Lamb Chops

Hope Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty doesn't see this movie; it may lead him to ban sheep!

Quebec's Political Shift

A little while ago, when the Quebec "nation issue" was dominating the debate in the House of Commons, NDP leader Jack Layton came up with an interesting way to keep the country united.

He said since Quebec was generally a left wing province, the best way to keep it in Canada was for the rest of the country to adopt socialism.

Well there are a lot of things wrong with that line of thinking but here's one big problem: Quebec is actually moving to the right politically.

Consider: in the last federal election, Quebec elected ten Conservative MPs, Quebeckers are receptive to the idea of alternatives to government-run health care and two of the three main political provincial parties are to the right of centre.

If this trend keeps up, maybe Layton will next argue the best way to keep Quebec in Canada will be to adopt libertarianism.

No, he probably won't do that.

Dion's Tour

Liberal leader Stephane Dion is about to engage on a cross-country tour in a bid to boost his sagging poll numbers.

According to the press, his strategists are hoping "it will showcase the depth of the former academic’s intellect and the breadth of his vision."

Well if the Liberals are pinning their hopes on Dion's intellect, well they might as well enjoy their stay in the Opposition benches because they will be there for a while.

I'm not saying Dion isn't smart intellectually, I am sure he is. But he doesn't seem to be all that smart politically, which is what counts when it comes to winning elections.

It's not smart to go around telling Canadians that you might impose a carbon tax on gasoline.

It's not smart politics to openly muse about nationalizing Alberta's oil sands.

It's not smart politics to scrap anti-terrorist police powers.

Rather than going on a speaking tour, Dion would be better served to re-think his policies.

It's easier to get voters to agree with you than it is to get them to like you.

A Great Man's Legacy

Today marks the twentieth anniversary of a great man's death.

His name was Colin M. Brown.

Maybe you never heard of him, but Colin was an important person in my life and an important person in Canadian history.

For one thing, he was the founder and first president of the National Citizens Coalition.

But that's not what made him so important.

What's important about Colin is the example he set for the rest of us who believe in freedom and who believe some values are worthing fighting for --- no matter what the odds.

Today, for instance, some of us are sometimes disillusioned and disappointed with the trends of the world. Some of us even think at times that we should give up the battle.

But just imagine what it was like for conservatives back in the late 1960s, when Canada was in the grip of Trudeaumania.

Socialism we were told then was the way of the future. Big government, went the conventional wisdom, was the answer to all our problems.

Anyone who believed otherwise was ostracized as a "dinosaur" or worse.

Colin didn't buy it.

To him Trudeau's vision was not only wrong, but also destroying the country he loved.

Yet he just didn't complain about what was happening to his country -- he did something about it.

Always a fighter, this World War II vet, took up his sword and declared war on Trudeau's Canada.

Using his own money he took out ads in newspapers speaking up for free markets and calling for less government.

This was heresy!

Politicians attacked him, leftists smeared him, the media tried to ignore him.

But undeterred, Colin fought on.

And before long something happened: thousands of Canadians rallied to Colin's side.

They saw in Colin a man who had the courage of his convictions, a man who was saying the things they longed to hear, a man who wasn't afraid to stand up for what was right.

So great was Colin's support that in 1975 he founded the NCC, as a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to fighting for a freer, better Canada. He called it a hobby that went berserk.

Did Colin and the NCC help to change Canada?

Well let's put it this way, back in 1975 I don't think even Colin would have dreamed that one of his successors as NCC president would one day become Prime Minister.

Gerry's Most UnExcellent Adventure

In this blog's last exciting episode I was in my Montreal hotel room anxiously checking flight schedules to see if the massive winter storm pounding the city would keep me from getting home.

Here's the rest of the story (warning some scenes are intended for mature audiences, viewer discretion is advised)

At about 10:00 AM after a pleasant sounding fellow from the airline assured me my 12:15 flight was still on time I bravely embarked on my journey.

