I see Canada will soon have new anti-gang laws.
Now I wonder when somebody will do something about the gangs in the House of Commons?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Economical numbers
The late physicist Richard Feynman once said:
"There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers."
That quote came to my mind when I checked out the Canadian Tax Federation's Debt Clock.
"There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers."
That quote came to my mind when I checked out the Canadian Tax Federation's Debt Clock.
Obama's Prospects
Went to a "LunchnLearn" lecture yesterday at the University of Toronto.
The guest speaker was businessman and writer Theo Caldwell, who addressed the topic:
"President Obama: His Prospects for Hope and Harmony with a Democratic Congress."
Caldwell predicts, the president will have neither hope nor harmony.
He says it's just the nature of the American political system: the president must look at the national stage, while Congress focuses on regional, state or district concerns.
This inevitably leads to conflict and tension, even when you have a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress.
Add an economic recession into the mix and you have even more tension and conflict.
Where will this all lead?
Well, Caldwell guesses you will see a Republican resurgence in the 2010 Congressional elections, with perhaps the GOP winning the House of Representatives.
This, in turn, could lead disenchanted Democrats to blame Obama for their woes, which in turn could lead to a primary challenge in 2012.
Who would possibly challenge Obama? Who knows, but I bet her name rhymes with Billary.
And says Caldwell, American presidents who are seriously challenged in primaries usually lose the general election.
So get ready for a Republican president in 2012.
Mind you, this is all a guess.
The guest speaker was businessman and writer Theo Caldwell, who addressed the topic:
"President Obama: His Prospects for Hope and Harmony with a Democratic Congress."
Caldwell predicts, the president will have neither hope nor harmony.
He says it's just the nature of the American political system: the president must look at the national stage, while Congress focuses on regional, state or district concerns.
This inevitably leads to conflict and tension, even when you have a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress.
Add an economic recession into the mix and you have even more tension and conflict.
Where will this all lead?
Well, Caldwell guesses you will see a Republican resurgence in the 2010 Congressional elections, with perhaps the GOP winning the House of Representatives.
This, in turn, could lead disenchanted Democrats to blame Obama for their woes, which in turn could lead to a primary challenge in 2012.
Who would possibly challenge Obama? Who knows, but I bet her name rhymes with Billary.
And says Caldwell, American presidents who are seriously challenged in primaries usually lose the general election.
So get ready for a Republican president in 2012.
Mind you, this is all a guess.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Visiting the Falls and the Tories
I made a brief cameo appearance at the Ontario PC policy convention this weekend in Niagara Falls.
A policy convention, of course, is an event where about 1,000 delegates come together in a hotel to figure out important issues, such as how many people can possibly be squeezed into hospitality suites.
By the way, in the interest of promoting the democratic process, I made it a point to visit as many of these suites as possible, which in fact, were quite hospitable.
Along the way, I met a lot of old friends and engaged in lots of stimulating conversations.
Maybe next time, I will actually attend some of the debates.
A policy convention, of course, is an event where about 1,000 delegates come together in a hotel to figure out important issues, such as how many people can possibly be squeezed into hospitality suites.
By the way, in the interest of promoting the democratic process, I made it a point to visit as many of these suites as possible, which in fact, were quite hospitable.
Along the way, I met a lot of old friends and engaged in lots of stimulating conversations.
Maybe next time, I will actually attend some of the debates.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Pains of Abraham
Is it OK to talk about non-Obama related issues?
If so, check out this column I wrote on an issue all Canadians should be discussing: an 18th Century battle.
If so, check out this column I wrote on an issue all Canadians should be discussing: an 18th Century battle.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Media Alert
I will be a guest on the Gary Doyle Show (570 News Kitchener) at approximately 12:00 noon EST.
Wooing Obama
Here's a column I wrote examining the political implications of President Barack Obama's visit to Canada.
My conclusion: Obama just isn't that into us.
My conclusion: Obama just isn't that into us.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Movies for Valentines
Valentine's Day is the perfect time to snuggle up with your significant other, turn down the lights ... and watch a rented movie on DVD.
But what to watch?
Luckily, the good folks at National Review online have assembled a list of the top 25 conservative movies.
What could be more romantic than watching 300 or Lord of the Rings?
H/T Paul Tuns
But what to watch?
Luckily, the good folks at National Review online have assembled a list of the top 25 conservative movies.
