Progressive Bloggers, the blogging aggregator, is celebrating it's 10th anniversary. Scott Tribe and others are getting together in Toronto today to mark the occasion. And they have every right to celebrate, or give themselves a few high fives, for it is a magnificent achievement. Those who post on Progressive Bloggers, or read those posts, or contribute comments owe them a lot. And I know I do.
I must admit that when I first saw the battle over abortion raging at Progressive Bloggers, my first instinct was to duck and cover. Because I've seen it all before, and it always ends badly.
It's the kind of fight where the one who tries to break it up ends up in hospital. And everyone loses, except the real enemy.
But now that I've found my courage at the bottom of a bottle. Even though I don't usually drink. And now that I've written my will, I figure I have to say something before it gets even worse.
Last, but certainly not least, Simon, I have always liked your blog, but I find myself at odds with you lately, like today. The passage below, I find particularly interesting.
But if they don’t see the errors of their ways, and keep on attacking the NDP instead of the Cons, I will have no choice.
Attacking the NDP instead of the Cons? Uh, excuse me, I don’t remember any protesting when the NDP starting putting out attack ads on Iggy and Iggy alone following the debates and basically leaving Stevie Spiteful alone, just as they had in previous election campaigns.
Because as far as I know I've always criticized BOTH sides. And who knew I was a friend of Stevie Spiteful. How frightful.
Another sign a merger will not happen? This rambling post by Montreal Simon is a good reason. Where's the co-operation everyone on that side has been talking about? All I see is arrogance and hubris.
Rambling ? Rambling? How rude. Or should I say how BLUNT. Gawd. I hate being called a partisan by other wildly partisan bloggers. WTF?
But of course I'm not surprised. At this point, almost a month into The Great Darkness, I suspect much of the progressive blogosphere, after wallowing in the pit of despair, has descended into a barely suppressed state of mutual loathing.
With both sides secretly cheering on their champions. In this corner CK in this corner Buckdog.
And it's far safer to be a partisan, because then only ONE side wants to kill you. Instead of BOTH of them.
But I just can't. It's not in my scientific nature. I reserve the right to criticize any progressive party. To speak truth to power the powerless.
Because at this point I don't give a damn what anybody says. All I'm interested in is seeing the two sides merge into a new party. I believe that's the only way we will beat the Cons.
And how do I know this? Because I can count to THREE.
Mr. Harper is doing the Liberals, NDP, and Greens a favour by cutting off their lolly. If he were as Machiavellian as his critics allege, he would keep the allowances in place, thus encouraging the centre-left parties to remain separate. Ending the allowances is in the long-term self-interest of these parties (or at least of their supporters), because it will drive them to co-operate in order to compete with the Conservative juggernaut.
Gawd. How galling. Having the Strangelove Machiavelli tell us that Great Machiavelli Leader isn't Machiavellian. But what if he's right about the LOLLY?
Oh well. The good news is that we've got four long years to find out eh? And fight each other. Before we lose the next election.
And in the meantime I've found something that we can ALL agree upon.
Nobody might notice eh? Except Duffy's favourite BBQ chicken and ribs place, But since the turkey coop is now controlled by the Cons, killing it would at least give us SOMETHING to celebrate.
I can just see it now. Great Turkey Leader.
Breaking the sad news to his Con flock...
Yes it's true. Da truth will set us free. Reality will force us to unite.
Rabid partisanship will eventually prove tiresome.
Golly. I knew the day would come that somebody would recognize my brilliant videos eh?
I just wish my first review was a little more positive.
Personally, I don’t think that Harper is the Dark Lord of the Sith or the Devil incarnate, but I have to admit to being somewhat apprehensive about what a Harper majority government might do should things shake out that way. Even so, ridiculous, infantile scare-mongering like the video clip posted above demonizing Harper (almost quite literally), serves no good purpose whatsoever.
Now look, I like Red Tory a lot, I always have, and that review won't change anything in that regard. But I'm not apologizing for ANYTHING. Because that's MY nightmare not his.
As a gay guy who is also a strong supporter of the rights of women and poor people, I do consider Stephen Harper as the most dangerous political leader in Canadian history, I dread what he might do if he ever got a majority.
And everything I said in that video is true. He is an authoritarian thug. He has gone after women and gay people. He is in favour of the death penalty. I truly believe he wants to strangle medicare.
And if my videos appeal to emotion rather than just reason it's because I feel that if Canadians don't fear a Harper majority he will get one. And if I demonize Harper and his Cons it's because I believe in giving bullies a taste of their own medicine.
But then why I am surprised eh? Most of the other big progressive blogs, with the honorable exception of the Galloping Beaver, have never encouraged me. Just marginalized me like some dumb kid....or a faggot. When I am neither.
