Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Remembering Harperland's Last Nightmare Before Christmas



As you know I have been having a bit of trouble getting into the spirit of the season.

It has been dark and gloomy and foggy where I live, and so warm the skates stick to the ice, and it's hard to believe it's winter in Canada.

And what with being forced to go shopping, which I hate. And what with the crazed Cons spewing bile and death threats all over the internet, it was threatening to turn into a bit of a nightmare.

Until I decided to read what I wrote at the same time last year, and came across the REAL nightmare before Christmas...




For a year ago the Cons were celebrating a horrifying new poll. 

The governing Conservative Party has taken a slim lead over the Liberals, according to a new poll that also found a “sizeable” improvement in public sentiment toward Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Justin Trudeau's magical powers seemed to be fading. Canadians were warming up to Stephen Harper.

And he was appearing in the Con buffoon Paul Calandra's YouTube production of the Night Before Christmas.

And although Calandra finally realized the whole country was laughing at him, not with him, and took the video down.

The sight of all those Cons pretending to be Sugar Plum fairies, or the sight of Stephen Harper pretending to be human... 



Was also deeply disturbing. And cast a real pall over my holiday celebrations.

So isn't it great to see what a difference a year makes?

Justin Trudeau came back to haunt Stephen Harper like the Ghost of Christmas Future...



And drive him from power.

So while last year at this time, the country seemed paralyzed in the grip of the old tyrant and his corrupt regime. Hope struggled to stay alive.

And the future looked ominous...



Now hope is suddenly in the air, and Justin Trudeau is setting such a rapid pace for change, poor old Richard Gwyn can't keep up and is begging for a break.

For roughly the next fortnight, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will have nothing more strenuous to do than to enjoy himself with his family and to utter the occasional seasonal pleasantry. He’s more than earned this time off. Put plainly, he needs a break.

For six weeks now, Trudeau has been going like a bat out of hell, or, more directly, like a politician convinced he should, and can, transform the country, and even to some extent the world itself.


But while Gwyn seems to find all that change vaguely threatening, and maybe Trudeau should slow down a bit...



What Gwyn doesn't seem to understand is that change on this scale is usually the sign of generational change.

Trudeau’s phrase “real change” is inadequate. Only in the years after the Second World War when Canadians embraced for the first time the welfare state has the country been challenged by so radical a political and cultural program.

And that kind of change can be slowed, but it cannot be stopped.

So now it's our future that has never looked more promising, while the Con's future has never looked bleaker...



Or more toxic.

One year after the Con Nightmare Before Christmas, we've never had a better reason to celebrate the holiday season...



With a very different Prime Minister.

And yes even in my concrete neighbourhood, it's starting to look a lot like Christmas...



And I'm at peace at last.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone !!!

For after the year we've been through, the season couldn't be merrier.

And the turkey will never look better....



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23 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's been a rollercoaster year for sure Simon. I still cant stop grinning about Harper being booted from office by the one he laughed at, mocked and derided every chance he got. Poetic justice at its finest.
And when I see the vile comments Harper's following are spewing I get that silly grin again knowing these lowlifes will never run this great country down ever again. There are simply too many good people in Canada and they will not allow that to happen.
Merry Christmas Simon and to all.
JD

Anonymous said...

corny but true....
Watch the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol" with Alastair Sim. It'll do ya good. Also reputed to be the best of all versions which I heartily concur with.
Merry Christmas, kiddo!

Anonymous said...

Have a good holiday Simon. You cheered this old girl up every morning through those dreary years.

jrkrideau said...

I enjoyed the Gwyn article but he is off in a couple of things. He writes His [Trudeau's] single most important project would transform the relationship between native people and other Canadians by implementing all 94 of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This is extremely important but it pales besides Canada's new, and extremely late, commitment to dealing with climate change. Nothingis more important than dealing with climate change.

