Grunt Groan Rant Rave

2009-06-27T10:19:00.001-07:00

Iran.

The issue isn't so much (probable) election fraud though they are certainly acting like guilty people, but, how you respond to civil protest in the 21st century. When revolution came 30 plus years ago the Shah was so bad that the Islamic Republic looked good. Here it is a generation later and a dogmatic theocracy can't provide the kind of Government an educated, wired and significantly large proportion under 30 crave. The hardliners may have won this battle but I don't know if they can win the war.

2009-05-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

BC NDP.

Carole James has managed to deflect her incompetent running of the last provincial election with no one calling for her head. Its probably the best political move she's accomplished. Everybody hates Gordie and she still lost the election. Now she's saying she's gonna go for a third try in 2013. She only got the job because no one wanted it 8 years ago. The Greens had a great opportunity to fill the void in late 2001 and early 2002 and squandered it. I think the grassroots will eventually let Ms. James know thats its time for her to move on. If they don't, Gordie's gonna be tempted to run for a fourth term and get it!

2009-04-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

STV Referendum.

I voted Yes last referendum, however I am encouraging everyone to vote NO this time. It won't fix the "problems" with the current system of First Past the Post. The proponents argue more choices means more voices in the legislature which inevitably means minority and/or coalition governments. The so-called 'Coalition Crisis' of December '08 that led to Parliament being prorogued proved that Canadians were not yet politically mature enough to start being like Italy or Israel which have coalition governments almost after every election. While we learning to deal with a new governance model many governments will fail confidence votes, so more elections. Initially, coalition governments will cost us more money. I hope some modern day Mike Pearson comes and really makes it work. I'm not against electoral reform, right now I wish we were voting on term limits

2009-03-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

Petty Bureaucrats.

By not allowing odius UK MP Galloway in to speak has brought him way more publicity then is warrented by his views. The Government and Minister Kenney just look petty and small. When will we learn not to be afraid of words.

2009-02-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

Term Limits.

I don't know the outcome of the Venezualan Constitutional reform (scrapping term limits) referendum today, but I am for term limits for federal officials. My country doesn't have term limits and unfortunately leaders stay on for 1 election too many ( e.g. Chretien, Klein, WAC Bennent just off the top of my head). When Reagan let it be known he'd stay for third term, but the US system has term limits, at the time I was all "if the people want him as a leader so be it as long as they vote in him again' but that has changed. It isn't that some leaders aren't good enough to continue on but its about new leadership, new ideas and most importantly if by chance you elect an asshole everyone around the world will know when he's leaving ;). Russian Pres-- er Prime Minister Putin, in particular, doesn't 'get it' either. He could have gone out a hero, I personally think could have named himself Czar and the Russian people would've accepted it. Go do what former Presidents do: which is, pick a cause and use your influence to shift policy towards that. Now with the recent, as yet unnamed, economic downturn he'll be hounded out of politics with people spitting out his name. Where's the love now Vlad?

2009-02-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

Lux Interior.

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Lux Interior, lead singer of one my favourite bands-The Cramps. Some of the most awesome rock n' roll moments I have ever witnessed (or heard) were performed by Lux Interior at the Commodore Ballroom.

"When the sun go down and the moon come up
I turn into a teenage goo-goo muck. . . "

2009-01-31T07:15:00.000-08:00

January 2009 Budget.

Just what the heck has happened to the Conservatives? As Jon Stewart says " You have values and when they are tested you stick with them or their just hobbies ". This budget must be keeping Mr. Harper up at night what with his sudden conversion to Keynesian economic theory. I just can't help but wonder what the ol' time Reform supporters think of how Stephen had no choice with Mr. Ignatieff holding a gun to his head to make this very (Liberal) budget. I actually believed him when he said he was going to be different and he's had been able to make the Liberal party, especially with Mr. Dion as leader, quite irrelevant but now he has succumbed to what he always scorned-- A control freak of a PM who'll do anything to stay in power

2008-12-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

Obama the Hypocrite.

"Obama has proven himself repeatedly to be a very tolerant, very rational-sounding sort of bigot" John Cloud-Time magazine.

This was written in response to the President-Elect naming Pastor Rick Warren to participate in his inauguration and I couldn't have said it better myself. I can't believe the so-called No Drama Obama would alienate such a vocal supportive, monetarily and voter wise, group as the Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered community. Over the years I've met people who were either a visible minority, disabled or homosexual who then turned out to be some of the most bigoted people I have ever met. You would think being discriminated against would give them a little empathy and tolerance but somehow it did not. Following Obama the Hypocrites logic a white supremicist should be welcome at the inauguration as well. You cannot pick an identifiable group and allow others to preach hate against them from their pulpits. I've said before and I'll say it again Its about equality, stupid.

