tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post6739779037047387720..comments2024-03-03T17:01:57.876-05:00Comments on Montreal Simon: Harper, Quebec, and a Lesson for English CanadaSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-7929977411867054462009-05-30T02:14:34.282-04:002009-05-30T02:14:34.282-04:00Hi Scott...I'm glad you came along to provide some...Hi Scott...I'm glad you came along to provide some serious comment... ;)<br />You're right about the Coalition crisis The arts cuts helped set the table. As did the juvenile sentencing outrage...in a province justifiably proud of its progressive and successful programs for juvenile offenders. But the Colaition crisis and the way Harper turned from wooing Quebecers to implicitly attacking them, was the final straw.<br />The Mulroney split has certainly divided what's left of the Big Blue Machine.<br />But the word I most often hear from my friends is the word "mesquin."<br />And as I said, the good news is that once you get tagged with that <br />name, everything else plays in to that narrative.<br /><br />P.S. I do admit I LOVE the word mesquin. But still... :)Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-7353623345428486142009-05-30T02:03:40.016-04:002009-05-30T02:03:40.016-04:00Hi 'berto....you know you're right. And I apologiz...Hi 'berto....you know you're right. And I apologize. I'd be even ruder about those cursed Sassenachs...or English dogs...if my mum wasn't born in Kent... :)<br />Perhaps the best thing to say is "the rest of Canada." <br />But then that would include the rednecks in Alberta and that sounds...um...funny?Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-916970307450313092009-05-30T01:55:18.275-04:002009-05-30T01:55:18.275-04:00Hi Mapko...not that I know anything about those pr...Hi Mapko...not that I know anything about those practices...but I gotta believe that listening to Harper speak anything is definitely WORSE... :)Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-41193759630312667212009-05-26T11:15:27.655-04:002009-05-26T11:15:27.655-04:00You're correct that the "mean" meme has resonance,...You're correct that the "mean" meme has resonance, Simon, although I note Harper's poor polling really got going after the failed NDP/Liberal coalition got slammed by the Cons so emphatically using anti-BQ (taken by many here as essentially anti-Quebec) rhetoric. <br /><br />It also may be part of having tied his Quebec horse to Mulroney and his politcal connections in this province. Harper had to cut him loose, and so Mulroney's loyalists jumped ship from Peevey Stevie too. Then Lyin' Brian reminded us all of how disgustingly smug and self-serving he always was at the Oliphant inquiry; then add a soupcon of disastrous economy, Harper's deaf ear on EI reform, and the lack of funds to help Radio-Canada (as Chantal Hebert referred to in the link you provided).<br /><br />Nobody here remembers anything they liked about his policies a year ago and more. It's the economy stupid. Plus Iggy is way more like Obama than Harper. And he plays to Quebec pride much like Martin did, keeping a good distance between himself and the Trudeau/Chretien/Dion tough federalism that gets the nationalist Quebec ire up.<br /><br />Once an election comes around, the BQ had better be prepared to lose a few seats to the Libs in places they have been taking for granted for too long. And the Cons will be lucky to keep two to four seats.Scott in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10702697033209213403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-40475659398772094912009-05-26T10:36:22.681-04:002009-05-26T10:36:22.681-04:00"English" Canada, Simon? As someone with a proud C..."English" Canada, Simon? As someone with a proud Celtic background, I am surprised that you -- a Scottish-born Canadian -- would fall for this common misnomer. English-*speaking* might be closer to the truth (although still not entirely accurate, to be sure). But to refer to all non-Quebecois as "English" is just... insulting. <br /><br />To quote my uncle Liam, "Here's a long-standing traditional Irish toast, boyo... 'Confusion to the English!'" (followed by raucous laughter)<br /><br />Just sayin', my friend.'bertohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09359719357963538654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-84811228517846144732009-05-25T21:55:29.168-04:002009-05-25T21:55:29.168-04:00Listening to Steve speak French is like getting bo...Listening to Steve speak French is like getting boned without lube.Марко Фризияhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329850161076633932noreply@blogger.com