gdp's Comments

Macleans.ca : Helena Guergis would like to apologize

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:44:09 +0000

You might well be right. It could also be that there is a video of this incident that makes clear exactly to what extent her behaviour was over the top.

Macleans.ca : Helena Guergis would like to apologize

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:30:59 +0000

It seems to me that if the PMO wanted to shield Guergis, there'd be some strong talking points out there (possibly about work- related- stress, ie, spin it as evidence of how hard the minister works). It doesn't seem to me that this is happening. In particular on the comment-rich cbc board, there is a conspicuous dirth of conservative apologists. I'm not entirely sure what to make of this, but it doesn't appear to bode well for Helena.

Macleans.ca : Confict-of-interest absurdity cries out for change to the law

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:53:26 +0000

Mr Geddes, you are incorrect. An absurdity cannot 'cry out' because it isn't a person.

Macleans.ca : Peter and Stephen

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 19:06:58 +0000

I wonder now, a day later, if the latest polls make the Harper government more or less confortable with the Canadian people...

Macleans.ca : CBC/Ekos: Behold the Ignuggernaut!

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 19:02:47 +0000

I'm good for April. Every so often the electorate should recalibrate parliament, eh?

Macleans.ca : Peter and Stephen

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 16:56:29 +0000

"The more comfortable our government becomes with the Canadian people, the more partisanship becomes the domain of the Opposition." Steven Harper, Jan 05 2010. I still can't get over this nugget-of-weirdness style ending. The idea that the government needs to become more comfortable with Canadians is bizarre and there is no clear link between this and the assertion that follows. What happened in Steve's brain, eh? I am handing this one over to my Lacanian Analyst, we'll see what she says. :P

Macleans.ca : Meanwhile, in the Liberal blogosphere...

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:35:58 +0000

Geez, Mr Wells, have some mercy. Why don't you just ask them what they REALLY think, eh? Between you and the K'Omonster, with the meta and the baiting, what exactly are we media recipticles to make of it all (more to the point and brackety: what are we all to make of it that wouldn't itself be just as dubious as your own contributions)? :| I think postmodernism is mean. Where's my TROOFS, DAG NABBIT? :|

Macleans.ca : Ah yes, the "root causes" crowd again

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:13:02 +0000

Teaser: "Neither poverty nor the experience of political repression alone seem to provide a satisfactory explanation for why young people actively seek out death in a grand bloody finale and aim to take as many people with them as possible. Is there a phenotype that displays the same characteristics down the ages and across all classes and cultures?" H. M. E., "The radical loser"

Macleans.ca : Ah yes, the "root causes" crowd again

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:09:19 +0000

http://www.signandsight.com/features/493.html 01/12/2005 The radical loser "Hans Magnus Enzensberger looks at the kind of ideological trigger required to ignite the radical loser - whether amok killer, murderer or terrorist - and make him explode"

Macleans.ca : When the going gets tough (III)

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:07:55 +0000

Thanks, and I agree with your conclusion. Not bloody likely. However, it is inevitable that both sides will argue the other is to blame for the impasse. What is striking, in this, is how unified the opposition is. We have, once again, a truly polarized government, and when that is also a minority government, well... I won't even say it, but rather skip right to my favorite part: Indeed.

Macleans.ca : When the going gets tough (III)

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Right on. Thanks, man.

Macleans.ca : When the going gets tough (III)

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:20:55 +0000

I'd love to get a fact check on this: "...prorogation has some similar effects to a general election: it would kill 40 pieces of government legislation — including the government’s own tough new bills on consumer product safety and on harsher sentences for drug traffickers — and it would disband parliamentary committees." I've heard members of both opposition and government assert to the contrary, the former with reference to the work of committees, the latter regarding legislation. Little help? :D

Macleans.ca : Escape route

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:05:02 +0000

What this post conveniently avoids mentioning is that this entire alternate path is surfaced with kittens.

Macleans.ca : Cards to play, chips to use

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:22:03 +0000

I've been meaning to say: I wonder sometimes if Duffy doesn't still think he is quite clever and even justified in his recent behavior (at least in terms of strategy). What I mean is this: let us not forget what we must assume are the 'new goals' of Harper's recent Senate appointments. The most obvious and unsurprising is to stack with loyalists. That is not in any way unusual. What is unusual is for a government to INTENTIONALLY stock the SENATE with FOOLS in order to render it ever more disfunctional (and thereby strengthen the case they want to make regarding the urgent need for senate reforms). That's the second goal, and Duffy's recent outrageous public performances of drunken stereotypes of the penguin-suited-politician-enjoying-the-goodlife (at public expense! HORROR!) fits perfectly here.

Macleans.ca : Cards to play, chips to use

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:14:33 +0000

I think he could maybe do with some sort of break from politics for a while. I also wonder about the meds he is on. I know alcoholism is an issue. I almost feel sorry for the guy, but agree entirely that his recent behaviour has been outrageous.

Macleans.ca : Idea alert

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 22:45:02 +0000

Until Milliken is able to improve the very character of members he won't be able to enforce civility. The problem, like it or not, is that we elected so many jerks.

Macleans.ca : 'This debate is not simply about an epidemic'

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:20:37 +0000

Dear Santy Claus I want a robotic minister of health for christmas. Thanks, Baz

Macleans.ca : '4,476 pages of contempt'

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 19:22:08 +0000

Transparent and accountable government at its finest.

Macleans.ca : The problem with mittens

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:56:15 +0000

Am I the only one who thinks those mittens look like Oven Mitts? World Class Oven Mitts, sure, but still... OVEN MITTS??!!

Macleans.ca : The Commons: Our house of glass

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:19:47 +0000

who knew civility would prove to be such a wedge issue?