The Day Canadians Stood Up for Democracy

It was sunny and warm today. And I wasn't in the mood for serious blogging...as you may have noticed.

But how could I not write about this?

“The Prime Minister’s refusal to respect the will of Parliament is a serious abuse of power. He is not a king. He answers to the will of Parliament, not the reverse,” NDP MP Jack Harris said.

The day when the opposition joined forces and stood up for the House of the Canadian People.

And my Canada never looked better.

I don't know where this process will take us. And like Don Martin I believe it could trigger an election.

It’s now Parliament verses the Prime Minister in the battle for procedural supremacy. And Stephen Harper doesn’t back down when his will is under combined opposition attack.

But I don't agree that Harper is in such a strong position. I believe he is vulnerable if push comes to shove. And I do know that weakness will get us nowhere.

And that it's the right thing to do, even if it does trigger an election, because nothing is more important than defending our democratic system.

Or telling a Prime Minister he isn't a King or a President. This is Canada not Amerika...




















And enough is ENOUGH.

Oh boy. Canadian politics is about to get a lot more interesting. I am full of hope again.

The opposition parties were magnificent.

And from where I was today my Canada never looked better...

Stephen Harper's Desperate Damage Control

Oh no.Somebody call a guy with a net. Our Lord of the Onion Ring has been staging his own version of Question Period. And pretending to be a hockey fan. Again.

“He’s like this all the time. He’s like a kid in a candy shop — he loves hockey,” said a media representative of the Prime Minister’s Office, who went on to jokingly agree that it was no wonder Parliament Hill came to a grinding halt a few weeks ago after a prorogue was declared. Canadian politics are kind of drab when matched up with the likes of Wayne Gretzky.

And as you can see it wasn't pretty.

Though casual about it, it was clear Harper was simply infatuated with No. 99 and was left hanging on every word that escaped from Gretzky’s humble lips. Gretzky could have asked Harper to prank call North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il and fart into the mouthpiece and the prime minister likely would have agreed to his request.

Gawd almighty. Fart into the mouthpiece? Holy Jong Jebesus. First the theocons in the PMO direct our foreign policy, now Gretzky?

But what do you expect? Even Don Martin now admits Great Strategic Genius , Mother Theresa Ugly Onion Ring leader is DESPERATE.

Perhaps the realization they have been too-smart-by-half is reflected in amateur-hour mistakes that run counter to the Conservative's cool, disciplined style.

All these empty ministerial pontifications prompted the CBC's Rick Mercer to remark on Twitter that "it's like when they wheel out [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-il just to prove he's still upright and breathing."

And the best thing?

Next week looks no better, with Mr. Harper making his first address to a provincial legislature, which raises the questionable optics of how Olympic host politicians are actually working in a Liberal controlled B.C. legislature while his government stands adjourned.

Because Great Onion Ring said he couldn't work and watch the Olympics eh? When everyone knows he's been extremely busy, doing one photo-op after the other.

And selling us out to the Americans.

To put it another way, we've promised to open our so-called sub-national government procurement markets permanently in exchange for partial access to a U.S. program that is due to expire in 11 days.

Gawd. Is that just incompetence? Or is it treason?

And how I wonder does Harper think he can win over the people of B.C.?

Not just by being there I hope....

He does? OMG. Call the guy with the net. Or press the emergency button.

Heh. Heh. Heh. I LOVE the smell of onion rings in the morning.

We have these Cons where we want them.

Mmmmm....TASTY.

And now we're going to def-EAT them...

Mother Harper Goes to Davos

Oh no. As if he hasn't humiliated us enough. The new/nouveau, kinder, gentler version of Stephen Harper flies off to some snooty economic forum, and makes an absolute fool of himself.

Posing as Great Mother Leader who cares about the women and children of the world. Posing as an economist...from Bible School. Or just talking gibberish.

The PM goes back to his theme of "enlightened sovereignty," and squaring the national interest with the global interest -- on all these issues -- climate change, the economy -- if you don't take the global interest into account, you find yourself making bad decisions, even if they may be politically beneficial in the short term. Wait, this *is* still the prime minister, right? Not a body double? Because this is becoming surreal. Now all we need is someone to pop up and ask about prorogation, and the Yes Men-ification of reality will become complete.

And wait. What's this?

