Coalition Fallout: Michael Ignatieff reaps what he sowed

Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff killed the formal Liberal-NDP coalition upon replacing Stephane Dion.  NDP leader Jack Layton was furious, and still is.  And now Jack Layton is having his revenge.

Tell the Liberals what you think about how to buy stocks

Scott Brison is mailing people in Newmarket, asking them, and possibly others, about their opinions about the current economic crisis.

This cuts across party lines.  I say we all offer our opinions.

Two very different meetings between Liberal MPs and Tamils

The recent demonstrations of Tamils in Toronto and Ottawa and elsewhere have resulted in some high-level but behind-the-scenes meetings between MPs of various parties and Tamil leaders.

The details of Michael Ignatieff's recent meeting gave cause to the National Post to praise the Liberal Party leader.  I wonder if Jonathan Kay knew the about a very different meeting involving Liberal MPs and Tamils that happened only a few weeks earlier.

I wonder if Michael Ignatieff knew about that meeting.

CUPE student paper links Jews to criticism of Sid Ryan and his academic boycott

Remember when Sid Ryan, the head of Ontario branch of CUPE suggested that Israeli academics be compelled to denounce Israel or be banned from Ontario universities?  It caused quite an uproar. 

Well, apparently, the uproar was stage-managed by the Jews.  Shocking, isn't it?

An attack on Stephen Harper, or just clever continuous journalism?

Yeah, I'll catch flak from conservatives on this one, but I just don't see what's wrong with the Harperdex.

David Suzuki wants to have a serious chat with Michael Ignatieff

Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff is having trouble making friends.  Hi problem, of course, is the way in which he will tell you one thing, then another in the space of days or even hours, depending on who he is trying to please.  Asbestos is good.  Asbestos is bad.  Israel was justified in the attack on Qana.  Israel committed war crimes in Qana.  Ignatieff will raise taxes.  Ignatieff won't raise taxes.  Ignatieff is for a carbon tax.  Ignatieff is against a carbon tax.

Michael Ignatieff has got David Suzuki pretty upset about that last one, that carbon tax thing.

Not everyone is buying into the Michael Ignatieff narrative

Michael Ignatieff, the soon-to-be-official leader of the Liberal Party, is a great speaker who charms his audiences on his way to becoming the next prime minister of Canada.

Or so the media narrative goes.

But not everyone is buying into it.  In this review of Michael Ignatieff's appearance in Niagara Falls, the Liberal leader is described as boring and patronizing.

Maybe this reporter didn't get the memo.

I call it the Smitherman Hum

A study suggests the obvious.  Being subjected to constant low frequency vibrations, like those that are caused by wind turbines, causes health problems.  Ontario's Minister of Energy, George Smitherman, has already said that the government of Ontario will simply ignore the complaints of residents and put windmills where ever he sees fit to put them.

I'm calling this Smitherman Hum.  Not the low frequency vibrations and constant background noise that might be at the root of the health problems being reported by people forced to live near wind farms, though that would be apt.  To be precise, the Smitherman Hum refers to the loud humming noise George Smitherman makes as he plugs his ears with his fingers so that he can pretend not to have heard Ontario residents who are demanding that their property rights be respected.

National Review is wrong: America can't do better than Janet Napolitano

The National Post has hit one out of the park.  The brutal lashing delivered to US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has been showcased on the Drudge Report, and praised by the National Review.  But I think the National Review makes a mistake when it states that President Barack Obama could have done better than appoint someone as monumentally ignorant as Janet Napolitano to this most important post.

Something the CBC could learn from Canwest: Close the door to save costs

In a study in contrasts, the CBC, publicly funded broadcaster, is in trouble for what seems to be frivolous and insensitive spending, justified by an inexplicable inability to close the doors at meeting rooms at the CBC.  Canwest, on the other hand, has successfully negotiated past another deadline and continue to operate without government handouts.

Tamil protests in England getting hotter

As I've feared, as the Tamil Tigers face elimination in Sri Lanka, their supporters who are protesting in foreign capitals are being more frantic.

In England, several have attempted to immolate themselves.

Jack Layton and the NDP see polls and money, and so change tune

Jack Layton surprised no one when he suddenly spoke of working with the Conservative government to make EI work better.  Why isn't this a surprise?  Because of rumours that the Liberals, who are enjoying a jump in polling numbers, want to force an election in the fall.

