Tim Hudak Loves Faith Based School Funding, Still!

Robert Strange McNamara, 1916-2009

The Associataed Press is reporting that Robert S. McNamara, the former US Defence Secretary, has died this morning at 5:30AM.

For many, McNamara's name is synonymous with the Vietnam war. For me, however, McNamara stands for a rare honesty in politics.

In 2003 McNamara and director Errol Morris made a documentary about the war in Vietnam and all the mistakes made in Washington that caused such difficulties for America. The film is called "The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara," and it's worth a watch.

In the film, not only is McNamara openly critical of himself and his colleagues for their misunderstandings of Vietnamese politics, but also at one point he goes so far as to say that he and his government colleagues could have been prosecuted for war crimes.

That self criticism, I submit, is the most selfless and honest statement ever made by any American politician, ever. One can hardly imagine a George Bush or a Donald Rumsfeld making the same kinds of admissions about their failures in Iraq. McNamara, with his documentary, sets himself apart from other politicians with his selflessness and his nobility.

I make no judgements about his political record. Certainly, as someone who did not live through the Vietnam war, and who only came to know this person through a movie he made about himself, I should reserve judgement. My only hope, however, is that someday America benefits from similar honest discussion of its more recent defence and foreign affairs failures.

Judge Judy Typo in "You're Smarter Than You Look"

The following is a passage from Judy Sheindlin's "KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID: YOU'RE SMARTER THAN YOU LOOK "

"By shifting the emphasis from individual responsibility to governmen(sic) responsibility, we have infantilized an entire population."

And I wouldn't mention that, except that she just called us all stupid.

Word to the wise, and advice I often give new writers, make your words sweet, because you may have to eat them.

Happy Canada Day Toronto!

You take the 401 East; exit 416 North. Take that all the way to the 417 East, and exit Nicholas St. Park wherever you can find and walk West on Wellington until you get to the tall building on the hill.

Since you're not having your own party, you're invited. Happy Canada Day!

MJ Autopsy Results Fake?

Get ready for it everyone - the Michael Jackson Sighting Societies!

Blogs are good for suggesting potential MP's!

Lynne Graham!

I've taken a straw poll, and if my street is representative of anything, Lynne Graham would win Ottawa-Centre by a gigantic margin.

Thoughts?

Best Email Ever...

So I've got this date marked in my book with your name circled in red with stars and balloons and streamers and such, but I can't for the life of me remember why. �I know you've already had your christening, your bar mitzvah, your Bob your conversion to Liberalism on the Road to Damascus ... so it can only mean it must be time to say ...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!�
Or - if I've got this wrong and what you're actually celebrating is Jean Chretien's assuming the Liberal leadership (June 28, 1990) - well then ...
HAPPY REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST (AND NEVER TO COME AGAIN) DAY!!!!!!
All the best from�
Jack and Susan�

Phil Fontaine to Run for Liberals in Ottawa-Centre?

Usually I disregard rumours, but I've now heard from several independent sources that Phil Fontaine is considering a bid for the Liberal nomination in Ottawa-Centre.

Discuss.

Randy Hillier Smokes on Camera?

Next to playing football or street hockey on TV, this is the absolute worst thing he could do as a politician. Granted, the contest was over and he'd lost, but still - wow.

By contrast, we all know Obama is a smoker, but none of us has ever SEEN Obama smoking!

I don't know if he's just dumb, if he doesn't care, if he knows he's never going anywhere in politics, or if he's a sleeper tobacco lobbyist, but I watched this video at Stephen Taylor's site and I was just shocked. This is the kind of thing they tell you on your first day never ever to do.

"Tenacity" n.

After everything written about him and his defeats, after all the attacks, after a difficult bout as leader of a caucus that hardly supported him, John Tory is not finished.

Say what you will about his politics, his difficulties with faith based schooling, John Tory is a fighter. He is a politician's politician. He does not go quietly. He easily could have gone back to his lucrative law practice, and he deserves praise (if for nothing else) for being a tough sonofabitch.

If it's true (and I suspect it is true) that Tory is running for Mayor of Toronto, then I say his tenacity is quickly reaching Cool Hand Luke territory. Either he's indefatigable, or he just doesn't know what is good for him. In either case, he has set himself apart from other mere mortals who lose, quit, and are not heard from again.

My Liberal friends will forgive me, therefore, if my scribblings about Mr. Tory start to take on a tone of reverence. Someone this tough deserves to be recognized with a certain awe; I submit.

The one exception to my new found admiration for Mr. Tory, the one area where I think he should continue to get it good, is to say that Tim Hudak is now the new John Tory. Or maybe he's the new Ernie Eaves. Either or. Or the Next Mike Harris? Jeez it's hard to find a Tory leader in Ontario anyone likes...

You Can Hear Them Chanting....

All the way from Centre...

Past Ottawa West-Nepean...

To Toronto...

They're shouting...

Watson...

Watson... Watson... Watson....

Twitter Dominates Ahmedinejad; Facebook Dominates Twitter

Check this out.