As a politician, you know, you're told over and over by your advisors and by your pollsters that, you know, "do x and x, it's good communications." But my experience is if you do bad policy in the name of good communications, that's going to catch up with you pretty quickly.

Right. Because Stephen Harper doesn't do bad policy. He doesn't believe in cheap photo-ops. And he would never do ANYTHING just to boost his sagging numbers.

Like sentencing kids to adult sentences.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson released proposals Thursday that would require courts to consider adult sentences for young offenders who commit serious crimes like murder or aggravated sexual assault. The plan would also allow courts to lift publication bans in certain cases.

Because Great Mother Leader loves children you know.

Gawd. I can't believe the thugs in the Con War Room think they are going to get away with this absurd makeover. Think that they can make Canadians love Great Ugly again...like they did when he played the piano.

Because he sure can't fool us.














We know a monster ...or a Con wolf in sheep's nun's clothing when we see one..

And hey hey, ho ho, he's really GOTTA go !!!

Oh yeah...one more thing. For those hosers out there who might be fooled by Stephen Harper's drag nun act, and think that maybe just maybe he's really a.... um....nice guy?

I just want to say pull your tuques down over your noses eh?

And repeat after me:

I...Don't....Want....To....Be....A....Canadian...IDIOT.



Because we live in Con Canada eh?

So we got more than enough of them...

The Cons and the Big Democracy Party

Uh Oh. Gotterdammerung alert. I understand the sinister operatives in the Con war room are starting to get desperate.

The polls are...um... discouraging disastrous.

Prorogation is on the radar of Canadians after all. And after even all those crass photo-ops there's no sign of a Haiti Bump.

“Clearly, the diversion of attention to a pretty well flawless performance on the Haiti crisis to date has not taken the Conservatives out of the penalty box with voters yet,” he told The Globe. “This underscores the depth of public disenchantment.”

Although I see the SoCon sow Jason Kenney is doing his best to suckle it.

By bringing in a planeful of orphans ...not yesterday as their parents in Canada have been demanding...but this weekend, no doubt hoping to steal away the headlines from the prorogation protest.

While denying entry to the families of Haitian Canadians, so these foul Cons can win the racist vote by keeping all those black people out. While posing as HUMANITARIANS.

Oh boy. Are these Reform Harperites UGLY or what?

But then that's why we fight them eh?

Which reminds me... I heard that the founder of the Facebook group is asking people not to attack Stephen Harper, and concentrate on reforming Parliament.

Now I understand why he's saying that. He wants to build a non-partisan coalition of progressives and decent Conservatives. And good for him, that's a noble goal.

But of course I can't go along with that...unless my lips were sealed with krazy glue. Or my tongue was cut out.

However, I do promise not to be too rowdy, or beat my drum too loudly, and to tell my friends that if they plan on making any signs to make sure they're not too rude... and spelt rite.

Because we don't want to look too young and ignorant eh? Wot?

But seriously here's the thing. I do support this awesome Facebook movement all the way. I think it's BRILLIANT. I do want to see our Parliament get back to work. And reformed so it's a better place, and a more dignified House of Democracy.

But right now. More than ANYTHING.

I want my country back....



Oh well. You know it doesn't really matter why people attend this Saturday's rallies.

On that day we'll all just be ordinary Canadians standing up for a better Canada.

The important thing is to bring your friends, and your signs, your idealism, and your enthusiasm. Just BE THERE.

Because although it's a serious issue. It's also a Democracy Party.

And we're going to have FUN !!!!

The Con Shuffle and our Beautiful Kate

I suppose I could write about Stephen Harper's ridiculous little cabinet shuffle.

But what more is there to say? Except that a bunch of stinky Cons moved their ugly asses from one chair to another. To try to show that they can shutdown our Parliament ....and still look busy.

I suppose I could talk about the brutish SoCon sheriff Vic Toews who is our new Minister of Public Insecurity. His appalling record on matters of justice. And how him and his Cons are demeaning our Canadian values.

Toews' statement in the Jerusalem Post that Canada has "pledged $20M towards training prosecutors, judges and police and building up the Palestinian judicial sector'' is in keeping with what Canada has been doing elsewhere, notably in Haiti. There, Canada has been building prisons and training police forces as opposed to the usual forms of humanitarian aid.

By building prisons instead of feeding people.

But all I can think about is DADDY !!!!!

I could also say something about his fellow theocon Stockwell "Doris" Day.

