Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Bob Barker to Retire from Price is Right


Bob Barker will be retiring from the Price is Right after 35 years. While I haven't watched the show lately, it always seemed to be on TV when I was growing up.

I have no enduring fondness for the man and my most vivid memory of him is the fight scene with Adam Sandler in "Happy Gilmore". I only wish that Gilmore had thumped Barber in that one with some brass knuckles or something...

RunFortierRun.com

Could this be the next rename Stockwell Day "Doris Day" moment for Rick Mercer?

Monday, October 30, 2006

There's inappropriate, and then there's this...


When you have no credibility in your portfolio, and your upbringing was stuffing envelopes for Karkheinz Schreiber, I guess that circling the wagons in Puppygate and trotting out Mulroney's former Chief of Staff, Patronage appointee, and tobacco lobbyist to spin for you must make sense in some demented way.

Here is my rough transcription from the quote from this morning's Bill Good show by Norman Spector:

This a pretty humiliating issue...dumping a guy for a Cabinet post. This is a tremendous political issue...The other thing that's changed in Ottawa is that half of the press gallery are women and women find this very offensive...You and I might have a different word for a dog, at least I would have a different word for a dog that I would use to describe her to decribe what she's done to the Domi family and how she dumped Peter MacKay.
That's right. Don't call women dogs because they're half the press gallery!

CTV News reported tonight that Spector actually called Stronach a bitch. Spector refused to apologize but did not deny rumours that he was trolling for a 3rd Tory patronage appointment as head of Status of Women Canada. Apparently when he gets through with them, women will know not to speak out...

Word on the street is that Gravel, Stevens, LaSalle and Bissonnette will be trotted out to support Potato Patch Pete in the days to come.

Someone should ask Lord Vader if he agrees with his former Chief of Staff's comments.

The $7,000,000,000,000 problem

The Globe and Mail reports that a study by the former chief economist of the World Bank Sir Nicholas Stern indicates that the cost of Global climate change could exceed the combined costs of 2 world wars and the great depression combined. He goes on to say that global warming will cost $7-trillion in lost output and could force as many as 200 million people out of their homes because of flood or drought unless drastic action is taken by governments worldwide.

In other news, only 44 years until Canada's new Conservatives finish their consultations on limiting the rate of increase in greenhouse gas emissions. But boy were they tough on in door air quality.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Former Ignatieff Co-Chair supports Bob Rae

Former Michael Ignatieff co-chair Susan Kadis has thrown her support to Liberal Leadership candidate Bob Rae, stating that Rae is "highly experienced" and shares her fundamental principles.

"I believe that Mr. Rae in particular will bring clarity to the important issues of the day in ways that unite the country," Kadis said.
This statement speaks volumes about the concern many Canadians feel about the Constitutional can of worms that Ignatieff opened up last weekend. As well, her praise for Rae's experience, clarity and "consistency" underscored the qualities she felt Ignatieff was lacking when she withdrew her support from him earlier this month.

Kadis quit after Ignatieff, the rookie MP from Etobicoke accused Israel of committing a war crimes during its bombardment of Hezbollah guerrillas last summer.

What goes around, comes around

Today, Steve Harper said to the media that he was shocked and appalled that the Liberal Party was getting in the way of his gutting of the Kyoto and Kelowna Accords. I hate to break it to ya Stevie, but you don't have a majority in the House of Commons and you are going to have to realize that the opposition parties and the vast majority of Canadians support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. On that subject, you should do your part to support the previous government's One-tonne challenge and try to sequester some of the hot air emanating from your disgraced Environment Minister.

My for point for PM Steve is this - you can either work with opposition parties to make Parliament work, and respect the reputation of Canada on International Treaties (Kyoto) or with other levels of government (Kyoto) or break your word (again, remember hospital wait times?) and suffer the consequences from the electorate. Take a good long look at the arrogant guy in the mirror at 24 Sussex, it is not the ghost of Prime Ministers past...and please stop whining.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

pumpernickel recipe # 9 - Grilled cheese on pumpernickel

All the talk about Vermont cheese has gotten me hungry:

Ingredients:
Pumpernickel Bread - 2 Slices per sandwich
Herb Havarti Cheese - Sliced
Shelburne Farms 18 or 24 month aged cheddar - sliced
Tomato - Sliced
Butter

Directions:
- Butter the outside of 2 slices pumpernickel bread.
- Cover unbuttered side of one slice of bread with havarti
- Add a layer of tomato
- Add a layer of the cheddar
- Place the other slice of bread (buttered side up)
- Grill over medium heat 3-4 minutes, flip, and grill other side until browned (90 seconds)

Serve with a Vermont microbrew like Magic Hat Blind Faith Ale or Hocus Pocus {only available in summer} or Otter Creek Copper Ale. Cheers.