Things got off to a bad start when immediately upon leaving the hotel, I sunk into a snow bank up to my chest.

But that was nothing, then came the cab ride.

You know how soldiers tell you war is long periods of tedium punctuated with brief moments of sheer terror.

Well that's what my cab ride was like.

It alternated between being a slow snail-like crawl along ice covered streets and a heart-pounding Disneyland ride designed by Satan.

After the death-defying cab ride it was the security check.

Just my luck some young guy was being trained to be a security guard and I guess I was his "test".

With three other older, mean-looking security guards looking on, this kid took me aside and treated me like I was Osama Bin Laden: I had to undo my belt buckle, take off my boots, and endure a "full metal scan" that was a little more invasive than I liked.

Let's just say he was very thorough and I am sure he passed with flying colours.

Next it was waiting in the terminal lounge -- my flight was delayed. What a shock!!

But finally after waiting for hours in the lounge, they allowed us to board the plane, where we waited for more hours.

Oh yeah, one of the passengers was an absolutely, stunningly gorgeous young lady, who I am certain was a professional model.

Did she sit next to me?

No, of course not. I sat next to a salesman from Manitoba, who kept saying, "Let's pray for a safe flight."

Anyway, after we deiced the plane's wings and after the runway was shoveled free of snow, we finally took off.

The flight itself was uneventful -- except for the aggravating "artist" behind me who kept prattling on about his "performance art".

Eventually we landed safe and sound in Toronto City Island airport.

And just to make the trip end on the right note: I got seasick crossing on the ferry.

Blizzard Blues

Well I am in Montreal right now and by the look of the massive winter storm raging outside my hotel window it looks like I might be here for a long time!

Just my luck, global warming decides to take a holiday on the very day I am visiting the city!

Anyway, was talking politics with some of the locals around here and one opinion making the rounds is that when all the election dust is settled on March 26th, Quebec might have something it has never had in its history: a minority government.

As if politics in this province weren't already wacky enough.

However, it's also a tradition in Quebec to elect back-to-back majority governments, so who knows.

All I care about right now is whether or not my plane is going to take off!

Windsor Liberty Seminar

When you think of Windsor, my home town, you usually think of cars and maybe of casinos.

But libertarians and conservatives should also think of it as the place that hosts the annual Windsor Liberty Seminar, a wonderful event that helps to promote my favourite cause: individual freedom.

This year's Seminar will be held on March 24th, and I would certainly encourage anyone who cares about freedom to attend.

I had the honour of speaking at last year's event and it was a great experience.

This year's speakers include Brett Skinner (a fellow Windsor native) from the Fraser Institute, Malkin Dare of the Society for Quality Eduction and a surprise guest.

The fact that such an event is held in an NDP bastion makes it all the more fun.

Liberal Hypocrisy

Liberal leader Stephane Dion says he will oppose extending certain provisions of the Anti-terrorist Act because they infringe on civil liberties.

Well since when do the Liberals care about infringing on civil liberties?

After all, this same Liberal Party imposed a draconian gun registry, which infringes on the civil liberties of gun owners.

This same Liberal Party supports the archaic Wheat Board monopoly, which infringes on the civil liberties of western grain farmers.

And this same Liberal Party enacted an undemocratic election gag law, which infringes on the civil liberties of all Canadians.

Maybe it's time Dion admitted the truth: the Liberals don't really care about protecting freedoms. All they really care about is pandering to their left wing base.

Left Wing Fantasy

What would a world without America really be like?

Media Update

I am scheduled to appear on The Drive Home With Jim Duff (940 AM Montreal) at 5:06 PM EST to discuss the NCC's opposition to Bill 257.

Angelina Shrugged

Journalist, author and perceptive conservative thinker, Paul Tuns wonders why the Council for Foreign Relations would ask actress Angelina Jolie to join their group.

Paul, if you gotta ask you've been spending too much time reading Edmund Burke.

