Pierre Poutine and the Heart of Darkness

He's still out there hiding in the shadows. His foul breath still hangs heavy in the air. But it seems the trail of the demon dialer Pierre Poutine has come to a dead end.

Elections Canada investigators tracking “Pierre Poutine” hit a dead end when the Internet address behind misleading robocalls in the last election led them to an open Wi-Fi connection in a private residence near Guelph.

So we may never know who tried to steal an election.

The NDP and the Great Leap Forward

Well I must admit I was shocked to find myself watching the NDP Convention on Sun TV. All because Sébastien taped Fox News North instead of CPAC. Claiming he didn't understand my instructions because they were written in what I thought was good French. 

Gawd...I mean CRISSE  !#!&!! Only in Canada eh?

But despite the sinking feeling that I had boosted Sun TV's ratings by at least forty percent, and had joined the very small group of Canadians who have ever watched any of their programs for more than an hour, I still liked what I saw.

Oh sure, I wish they could have put the democratic socialism/social democratic debate behind them. Because although you're judged by what you do, not by what you call yourself.

And although socialism has a proud history.

Socialist parties in Europe have often achieved more that their sisters and brothers in Canada---in some cases including free university tuition, strong job protection and termination benefits, higher minimum wages, better pensions, pharmacare, free full day early childhood education, state funded family vacations, worker participation in the management of industry, generous parental leave, a shorter work week, rent subsidies, and in a few odd cases, free firewood, and free access to municipally owned ski lifts and ski runs.

And although I'm proud to call myself a democratic SOCIALIST.

So many Canadians were raised during the Cold War, and confuse socialism and communism. Duh. So social democratic is probably better.

Because for me the ONLY thing that counts is defeating the Harper Cons, and in that regard the most significant thing that happened this weekend was this:

In earlier voting Sunday, party delegates also rejected a resolution calling on the party to reject all future mergers with the Liberals — which leaves the door open to potential future talks between the two opposition parties.

Talk about the Great Leap Forward eh?

Yes comrades... I know that right now the Liberals don't support a merger. But if the NDP can look like a government-in-waiting and still keep their options open, so can the Liberals.

And after they've healed themselves, and accepted reality, and seen what the Harper Cons have done to this country, I'm sure they will.

In fact, on this strange day when I was forced to watch the NDP on Sun TV, I think it's only fitting that I should ask a famous Liberal to sum up my view of this weekend's democratic socialist/social democratic convention.

Because he was once a socialist.

The universe Pierre Trudeau said, is unfolding as it should.

Or as I say these days, if you can't call it Ipanema eh?

How about Sugar Beach?

(Click pic to enlarge)

The NDP Convention and the Media Circus

As you know, I try to stay away from criticizing Canada's progressive parties, because I believe in a united left, and don't think it's a good idea to burn bridges we will some day have to cross.

But the reaction to the NDP's convention is so absurd ...such a circus...I feel I must.

First came the dumb media reducing everything to an idiot headline.

As if there weren't more important things to discuss. Like how to win more seats in the next election.

And most idiot of all....completely ignoring the fact that if you translate the words Democratic Party into French, and then use the initials it sounds like Pe- De. The slang word for FAGGOT. Which would make the party the laughing stock of the province.

Why do you think Mario Dumont called his party the ACTION Democratique instead of the Parti Democratique? Duh.

Then came the country's disgusting right-wing media

The more than 1,000 delegates endorsed action to prevent violence against aboriginal women. They endorsed enshrining childcare into law. They endorsed investment in environmentally friendly jobs. They endorsed ending rules that prevent homosexuals from donating organs.

In the end, there were more than 50 policies approved. But there was little to raise the eyebrows of the party's socialist founders.

As if the word SOCIALIST... as in social democracy.... was something to be ashamed about. Instead of the trademark of some of the world's most advanced democracies. As if the issues discussed weren't important.

Then came the Liberal bloggers.

Who sounded like members of the Con choir. Even though if Ignatieff does manage to win an election, because the Bloc isn't going ANYWHERE he can only hope for a minority. And will have to depend on the NDP to stay in power.

Oh boy. It's all such a ridiculous and tragic FARCE. The centre-left eats itself while the dirty Cons kill Canada.

And while I'm at it .....I'm still waiting to hear why, according to the latest EKOS poll, 41 per cent of Liberals believe the country is heading in the RIGHT direction. And why one out of three of them would choose the Cons as their second choice?

Because let's face it, with those kind of scary numbers, if the NDP didn't exist we would have to invent it.

You see that's the irony eh?

The NDP doesn't need to change its name because EVERYBODY knows who they are.

But who I wonder are the Liberals?

And isn't it about time THEY changed their name to the LCP? The Liberal Conservative Party.

People please. Trust me I love you ALL. But we must understand that thanks to the Bloc, the home team of the semi autonomous nation of Quebec, the political landscape of Canada has changed FOREVER.

And the only way the tyranny of the Con minority will be defeated, is if the left unites or forms a coalition like they do in other civilized countries.

The Coalition for Change was an idea ahead of its time in a country stuck in a rut and going NOWHERE. But sooner or later everyone will recognize the obvious.

And it will be back...















My advice? Love it now or love it later. But while we wait for it to return don't do the Con's dirty work for them.

If you really love Canada.

Don't shit in your own backyard...