Take that Wisconsin!!!


I was in Vermont yesterday and came accross the following link that describes Vermont as having the best cheeses in the USA.

Now whatever will Packers' fans wear on their heads, now that they have to hang their heads in shame?

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

What I, err, he meant to say was...

Yesterday, there was a very interesting, yet troubling statement made by MP and sometimes Michael Ignatieff supporter Raymonde Folco when she told the Globe and Mail that she had considered withdrawing her support for the Iggster after being critical of his Israel remarks.

But after speaking to him at length, she said she believes that Mr. Ignatieff did not say what he really meant. She said she believes his position on Quebec has struck a chord with Quebeckers, and his performance in Saturday's candidates debate won him support."

Today, Canadian Press is reporting that there is a new fad in Ottawa, the interpretive Ignatieff dance.

OTTAWA (CP) - Not even supporters of Liberal leadership frontrunner Michael Ignatieff agree what his proposal to recognize Quebec as a nation would mean.

Reaction is all over the map: some Ignatieff supporters express outright opposition, some cautiously endorse it, and others enthusiastically welcome it as a first step toward recognizing every province as a nation. Their conflicting views are prompting more doubts about the wisdom of raising the idea in the first place.
"In British Columbia, people recognize the (linguistic) duality of Canada," Victoria MP Keith Martin, an Ignatieff supporter, said in an interview Tuesday.

"But they recognize one Canada, one nation, one country."

Martin urged Liberals to focus on issues that are common priorities for Quebecers and other Canadians, like health care, rather than get caught up in a potentially divisive debate over "nomenclature."

At the other extreme, Newfoundland MP Gerry Byrne, another Ignatieff supporter, said recognizing Quebec as a nation is no big deal. He said Acadians and aboriginal peoples are routinely called nations, so why not a province? Indeed, why not his own province?

"We are a nation of nations so I don't really see this as a thin edge of the wedge issue," Byrne said in an interview.

He noted that Newfoundland and Labrador "was actually a nation until 1949" when it joined Canada. And he wouldn't rule out recognizing Ontario or other provinces as nations as well.

But Byrne's use of the word nation to describe Newfoundland's past status as a separate country is precisely the kind of confusion the word engenders and which worries other Liberals.

Ignatieff points out the term does not imply a separate state. In his platform, Ignatieff contends that Quebecers' language, history, culture and territory "marks them out as a separate people" who should be recognized as a nation. He also says that recognition, as well as the recognition of aboriginal first nations, should eventually be enshrined in the Constitution.

Over the weekend, the Quebec wing of the party, which is dominated by Ignatieff supporters, passed a resolution calling for the recognition of Quebec as a nation.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe and other prominent separatists have since said such recognition must be backed up by more powers for the province or it will be dismissed as meaningless symbolism.

But Ignatieff himself has ruled out any change in the division of powers and some of his supporters clearly wouldn't be comfortable with anything more than a strictly symbolic gesture.

Marc Lalonde, fomer Quebec Liberal kingpin during the Pierre Trudeau era, said he has no qualms about the proposal, "provided that it's clear what you mean by nation."

"Spain has recognized Catalonia as a nation and Spain has not blown up," said Lalonde, who supports Ignatieff.

Nova Scotia MP Robert Thibault, another Ignatieff fan, said recognition of nationhood "doesn't mean special status," although he conceded it will probably be hard to explain to Canadians. Nevertheless, he said he's not sure if he'll support the Quebec wing's resolution when it is put to a vote during the party's national leadership convention in December.

The potential for the debate to divide Quebec Liberals against those from other parts of the country worries Stephane Dion, the lone Quebec candidate. While he personally has no problem recognizing Quebec as a nation, Dion thinks the debate over constitutional recognition is fraught with unnecessary risk.

"I don't want this disagreement to be interpreted as a rejection of Quebec by other Canadians. . . or a rejection by our party of the Quebec wing of our party," Dion said.


OK Boys and Girls so is it the Byrne definition, the Duceppe one, the Folco one or the Thibault one? Wow, no special status and a nation/province like any other...that's not what I heard in French. And as Paul Wells pointed out yesterday, what is appealing to nationalists in Quebec is not what most federal Liberals signed up for.

Let me state my position clearly: A 2-state proposal is not on for me.

What is Bobby Clarke's next move?


Following my prognostications last week about Bobby Clarke's political ambitions, Mr. Clarke stepped down over the weekend as GM of the Philadelphia Flyers. The rumour mill in Ottawa is buzzing with news that Mr. Clarke is trying to decide between seeking a nomination from Mr. Harper's Conservatives or possible nomination under an Ignatieff-led (as opposed to Ken Dryden-led) Liberal Party.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Sounds familiar...

