Land Claims Idea

I have just come up with a great way to settle the Native land claim issue.

The way I figure it, if OPP Chief Julian Fantino, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Prime Minister Stephen Harper all so eager to accommodate the Mohawk "warriors", they should go that extra mile and hand over their own property and lands to the Natives.

Heck they should even throw in Queen's Park and Parliament Hill.

Anything to avoid a confrontation.

Bye-Bye Brodie?

According to the National Post's John Ivison, Dr. Ian Brodie, who is Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Chief of Staff, may soon step down.

Or least that's the rumour.

Well, if this rumour is indeed true, it would be the best thing to happen to Harper since the day he discovered the bacon double cheeseburger.

To be blunt, Dr. Brodie, an academic, is seriously out of his element in the rough and tumble world of real life politics.

So it would definitely be a positive move for the Conservative Party if Brodie went back to the halls of academia and left the political battles to people who actually know what they are doing.

On the Right Side

Recently did an interview with Doug Aldridge over at The Right Side.

Be warned it's a "Politically Correct Free Zone."

Freedom Daze

The Fraser Institute recently announced June 20th was Tax Freedom Day.

Tax Freedom Day is the day, when according to the Fraser Institute, "Canadians have paid off the total tax bill imposed on them by government and can finally start working for themselves."

Now, I think Tax Freedom Day is a great concept, so great, in fact, that should be extended to other issues.

For instance, here are some additional "Freedom Days" we should implement:

David Suzuki Freedom Day
This would be a day when nobody pestered us about climate change. We could run our air conditioners at full blast; idle our cars with reckless abandon; and leave incandescent light bulbs burning all night.

Fiscal Imbalance Freedom Day
On this glorious day no provincial premier would be permitted to whine about how they need more tax dollars. This, of course, would leave most of them speechless.

Rosie O’Donnell Freedom Day
No explanation needed.

Blame Bush Freedom Day
Wouldn't it be great if for one day a year, U.S. President George Bush could not be blamed for anything? Well on Blame Bush Freedom Day, he couldn't be blamed for such things as global warming or international terrorism or for the fact that sometimes your lawn mower won't start.

Reality Programming Freedom Day
Imagine if you turned on your TV and no where on the dial was there a program featuring "real people" in totally unreal situations. No battling to survive on islands, no beautiful babes trying to ensare some dopey hunk, nobody racing anywhere. Just good old fashioned mindless television.

I'm not asking for much, am I?

Gag law loosened in US

Canada's lawmakers should take note of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling yesterday, which struck a blow for free political expression.

Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court loosened restrictions on a gag law that denied Americans the right to free speech.

The U.S. Court ruled a law aimed at preventing the airing of issue ads that cast candidates in positive or negative lights was unconstitutional, saying it unreasonably limited speech and violated First Amendment rights.

Of course, here in Canada we have a similar gag on the books, which our Supreme Court upheld in 2004.

Maybe the Harper government should do what our court won’t do. He should scrap Canada's election gag law.

Why should Americans enjoy a freedom that's denied to Canadians?

Vote None of the Above

I have come up with a fool proof plan to make myself Prime Minister.

All I need do is create a political party called "None of the Above" and I will be assured a majority government.

Hey, think I'm kidding?

Just check the polls -- none of the other parties has caught the public's fancy.

And here's why: The Conservatives are acting like Liberals; the Liberals are acting like New Democrats and the New Democrats are acting like . . . well they are acting like New Democrats.

It's all one big political mush.

So why not vote for "None of the Above?"

Hmm, sounds like a great campaign slogan.

Miracle in City Hall

Was anybody really surprised when Toronto Mayor David Miller flip flopped on the "Support Our Troops" ribbon controversy?

Originally Commissar Miller wanted to remove such ribbons from the backs of city ambulances and fire trucks because he feared they showed support for the War in Afghanistan.

Predictably a storm of controversy erupted and Miller backed down.

Certainly being the dedicated left-wing icon he is, Miller didn't want to cave in on this issue, but politically he had zero choice.

He was in the same position as the judge in The Miracle on 34th Street, the one who ruled "Kris Kringle" was legally Santa Claus.

Remember what the judge's political advisor told him when he was considering sending Kris to a mental institution?

"Go on", said the advisor. "But if you do, remember this: you can count on getting just two votes, your own and that district attorney's out there."

I am sure Miller received similar advice.

Democracy Institute

Here's some exciting news.

The Democracy Institute, an international public policy group, has granted me the title of Senior Fellow.

While this is not a paying job, as a Senior Fellow I will play a leading role in designing the institute's research agenda, oversee particular projects and speak publicly onbehalf of the institute through the press and broadcast media.

The Democracy Institute, which has offices in Washington D.C. andLondon, England, serves to further public education through the production and dissemination of accessible commentary and scholarship.