Actually, if rumours are true that Jolie is going to star in a movie version of Atlas Shrugged I will personally ask her to join the National Citizens Coalition.

Anything to help the cause.

Dreaming of Fields

Just 36 days to go.

That's Not Entertainment

Hey tonight is Oscar night!!

Who cares!

I sure won't be watching.

Oh I used to watch the Academy Awards to see the stars and the glitz.

But I stopped when it dawned on me that 99.9 percent of what Hollywood produces is pure junk.

So why stay up until 1:00 AM to watch an industry pat itself on the back for the .01 percent of its product which is any good.

Besides in recent years the Awards Show has come to look less like a Hollywood celebration and more like a Democratic Party convention.

And tonight I suspect the Academy voters will go all "Dixie Chicks" and give Al Gore an Oscar.

Gore, of course, is nominated in the hotly contested category: "Left-wing propaganda movies aimed at making George Bush look bad."

Other than that I don't have a clue who will win, as I have not seen any of the nominated movies.

But here's a good synopsis of the "Best Movie" contenders.

From Gerry to Justin

The news that Justin Trudeau was seeking a Liberal candidacy led me to write the following letter to the editor, which appears in today's National Post:

"Who knows, this could be the first step on a political career that ends up with Justin becoming prime minister, just like his dad. I guess Karl Marx was right when he said, "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce."

STV Explained

On a couple of occasions on this blog, I have suggested the voting method known as "Single Transferable Vote" or STV, was too complicated a procedure.

Well in an effort to help me out, Jonathan Dean of the Atlantica Party was kind enough to send me a link to this site which uses cartoons and charts to explain how it works.

And it does help to explain it.

Still I am still wondering if a voting system that needs cartoons and charts to explain how it works is really a good system.

And by the way, to figure out the winners under this system it probably helps to have a degree in calculus.

Friedman Vs. Gore

Economist David Friedman has an excellent posting on the politics of global warming. (You can also read this in today's Financial Post.)

After reviewing the science behind the issue, Friedman concludes that "global warming is probably real, is probably but not certainly anthropogenic, is probably not going to have large effects on size and frequency of hurricanes and is probably not going to have large effects on sea level. It is a real problem but not, on current evidence, an impending catastrophe."

So why all the doom and gloom pronouncements from people like Al Gore.

Because, says Friedman, "Environmentalism in general and global warming in particular provide new arguments for expanded government power, new taxes, and the like. That does not mean, of course, that those arguments are wrong, but it does mean that there are a lot of people who have an incentive to support them whether wrong or right."

In other words, he says "Global warming provides arguments for things that a lot of people, mostly left of center, want to do anyway—shift lifestyles away from automobiles towards mass transit, reduce consumption of depletable resources, and the like. Environmentalism is in part a real argument, in part a religion, in part an aesthetic; the second and third parts make people too willing to accept the first."

A word (or two) about all those polls

The media and a lot of Conservative sympathizers are going ga ga over all these polls which seem to show Liberal leader Stephane Dion is in a free fall.

The latest is an Ipsos Reid poll which indicates Dion actually ranks behind Stephen Harper and Jack Layton when it comes who Canadians think would make the best Prime Minister.

Of course, Reid has been way off before, but that's not important.

What's important is such polls give the perception that Dion's leadership is in trouble.

And this perception will set in motion an inevitable dynamic which will work to further undermine Dion.

For one thing, these bad poll numbers will force the media to explain to us why Dion is in trouble.

Now they don't really have a clue but since this is something they can't admit, they will have to come up with some sort of explanation.

So the very same guys who a few months ago were fawning all over Dion's intelligence and charm, will now be informing us that he is actually stiff and indecisive.

In other words, the media smell blood in the water and this will induce a feeding frenzy. (Note the media's desire to eat a politician alive overcomes whatever political bias they may have.)

This bad coverage in turn will lead to more bad poll numbers, which will lead to more bad press.

So this is indeed all good for the Conservatives.