Barrack Obama was quoted on the weekend as saying, this about the Bush administration:

"This is the most ideologically driven administration in my memory, so obstinate in resisting facts, dissenting opinions ... [They entered the White House] with a set of preconcieved notions." Obama said. "I think this administration has done great damage to this country."
"I wouldn't fit in with this administration [because I think] actually being informed is a good basis for policy," Obama said to laughter.

I swear if you listen to it slowly he could be talking about the Steve and his crew...

Monday, October 23, 2006

Bye-bye avenue du Parc

So the Charest government in its wisdom has decided to change the name of Parc Avenue in Montreal to "Robert Bourassa". This decision was made without the consent or support of the Parc Avenue merchants.

Bourassa was a waffling dithering premier who was politically successful by playing on the ambivalence of his attachment to Canada. What I find most galling is that his connection to Parc Avenue was tenuous at best. I, for one, don't know why you would name such a thriving, multicultural and cosmopolitan street after him.

As someone whose family has had strong ties to the area, what on earth will we call Parc Extention?

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Republican governor "appalled" at ...Republicans

I read the following story in today's Burlingtom Free Press and was left slack-jawed trying to figure out how to decribe the Republican Party's eugenic approach to next month's votes:

Douglas 'appalled' at Republicans

October 22, 2006
The Associated Press

MONTPELIER -- Gov. Jim Douglas, who co-chaired President Bush's election campaigns in Vermont in 2000 and 2004, now says he is "appalled" at the behavior of Washington Republicans and lays some of the blame on the White House.

Douglas said he would like to see a change in his party's leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, saying House Speaker Dennis Hastert should be replaced even if Republicans retain a majority in Congress.

Hastert has been criticized for his response to the scandal surrounding former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., who resigned recently amid allegations that he had sent sexually explicit text messages to underage congressional pages.

Douglas, who is running for his third two-year term, is usually reluctant to criticize Washington Republicans, particularly President Bush. But now he says the administration is part of the problem.

"I certainly don't want to imply that only the congressional branch of government is at fault," he said. "Both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are caught up in scandal to some extent, and I don't want to suggest that the executive branch is excluded from responsibility for the breakdown of ethical standards."

Douglas said he is feeling more disillusioned than at any time during his three decades in politics.

"I'm appalled, I'm discouraged, I'm offended and, frankly, as someone who's been in office for many years, it's awful to see how some people who are given the public trust can breach it," Douglas said. "It's not exclusively a Republican problem down there, but it certainly seems that those caught up are predominantly Republicans."


In the end, I was stuck between every man forhimself and don't let the door hit your *ss on the way out.

Ottawa Race for Mayor

Well there are only a couple weeks to decide who will be the big cheese at Ottawa city hall.

The three so-called frontrunners are incumbent Mayor Bob Chiarelli, former Councillor Alex Munter and former businessman Larry O'Brien. I hope to profile the 3 candidates in the coming weeks.

The one thing that I hope they can all agree upon is for federal Treasury Board Minister John Baird to butt the heck out of the municipal race. Even shrinking violet and Baird buddy councillor Jan Harder suggested that Baird stay out of the fray.

This looks to be a very interesting and tight 3 way race developing.

NEWSFLASH!!!

Aware that his days in Cabinet are numbered due to the "Puppygate scandal", Peter MacKay tries out for a job as a crosswalk guard.

Friday, October 20, 2006

He must wear Aqua Velva...

The Globe and Mail reports that former Liberal leadership candidate John Godfrey has thrown his support behind the candidacy of Bob Rae. Godfrey was a progressive, ideas guy in the Martin cabinet and joins other former aspirants Maurizio Bevilacqua, Caroline Bennett, and Hedy Fry in endorsing Rae's candidacy.

MELTDOWN II - Have the Republicans had their Blinky moment?


Blinky is a fictional character featured in a 1990 episode of the "The Simpsons", called "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish".

Blinky is a three-eyed fish caught by Bart Simpson. Mr. Burns defends the fish saying that it's the next step in evolution, rather than having been mutated by toxic waste pouring out of the sewers and into the river from the nuclear plant.

Mr. Burns later goes to the Simpsons' house for a meal to help his race for governor. At first, the family are foisting softball questions at Monty for the cameras and news media, "Your campaign has the momentum of a runaway freight train - what makes you so popular?"

Marge, not impressed with Burns, serves Blinky for dinner.




Mr. Burns spits the fish out and loses the election.

James Carville's latest campaign memo from the good folks at Democracy Corps suggests that the convergence of the Iraq debacle with the weakening economy, Foley and other GOP scandals resonating with Americans, and, as a result, the Democrats are surging to levels not seen in years in both House and Senate races.

It is too soon to write off the Republican attack machine, but at the end of the day, one question remains:

Will the Republicans admit error and eat crow (Blinky) or face the same result that befell Monte Burns?

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Ironic, isn't it?