In my capacity as a Senior Fellow, I will represent the DemocracyInstitute here in Canada and also bring a Canadian perspective on politics to an international audience.I am looking forward to a long association with a group which helps to encourage rational debate around the world.

Time for Tory Tune up

One of the things Prime Minister Harper might ponder during his long summer vacation is a possible cabinet shuffle in the Fall.

Well, for what's it worth, here are my suggestions for cabinet ministers who should be demoted or removed altogether:

1. Defence Minister Gordon O'Conner: No brainer. Defence supposed to be one of the issues the Tories own. Whether through bad luck or incompetence, O'Conner has made a strength into a weakness.

2. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty: Huge disappointment. Maybe it's not fair to blame Flaherty for all the fiscal miscues of this government but he has been the point man for the Income Trust flip flip, the ABM bank silliness and of course the big spending budget. Maybe we need a real conservative as Finance Minister.

3. Heritage Minister Bev Oda: Never met a dopey "arts" project she didn't like to subsidize. More Liberal than a Liberal, Oda is part of the problem not part of the solution.

Of course, the Tories need more than just a little tinkering about their engine, what they need is a complete tune up.

Media Update: The Special Edition

I am going to be on The Last Angry Man (940 Radio Montreal) this evening at 7:40 PM EST to talk about my recent Sun column.

Media Update

I am going to be on The Mornng News with Stirling Faux (CHQR Radio) Tuesday morning June 20th at about 8: 15 AM EST to talk about my recent column.

Democracy Canadian-Style

Here's a column I wrote which appears in today's Sun Media chain.

In it, I wonder if it would be such a good idea to send Canadian MPs to Afghanistan to teach the locals there about our brand of democracy.

More Pictures

Here are pictures of my dog Ace, the only subject who will let me experiment with my new digital camera.

Cool Father's Day Gift

I know people enjoy this blog.

But I often get comments such as "Hey Gerry, love your writing, but why don't you have more pictures of you?"

Well, good news -- I got a digital camera for Father's Day.

So now you will have the opportunity to see more of me!!

For instance, this is a photo of me in my home "office" otherwise known as the table in the living room.

Hmm, I think I need a shave.

Zolf on Harper

What proof positive that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is heading down the wrong track?

Here it is: Larry Zolf is now praising him.

Oh yeah and here's what Zolf says about me in this piece:

"Nicholls was fired by the National Citizens Coalition and is now the Number 1 enemy of the conservative right-wing and a critic of Harper's Tories."

What does this mean?

Does Zolf think I am the number one enemy of the conservative right wing because of my criticisms of Harper?

Wouldn't that make me the enemy of the conservative left wing?

Harper and the CBC

Yesterday I was on CBC radio going after the Conservatives for not being conservative.

Well today, in this Politics Watch article, I am quoted going after the Conservatives for not privatizing the CBC.

How is that for irony?

Tories Turning a Deaf Ear

Here's an op-ed I wrote, which appears in today's Windsor Star.

Once again, I patiently try and explain to the Tory braintrust what they are doing wrong.

Hope they listen this time!

Media Alert

I am scheduled to appear on the CBC radio program, The Current on Wednesday morning -- between 8:00-8:30 AM EST.

Ok I know it's early to listen -- but aren't I worth it?

Atlantic Discord

The Prime Minister's problems over the Atlantic Accord, reveal three basic truths:

1. There's no pleasing Red Tories.

2. The Tories are dreaming in technicolour if they think the "fiscal imbalance" issue is over.

3. Canada is a tough country to govern.

What's getting lost, of course, in all of this debate is whether or not the whole equalization program is a good idea to begin with.

If you ask me, it's just a massive socialist scheme, that like all socialist schemes does more harm than good, but nobody asked me.

The Banal Cafe

Was driving around a lot this weekend, and decided to listen to the CBC on the car radio.

During this time I came to a definite conclusion: Stuart Mclean, star of the The Vinyl Cafe, is really, really, really unfunny.

Hare Crush You

Dropped my son off at his Krav Maga class yesterday and noticed a sign on the door advertising the other martial arts courses the school offered.

This included, Karate, Kick Boxing and Power Yoga.

Power Yoga!!??

What the heck is that?

Maybe you are supposed to tie your opponent up into a giant pretzel.

Better than counting sheep

Had insomnia last night, so I did what I always do when I have trouble falling asleep: watch CPAC.

When I switched it on at about 2:00 AM, International Trade Minister David Emerson was giving a speech about a free trade agreement Canada had just signed with Liechtenstein.

That did the trick.

Somebody has too much time on their hands

I don't why, but I think this litte video entitled "Darth Vader being a smart ass" is hilarious:

Media Alert

I am going to be on the Michael Coren Show tonight at 8:00 PM, as part of the "On the Hill" panel.

That show, of course, is on the Christian Television System.

Less Green in your Wallet

Green Party leader Elizabeth May has come up with way to save the planet: higher taxes.