2008-12-04T06:37:00.000-08:00

The 40th Parliament (R.I.P.P.)

The Prime Minister, through the Finance Minister, dropped the ball so badly during his so-called economic update to the point where it united all the Opposition parties to form a working Coalition to present an alternative Government to the Governor-General. Despite Conservative, and others (including my mother) hysterics and untruths this is all legal in our Westminister Parliamentary system and I'm not opposed to the Governor-General looking at all options. Mr. Harper has lost the confidence of the House of Commons and should face a vote in the House. Now that he's prorogued Parliament until January 26, 2009 maybe the Liberals can expedite their leadership convention and have a new leader in place by the time Parliament re-opens. If we get an election, so be it. Though the thought of a Coalition is compelling.

FYI - RIPP means rest in partisan pieces

2008-11-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

Equality.

The same day that Barack Obama is elected President, the state of California votes to have same-sex marriage banned by writing it into their State Constitution. It isn't the first State to legalize hate but I always thought that California was progressive and has led the USA in so many other areas, that saying no on Proposition 8 would be the foundation for the road to tolerance and acceptance. Its about equality, stupid. Equality trumps marriage.

2008-11-02T22:21:00.000-08:00

Rights and Responsibilities.

Most everyone talks about their rights and hardly anyone mentions their responsibilities. Hearsay has it, Trudeau wanted to call it the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities during the initial negotiations for Canada's Constitution in the early 1980's. I wish he'd stuck to his guns because then the supreme court could hold the government, the police and populace accountable.

2008-10-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

Campaign 2008.

It was Mr. Harper's own gaffes that lost him his majority more than anything the other leaders did, except for Mr. Duceppe. He also has the character flaw of all idealogues: No empathy. (That and the 45 million funding cuts to the Arts ;)

2008-09-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

Leadership.

During two national campaigns, leadership is paramount to the various parties future. I have a lot of respect for Senator McCain his ordeal in Vietnam, becoming a Senator and now only one man away from being President, (he should have won in 2000, darn Karl Rove) but ultimately the american election comes down to either a vote for the past, McCain or the future, Senator Obama. I would like for america to embrace the future. Then they should see to some electoral reform, more banking oversite, universal health care, real education support for starters. Mr. Dion is starting to grow on me, the debates will be interesting.

ABC

2008-09-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

Bailout 2008.

The hypricrosy of the current administration in Washington knows no limits. Now that Bush's friends are going to lose millions of dollars its now a 'financial crisis'. The people in Ohio, California, Florida etc. who've lost their houses over the last year don't get a bailout but the greedy and incompentant will get one. Either bail everyone out or bail no one out.

2008-09-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

Campaign 2008.

My feeling last time, was either we get rid of Martin or Harper. So, Harper wins a minority government and Martin resigns. This time its either Harper or Dion (and really how much longer do we have to deal with Layton?). My personal preference would be Harper. Harper is a bully and the new Conservatives are incredibly power hungry. Look how they used the RCMP at the rally in Surrey last night and this isn't the first time the Police have been used to control the media. Harper muzzles his cabinet ministers to control the message. They have revealed how callus they are when in the midst of the Listeria health crisis the person in charge the Minister of Agriculture is making jokes while people are dying!?! (If its me, I'm screaming down the phone and people are flying to Ottawa to explain to me whose responsible, charges being laid, heads rolling) The completely irrational statement concerning 'ordinary canadians' and the arts. They are ideologues who could only get so far. Now the biggest spending PM of all time puts on a sweater and breaking another campaign promise calls an election no one wanted--but him and his campign team. I wish the Liberals, NDP, and Greens would hammer him back. Harper is vulnerable in a couple of spots, maybe they can gang up on him at the debates.

2007-11-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

Daylight Savings Time.

This nonsense has got to stop! Why is this done? Growing up, we were all told it was for "the farmers". Years ago Saskatchewan voted not to springforward/fallback (so when I call family I have to quickly figure out if their 1 or 2 hours ahead but thats no hardship), but "the farmers" don't move their clocks so we can't blame them. I blame Benjamin Franklin for thinking to much, yes you can think too much. Let's stick with one time all year and let everyone else deal with it. Seriously, how can we stop this. It makes me crazy every October er, November and April, I mean March or is it May? AArrgh!

2007-07-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

Peace, Order and Good Government.

Buried in the British North America Act of 1867 is the national motto of Canada: Peace, Order and Good Government. Seemingly mundane but so essential in the federalism battles occuring around the world. The world needs more Canada.

2007-05-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

Air India Inquiry.