But I think this cartoon says it all...

















Praise the Lord and pass the chain saw.

Because now these theocons are running the government.

I could tell you about the useless Christian Paradis, the new Minister of Dirty Oil. And what's going to happen to him in Quebec...and Ontario... when people finally realize how the Tar Sands are KILLING CANADA.

A recent study by a University of Ottawa professor and others estimates that 42 per cent of the job loss in Canadian manufacturing over the last few years resulting from the rise in the dollar can be attributed to our rise in oil exports, and identifies the computer and electronics, textile, transportation, machinery, paper and plastics sectors as those most affected. Ontario and Quebec are home to the majority of these industries.

If the Big Oil posse or the Wild Rosehip rednecks don't get him first.

Then there's Rona Ambrose who is no doubt hoping that Canadians have forgotten how she performed the last time she was a big-time minister.

But fortunately I haven't...
















I've been saving that one for years.

And lastly and definitely LEASTLY, I could say a few words about today's big loser Lisa Raitt.

But why bother? When mediocrity is her own worst punishment.

And I'd rather talk about a shining, gentle talent who made me proud to be a Canadian, and a Montrealer.

The beautiful Kate McGarrigle who left us too soon.

Today they were singing her praises in English and French. In a country as divided as ours what more can you ask for eh?

This song is about a sad time in American history. But it might as well be about living in Stephen Harper's Canada.



Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard Times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh hard times come again no more.

I'll remember that on Saturday when I attend this protest.

Remember Kate and how much better we are, when we celebrate our kinder, gentler Canadian values...instead of Stephen Harper's AmeriCon ones.

When we remember that Con times are hard times. And why they must go and never come again no more.

Down with the dictator.

And because too much passion won't kill us eh?

But not enough will.

Long live our beautiful Canada !!!

Haiti and the Prorogation Protest

I was really happy and proud to see Canadian soldiers and doctors helping people in Haiti today.

It's so great to see our troops acting as peacekeepers and humanitarians again. Instead of killing and getting killed in a place like Afghanistan.

But I can't understand why Stephen Harper is getting so much credit for doing what any Canadian Prime Minister would have done.

And I have to admit this story makes me shudder.

In the space of a few days, Parliament Hill has morphed from being a symbol of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's high-handed contempt for democracy into an emblem of his compassion and concern for the people of Haiti.

"To show solidarity with the people of Haiti, in a small yet special way, starting tonight the Parliament buildings will be illuminated in Haitian colours."

These would be the same Parliament buildings that Harper summarily shut down on Dec. 30, decreeing that they would not reopen for business until March 3. The same buildings that were featured in Liberal attack ads earlier in the week - surrounded by a chain link fence plastered with a sign proclaiming the Hill "closed out of self-interest" by Harper.

Because it suggests that we can't help the poor people of Haiti, and help keep our democracy alive at the same time.

And that we should just shut up, and accept that this protest has been buried.

Which is absolute nonsense. Because our democracy belongs to the Canadian people. And to surrender our right to protest is to agree with Stephen Harper that our Parliament is worthless.

Not just broken by Harper and his thugs.

Especially since Great Ugly Leader is trying to turn this humanitarian mission into a public relations exercise to make Canadians forget about his assault on Parliament, and boost his sagging popularity.

Like he did at this news conference on Haiti the other day.












He had six ministers with him. But every time one of those ministers was asked a question Harper answered it FIRST. And then the minister repeated what he said.

Does that sound like leadership or SELF PROMOTION?

Yup. Our sinister would be dictator hasn't changed his stripes. He's mugged our Parliament, dressed it up like a Christmas tree, and is using a human tragedy to shield him from questions about torture, while he drives off in the getaway car.

All the way to Haiti. Because you just KNOW he'll be there soon. Posing with the troops and telling them I just can't believe the opposition would accuse YOU of torturing people.

Oh boy. I'm sure the boys in the Con war room are already planning that one.

Once it was was Operation Recalibrate.

Now it's Operation Rehabilitate...















But I'm also sure these war room operatives are spooked by this protest.

And so they should be. For what these Cons have done to our beautiful Canada is simply unforgivable.

Next Saturday join the rallies for democracy. Get organized. Follow his example.

Send a message to those crass political thugs: Canadians are not sheep. We want our country back.

And on January 23, wherever you are in Canada eh?

Just be there...