Yesterday, Liberal Women's Caucus Chair Belinda Stronach raised the issue of equality of women in Question period in the House of Commons and then organized the 40 or so Liberal MPs and Senators to attend the ceremony on the Hill to commemorate the anniversary of the Persons Case through which women won the right to be considered 'persons' with respect to eligibility to sit in the Senate.

Today her former beau, "Potato patch" Peter MacKay referred to her in the House of Commons as a dog. That, my friends, seems to be all the class the MacKay family can muster.

The fallen apple doesn't rot far from the tree

Kinda reminds me of the good ol' days when Elmer was pimping around Parliament Hill with Karlheinz Schreiber (pimping in this case does not include any sexual connotations, although I am not sure exactly how Peter got the job working for Schreiber in Germany) though Andrew Coyne and others have struggled with how to describe $300,000 in cash being delivered in Hotels to former Conservative PM Mulroney.

Pumpernickel recipe # 8 - Pumpernickel Bagels with lox and cream cheese

With two new scientific studies from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and the Harvard School of Public Health concluding that health benefits of fish exceed any risks from chemicals, heavy metals or microbes, I thought that this would be an opportune time to post my latest recipe.

Before I get to the recipe, I wanted to comment briefly on the studies. The Institute of Medicine stated that seafood is a good source of protein that is low in saturated fat and rich in vitamins and minerals. It found that eating fish can reduce the risk of heart disease.

The Harvard study found that eating fish once or twice a week reduces the risk of death from heart disease by one third. The lead author concluded that the benefits “greatly outweigh the risks,” a fact that has been “lost on the public.”

Pumpernickel Bagels with lox cream cheese and capers.

Ingredients:

Pumpernickel bagels
cream cheese
lox
capers
lemon (sliced in 1/8 inch slices)

Slice bagels in half, spread with cream cheese, smoked salmon slices, capers ans thinly sliced lemon piece.

Enjoy in the knowledge that this excellent snack is healthy and will make you live longer.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Bobby Clarke to seek Liberal nomination in Halton-Peel if Iggy wins?

With the expulsion of Garth Turner from the Conservative Caucus, rumour has it that team Iggy is trying to snag Former Flyers centre, captain and current General Manager Bobby Clarke after his recent dust-up with team Dryden.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said in an interview with the Ottawa Citizen today that he doesn't appreciate Liberal Leadership candidate Ken Dryden's "cheap shots" at his 1970s Stanley Cup winning team, saying it shows desperation in the 5th place Dryden's Liberal leadership bid.

Clarke was quoted as saying that he didn't appreciate Mr. Dryden's speech-ending remarks at Sunday's Leadership forum where he said the Broad Street Bullies were bad for hockey like the Tory government is for Canada.

Dryden went on to say that it was the Habs who broke the Broad Street Bullies' hold on Lord Stanley's Cup by winning four straight.

Clarke responded: "He looks like an idiot saying something like that. I think he looks ridiculous if he's trying to make himself look good over what a hockey team did in the 1970s. I would say it must be desperation." He added that when Dryden worked in the Leafs head office, all the executives around the NHL all felt the same about him: "If you ask him the time, he'll build you a watch. You didn't dare ask him a question because you had to stand and listen to him spout off for half an hour."

This appears to be a trait that Mr. Dryden has brought with him to politics.

Dryden said yesterday that, "Only twice in my life I have felt as if I was on a mission against an opponent. The first time was against the Flyers, the second is in terms of beating Stephen Harper and the Conservatives."

Mr. Clarke said even though his father and grandfather were staunch Liberals in Manitoba, he believes he'd vote Conservative if he still lived in Canada.

Mr. Clarke shied away from entering politics. "I don't think I'd be very good. I just say what I feel and not worry about the results."

Given the fact that he's outside the country and that last statement, I think that Mr. Clarke should be expecting a recruitment call from MI team.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Taliban have surrounded the Canadian military with 3 metre pot plants

I used to be concerned about the state of Canada's armed forces, in particular their readiness to fight enemies in difficult situations. However, this has been exacerbated recently when the Chief of Defense staff takes to having military vehicles camouflaged with pot plants and Canadian Forces can't take out the Taliban because of some bad weed downwind. I think that we need to re-evaluate this mission, one that is taking so many Canadian lives.

Maybe we can send PM Harper over to give a speech to the troops. That is sure to dry out the plants or bore them to death.

The Monsters of the Midway are back!


The comparisons to Singletary and the 16-0 team are bound to continue as the Chicago Bears won one of the most impressive defense-led come-from-behind victories in NFL history on Monday Night Football.

The fact that they won a game coming from a 20 point second half deficit is only made more remarkable by the fact that the offense was anemic, bordering on pathetic with 6 turnovers. I only hope that the New Oxford Dictionary puts a photo of the Arizona Cardinals in its next edition under the definition of "choke".


