within the Conservative Party for years. That can't be good, and suggests an impatience with the diversity of opinion and diffusion of power that is just a normal part of any democratic polity. It's an autocratic instinct, and frankly I don't want it anywhere near power.
And no, it doesn't matter that this enemy-talk is just metaphorical at this stage. This sort of thing sinks in, and doesn't lead anywhere good. Eliminationist rhetoric has been a problem in American political culture for a long while; David Neiwert has a useful sample of it here. It starts out with jokes and metaphors, and ends up poisoning the totality of political discourse. It's a real shame to see it beginning to crop up in Canada (and lest we think it's restricted to the Conservatives, just look here -- although I haven't seen that sort of thing from any other person affiliated with the opposition). If politics is the art of working to find a modus vivendi, then this is the opposite of politics; it chokes off reason and reduces everything to war. If the Conservatives really think this way, then they need to be removed from power until they learn some other way -- and it seems clear from his recent actions that Harper does think this way, and from this report that perhaps a number of others do too.
Toronto's Savage Garden nightclub is closing it's doors Jan 4, 2009
The Savage Garden
After fifteen years of being the heart of Toronto's underground scene, Savage
is finally closing its doors.
After fifteen years of being the heart of Toronto's underground scene, Savage
is finally closing its doors.
Energy Myths
The 10 big energy myths | Environment | The Guardian
Wind power is financially viable today in many countries, and it will
become cheaper as turbines continue to grow in size, and manufacturers
drive down costs. Some projections see more than 30% of the world's
electricity eventually coming from the wind. Turbine manufacture and
installation are also set to become major sources of employment, with
one trade body predicting that the sector will generate 2m jobs
worldwide by 2020.
Wind power is financially viable today in many countries, and it will
become cheaper as turbines continue to grow in size, and manufacturers
drive down costs. Some projections see more than 30% of the world's
electricity eventually coming from the wind. Turbine manufacture and
installation are also set to become major sources of employment, with
one trade body predicting that the sector will generate 2m jobs
worldwide by 2020.
Why I hate MySpace
Why I hate MySpace | Pixelated Geek
Okay. At first, while I watched this video, l thought "okay, this geek web designer guy is annoyed at the designs teens come up with for MySpace pages. He is surprised at these?". But, then as the video goes on, he shows us even more annoying and badly designed pages, and the music starts and I had a good laugh. MySpace pages can be some of the worst and most annoying pages on line. The final page he shows you is priceless.
Okay. At first, while I watched this video, l thought "okay, this geek web designer guy is annoyed at the designs teens come up with for MySpace pages. He is surprised at these?". But, then as the video goes on, he shows us even more annoying and badly designed pages, and the music starts and I had a good laugh. MySpace pages can be some of the worst and most annoying pages on line. The final page he shows you is priceless.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Layton's smart politics
Dawg's Blawg: Layton accused of smart politics
Jack Layton, foreseeing a time when a progressive coalition of opposition parties would be a go, smooths the way with the Bloc Québécois beforehand. Here's a transcript of a conference call (possibly obtained criminally by the Conservatives) that lays it out.
Jack Layton, foreseeing a time when a progressive coalition of opposition parties would be a go, smooths the way with the Bloc Québécois beforehand. Here's a transcript of a conference call (possibly obtained criminally by the Conservatives) that lays it out.
Meanwhile in Kandahar...
My Blahg » IN OTHER COALITION NEWS
The collapse of Afghanistan is closer than the world believes. Kandahar
is in Taliban hands — all but a square mile at the centre of the city —
and the first Taliban checkpoints are scarcely 15 miles from Kabul.
Hamid Karzai’s deeply corrupted government is almost as powerless as
the Iraqi cabinet in Baghdad’s “Green Zone”; lorry drivers in the
country now carry business permits issued by the Taliban which operate
their own courts in remote areas of the country.
The collapse of Afghanistan is closer than the world believes. Kandahar
is in Taliban hands — all but a square mile at the centre of the city —
and the first Taliban checkpoints are scarcely 15 miles from Kabul.
Hamid Karzai’s deeply corrupted government is almost as powerless as
the Iraqi cabinet in Baghdad’s “Green Zone”; lorry drivers in the
country now carry business permits issued by the Taliban which operate
their own courts in remote areas of the country.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Harper - a PM who delays votes is rapidly losing moral authority to govern
Harper in 2005: PM who delays votes ‘rapidly losing moral authority to govern’ | Jerad Gallinger
I think they are just signing their own death warrant. This is the kind of behaviour a government does when it is scared to death of the electorate.
When a government starts trying to cancel dissent or avoid assent is frankly when it’s rapidly losing its moral authority to govern. - Stephen Harper April 2005
The New Conservative Non-Alcoholic Drinking Game
Peterborough Politics: The New Conservative Non-Alcoholic Drinking Game
Of course, you could drink alcohol for this, but after watching and reading the news throught the coming week, you would be comatose by next weekend.
Of course, you could drink alcohol for this, but after watching and reading the news throught the coming week, you would be comatose by next weekend.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Rick Mercer on Harper's plan to destroy democracy in Canada
globeandmail.com: Like a trip to Baskin Robbins
Well we almost found out. Because if Stephen Harper got his way on this, democracy would have changed forever. And not a single citizen will have gotten to vote on the matter.
email to cell phone txt msg
How To Send Email To Any Cell Phone (for Free) | MakeUseOf.com
Want to send a short email to a friend and get it delivered to his/her
cell phone as SMS? If you know your friends’ phone numbers and the
carrier they are on then you can easily send emails to their cell
phones directly from your email program.
Want to send a short email to a friend and get it delivered to his/her
cell phone as SMS? If you know your friends’ phone numbers and the
carrier they are on then you can easily send emails to their cell
phones directly from your email program.
Hungry in America
Report: 36 million Americans food insecure - UPI.com
More than 36 million Americans, including 12.4 million children, are food insecure, officials of a U.S. non-profit group said.
More than 36 million Americans, including 12.4 million children, are food insecure, officials of a U.S. non-profit group said.
Feeding America, a U.S. hunger-relief organization, said the actual
number of Americans forced to skip meals and survive without adequate
nutrition is even greater than the report indicates because it is based
on statistics from 2007.
"It is important to note that the U.S. Department of Agriculture
numbers released today are 2007 figures and do not take into account
the unprecedented economic crisis that our country is currently
facing," Vicki Escarra, president of Feeding America said in a
statement.
Oldest dope stash found - 2,700 years later.
TheStar.com | sciencetech | 2,700-year-old marijuana found in Chinese tomb
OTTAWA – Researchers say they have located the world's oldest stash of marijuana, in a tomb in a remote part of China.
The cache of cannabis is about 2,700 years old and was clearly ``cultivated for psychoactive purposes," rather than as fibre for clothing or as food, says a research paper in the Journal of Experimental Botany.
The 789 grams of dried cannabis was buried alongside a light-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian man, likely a shaman of the Gushi culture, near Turpan in northwestern China.
Harpocrite Backroom Dealer whining about backroom deals
Harper slams Liberal/NDP “backroom deal”, forgets he came to power through “backroom deal” himself « Paulitics
Actually, it’s worse than even that: MacKay and Harper were making “backroom deals” (the PC/Alliance talks) on top of “backroom deals” (the MacKay/Orchard Pact), the latter of which actually forbade the very existence of negotiations or — you guessed it — “backroom deals” between the former PCs and Canadian Alliance.
I don’t seem to remember Harper thinking “backroom deals” were so bad when he was the chief beneficiary of them.
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