He also points out that Trudeau declared that on this issue Canada would exercise “a new leadership role.” He was overdoing it by a wide margin. We’re latecomers to the cause. We account for only 1.6 per cent of global emissions.

I am not sure about our emmisions, probably Gwyns 1.6% is accurate but a quick google brings up a wiki article pointing out that back in 2013 we were 10th out of 40 countries in CO2 emissions. And one of those higher was actually the European Union, that is 28 or so countries, not any individual country in the EU.

We have had real impact. Canada, (well Harper), was a major impediment when the G7 met to deal with climate change in the summer or 2015.

Gwyn seems to ignore the fact that we have symbolic value as well. We did win the ‘Lifetime Unachievement’ Fossil award in Warsaw in 2013 and another Fossil award in Copenhagen.

The sight of one of the wealthiest countries in the world totally ignoring Global Warming was not likely to encourage other countries to take measures to reduce greenhouse emission when we were too selfish or too unbelieving of the issue.

The disposal of Harper and Tony Abbot in Australia was something of a turning point in international dealings with climate change. Perhaps we could discuss with the Australians the idea of having some kind of yearly celebration a bit like the English Guy Fawkes shindig on Earth Day?

Anonymous said...

Heard it through the grapevine that Trudeau and his lovely family will be enjoying a nice get away. I hope it's true. Beautiful wife and kids, proof of what a fine person he is,

Happy Holidays and Christmas to you Simon, and all your readers.

TS

lagatta à montréal said...

Hello Simon, have a good temps des fêtes. Est-ce que vous (ton chéri et toi) comptez faire un tour au Québec?

I do wonder when funding will be restored to the many organizations that have seen their funds slashed to the bone under Harperdom, including international cooperation and solidarity groups, human rights groups, arts companies and groups and of course anything to do with that evil notion called "science", not to mention the hippiecommunist environmentalists...

As well as women's groups, Indigenous groups, and especially Indigenous women's groups!

Dan said...

Twas the night before Xmas and all through Harperland (Canada)
Not an opponent was stirring, especially a climate scientist.
The money bags were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that bagman Mike Duffy soon would be there;
The citizens were nestled all snug in their (not paid for) beds;
While advertisements of fake job programs were pounded into their heads;
And Laureen in her snuggie, and I in my Flames cap,
Had just prepared my victory speech after a long election win,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a Red bus and 188 Liberal MPs,
With a youthful kind of wussy driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be that not ready Trudeau Dick
More upsetting than Niqabs the Liberals they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called my guys out by name:
"Go, Duffy! Say goodbye, Fantino! Get the F out Oliver and Alexander!
Sayonara, Aglukkaq! Leave, Valcourt! Out, Calandra and Shea!
To the government side of the house! to the top job of all!
Now vote away! vote away! vote away all!(My unfair elections act wasn't working!)"
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they met with voter suppression, slipped to the side;
So up to the Parliament top the Liberals they ran
With the sleigh full of hope, and a majority too—
And then, after I did some loud shrieking, I heard on the roof
The stinging and dropping of each angry Canadian vote.
As I held my helmet head, and was turning around,
Through the door that liberal wimp came with a bound.
He was dressed all in red, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all bedazzled with nice and cute;
A bunch of my "he's not ready ads" he had ripped off his back,
And he looked like his father just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the sound on his voice was like pee on the snow;
The remains of Sen Brazeau he held tight in his teeth,
And the smell, it encircled my head like a wreath;
He had that familiar lefty face and a muscular belly
That uncoiled when he jabbed, my knees turned to jelly.
He was handsome and lean, a left pussy not ready elf,
And I screamed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had everything to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And un cut all my cuts; then turned with a jerk,
And jabbing his middle finger (fuddle duddle) aside of my nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his Red bus, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they dropped my dynasty straight into the thistles.
Then I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and so ends the Harper blight!”

Anonymous said...

Wait till Canada gets a view of the real Justin and then we shall see who gets the last laugh.

Marmalade said...