UPDATE and CORRECTION: A reader who knows more about football than I do wrote, "Bears never went 16-0. They lost to Miami 38-24. Ironically the Dolphins are the only NFL team to have ever had an unbeaten season. But one hell of a game last night."

He's right, given all the comparisons to "Da Bears" 1985 Superbowl XX winning team and the chatter about the 2006 Bears going undefeated, I stand corrected - they were 15-1. But wasn't Urlacher an animal in the 4th quarter?

Would you like clones with that?

I am generally a progressive and open-minded guy when it comes to trying new things. But mass produced cloned meat is somewhere that I don't think I want to go and where I personally draw the line...A report in today's Washington Post suggests that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that it might permit the sale of meat and dairy from cloned animals, and is poised to endorse marketing mass-produced animals for public consumption.

This story reminds me of experiments from Brazil in the late seventies and early eighties involving exfoliants and mutated cattle being produced by some well known multinational corporations.

I am not sure whether I should be relieved or concerned by the statement from the FDA spokesman:
"Our evaluation is that the food from cloned animals is as safe as the food we eat every day," said Stephen F. Sundlof, the FDA's chief of veterinary medicine, who oversaw the risk assessment.

I suppose I should be re-assured because "Clones are just clones. They are not genetically engineered animals."

Now I know why all the big burger chains are putting double whoppers and Big Macs on the menu. How long before cloned meat becomes the next transfat to lead consumer boycotts and changes in eating habits? Or maybe, just maybe I should look into investing in that Chernobyl-area cattle ranch.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Remember Nortel...?


As someone who is now on his 6th or 7th Blackberry, and is very fond of the technology, I was very interested in the recent run on the company's stock after the most recent quarter's announcements and release of the new Pearl device.

I am, however, worried that the recent 50% jump in the stock price may be what Alan Greenspan used to call "irrational exuberance". This company is a true Canadian success story which I would hate to see it mired in the same type of financial shenanigans that hit Nortel when its stock price hit similar lofty levels six or seven years ago.

Canadian Press reports today that Research In Motion has found more accounting errors and will miss its Oct. 17 deadline.

Research In Motion Ltd said Friday that its voluntary review of the company's historical accounting of its stock option practices has uncovered additional "technical" errors beyond the ones outlined two weeks ago.

The Waterloo, Ont.-based company, maker of the BlackBerry, said on Sept. 28 and again on Friday that it does not anticipate a significant adjustment to the preliminary second-quarter results that were announced two weeks ago or to historical results.

However, RIM said it will miss the Oct. 17 deadline for filing its second-quarter results with regulatory authorities.

As a result, it will request that Canadian securities regulators issue an order prohibiting RIM's executives and other insiders from trading in the company's stock until the filings are current.

Chairman and co-CEO Jim Balsillie - who recently confirmed he's buying the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team - and president and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis would be among those covered by the management and insider cease-trade order.

The latest accounting glitch, announced Friday, arises from a difference in the way U.S. and Canadian accounting rules deal with a "net settlement" feature that existed in RIM's stock option plan prior to February 2002.

Balsillie told analysts on Sept. 28 that the original restatement would have a relatively minor effect - reducing previously reported net earnings by US$25 million to $45 million since 1997 - not enough to cause a "material adjustment."

I just hope that the company is being straightforward, because it would be a shame to see a Canadian success story and world technology leader go into the shitter over an accounting scandal.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

In boxing, it's called leading with your chin...



Excerpt from today's Liberal laedership debate on Middle East that speaks volumes about political instincts:

Michael Ignatieff: But bob, all well and good, but we also have to know where
we stand.
Bob Rae: Exactly.
MI: Early on, you were saying something, and now you're saying something different. I actually don't know where you stand on this issue.
BR: No, you certainly do know. For a guy who's changed his mind three times in a week with respect to the middle east.

On the tape I could swear you could hear a glass jaw being shattered.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Meltdown




Is this the handbasket to Hell?

It seems like every other GOP Congressman is getting busted these days for illegal and corrupt activities. This time it is influence peddling.

With this barrage of negative stories on Rebublican ethics or lack thereof, it is no wonder that James Carville's latest memo on the mid-term elections refers to the Republicans cratering situation in the polls as a MELTDOWN.

Dubbya must be wishing for the heady days when the only scandals were Abu Gharaib and inflated contracts for Haliburton.

Friday, October 13, 2006

Timing is everything

While President George Bush was in Illinois endorsing Speaker Denny Hastert yesterday, disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley's former aide spent 5 hours in Committee testifying that information was passed along to Hastert's office about Foley's inappropriate relations with pages.

Clearly no actions were taken by the good speaker.