I'm deadly serious, I've written more than 2000 posts, and I can't help it if I'm naturally playful.
Oh well. Those pompous poobahs can ignore me, or call me infantile or hyperbolic, but I just call them BORING. And they are the ones who should be ashamed of themselves for discouraging younger Canadians from blogging .
So although I'm a bit depressed, I will continue to make to make my humble videos, because I think that videos are the best way to motivate young Canadians to vote. And if I can get ONE of them to do that I would be very happy and satisfied. And feel that I made a difference.
Which is not to say that I'm not sorry about something in my last video eh?
I really should have reduced the volume of that beeping heart monitor. Because this old guy thought it was the smoke detector.
And I found him shaking like a leaf under the bed.
Instead of ruling over it with his bunny crown...
But that's OK too. Because even he recognizes how terrible a Harper majority would be eh?
Knows that if one of his two daddies was in prison, he'd get half less than half the treats he gets each day.
Ever since I began blogging I've racked my brain trying to figure out why the progressive blogosphere and the Blogging Tories seem to exist in two different worlds. Why our sites are so decent and nice, while the Con site seems to be written by a bunch of angry old white guys in their underwear...or WORSE. One hairy hand on their keyboards, the other one on their...um...tree branches. And a few weeks ago I was soooooo excited because I thought I had found the missing link. But it turns out they're not apes after all. Who knew eh? They just don't share our values.
While liberals tend to focus on questions of individual interaction, conservatives are placing greater emphasis on binding together groups with essential institutions.
He found that those on the left feel strongly about the first two (harm/care fairness/reciprocity) while being relatively indifferent toward the latter three. Conservatives however are drawn more to loyalty, authority and purity. Which explains so much about those Cons. Their herd mentality...
Their racism, their Daddy knows best views, their homophobia, why so many are religious fanatics, why they view all "outsiders" as a threat. Once again the Harper government is behaving just as an earlier Canadian government did with Jews anxiously seeking asylum from the Holocaust: slamming the door in their desperate faces.
Scary isn't it? It really makes you wonder what kind of totalitarian society.... LOYALTY... AUTHORITY... PURITY....they might impose on Canadians if they ever got a majority. You know the kind of society the PMO's favourite blogger is hinting at here. Golly. Isn't that useful? Thanks Stephen. Now that we know how they think, and what they are planning, it's going to be so much easier to convince most Canadians that a Con majority would be a living NIGHTMARE. Oh yeah...and one more thing. Since I know it will drive those Con climate change deniers bonkers. And it's Friday night. Don't you LOVE this video?
A Harper majority is a threat to Canada AND the planet ? Hmmm....I think we can work with that one eh? Have a great weekend everyone !
Because gay people are all rich right? And if we don't watch it them faggots could take over the world....
It seems like the homosexual lobby has inherited the very intolerance they were once and are still held down by. They only preached tolerance when they had no power but now they turn around and preach intolerance. Could it be that it’s never been about tolerance but rather approbation? Many would agree this is a tried and true strategy similar to other absolutist movements. Mohammed preached tolerance when he was in the minority but once he held power he preached “death to the infidels”.
....Like the Muslims.
Gawd. Lucky Enviralment is not homophobic eh?
I’m by no means homophobic or the type of guy who sleeps with his back to the wall. I have gay friends, a gay boss, and although tests can’t prove it, I’m almost certain my dog is gay. But I can’t help but notice this ever growing trend that it’s taboo to not support the gay movement. Like you should be ostrasized or exciled to Elba for believing in your own beliefs which may or may not be in line with those of the gay community.
Hmmm.... should I take the time to explain that yes gay people do drink Tim Horton's coffee? Because a lot of us are poor and can't afford to drink anything else. Unfortunately. And no we don't think a Canadian company should sponsor anything to do with the bigots from NOM.
Because they are not just bigots...they're horrible hatemongering liars.
Should I also bother to explain that the "homosexual lobby" doesn't really want to take over the world? All we want is EQUALITY. Or ask Enviralentil to point out one place in the world where gay people have "power?" Or aren't persecuted for who they are. Because I'd LOVE to visit it. Nah. Life is too short. I think I'll just say that the Blogging Tories...or Free Dominion is that a way...
And bon voyage you IDIOT... ----------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE: I see Enviralentil has deleted that post. I thought that might happen that's why I reproduced so much of it. I did think of taking a screen shot but then I thought wait a minute. WTF? Making an asshole out of yourself is not a capital offence. I should know...been there done it. But I take it that deleting a post means you're sorry. Very sorry. And that's all that counts...