What could be more romantic than watching 300 or Lord of the Rings?
H/T Paul Tuns
Friday, February 13, 2009
More HRC madness
With this being Friday the 13th and all, I can't help but think of our Human Rights Commissions, which treat individual freedoms the way Jason treats teenagers.
Case in point is the case of Burlington, Ontario bar owner Ted Kindos, who recently ran afoul of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, with predictably outrageous results.
Conservative MPP Tim Hudak recounts the sad tale here.
Case in point is the case of Burlington, Ontario bar owner Ted Kindos, who recently ran afoul of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, with predictably outrageous results.
Conservative MPP Tim Hudak recounts the sad tale here.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Mortgaging the future
Twelve Quebec economists have issued a declaration opposing "stimulus" spending.
Part of it reads:
Check it out. You can also vote in favour of their statement.
Part of it reads:
The massive programs of expenditure and regulation that the federal and Québec government are pushing are essentially meant to satisfy the demands of organized interests.In the light of economic theory and history, we think that those measures, far from rebooting the economy, will mortgage the taxpayers’ incomes, make producers even more dependent of the state, provide stimulus for protectionism, and set the scene for even worse turmoil in the future.
Check it out. You can also vote in favour of their statement.
Reacting to Israel
I agree with Rondi Adamson who finds the media's reaction to the Israeli election a little perplexing.
Writes Adamson: "I just saw this headline. (I have also heard variations on it from TV and radio newscasters and analysts numerous times since last night.) Uncertain Israeli election puts peace in doubt. Right. It's the uncertain Israeli election that is putting peace in doubt, not Hamas or Hezbollah or the long-standing anti-Israeli policies of the countries that surround Israel."
Exactly.
What's got the media in a tizzy, of course, is that "right wing" parties have made gains.
But why should this suprise anyone, since Israel's left wing policies have not ensured peace?
Writes Adamson: "I just saw this headline. (I have also heard variations on it from TV and radio newscasters and analysts numerous times since last night.) Uncertain Israeli election puts peace in doubt. Right. It's the uncertain Israeli election that is putting peace in doubt, not Hamas or Hezbollah or the long-standing anti-Israeli policies of the countries that surround Israel."
Exactly.
What's got the media in a tizzy, of course, is that "right wing" parties have made gains.
But why should this suprise anyone, since Israel's left wing policies have not ensured peace?
The world needs more Cleveland
Here's my latest column from Report Magazine.
It's a story about that rarest of all creatures: an honest and principled politician.
His name was Grover Cleveland and he served as American president in the late nineteenth century.
Now you probably don't know much about Cleveland because he never declared war on anybody, but he was a remarkable man.
For one thing, he believed in balanced budgets. Going into deficit was morally wrong, according to Cleveland because it unfairly burdened future generations with debt. And a surplus was equally wrong because it amounted to the government taking more money than it needed.
Plus Cleveland held the notion that the people could put money to better use than government.
Too bad politicians like this are extinct these days on both sides of the border.
It's a story about that rarest of all creatures: an honest and principled politician.
His name was Grover Cleveland and he served as American president in the late nineteenth century.
Now you probably don't know much about Cleveland because he never declared war on anybody, but he was a remarkable man.
For one thing, he believed in balanced budgets. Going into deficit was morally wrong, according to Cleveland because it unfairly burdened future generations with debt. And a surplus was equally wrong because it amounted to the government taking more money than it needed.
Plus Cleveland held the notion that the people could put money to better use than government.
Too bad politicians like this are extinct these days on both sides of the border.
Tilting at Windmills
Premier Dalton McGuinty is all gung ho with the idea of filling the Ontario landscape with massive wind turbines.
It's a green idea which has lots of landowners seeing red.
Understandably, many property owners don't much like the idea of seeing their land blighted with turbines, a technology which some believe may pose a health risk.
But McGuinty doesn't care, he plans to put up his windmills whether locals like it or not.
Of course, his scheme has less to do with producing clean energy and more to do with appeasing strident environmental groups.
For instance, I don't see the Premier putting a wind turbine in his backyard.
This is just another example of why we need to protect private property rights in this country.
In the meantime a grassroots group called Wind Concerns Ontario has formed to stop McGuinty's land grab.
They deserve support.
It's a green idea which has lots of landowners seeing red.