But there is also some bad news for them.

A recent Decima poll for instance, indicates Quebec voters are leaving the Bloc and going over to the Liberals.

If that trend continues it could spell real trouble for the Tories come election time.

This may sound ironic or even treasonous, but for the Conservatives to win a majority the Bloc Quebecois must be strong.

Political Anagrams

Found this site that generates anagrams, so naturally I couldn't resist plugging in the names of our federal party leaders.

Here's what I got:

Stephen Harper = Sharpen Her Pet (Sounds vaguely naughty)

Stephane Dion = Hasten Dope In (New Liberal campaign motto?)

Gilles Duceppe = Spiced Gulp Eel (Mmmm yummy)

Jack Layton = Joy Klan Cat (Sounds like a racist jazz musician)

And here's me: Grey Hill Scorn (Darn those grey hills!)

O'Rourke's Latest

No one is better at explaining economic policy in a way non-economists can understand than American writer P. J. O'Rourke.

So I am looking forward to reading his latest Opus -- On The Wealth of Nations.

Of course, when it comes to deciding what to read, I am always mindful of something O'Rourke once said: "Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."

So if I do happen to die, I hope I am holding On the Wealth of Nations in my hands and not the other book I happen to reading right now.

Adler vs. Greenie

Check out radio host Charles Adler's spirited analysis of Stephane "Greenie" Dion's leadership shortcomings.

Mind you I said it here first.

Liberal Stand on Terrorism Bad Politics

Not quite sure why Liberal leader Stephane Dion is opposing extending certain provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Yes it will appeal to the Left-wing faction of his base, but it might also alienate the all-important swing voters, most of whom don't much like the idea of getting blown up.

It's like Dion is saying, "I will protect you from the Alberta oil sands, but you're on your own when it comes to Osama Bin Laden."

And it seems like some Liberals agree with me.

Conservative Physics

My son recently told me about his favorite physicist, Richard Feynman (yes my son actually has a "favorite" physicist which tells you he and I are very different people.)

And this Feynman guy sounded interesting, so I checked out some of his quotes, and found this one which should strike a chord with any conservative:

"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."

And here is something he said which pretty much described the Liberal election campaign last year:

"When things are going well, something will go wrong. When things just can't get any worse, they will. Anytime things appear to be going better, you have overlooked something.”

And finally it seems Feynman had a libertarian streak:

"The real question of government versus private enterprise is argued on too philosophical and abstract a basis. Theoretically, planning may be good. But nobody has ever figured out the cause of government stupidity—and until they do (and find the cure), all ideal plans will fall into quicksand."

Hmmm, maybe my son and I have more in common than I thought.

Letter of the Day

In case you missed it, Sun Media columnist Greg Weston had a great column on why Bill 257 is a bad idea.

In response I wrote a letter to the editor, which was printed in today's Toronto Sun as "The Letter of the Day".

Here it is:

MPs must do what's right

Greg Weston's column ("Anti-scab bill a flop," Feb. 15), should be required reading for every Liberal MP.

As Weston makes clear, if the Liberals really care about Canada's economy they will oppose Bill 257.

After all, this bill would give union bosses the power to shut down businesses and to cripple key infrastructure industries such as trucking firms, banks, and telecommunication companies.

What's more, Bill 257 would also deny unionized employees the right to cross a picket line during a strike.

For all these reasons this bill should be scrapped.

We know the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois support Bill 257. Most Conservatives oppose it.

That leaves it up to Stephane Dion and the Liberals. They can either side with big union bosses or they can do what's right for Canada. Let's hope they choose wisely.

Gerry Nicholls
Vice President
National Citizens Coalition

NCC Ad Takes on Bill 257

If you not yet done so, go out and buy today's edition of the National Post.

Why?

Because the National Citizens Coalition has an ad in it opposing Bill 257, a bill that if passed would hurt Canada's economy by giving more power to union bosses.