My mother used to say when we went to the beach C-O-V-E-R U-P or you'll get burnt. It appears that when it comes to protecting Republican Congressmen, they tried to cover up Foley's actions and it looks like they are still going to get burnt.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

SENATE RACE UPDATE

SENATE RACE UPDATE:

The current US Senate composition is 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats and an Independent.

As far as the Senate race goes, so far, I am looking to call Montana, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania as Democratic pick-ups. It is still too soon to call Rhode Island, Tennessee and Virginia for the blue team. The race in New Jersey seems to be tightening and looks at this point to be a toss-up, and is the only potential Republican gain I see in the Senate.

If the Democrats get those four likely seats, and the GOP doesn't pick up New Jersey, and Lieberman and Sanders are both elected as Independents, it will be:

51 Republicans, 47 Democrats and 2 Independents.

The Democrats will still need to win 2 out of the three seats in RI, Tenn, and Virginia to reduce the GOP to 49. That would leave the standings at 49 GOP and 49 Democrats with Sanders and Lieberman holding the balance of power and likely supporting the Democrats for the elections to Senate leadership positions, etc.

First Plagiarism, now this...

Vermont Republican Congressional candidate Martha Rainville, hot on the heels of a plagiarism scandal, has driven former Republican Senator James Jeffords to back her Democratic opponent.

Retiring Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords, who sat as an Independent since 2001, has endorsed Democratic state Sen. Peter Welch (D) in the state’s at-large Congressional race.

In an October 9, 2006 letter to Rep. Tom Reynolds (N.Y.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Jeffords said he “did not want to get personally involved” with Vermont's 2006 campaigns. He continued, “the NRCC is currently running an advertisement in Vermont in support of Martha Rainville. ... [T]he ad displays my picture and name, which strongly implies that I am supporting [her]. That is not true.”

The Senator asked the NRCC to stop running the ad. The NRCC refused.

He concluded that the country would be better off with Democrats in control of the House and "Therefore, for this election, I believe Peter Welch is a better choice for Vermont."

A spokesman for the Rainville campaign said that they did not consider the NRCC ad an endorsement, but were "NOT SURPRISED" by Jeffords' endorsement of Rainville’s opponent.

Hopefully this will be the last post on Martha's zany antics.

Huh?

The latest epidemic of Kreutzfeld-Igantieff has broken out in the Canadian political scene, with hoof in mouth taking place on Radio Canada's "Tout le monde en parle."

The video clip by Marc Godbout sums up the fallout from the Michael's latest comments on Israel and Lebanon.

I am not sure how this strategy will help Ignatieff win second ballot support from Ken Dryden, Scott Brison, Joe Volpe and Martha Hall Findlay, let alone support from the other top 4 candidates.

In a now familiar refrain, the candidate's comments were taken out of context and besides, he lived there.

Many people are confusing candid and refreshing with accident-prone and naive.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

One third of Italian MPs tested positively for drug use

An Italian TV show secretly tested 50 lawmakers and found that sixteen had taken drugs in the previous 36 hours, with 12 testing positive for marijuana and four for cocaine.

I am not sure whether to be surprised or not. Italy has a history of unstable and weak governments, but I never thought that they were all doped up.

I'm not sure if I am more surprised by the results, the illegal sampling or Prodi's response that we need to soften drug laws. How European of him, and get me some Doritos with the bong and Amarone while you're at it.

I wonder how long before some Canadian prankster tries to pull a variant of this one off here. I can see it now, the Quebec "entartistes" claim to have technology that informs us how often Jason Kenny and Rob Anders get any...alone.

The possibilities are endless.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Axis of Evil as GOP Hail Mary pass


Today, everyone is discussing whether North Korea's friendly dictator Kim Jong-il is just kooky enough take his bouffant hairdo out for a joy ride to go postal in the Sea of Japan basin and in the region more generally.

Even China, North Korea's closest ally, denounced what it called a brazen act of defiance against the international community.

However, scientists said only careful analysis of data returned by seismic or atmospheric sensors will determine whether the blast was a "success". Some officials refused to rule out the remote possibility that North Korea faked its entry into the nuclear club by blowing up a huge stock of conventional explosives.

Pundits are split on whether the Axis of Evil was prescient or whether the phrase in Dubbya's state of the Union address will hurt or help the GOP in their efforts to turn the page (pun intended) from the latest congressional scandal.

At first, my thinking was that this is exactly the type of diversionary tactic that the GOP needs as evidenced by McCain's attack today on Clinton for not acting a decade ago. However, today's NY Times poll indicates that the American public is not about to be fleeced by the Republicans again.

Personally, I think that Jong-il is just dangerous enough that he needs to be taken seriously. I think that the international community should take all means at its disposal to help him make the move to a market economy - just imagine the possibilities if he could get the Beastie Boys wearing outfits like this...they would sweep the nation.

Oh wait, they already are...