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, Simon.......cya in 2016!

e.a.f. said...

now that is poetry one can enjoy!

Its O.K. Simon, we have snow on the west/wet coast. Not much at sea level but it snowed on Vancouver Island. yes, we have climate change. The east looks like the west and the west, well its sort of, the west.

This Christmas was early this year. we got a new P.M. so its been Christmas ever since in my books. Don't care what the PostMedia gang has to say/write. Its Christmas!

Kim said...

Thank you Simon, for another year of thought provoking commentary! Best wishes to all of us in 2016!

Simon said...

hi JD...yes it is ironic isn't it? And yes it was a rollercoaster ride, and a very exhausting one. Now that's over I resent the many years I had to spend standing up for our basic values and traditions that never should have been threatened in the first place. And I will never forget or forgive him and his filthy regime for what they did to this country and its democracy. But it is the holiday season, we do have as I said in my post so much to celebrate. So Merry Christmas to you and yours !!!!

Simon said...

hi anon 1:45...Well of course I don't have a crystal ball so I can't predict what will happen in the future. But Justin Trudeau is by all accounts a much nicer man than Stephen Harper, so I am optimistic about the future....

Simon said...

hi anon...my older brother used to watch that movie over and over again at Christmas, so I have practically memorized the script. But I think it is the best version, and I will surely be watching it again. And Merry Christmas to you too !!!!

Simon said...

hi anon...thank you for that, and yes they were dreary years. It's all so much better now, so there is no excuse for not partying this holiday season. I think I'm just suffering from accumulated exhaustion, and Post Harper Depression Syndrome. But I'll get over it. All the best to you and yours...

Simon said...

hi jrkrideau...I enjoyed parts of the Gwyn article, but I too found it flawed. And you're right, the new approach to climate change taken by the Trudeau government is a huge improvement over the destructive approach of the Harper Cons. And our new approach has encouraged others all over the world. But thank you for reminding me about the downfall of Tony Abbot, We have had so many things to celebrate, I almost forgot about that one. But the sight of Abbot and Harper having breakfast together, or wearing matching purple shirts, was a real nightmare and I'm so glad they have both been given the boot...

Simon said...

hi TS...yes they are a beautiful couple and they deserve a good rest this holiday season. Justin has been setting an exhausting pace, and although I love watching him in action, he needs to remember that it is a marathon not a sprint, and that even young people can burn out. But yes what a happy time it is, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours !!!

Simon said...

hi lagatta... Non, Sébastien vient de visiter sa mère et Noël nous appartiens !!! Woohoo. As for the funding questions, the commitment has been made to organizations like the CBC so hopefully others will follow. And I did enjoy seeing the Canadian flag raised over the Kitsilano Coast Guard station that the Cons had closed down. So there are already many good things to celebrate. Joyeux Noël and Bonnes fêtes to you and yours !!!

Simon said...

hi Dan...thank you for that, it was just great. And so much better than Harper's version. You know I sometimes complain about the wasted years of the Harperland nightmare. But it did finally wake us up, it produced a torrent of creativity, so we should never forget that. And it should encourage us to keep join fighting for the better world we all want. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours !!!!

Simon said...

hi Kathleen...Thank you and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours. My mum's boozy plum pudding just arrived in the mail from Scotland. And I have not one but two Whisky cakes. And since I don't drink they should keep me drunk for days !!! ;)

Simon said...

hi Kim...thank you for your encouragement. And yes, best wishes to all of us in 2016 !!!

Anonymous said...

Merry Tyrant Free Christmas Simon! I've been celebrating since Oct.19 th as I know most of us have. Justin continues to amaze us with his compassion and humanity we've never seen in a decade. He's righting so many injustices like that poor man stuck in a church for 2 years now home with his family for Christmas and the Syrian families kept apart for no good reason for so many years. I can't wait to hear his Christmas message. I'm just so happy for him, his beautiful family and Us!! Pam

ninente said...
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