To learn why this is a bad bill you can go here.

Valentine's Day Massacre

Here's a news release I just sent out:

NCC Says Today’s Kyoto Vote Could be a Valentines Day Massacre for the Economy

(Toronto February 14)The National Citizens Coalition says the Liberal Party wants to immediately implement the Kyoto Accord even though such a move could trigger an economic recession in Canada.

“Today’s vote on Kyoto could go down in history as the St. Valentines Day Massacre for Canada’s economy,” says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls.

Nicholls says implementing the Accord, which demands impossibly steep emission cuts, would clearly have a negative impact on the country and on the standard of living for all Canadians.

“The Liberals, along with the other Opposition parties, want to force the government to implement a treaty which they know full well would gut Canada’s economy,” says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls. “Yet all the Opposition apparently cares about is scoring cheap political points.”

Nicholls says Liberal leader Stephane Dion’s only goal with this ploy is to embarrass the government.

“The vote this afternoon on Kyoto is not about protecting the environment, it’s just a cynical maneuver to help Dion paint himself as an environmentalist.”

Nicholls says if the Kyoto Accord is implemented it would undermine Canada’s energy sector as well as its manufacturing sector and mean higher taxes for all Canadians.

“Instead of pushing a flawed treaty, our politicians should seek ways to protect the environment without wrecking Canada’s economy”.

Also for an interesting take on this vote, see talk show host Roy Green's blog.

A Cynical Valentines

One of the wonderful things about capitalism is that it allows for cynical creativity.

For instance, here we are on Valentine's Day -- the day for romance and lovers -- and what do I see at the train station?

A guy selling dead flowers to help advertise the site - Ihatemypartner.com

And no it's not a site about how to dump your spouse, it's a site about how to dump your business partner.

Anyway, Happy Valentines, everybody -- especially to my legions of female fans.

Privatize Canda Post

The C.D. Howe says it's time to privatize Canada Post.

The group has come out with a report which says opening up the Postal service to competition would lead to innovation and better service.

And if any organization needed a dose of innovation it's the Post Office.

Just think about it. How do you mail a letter?

You stick a stamp in the upper right hand corner of an envelope -- which is exactly the same way you mailed a letter 200 years ago.

Can you think of any other group still using the same methods it used in the early 1800s?

I mean besides the Rolling Stones.

Ottawa Gossip

I'm in Ottawa right now where the weather is c-c-c-cold.

But the gossip is hot.

There seems to be a sense from the people I am talking to that a federal election might be near, even though it doesn't seem to be in the interest of any political party.

Me I still think an election might be a year away.

Atlantica Party

Somebody sent me an email trumpeting the Atlantica Party.

One of the reforms this party is pushing is the Single Transferable Vote idea.

I hear a lot of good things about STV from a lot of smart people.

But sorry, I just don't get how it works.

Court Room Trauma

American talk show host Tim Russert recently took the stand at the trial of White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby who faces perjury and obstruction charges.

Here's how Russert described the experience:

"Sitting in that witness box is very uncomfortable because on `Meet the Press' or the `Today' show, you have a chance to finish your thought and complete your sentence. That's not the case in a court of law. The defense lawyer will say, `Yes or no, yes or no' and you're trying very hard to listen intently to the question to make sure you answer as precisely as possible, ... Otherwise it can be played back the next day. ... It's not pleasant, I have to say."

As someone who has endured a snarky cross-examination in a criminal trial (The NCC was charged with violating the election gag law) I wholeheartedly concur.

It's not something I would ever care to repeat.

Vindicated

According to a Leger poll the Tories lead the Liberals by 7 points.

So clearly I was right, when I said the Tory party's attack ads would be effective.

Oh well what else would you expect from “One of the Top Five Political Minds” in the country?

Vermont Takes Aim At Interacting with Pets

Think politicians in this country are busybodies?