It's not surprising just how incompetent (yet again) the RCMP and CSIS were in the lead up to the bombing of Flight 182 on June 23, 1985. Sadly, I don't think there's a "conspiracy" to cover-up what went on before and after 329 people, most canadian citizens, were murdered, but racist indifference. I recall when this terrorist attack happened a general perception was that it was "An Indian Problem". The public inquiry into this bungled investigation will hopefully fix some of the myriad of problems with the RCMP and CSIS.

2007-04-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

Vimy Memorial.

I've seen pictures in the past, but the recent media attention accompanying the re-dedication of the Vimy Memorial in France were, for me, quite striking. It is as an impressive a memorial to honour fallen soldiers as I have ever seen. It made me proud to be a Canadian for the government to restore it. It will be mandatory for me to go there the next time I'm overseas.

2007-03-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

Conservative Budget.

Well, well, well its amazing what a little over a year of being in power will do. I can't believe how far they've moved to the centre since forming the Government. I would have reduced the GST to 5% a little sooner, put a little money towards Olympic Athletes training, allowed spousal income-splitting--not just for seniors, happy to see a big payment on the federal debt, but this 'fiscal imbalance' crap sucks. The Conservatives have succombed to the Seperatists propaganda about hard done by Quebec is. Hopefully the Charest led provincial Liberals will do well in the election and the PQ will continue to self destruct. This past week we had yet another example of how a significant portion of French Canadian nationalism is racist. The PQ leaders racist statements about Asian students in university wouldn't be tolerated any where else in Canada but its ok in Quebec.

2007-03-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

Shooting the Messengers.

The recent media reports on Al Gore's house and what vehicle David Suzuki drives shows how desperate those who haven't woken up to sustainability are. I'm not completely sold on Global Warming-we have only been keeping verifiable weather records for a little over 100 years, but we all can do better on the pollution front especially Canadians (the worst polluters per capita in the world). Critics don't want to address the message so they go after the messengers. In a way it shows they are starting to get an audience.

2007-02-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

Auto Sector.

The announcement this morning by DaimlerChryslers' Chrysler division that some 13000 jobs, 2000 in Canada-er, Ontario, are going to be cut is worrisome indeed for the North American Auto Sector. The so-called big 3 (Ford, GM, Dodge) are all in serious trouble. Billions of dollars in debt, facing huge losses somethings gotta give. They should bounce back with large scale re-organizations, embracing 21st Century thinking and getting better at anticipating and delivering on niche vehicles. The companys that welcome change are succeeeding, just look at Toyota. The Big 3 have become dinosaurs and we all know what happened to the dinosaurs.

2007-01-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

Greeniness.

To paraphrase Stephen Colbert's word of 2006 in analysis of Mr. Harper and Mr. Dions' out greening each other on the eve of yet another (possible) election in the only growth area for both the Conservatives and Liberals: Quebec. The Conservatives had their chance just a few short weeks ago when, now ex-Enviroment Minister, Rona Ambrose revealed the much hyped Conservative 'Enviromental Plan' to subsidise big oil for another 44 years. The Conservatives just don't get it and I doubt they ever will. The enviroment will be THE issue for the next 100 years. The ways and means of wealth needs to adapt to the new paradigm. Mr. Dion doesn't have a lot of creditability on this issue either, he was the Enviroment Minister under the Liberals and other than passing the Kyoto Accords really didn't show any leadership on this issue. Though, admittedly he's trying to make up lost ground. The NDP doesn't have all that much to offer other than the same ol' hippy leftist rant. The Green Party has part of the solution by placing clean air and water into the Constitution. This gives the Supreme Court a big bat to mediate the inevitable conflicts.

2007-01-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

JAMES BROWN.

I was saddened by the passing of music legend JAMES BROWN last month. He managed to live to 73, which in musician years is like 118. He had his personal problems and apparently was a tyrant to work for but his musical legacy i.e. funk, disco, rap will live til the sun goes supernova .

"Can I Hit it and Quit?"

2006-12-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

Iraqi TV.

Saw this documentary about programming by Iraqi based independant TV Producers on CBC Newsworld last night and it was the most heartening thing I've seen about Iraq in a long while. A key thing I learned is that because of the curfew induced by the security situation their is, literally, locked in viewers. It seems that Iraqi actors, composers etc. etc. are busier than ever. It is, certainly, a hazardous trip to set, but at least they are working. They are producing, among others, a political satire, home rebuilding shows, soap operas and 'Iraqi Star' an American Idol clone. I can't believe American 'Intelligence' organizations arn't using this form to fight the insurgents by showing Iraqi's to themselves--laughs, warts and all.