If it's effective, it could reduce Twitter to a smaller historical footnote than the Iranian "President" whose stubborness is leading to revolution.

Oh, and a propos of nothing, American Republicans - I hope you are watching. THIS is how you do regime change. CNN > US Army.

Ottawa-Centre, con't...

Further to my previous post, Penny Collenette has decided for health reasons not to run again.

Penny won a hard fought nomination and campaigned amazingly here in Centre. Whoever comes next had better be ready for more of the same.

Jealous Of Quebec...

Happy St. Jean Baptist everyone! Now to complete my expression of jealousy of Quebec and it's celebration of its provincialnationness, I propose that Ontario needs its own highly nationalistic celebration of all things Upper Canadian. Let's brainstorm a name, shall we?

And do leave your suggestions in the box!

Oliver Mowatt Day: I'm a Liberal. Of course I went there.

St. Patrick's Day: End the "Brain Drain." Instantly make Ontario the coolest province in the federation by giving Ontarians St. Patrick's Day off - alternately I will settle for the day after St. Patrick's Day.

Ontario Day: Boring, yeah, but after the creation of "Family Day" by the McGuinty government can we really expect much from the namers of holidays?

Backyard BBQ Day: Just call it what it is. Give me the day off, and I'm going to fry up some Ontario beef and drink me some Ontario beer.

Upper Canada Day: Support History teachers everywhere who delight in explaining too young'uns how Ontario, which is mostly more Southern than Quebec, comes to be called "Upper Canada." Also support Upper Canada Brewing Company, which will no doubt milk this new holiday for all its worth.

Red Ensign Day: See reason for 5., history teachers, and even more confusing.

Tragically Hip Day: Yes. The Tragically Hip are from Kingston. Didn't you know?

Penny Collenette to Make Announcement Tonight

What this could mean is unsure, but Ottawa-Centre Liberal candidate and University of Ottawa professor Penny Collenette has something to say tonight.

Penny is an august campaigner and an accomplished professional. Some of her people who I've spoken with are adamant that she can carry Ottawa-Centre for Team Red; however, it is also well known that Penny suffers from chronic back problems. Given the timing of this announcement, it's possible that Penny has made a decision about her candidacy.

More as this develops.

At Issue Survey - Something Every Blogger Should Do

Most underrated. Lisa Raitt. She's got her foot stuck in it now, but she's a fighter. I'm not in the habit of praising Tories on my site, but nobody sees Lisa Raitt coming right now.

Most overrated. The Oliphant Commission. The Kodak Moment we all waited for never happened. Some of us were expecting David Frost. Sure, Mulroney cried, but he cried on direct examination - which means it was planned. He fake cried. If Richard Auger would have made him cry, that I would have believed.

Most shamelessly exploited issue. The "Economic Downturn." It became an excuse for anything, usable by anyone. "Sorry, you are really cute, but I can't go out with you because of the economic downturn."

Most under-reported event. The European Union Elections.

Best political play. Michael Ignatieff ending the "bully" myth, saying "don't mess with me, because I"ll mess with you until I'm done." Everyone liked it.

Worst political play. John Lennard's ballot scrutineer calling "TAILS" to break the YLC Presidential race tie. Seriously? Tails? Come ON!!!

Next election. 2012. It is the law in Canada that election dates are fixed, don't you know. It is one of the things the Prime Minister promised in the last election. h/t Mr. Coyne.

One Internet

We wouldn't tolerate two highways, one for expensive corporate cars and another slower one for you and me. We wouldn't tolerate two passports, one for rich corporations and another lesser one for simple consumers. We wouldn't allow two health care systems, one for the rich and another with slower service for poor people.

There is already enough divide in Canada between the wealthy and the not-wealthy. We don't need to include Internet access in that divide.

I was very happy to recieve the following from Liberal MP Marc Garneau:

Liberals speak out in support of net neutrality

OTTAWA - The Liberal Party announced its support for the principle of net neutrality in the House of Commons yesterday.

"The Liberal Party supports the principles of net neutrality and an open and competitive Internet environment," Liberal Industry, Science and Technology Critic Marc Garneau said during yesterday's Question Period.

Net Neutrality refers to the principle that internet traffic management should not selectively target certain websites, users or legitimate internet applications. Currently, no laws in Canada exist regulating the flow of Internet traffic.

"In a free and open democracy in the 21st century, in an innovative and progressive economy, no tool is more paramount than the Internet," said Mr. Garneau. "The Internet is the backbone of today's flow of free ideas."

Mr. Garneau asked the Conservative government whether they supported net neutrality but Industry Minister Tony Clement refused to answer the question.

"The issue of net neutrality is a global one," said Mr. Garneau. "Internet management should be neutral and not be permitted for anti-competitive behaviour nor should it target certain websites, users, providers or legitimate software applications. We must protect the openness and freedom of the internet, and maintain competition to spur innovation, improve service levels and reduce costs to users."

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Contact:

Office of MP Marc Garneau