But if the Liberals are going to attempt to force an election in the fall, they'll need the support of both the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois.  Thanks to Jean Chretien, though, the NDP might seriously look for reasons not to go to the polls.  It comes down to money, and the fact that when it comes to election timing, it is hard to imagine an election that is good both for the Liberals and the NDP.

That's why jack Layton's sudden turn around doesn't come as a surprise.

What will happen when the Tamil Tigers lose?

That the Tamil Tigers are about to be crushed by Sri Lankan forces is no longer in doubt.  An ultimatum has been issued, and refugees are streaming out of the 20 square kilometers that represent the last holdout of the rebel group.

But the Tamil Tigers have one weapon left in their arsenal, and that is the ability to rally thousands of supporters in demonstrations in places like Canada.  Such a rally is going to happen today.

What is going to happen tomorrow?

Steve Savage confirms infighting among Halton Liberals over the return of Garth Turner

Information continues to flow unabated to me from within the Halton Federal Liberal Association.

The latest is a letter from HFLA President Steve Savage asking that Liberals stop sending me information.

I guess that's sort of ironic.

But this letter is a good one.  Steve Savage discusses the internal dispute concerning strategy to fight an upcoming election, and appeals to a sense of Liberal unity to keep the dispute un wraps.

Yeah, too late for that.

Doug Allen and the Screen Actors Guild: Is there a warning for Ken Lewenza?

Chrysler Canada is in crisis.  A proposed move by Fiat to save Chrysler could fall apart because of what many see as intransigence by Ken Lewenza, the head of the Canadian Autoworkers Union.

There was another union head who came in to leader his membership to demand the best contract and only the best.  It was Doug Allen of the Screen Actors Guild.  Doug Allen was fired from his position as national executive director and chief negotiator, because his intransigence was seen as an impediment to progress to an acceptable contract by moderate members of the SAG.

So I wonder if Ken Lewenza's furious reaction to management contacting workers directly is rooted in fear.  Fear that he might end up like Doug Allen.

John McCallum: There are lies, and then there are pathetic lies

Federal Liberal finance critic John McCallum has been caught in a lie.  No he didn't steal money or fake his resume.  He drives an imported car (a Jetta, to be exact), but when asked, he bumbled and mumbled and said he drove a Chevy.

Pathetic.

Halton Liberals really need to let go of Garth Turner

Maybe it's a small thing.  Hey, as a website administrator myself, I rarely update this aspect of my website.  But the meta data for the keywords and description of a website ought to be updated when a major change happens.

It's not like it happens all that often.

Losing a re-election bid is the sort of thing that happens only once in a while.  You'd think that would be momentous enough to prompt a refresh of the Halton Liberal riding association website.  But no.  According to the meta data, the website is about Garth Turner, and providing support for him.

Knocking the legs out from under the Schreiber inquiry

Will all due respect to Justice Jeffrey Oliphaunt, the inquiry he is leading into the financial dealings between Karlheinz Schreiber and former prime minister Brian Mulroney is just a big waste of time.

Didn't Karlheinz Schreiber just admit that he can't vouch for the accuracy of the affidavit that is justifying this inquiry?

True to form, Michael Ignatieff attempts to clarify his off-the-cuff promise to raise taxes

Within hours, Michael Ignatieff is attempting to clarify his promise to raise taxes.  No surprise there, except perhaps with the speed at which we've arrived at the "clarification" stage.  Usually it takes a few days.

I guess Michael Ignatieff's handlers are getting better with all practise they've been getting.

Michael Ignatieff: Asbestos? Qana? Senate appointments? And now higher taxes?

When Michael Ignatieff wandered off his prepared text to answer a question on asbestos, he messed up the answer, and had to flip-flop within days.

When Michael Ignatieff wandered off his prepared text to answer a question on Israeli actions in Lebanon, he messed up the answer, and had to flip-flop within days.

When Michael Ignatieff wandered off his prepared text to answer a question on Senate appointments, he messed up the answer, and had to flip-flop within days.

Now Michael Ignatieff is threatening to raise taxes, and did so when he wandered off his prepared text.  Are we going to be treated to another flip-flop in the coming days?

