Only in Japan...
In an attempt to fix my sleeping schedule so that I wake up sometime before 3:00 p.m., I've decided to stay up all night, collect a few news items, and share my thoughts; my vapid, pre-morning-delirium imaginations.
Enjoy!
The Power of Regionalism, er...
First up to bat, it seems Prime Minister Harper has been losing ground in Québec over, among other things, his alleged pro-Israel attitude. Although I'm not very trusting of polls — and even less trusting of CTV — this hardly surprises me, especially considering Harper's ability to pick up seats in Québec was built on the strength of what, one key issue? Regionalism? Distaste for Liberal blood and/or Adscam dollars?
(Or so we are told to think...)
The belief in the power of Adscam to make people vote blue only continues to amaze, surprise, and disquiet me. If, by 'Adscam', we actually mean 'general disgust with the fat, bloated federal Liberal party', that is.
There are some truths here, and let's be honest. A latté-sipping Habitant Mr. Harper is not. Same-sex marriage? Social welfare? Les Sepératistes? By some accounts, disenfranchised Liberal voters were more likely to vote Green in 2006 than Conservative. And what a great and uniquely Canadian misfortune it was to behold the Liberal party losing seats in Québec because it tried too hard to include Québec in the Grand Liberal Canadian dream.
But they didn't, and Harper rightly looked more like a reasonable alternative to the Big Red Machine than anything 'scary'. So Québecois voted for him in droves, and thus here we are with another misfortune on our bloody federal hands. A poll that says that Québec voters thrive on Ottawa's calamities; a poll that says that while disgust over the sponsorship scandal helped deliver Québec to Harper, Adscam's reduced profile is now delivering Harper to Québec. And by that I mean the "real" Harper — the one that supposedly isn't in tune with Québec's left-wing social and political agendas. Wither Lebanon. And wither Harper's elusive majority.
*cough*
The real meaning of this poll, if it is at all true, should be clear and present. Québecois don't see a political alternative to the Liberals in separation. They chose Harper over Duceppe by a fair margin, and they chose either over the Liberals by a landslide. There is room for a centrist party in Québec — Harper is a slight mismatch for Québec's left-wing social and political views. But who, WHO, will step in?
(This is rhetorical. On an aside, am I the only one who is reminded of something vaguely incestuous when I see Harper getting cozy with Quebec's premier? (Having just seen Superman Returns, I cannot resist: it's a Liberal — it's a Conservative — no, no, it's just an obese Jean Charest. *cough*)
Wikipedia is a legitimate source of information... so says CP. Uh, WTF?
Second up is the Canadian Press's use of Wikipedia as a source for Liberal leadership tallies. I have written on this blog and elsewhere that I think Wikipedia is a novel idea and well worth checking out when it comes to researching general information and imprecise overviews of fairly well-known subjects.
(When it comes to all else, check the sources).
I never thought, however, that I would see Wikipedia being sourced in a major news story written by a major news organization, especially in regards to specific information compiled about one of the least-known subjects on earth: Liberal Party of Canada politics. But when it comes to the Liberal race, Wikipedia is actually none too ill-suited. It is comprehensive (there are 12 candidates), can be updated on the fly (CPAC, though it is a 24-hours news channel, really only broadcasts new content for 6 of them), and is subject to vigorous VSOP debating which, we all know, means that Volpé-donating children of bodom — er, internet users — won't be able to troll all that effectively.
(Yes, I strongly support condemning Volpé and his cadre to the underbelly of a decrepit bridge, where, lacking both the organizational skills needed to escape their watery prison and the cognitive diarrhea necessary to decipher Joe's third-person ranting, the Volpé team will be unable to further harm to the Canadian public beyond scaring passers-by into dropping their wallets and screaming at the ghastly, cavernous landscape that is Volpé's mug.)
The exact quote:
Makes you wish CTV would compile a report in which the "real, non-free" media would "keep tabs" on things such as "democracy," "freedom," or, perhaps, "the Liberal purse."
I will Frog your Piano into submission!
Last up is this little gem from BBC.com. I knew Condi Rice could speak four languages, used to be the provost at Stanford U, and is generally regarded as an expert on Russian politics — but piano virtuoso? She's outdone herself. No, wait, the Japanese outdid herself. Er, themselves. Er...
Wondering about Canada?
Right, here's a great idea folks: we've been invited to a meeting organized by our soon-to-be-most-important-allies and one of the key economic and political regions of the world... to show our thanks, let's all dress up in jerseys and Zidane those Asian bastards into submission!!!
...let's also hope this doesn't reflect actual policies coming down the tube...
Uh, scratch that last one. ;)
再见。
Enjoy!
The Power of Regionalism, er...
First up to bat, it seems Prime Minister Harper has been losing ground in Québec over, among other things, his alleged pro-Israel attitude. Although I'm not very trusting of polls — and even less trusting of CTV — this hardly surprises me, especially considering Harper's ability to pick up seats in Québec was built on the strength of what, one key issue? Regionalism? Distaste for Liberal blood and/or Adscam dollars?
(Or so we are told to think...)
The belief in the power of Adscam to make people vote blue only continues to amaze, surprise, and disquiet me. If, by 'Adscam', we actually mean 'general disgust with the fat, bloated federal Liberal party', that is.
There are some truths here, and let's be honest. A latté-sipping Habitant Mr. Harper is not. Same-sex marriage? Social welfare? Les Sepératistes? By some accounts, disenfranchised Liberal voters were more likely to vote Green in 2006 than Conservative. And what a great and uniquely Canadian misfortune it was to behold the Liberal party losing seats in Québec because it tried too hard to include Québec in the Grand Liberal Canadian dream.
