IntenseDebate - Twisted

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - "That's kind of the se... · 4 replies · +5 points

I'm rather perturbed by Paul Wells' inability to break this story while it mattered - during the election campaign. I'm a self-defining Red Tory and maybe I'm a bit of an idealist at heart but... hell, when someone admits to you they're constructing a narrative ("Michael Ignatieff, in our narrative, is a political opportunist...") shouldn't that raise some mental red flags!? Here they are, telling you that that they've been carefully constructing this negative narrative (especially so it doesn't overlap with the Dion smears) and Paul Wells and the Maclean's editors deem it necessary to sit on it until after the election is over!?

We've moved out of the realm of supposition on this, folks - the talking heads and "power panels" previously could only speculate and imply that such thoughts motivated those in the Conservative war room. But here it is, in black and white; in one's and zero's; for all who read Maclean's to see. Did Paul Wells not publish this out of some kind of fear that he might influence the outcome of the election? It just seems bizarre; was it not merely months ago that the collective bubble was scratching its head at the intensified Conservative attack ads?

Astounding that Wells waited until now to release this quote. Astounding.

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - The distemper of our t... · 0 replies · +1 points

Hilarious: red, blue or orange Newfoundlanders are screaming out for a new prison or at least some federal funds to help maintain/fix the current penitentiary and nothing doing. This is exactly the kind of thing that would make inroads for the federal Conservatives in the province and they're just throwing it away.

Mind-boggling.

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - A test of our democracy · 34 replies · +45 points

I'm along with the entirety of this piece until Coyne places the ball in Ignatieff's court instead of Stephen Harper's.

Honestly, Andrew (I'll forgo the Mr. Coyne just for niggling, irritant's sake) I would have expected more from you. Within the parameters of responsible government, I'd well say that Mr. Ignatieff has done everything within his capacity to expose, delineate and expound upon the situation unfolding from Ottawa - aside from calling a vote of non-confidence in the Prime Minister and his cabinet.

If there is more to be done, and he has not done such things, why not help by pointing out how he, as leader of the Official Opposition, can help force the resignation of Bev Oda from Cabinet? Is there any precedent he could cite? Any legislation? Anything!? Must there be a dissolution of the entire government over a single Minister's inability to just say, in a forthcoming manner, the intentions of her actions!? I believe such an ability rests within the hands of our Prime Minister - he can dismiss a Minister without the dissolution of an entire government.

So yes, Andrew Coyne, this is a test of our democracy. I know what the minister should do. And I know what the government should do. The question is: are you going to ask the right person to help?

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Auto Draft · 0 replies · +3 points

Yup.

They dig the person up just to bury them afterward.

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Keep your friends clos... · 0 replies · +1 points

Everyone, it's simple!

If you have a plurality of seats and negotiate with separatists it's called making parliament work. If you don't have the plurality and work with the separatists then it's called plotting against government and you should be strung-up by catgut.

I'm afraid, dear sirs and madams, that one cannot make oneself much clearer than that. [/sarc]

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Do we really want citi... · 0 replies · +1 points

Aaron, why do you hate Canadians!? :(

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - We remain torn over hy... · 1 reply · +4 points

Hey, look guys! The latest numerical breakdown of 1000 people we managed to reach between 9am and 5pm EST!

Don't you see how this really challenges/changes the political landscape!?

Now, how do I switch off my sarcasm tags...

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Ted Menzies talks (abo... · 0 replies · +1 points

On a second and third watching, all I could think of was Greg Thomey saying, "Hi. I'm Ted Menzies..." while circling the outside of his desk.

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Ted Menzies talks (abo... · 0 replies · +3 points

My goodness... could he have been more blatantly reading cue-cards off-camera?

I mean, it's one thing to ask for donations with a heart-felt message, but to just woodenly beg with another person's words is another matter.

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - How late is too late? · 0 replies · +3 points

"No sorry, but the mandate holds even in our parliamentary system. It's not my invention. It's a long standing Canadian democratic tradition. Martin had his "mandate" from his Montreal riding, but he wanted a national mandate to be PM. otherwise why would he call an election sooner than when he needed to. John Turner did the same thing when he replaced Trudeau as Lib leader."

No, sorry, it doesn't. The concept of a "national mandate" is a political malapropism the Canadian media borrowed from American presidential races. Just because John Turner and Paul Martin "think" they need a mandate doesn't make seeking a mandate a constitutional reality. A Prime Minister has the authority to suggest an election to the Governor General at any point within a five-year frame after the previous election. Turner probably called the election because when he became Prime Minister he was neither sitting in the House of Parliament nor in the Senate. Since he also refused to run in a by-election or in a seat vacated by a fellow liberal, he called a general election. You know, so he could win a seat in Parliament. I don't know why Paul Martin would have called the snap election other than your hypothesis, but to be gracious here... two snap elections a long-standing tradition does not make.

So have fun with your little fictions, friend.

IntenseDebate Comment System

Description

Connect with Twisted_Mentat

People I'm following

Twisted_Mentat