The Canadian Voter : One of two personalities

The final stretch. For weeks now we have witnessed some of the most unique and similar campaigning all at once. Now it is almost time for the last and most meaningful poll. Watching each campaign unfold through the usual media outlets, they turn to average folks for their opinions and questions. I started to take notice last week when I began to hear the question, "What is the most important issue in this election to you?". It seems that there is only one of two minds available in our nation regarding the answer. Most claim the natural responses, healthcare, childcare, social programs, GST cuts, etc. When considering what the basis is of each of the 'normal' responses I concluded that each was the same on a fundamental level. How much money do I stand to get from the elected government? It seems to me that this is the most honest and open answer. They all add up to this in some fashion. Perhaps the voters in this country kept the Liberals around for so long because as a party they were masters of paying Canadians one-hundred while skimming one-thousand. As a nation of individuals, do we not want to aspire to something greater together and individually? As it stands we are a nation with whom the majority (it seems) is making the same decision in electing their officials as they would in salary negotiations at a new employer. Success is dependent on the individual's own will and drive. The same results most of us are basing our votes on can be obtained through one's ability to think and work. Why would we, as a majority in the nation, not ask for the path of least resistance to this result? The next time a media outlet asks the issue question, listen for the response that states they want a new chance to make their own future, not fight for the federally money they feel entitled to, leave that money in your pocket where it belongs. Keep listening.

To-Do List : The CBC

Whether it's Peter Mansbridge's aging frown or the Current's long-winded-lefty introductions, we are all surrounded by the CBC. Now don't batten down the hatches and load the shotguns just yet. I have recently made a couple of trips to the CBC's website looking at historical Canadian events. It was actually impressive the organization and distribution of content. I know what some are thinking, I'm not going soft and I haven't mixed the blue pills with molson again. Maybe the CBC has a place amoung us, not as a media company, but as a historical Canadian content manager. Why? Well, first of all the public broadcasting budget could be removed or seriously reduced and they are sitting on the best collection of Canadian historical content. It would take away their power in the situation to immediately bring the option to the viewer. The business of opinion making would be completely off the table. They would only have the power of reflection on any given situation. Some shuttered when they read that last line, but consider this, did you watch the "Secret Mulroney Tapes"? I had to remind myself I was watching CBC at every commercial break. Mulroney was a victim at every turn according to them. If their perspective is of that position on most events; the conservatism message may have a hope of showing its' face on Canada's public broadcaster, er, historical content manager, once again. Perhaps the CBC turns it head in a left to right direction while observing a situation. As the situation approaches the CBC is focused left and predictions are made. As the situation appears before them the CBC focuses direct centre and opinions are given. As the situation passes and drifts off into the distance, the CBC turns right to make its' final observations.

Apologies and Brison's Ass

How do the politics of this country always come down to the ass of an MP? Some saw this, some did not. It's worth the read. Over the weekend the Toronto Sun picked up a story about Scott Brison having a lovely lunch in a Nova Scotia restaurant with a 'long-time, loyal liberal supporter' Sandra McGrath. McGrath apparently made the comment that she would not be supporting Scotty's campaign for re-election. Brison took a deep breath, drew from the ball of rage (watch his eyes if you don't belive me) bit back with, "Well, I've got something to tell you: I'm going to be the MP for a very, very long time, and you can kiss my ass." McGrath has since requested an apology from Brison. Get in line. Harper just received his first from Brison last week. Asses aside for a second Scott, is that remark meant to be angry or affectionate?

Love of Money

Love is in the hot air. As I watch Paul Martin stand up and scream "I love Canada!" my eyes roll into the back of my head and forth again. When I witness the decoration of his lust towards a nation, I think back to that brand new Chewbacca I opened when I was eight-years old and how I declared my love of the comical Wookie with Mr. Martin's enthusiasm. However my love of chewy was based solely on a one-way relationship I enjoyed. Chewbacca would continuously go before battle after battle, being dangled above the sewer drain on the front street inches away from a fall into the abyss. After some time Chewbacca's arm fell off and he could not stand up on his own any longer. Shortly after that a new love was declared for his replacement. Just as my love was based solely on the usefulness of the object, so is the love of Paul Martin. Once Canada has served its purpose and begins to fall apart on his watch that love will quickly be transferred to a new, more useful object.

The CBC Returns with "Election Night in Canada"

As I type the CBC and its' workers, represented by the Canadian Media Guild, are feverishly working out the details of a plan. The plan would have locked out CBC workers back in their jobs beginning this week one optimist points out. The talks, which were sparked up by MP Joe Fontana (or Joey the Fountain as he's known in inner Liberal circles), are based on the fact that the CBC cannot go through a lockout during the start up of a long anticipated season of NHL action. Hockey is Canada's game afterall. The usual suspects (Globe, Star, etc) are reporting the story solely on the fact that hockey, or lack thereof, is the motivator in the situation. Although the CBC enjoys a success with Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) I have a hard time swallowing that 'fact'. Step back, and don't focus just on the puck. Have a look at the game that's going on. The Liberals know that they need a sure shot on goal in the upcoming federal election. They also know that from behind their blueline there is a hell of a lot of skating and dancing the puck down the ice. They top this off with the fact that their best defensive player (who doubles in offense) is the CBC. With the CBC currently on the bench, their odds aren't looking like they want them to. Send in Joey Fountain. Get them off the bench and skating. As the Liberals see it whether is it a snap election in the fall or after the holiday season they need the CBC up and around. The longer before the polls open the better. With the CBC firmly in place the old world order takes effect again with General Mansbridge blindly marching the troops against the right in Canada. So while the CBC tapes up their sticks and sharpens their skates the Liberals have arranged for their MVPR (Most Vauable Public Relations) to take the centre position in the game of politics.