But they didn't, and Harper rightly looked more like a reasonable alternative to the Big Red Machine than anything 'scary'. So Québecois voted for him in droves, and thus here we are with another misfortune on our bloody federal hands. A poll that says that Québec voters thrive on Ottawa's calamities; a poll that says that while disgust over the sponsorship scandal helped deliver Québec to Harper, Adscam's reduced profile is now delivering Harper to Québec. And by that I mean the "real" Harper — the one that supposedly isn't in tune with Québec's left-wing social and political agendas. Wither Lebanon. And wither Harper's elusive majority.
*cough*
The real meaning of this poll, if it is at all true, should be clear and present. Québecois don't see a political alternative to the Liberals in separation. They chose Harper over Duceppe by a fair margin, and they chose either over the Liberals by a landslide. There is room for a centrist party in Québec — Harper is a slight mismatch for Québec's left-wing social and political views. But who, WHO, will step in?
(This is rhetorical. On an aside, am I the only one who is reminded of something vaguely incestuous when I see Harper getting cozy with Quebec's premier? (Having just seen Superman Returns, I cannot resist: it's a Liberal — it's a Conservative — no, no, it's just an obese Jean Charest. *cough*)
Wikipedia is a legitimate source of information... so says CP. Uh, WTF?
Second up is the Canadian Press's use of Wikipedia as a source for Liberal leadership tallies. I have written on this blog and elsewhere that I think Wikipedia is a novel idea and well worth checking out when it comes to researching general information and imprecise overviews of fairly well-known subjects.
(When it comes to all else, check the sources).
I never thought, however, that I would see Wikipedia being sourced in a major news story written by a major news organization, especially in regards to specific information compiled about one of the least-known subjects on earth: Liberal Party of Canada politics. But when it comes to the Liberal race, Wikipedia is actually none too ill-suited. It is comprehensive (there are 12 candidates), can be updated on the fly (CPAC, though it is a 24-hours news channel, really only broadcasts new content for 6 of them), and is subject to vigorous VSOP debating which, we all know, means that Volpé-donating children of bodom — er, internet users — won't be able to troll all that effectively.
(Yes, I strongly support condemning Volpé and his cadre to the underbelly of a decrepit bridge, where, lacking both the organizational skills needed to escape their watery prison and the cognitive diarrhea necessary to decipher Joe's third-person ranting, the Volpé team will be unable to further harm to the Canadian public beyond scaring passers-by into dropping their wallets and screaming at the ghastly, cavernous landscape that is Volpé's mug.)
The exact quote:
A rough gauge of ex-officio support can be gleaned from Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, which is keeping tabs on the public endorsements received by each of the 11 leadership contenders.
Makes you wish CTV would compile a report in which the "real, non-free" media would "keep tabs" on things such as "democracy," "freedom," or, perhaps, "the Liberal purse."
I will Frog your Piano into submission!
Last up is this little gem from BBC.com. I knew Condi Rice could speak four languages, used to be the provost at Stanford U, and is generally regarded as an expert on Russian politics — but piano virtuoso? She's outdone herself. No, wait, the Japanese outdid herself. Er, themselves. Er...
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso sported an overcoat and hat to perform in a sketch featuring cartoon characters such as giant frogs, a Power Ranger and a mutant lobster.
Wondering about Canada?
The Canadians put on football outfits and mocked up a Canada-Asean football match, which ended in a Zidane-style head butt and a red card.
Right, here's a great idea folks: we've been invited to a meeting organized by our soon-to-be-most-important-allies and one of the key economic and political regions of the world... to show our thanks, let's all dress up in jerseys and Zidane those Asian bastards into submission!!!
...let's also hope this doesn't reflect actual policies coming down the tube...
The Chinese group formed a choir and sang a song, while the Russians performed a sketch in which Asean became the world's only superpower.
Uh, scratch that last one. ;)
再见。
posted by C. LaRoche at
05:21
5...thoughts from my fellow Saturnalians:
Chris,
You try too hard.
- Riles ;)
By
Forward Looking Canadian, at Wed Aug 02, 02:45:00 p.m. ADT
If I didn't, this blog would never get updated.
Now link this on yours so I can get some visitors other than Jen Bond!
(No offence to DSU tightasses, of course).
By
C. LaRoche, at Wed Aug 02, 02:46:00 p.m. ADT
This is what happens when you work where I do...you look at people's blogs a BAJILLION times a day!
By
Anonymous, at Wed Aug 02, 03:34:00 p.m. ADT
Lol..
I honestly think that Canada is doomed to a long string of minority governments for the next little while.
No one can break the deadlock..
By
Eric, at Thu Aug 03, 10:59:00 a.m. ADT
Probably. A conservative majority is in sight, but Harper can't lose much in Quebec. As it stands he needs to gain elsewhere -- cities (mainly Toronto), Ontario, the Maritimes, more Québec. If he loses Québec, the rest of the battle becomes quite a bit harder. The Liberals' strong points were that they effectively held most cities, much of Québec, much of Ontario, and spots in BC and the Maritimes. Harper has the West going for him, but not, obviously, the East or many city ridings, all of which amount to a lot more seats that need to be gained. A lot of what we see going into the next election will be a matter of trust. Harper is going to put himself even more in the middle policy-wise than before, and it'll be up to the rest of Canada to believe that he's actually there. This minority government we're having now is Harper's way of proving that to us.
By
C. LaRoche, at Thu Aug 03, 03:05:00 p.m. ADT
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