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Off to see Baba for Thanksgiving

Taking the family to Montreal for Thanksgiving. No updates until Monday evening.

Seriously, try the Turkey recipe below. Cheers.

Vermont's House Race Spinning out of control for Rainville after GOP candidate busted for plagiarism

Martha Rainville's campaign was dealt a serious blow this week when the "independent thinking" candidate who has made a point of trying to distance herself from Dubbya was busted by Bloggers here for plagiarizing her health, energy and transparency policies from the likes of President Bush and Senator Hilary Clinton.

A staffer was fired, the website has been down for the better part of a week and she is begging the National GOP for funding. Yesterday, the NRCC committed over $62k on issue ad placement to help with the damage control.

As pedophiles, cover-ups and plagiagism continue to soil the Republican Congressional team, maybe the Democrats will be able to make some gains after all.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Major chains refuse to distribute Bush Film


Newmarket Films is set to release the controversial faux investigative documentary "Death of a President" six weeks after acquiring the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival last month.

Several major theater chains are refusing to play the film, which mixes real news footage with dramatized segments depicting the fictional 2007 death of President Bush.

Newmarket plans to open the film October 27, just before the November 7 election. Democrats may be feeling that politically the timing couldn't be worse.

"Yes, it's controversial," Newmarket co-founder Chris Ball said. "It's quite a compelling political thriller. In many ways it is sympathetic to George Bush. It talks about a rush to judgment. In no way is it a call for violence."

But the country's largest theater chain, Regal Entertainment Group, has passed on playing the film, citing the subject matter as the primary reason. Texas-based Cinemark USA also has declined to play the indie film.

But with the Republicans imploding in House races across the country, this may turn into the type of hot button life-preserver the Republicans need to hold their base.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

President Yushchenko's Our Ukraine to withdraw from Governing coalition?

You have to expect a few poor nights sleep when you go to bed with thye guy who tried to poison you. Viktor Yushchenko's our Ukraine party is withdrawing from PM Yanukovich's government.

Stratfor did the following piece on it today:

Ukraine: No Grand Coalition in Kiev
October 04, 2006 22 01 GMT

The leader of the pro-Western Our Ukraine Party, Roman Bessmertny, announced Oct. 4 that his party will not join a broad coalition with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich's pro-Russian Party of Regions. Bessmertny added that all Our Ukraine Cabinet ministers must now either resign from their positions or from the party ranks. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is standing by his pro-Western principles, but he is about to lose even more control of a government that fundamentally opposes most of his policies.

Analysis

Our Ukraine, the party of the pro-Western Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, will not join a grand coalition, party leader Roman Bessmertny said Oct. 4, a day before the party will formally withdraw from negotiations. The party also plans to withdraw its Cabinet ministers or ask them to renounce their party affiliations. With this move, Yushchenko has affirmed his ideological stance but lost further control of a government that already opposes him.

Cooperating with Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich and his Party of Regions has not panned out very well for Yushchenko. The Moscow-friendly Yanukovich has openly contradicted Yushchenko's policy on Ukraine's accession to NATO, the status of Russian as an official language and other state matters. Our Ukraine could have been a moderating factor for the parliamentary coalition and given it a constitutional majority, with more than two-thirds of the parliament's 450 seats.

Our Ukraine can choose to join former Prime Minister and Orange coalition partner Yulia Timoshenko, who already announced she would welcome back her former partner. Discord between Timoshenko and Yushchenko split the pro-Western vote in the March parliamentary elections and relegated the Bloc of Yulia Timoshenko and Our Ukraine to second and third place, respectively; however, by opposing the Party of Regions-led government, Yushchenko can hope to regain his pro-Western credentials and public support. Even if a renewed alliance with Timoshenko is not in the cards -- given that such an alliance has failed before -- Yushchenko and Our Ukraine can focus on promoting a pro-Western stance within Ukraine while trying to draw more international attention to their ideological goals and political situation. With an entirely pro-Russian government at the helm, Ukraine's Western supporters should be concerned about an even bigger influence by Moscow on Kiev.

While the latest move will increase the tensions between the executive and legislative branches of the government, this does not automatically translate into fresh elections or even an entirely new Cabinet. The Party of Regions, along with the Socialists and the Communist Party, has a majority. Yanukovich will appoint his people for the vacant Cabinet positions. Although the president has the authority to appoint the ministers of foreign affairs and defense, he has lost de facto control of those policies as well, with Yanukovich playing a greater and more public role in Ukraine's international relations. Ukraine is a state fundamentally divided into Russian- and Western-leaning halves, and Our Ukraine's move into the opposition illustrates that split. Yushchenko will have to work with a hostile government, but that is hardly different from the situation he is already in.



I am not sure how this strengthens Yushchenko's position.