A message to Michael Ignatieff: Stop with the crap about children and taxes

I should be fair to Michael Ignatieff and point out he's certainly not the only politician who does this.  But I'm calling him out on it, because he's supposed to be such a smart guy.  What irks me is this business of not loading deficits onto our children by raising taxes today.

What garbage!

Garth Turner and Michael Ignatieff crossing paths this week in Halton

Garth Turner, former Liberal MP for Halton and Stephane Dion booster, is launching his newest book in Halton next month.  The launch party is actually a fundraiser for the Halton Liberal riding association. 

Garth Turner's appearances are being arranged by Liberal riding association president Steve Savage, who seems to be focused on the Turner-dominated past, and not on a Turner-free future.

But then, maybe not.  What if Garth Turner is hoping to be part of the Liberal story in Halton again?

I wonder if Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff is finally going to say anything about this.  Ignatieff has a perfect chance to put an end to some of this speculation and uncertainty.  That opportunity presents itself this Wednesday when Ignatieff addresses the Oakville Chamber of Commerce.  Oakville is, of course, in the riding of Halton.

Remarkably, this is the same day (I am told) Garth Turner is holding court (again) in nearby Milton.

Coincidence?  A setup for a big announcement?  Or a clash?

Bob Rae embraces American election software to manage donations

Liberal MP Bob Rae has shifted his fundraising efforts an American electioneering software giant, abandoning the Liberal Party donation page for his leadership campaign debts.

I know the Liberals have purchased the same software the Democrats use in the United States for tracking voter intention and integrating polling data and such, but it surprises me that the Bob Rae is funnelling donation money through the US.

Cheering for Tamil political suicides

The Tamil protests in Ottawa are a nuisance, and in all likelihood, won't escalate past the level of a nuisance.

But in looking into some of the links that lead from this story, I find myself concerned that there are those who might not mind seeing these protests become something more.

GTAA board takes action to save jobs -- their own

People are losing jobs in this recession, and it is good to hear of a company trying hard not to lay off employees.  In this case, though, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority board of directors is taking action to save their own jobs.

Oh well.  Still counts, I guess.

In any case, the GTAA is admitting that the correct response to the discovery of a security breach is to close the security breach, and not to attack the people who found the breach.

Another Mathias Rust or another Charles Bishop?

A developing story has a Cessna 172 out of Thunder Bay, Ontario, refusing to respond to ground control, now flying over American airspace.

It recalls the Mathias Rust story in many ways.  Or perhaps it will end tragically like the story of Charles Bishop.

Greenpeace admits it was behind the iodine pill scare

Toronto Police Services are investigating an incident in which what looks like an iodine pill was left at a residence, along with some sort of message about the dangers of nuclear power.

The pill and the message were left, allegedly, by Greenpeace.  [Update: Greenpeace admits they were behind the scheme.]

The Torono police are not amused.  They don't like it when medication is left out where anyone, including children, can find it.

Watching David Suzuki get blasted by self-righteous statistic-quoting environmentalists

Imagine David Suzuki being raked over the coals by a bunch of holier-than-thou environmentalists.

Well, it's happening for real, but no, it's not as much fun to watch as I imagined it would be.

It's more fun!

Michael Ignatieff is a liar? Thems fightin' words!

Calling Michael Ignatieff an out-and-out liar has got to hurt.  I doubt it'll precipitate a rebellion in the Liberal ranks, but Michael Ignatieff has been wounded by this.  He's made a mess of a question on asbestos, and in doing so, he's managed to look like a rank amateur.  That will take time and effort to repair.

An interesting response from the GTAA regarding the security breach

The GTAA has responded to the ballsy move by Transport Minister John Baird and Senator Colin Kenny to breach security at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

They just walked onto the tarmac, where planes loaded with men, women, and children were idling, loaded with thousands of gallons of highly flammable jet fuel.

The response from the GTAA?  Withdraw the privileges from the four RCMP officers who quietly accompanied the pair, for not having stopped the two from making fools of the GTAA board.

I have a response of my own, directed to the board.

We should fire...you...all.

John Baird and Colin Kenny: Men of action

John Baird and Colin Kenny, Conservative Transport Minister and Liberal Senator, respectively, broached security at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. 

Good for them!

Angry in the Great White North by Steve Janke is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License. Based on a work at stevejanke.com.