Discovering Jean-Daniel Lafond, Remembering 9/11

Jean-Daniel Lafond and September 11, 2001 seem to be years apart. September 11, 2001 was a day of tragedy and loss the world has never encountered previously. Jean-Daniel Lafond is a much lesser tragedy that Canada has faced before. Officials in New York have released 15 hours (plus) of FDNY and EMS tapes being released that vividly describe the last moments and thoughts of the victims caught in both towers and below. The tapes (available for download on some sites) bring that horrible day back to families of the victims in a rushing torrent of emotion and to those of us who played witness to the events through the media. John Ralston Saul, the outgoing coattail rider, had some opinions on the tragedies of that day that I have and never will remove from my head. In an interview with Charles Adler he stated that he could not believe the humanity shown from the people trapped in the towers given that they were in the financial sectors (I do not have the exact quote, Mr. Adler may be able to provide). He implies that these people generally do not show human traits and he, as a profound human, was surprised that they were in the end, human. As it seems our incoming coattail rider, Mr. Lafond, seems to share a tangential opinion of 9/11. Following the attacks in America that day, Mr. Lafond was doing an interview with the Montreal Mirror about documentaries he was making and had made. The interviewer, Matthew Hays asks the then Rencontres president Jean-Daniel Lafond about 9/11. Here's a quote from the Montreal Mirror's site: Filmmaker and Rencontres president Jean-Daniel Lafond waxes philosophic on the state of the art of documentary filmmaking practice, particularly in the wake of 9/11. "How many September 11ths will it take," Lafond asks, "for our societies to question their own acts before dropping bombs?" Mr. Lafond, a CBC-described philosopher, implies that we need to face the guilt of our past as a continent before taking action on the worst attack on our soil in history? Past guilt should be left to those who choose to live in the past and who cannot live in the present or think in the future because they will lose their most valuable ability, hindsight. Perhaps now that the events of 9/11 are in our past Mr. Lafond would like to consider them, think on it and provide us with a philosophic view that casts the guilt upon our western ways once more. The media is reporting today that Jean-Daniel Lafond has been asked to pledge his commitment to Canada because of his FLQ leaning views and close friends with FLQ ties. In addition to the questionability of Mr. Lafond's status as a warm-blooded Canadian, it must be asked if he is as well a warm-blooded human.

G-G to Supercilious Canadian Public: I Am Here Now

Spielberg couldn't have directed it better. The Canadian media running down the avenues like a panic-stricken Tom Cruise. The Globe, The Post, everyone had their special two-page pull out sections with cheat sheets on the who's and why's of the next Canadian Governor General. But much like the slumbering alien ships of War of the Worlds, the lady for the job has been buried under Canadians noses for years. Michaëlle Jean was announced on Thursday as the next G-G with all the fanfare and coloured balloons of a Paul Martin news conference. And she wasted no time in bursting out from under two tons on packed concrete. Ms. Jean opened her eyes to the press and began the moral slaughter. "I've never been a token, and never will be" she commented adding, "I have come a long way. My ancestors were slaves.". With heads hung down in shame, the press anxiously awaited the Prime Minister's thoughts on the appointment. "This has nothing to do with ... partisan matters, hers is a story that reminds us what is best about ourselves and about Canada - a nation where equality of opportunity is our most defining characteristic, giving testament to our longest-held values." Consistent with all other Paul Martin comments, you can take any three words and place them in front of any other three words and continue building a statement. But there are three words that describe Ms. Jean's speech that day, "best about ourselves". She seems to be placing her foot steadily above the Canadian public assuming her place high and above, threatening a moment’s notice before crushing us all with her stories of triumph and tragedy. She's a refugee from Haiti who fled violence from a murderous regime that, blah, blah, blah...end with pulling a nose hair for a big juicy tear. This type of self-righteousness is well preserved in her past mumblings to the mother corporation and other Quebec media. "I have a feeling that a page of history was written, just by my simple presence.", a comment to the Montreal Gazette in 1994. I think she wants us to roll up the whole Haitian, immigrant, black, woman situation and bow down to her presence, her being in some sort of servitude. All this has happened (and will continue to happen) while Paul Martin sits in his leather-padded office trying to decide which colour Smartie to cheat on next. So for those of you with the distinguished honour of meeting our new G-G in the coming months and years, remember to bow your head in respect and lower you soul in shame. Here's to Wendy Mesley in 2010!