Understandably, many property owners don't much like the idea of seeing their land blighted with turbines, a technology which some believe may pose a health risk.
But McGuinty doesn't care, he plans to put up his windmills whether locals like it or not.
Of course, his scheme has less to do with producing clean energy and more to do with appeasing strident environmental groups.
For instance, I don't see the Premier putting a wind turbine in his backyard.
This is just another example of why we need to protect private property rights in this country.
In the meantime a grassroots group called Wind Concerns Ontario has formed to stop McGuinty's land grab.
They deserve support.
Monday, February 09, 2009
TV Shots
Hey I just figured out how to lift images from DVDs.
And you know what means, don't you?
Yup, more pictures of me will adorn this site.
Take for instance this shot of me and Warren "Kicking Ass" Kinsella from the show Canada AM.
Or here's a picture of me on the Michael Coren Show taking on a union leader and an Ontario NDP MPP, two for the price of one!
Funny thing about TV. They say it makes you look ten pounds heavier, but I think it makes you look balder than you really are.
Because I know I have more hair than that. Or at least I always assumed I did.
And you know what means, don't you?
Yup, more pictures of me will adorn this site.
Take for instance this shot of me and Warren "Kicking Ass" Kinsella from the show Canada AM.Or here's a picture of me on the Michael Coren Show taking on a union leader and an Ontario NDP MPP, two for the price of one!
Funny thing about TV. They say it makes you look ten pounds heavier, but I think it makes you look balder than you really are.
Because I know I have more hair than that. Or at least I always assumed I did.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Hey, hey, ho, ho, global warming's gotta go
This is supposed to be a picture of a global warming protest.
Sorry guys, but I wouldn't mind milder winters.
H/T Doretta
US conservatives mobilizing
The American conservative movement is mobilizing against the government spending splurge that's taking place in the United States.
The leaders of 18 of pro-free market organizations have signed an open letter addressed to the leaders of the American Senate.
Part of the letter reads: "the astronomical growth of government spending, coupled with further monetary easing and protectionism, will discourage investment, savings, and capital creation, because in the longer term it means higher taxes, higher interest rates, and inflation. It will destroy jobs in the private sector, thus increasing individual dependency on government."
We need a similar campaign here in Canada.
The leaders of 18 of pro-free market organizations have signed an open letter addressed to the leaders of the American Senate.
Part of the letter reads: "the astronomical growth of government spending, coupled with further monetary easing and protectionism, will discourage investment, savings, and capital creation, because in the longer term it means higher taxes, higher interest rates, and inflation. It will destroy jobs in the private sector, thus increasing individual dependency on government."
We need a similar campaign here in Canada.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Coyne nails it
In his Maclean's blog, Andrew Coyne laments that "there’s no party that stands for consumers, against exploitation by producer interests; for the jobless, against restrictive labour laws that prevent them from pricing themselves into work; for taxpayers, against the depredations of rent-seeking special interests; for property owners, against the marauding state. There’s just a vast gap in the Canadian political spectrum, or several of them, while the parties compete to see who can spend the most, devolve powers the fastest, pander most cravenly."
Read the rest here.
Read the rest here.
Lesser of two evils?
Since the Tory budget came down a lot of Conservative apologists have defended it by saying, "Well things would have been worse had the Coalition been in power."
But would a Coalition budget really be much worse, in terms of spending and deficits?
My friend Janet Neilson says probably not.
But would a Coalition budget really be much worse, in terms of spending and deficits?
My friend Janet Neilson says probably not.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Media Alert II
I am scheduled to be on CTV Newsnet's Power Play with Tom Clark this afternoon to talk Ottawa politics at approximately 5:30 PM EST.
That's the program replacing the old Mike Duffy Show.
That's the program replacing the old Mike Duffy Show.
Media Alert
I will be a guest on the Gary Doyle Show (570News Kitchener) today at 12:30 EST, to talk about my column in today's Ottawa Citizen.
Say it aint so Stephen
Check out my column from today's Ottawa Citizen.
I explain how Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Tories have taken a strange detour into the Twilight Zone.
I explain how Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Tories have taken a strange detour into the Twilight Zone.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Super Bowl Prediction
My friend Paul Tuns gives a long, detailed (and I do mean detailed) explanation as to why he thinks the Arizona Cardinals will win today's Super Bowl.
And that's all I needed to make my own prediction: the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And that's all I needed to make my own prediction: the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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