May says her party supports imposing a 12 cent per litre tax on gasoline.

Her theory seems to be that poorer people pollute less than rich people, so she sees it as government's duty to make everybody poorer.

Not exactly a great political rallying cry.

And since May is more or less also a Liberal candidate, I wonder if this is part of Stephane Dion's "hidden agenda"?

Republican Race

Want the latest on the Republican presidential nomination race?

Well this just came to me from my good friends at the American polling firm McLaughlin and Associates:

"Since our last national poll conducted in April for Citizens United, there has been significant movement among likely Republican voters on the Presidential primary ballot. Rudy Giuliani’s support has decreased by 4 points from 28% to 24%, while Fred Thompson’s support has risen five points from 13% to 18%. Support for John McCain (16%/17%), Mitt Romney (8%/7%) and Newt Gingrich (6%/5%) remains consistent with the April results.

Among moderate Republicans, Thompson’s support has increased by 14 points (4% to 18%), while Giuliani’s support has decreased significantly (37% to 29%). McCain (19% to 16%) and Romney (8% to 3%) have also lost support among moderate Republicans. Giuliani shows a slight loss among conservative Republicans (25% to 22%), while Thompson (16% to 18%), McCain (14% to 16%) and Romney (8% to 10%) show slight gains."

You can get more detailed results here.

Noonan Takes on Bush

Former Ronald Reagan speech writer Peggy Noonan, takes aim at the Bush White House in this recent column from the Wall Street Journal.

Noonan says Bush is essentially betraying his conservative base (sound familiar). Here's how she put it:

For almost three years, arguably longer, conservative Bush supporters have felt like sufferers of battered wife syndrome. You don't like endless gushing spending, the kind that assumes a high and unstoppable affluence will always exist, and the tax receipts will always flow in? Too bad! You don't like expanding governmental authority and power? Too bad. You think the war was wrong
or is wrong? Too bad.

Noonan ends by saying it's time for American conservatives to win back their party.

That's good advice -- and not just for Americans.

Media Alert

I will be on CHLive@5:30 this afternoon to discuss the column I had in today's Toronto Sun.

Squaring off against me is Sheila Copps, who surprise, surprise, thinks we need more politicians. As the name suggest, the program starts at 5:30 PM.

Also discussed my column on the Gary Doyle Show earlier this afternoon.

We Don't Need More Politicians

I have a guest column in today's Toronto Sun commenting on the government's plan to add 22 more MPs to the House of Commons.

The last thing we need, I argue, is more politicians!

Bilingualism and Dion

Liberal leader Stephane Dion says if he forms the next government he will make bilingualism a priority.

Does that mean he is going to learn how to speak English?

Just asking.

Media Alert

I am scheduled to appear Sunday on CTV's news affairs show, Question Period.

Not sure exactly at what point I will appear on the show, but it starts at noon EST.

My topic will be the Conservtive Party and its problems in the polls.

My personality? It's elementary

According to the "Jung Typology Test" I am a ISFJ personality type, that is Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging.

You can see exactly the kind of person that makes me here.

Other ISFJ's include Queen "Bloody" Mary I of England, Jerry Seinfeld and Dr. Watson of Sherlock Holmes fame.

I would judge this test, but I am feeling a little introverted right now.

H/T Wonder Woman

Guns and Love

It's safe to say, the folks who administer our gun registry laws never saw a form like the one my friend Pierre Lemieux submitted to them.

Oh and Pierre also sent a letter to Prime Minister Harper on the subject.

Reform's Anniversary

This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Reform Party.

Preston Manning, the founder and first leader of Reform, has a good column in today's Globe and Mail, examining the positive legacy of the party.

"In the beginning, writes Manning, "it had only a handful of members, no seats in Parliament and no influence in national affairs. Ten years later, it had 130,000 members, formed the official opposition in Parliament with 60 seats, and significantly altered the national agenda on such issues as budget balancing, tax relief and the federal government's position on Quebec secession."

And Manning's right, the Reform Party in those terms was a success. And a large part of that success was that Reform had a more or less conservative ideology.

Yet, the fact remains that politically speaking, Reform failed. It never won a federal election.

Why?

Well there's two reasons.

First, Reform lacked a polished, professional image. Often it relied on media stunts, that gave the impression Reform was not a serious political entity.

Remember the Mexican band it hired to stroll through the halls of the Senate?

The second problem with Reform was its leader, Manning, was unelectable.

Now don't get me wrong, I have the utmost repect for Preston Manning. Certainly, intellectually he was head and shoulders above his rivals at the time.

But for whatever reason voters, at least in eastern Canada, did not see him as Prime Ministerial material.

Ironically, Reform's distant successor - the Conservative Party - is almost a mirror image.

It has an electable leader in Stephen Harper and it has a team of solid communication professionals -- but it is turning away from conservative ideology.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a conservative party that had it all?