Pumpernickel Recipe #7 – Canadian Thanksgiving Turkey with Toasted Pecan, Cider and Pumpernickel Stuffing







3 tablespoons canola oil
3 large stalks celery, chopped
1 large Vidalia onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lb loaf pumpernickel, cut into 1 inch squares
2 cups pecans, chopped
1 ½ cups fresh cranberries
2 teaspoons ground sage
2 cups apple cider
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Allow the pumpernickel pieces to dry for 3-4 hours before starting this recipe.

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the celery and onion and sauté until translucent about 7 minutes. Add garlic to mixture and sauté for another minute or two.
2. On a cookie sheet, toast pecans at 375ºF, 5 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, mix the sautéed vegetables together with the pumpernickel pieces. Mix in the pecans, cranberries and ground sage.
4. In a small saucepan, combine the butter and cider over medium heat until the butter is completely melted. Pour over stuffing mixture, mixing well. Season the stuffing with salt and pepper.
5. Stuff turkey cavities immediately before roasting.

I generally season the Turkey with seasoned salt and rub it with oil and minced garlic before baking. Follow instructions on cooking time according to weight charts available on most Turkey wrappers or in cookbooks.

Place any remaining stuffing in buttered casserole and bake at 375ºF until hot and crusty, about 45 to 60 minutes.

Enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Republican pedophile House Scandal Escalates

The Republicans are about to get dirty because, as a 1980's punk rock band used to sing, they won't be able to duck, when the
Shit hits the fan!!! Imagine Republican leadership covering up the predatory actions of one of their congressmen on a juvenile boy...SHAME.

Apparently, Foley's writing a novel, it's a real page-turner...

Brison to back Iggy?

In the Post this morning, John Ivison opines that Scott Brison will be supporting Michael Ignatieff:

"Brison will back Ignatieff. If he does reach this conclusion, the Stockwell Day comparisons will disappear from memory like snow on a river. Brison, freshly ensconced as Ignatieff's new economic point man, will wax lyrical about how his new boss is the Canadian Kissinger, while Ignatieff will flash his malevolent grin -- the one that makes him look like he's just evicted an orphanage."

Conservative sleaze - take 2

Mark Foley is a hypocrite who the Republicans cannot get off the ballot fast enough here. He is taking House Speaker Dennis Hastert with him. This may have wider ramifications in November...

Speaking of Conservative hypocrisy, how about Vic Toewes appointing a former Reform-a-Tory-Canadian Alliance hack, slack and bagman to the bench in Alberta, or Steve's New Government sending the Industry Minister's father on a taxpayer funded junket? Where was that in the platform?

I guess Steve learned a few things from Lord Vader himself...

Si les tendances se maintiennent...

Radio Canada's Bernard Derome comes to mind as I look at the latest Rasmusen poll in the Burlington Free Press here. Every election night, ever cautious to not call an election prematurely, Mr. Derome would annotate his calls with "Si le tendances se maintiennent..."

Well, as I have previously mentioned in August and last month, things are firmly looking like Vermont will be a blue state in the house race and red state in the gubernatorial race with independent socialist Bernie Sanders thrown in for good measure - si les tendances se maintiennent... (By the way, I love the Farmers for Bernie signs!)

Anyway, I will be starting to work on my analyses of the House and Senate races shortly. At first glance, it will be tough for the D's to take back the Senate, but 6 months ago who had heard of Ned Lamont?

Monday, October 02, 2006

And the winners are...


The Chili Peppers have certainly aged well - when I was first a fan, I was pretty sure that the heroin was going to be their downfall. But they played a good, tight show in Ottawa on Friday night, despite a bit of equipment problems on some of Kiedis's vocals. All in all a good time.

Well, as the judge in this contest, I had to give a lot of thought to the entries and here is the list from 8 to 1 of the Liberal Leadership candidates along with the most appropriate Red Hot Chili Pepper Songs as chosen by me from among submissions.

Martha Hall Findlay - Don't Forget me
Scott Brison - Under the Bridge
Joe Volpe - Shallow be thy name
Ken Dryden - Fortune faded
Stephane Dion - Yertle the Turtle
Gerard Kennedy - Sir Psycho sexy
Bob Rae - Me and my Friends
Michael Ignatieff - The Righteous and the Wicked

So the winner of the first prize, a copy of Eugene Bellemare's political caricature book is Willard, with Prairie Fire winning a copy of Jean Chretien's "Straight from the Heart" in second place.

Unfortunately, there is no entrant to win third prize which is a gym sock allegedly worn by Anthony Kiedis.

George Michael arrested in London

Don't tell me that the first thought that raced through your head wasn't about his 1998 arrest in Los Angeles for engaging in a "lewd act" in a public restroom.

No this time the former pop star is endangering a whole bunch more people with his "bad driving" under the influence.

Someone should wake him up before he go-goes driving.