Check out this news item:

Vermont lawmakers are considering a measure that would ban eating, drinking, smoking, reading, writing, personal grooming, playing an instrument, "interacting with pets or cargo," talking on a cell phone or using any other personal communication device while driving. The punishment: a fine of up to $600.

Why don't they make the law a lot simpler: make driving a car illegal.

H/T Reason Hit and Run

Kyoto Skeptic Speaks Out

Dr. Tim Ball is one of the climate experts who doesn't buy into the "humans cause global warming" theory we are supposed to accept as gospel.

Naturally this has led elements of the Left to brand him as a heretic or worse -- a pawn of evil oil companies.

Dr. Ball recently defended his reputation while delivering a speech at a Frontier Centre for Public Policy luncheon.

You can listen to his argument here.

Kyoto Election?

The National Post is reporting today that the passage of a bill requiring the government to meet Canada's Kyoto Accord commitments could trigger an election.

Somehow I doubt it.

I mean would the Liberals really want to fight an election platform that would essentially decimate the country's economy?

"Vote for us and we will throw you out of work", isn't exactly a compelling slogan.

And even if the Liberals were to somehow win such an election, they would then be forced to actually do what they wouldn't do while previously in power -- ie take Kyoto seriously.

So even if the Liberals won they would lose.

Watch Out Ontario

The Ontario Liberals suffered an upset loss last night in a by-election.

The NDP captured the normally Liberal riding of York South-Weston, meaning Premier Dalton McGuinty and his braintrust will go back to the drawing board.

And if I know my Liberals, Dalton will seek to stem the socialist threat on his left flank by becoming more of a socialist himself.

This strategy is all the more likely since PC leader John Tory is not threatening him on the right flank.

In other words, Ontario taxpayers beware: Dalton is coming after your wallet!

Command and Conquered

OK I am absolutely addicted to the Command and Conquer computer game!

When I get home from work I play it for hours and hours.

And I know it's not healthy. I mean every second I am playing that stupid game is one less second I could be doing something worthwhile, such as watching Beverly Hillbillies reruns.

Anyway, if you will excuse me, I have to launch a daring commando raid to destroy the hated Global Liberation Army.

Winter Still King in February

This cartoon from Rysking illustrates what could be a dilemma for the Dion Liberals.

Do they go on bleating about "global warming" while most Canadians are feeling their blood freeze?

Climate Change Hysteria

Last week I wrote a post on the hysteria surrounding "climate change".

Being naturally lazy, I made it do double-duty and turned it into a column which appears in today's Calgary Sun.

You can read it here.

And thanks to Moneybags4me for suggesting an ending.

Martin's Miscue

According to a SES poll only half of Canadians are even aware of the existence of the notwithstanding clause.

Wasn't this clause supposed to be the big issue for Paul Martin and the Liberals in the last election?

No wonder he lost.

Politics 101 lesson: If you have to explain an issue to voters, then it's not a good issue to run on.

To Boldly Go...

National Post blogger Marni Soupcoff has a wonderful tribute to wacky astronaut Lisa Nowak.

NCC Takes on Bill 257

Here's a news release I just sent out:

NCC Ad Campaign To Oppose Bill 257
(Toronto February7)The National Citizens Coalition (http://www.nationalcitizens.ca/) is launching a multi-media ad campaign to stop Bill 257, a proposed law which would ban federally regulated companies such as banks and airlines from hiring replacement workers.

“This bill is bad for Canada’s economy, it’s bad for Canadian consumers and it’s bad for unionized employees” says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls. “That’s the message we want to get out through newspaper ads, through the Internet and through radio spots. We want Canadians to demand the House of Commons kill this bad bill.”

Nicholls says the NCC ads will focus on urging Canadians to contact Liberal leader Stephane Dion.

“The fate of this bill really rests with Mr. Dion,” says Nicholls. “We know the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP support Bill 257, and that most Conservatives oppose it. That means the Liberals will have the deciding vote.”

Nicholls says, if passed, Bill 257 would mean more power for union bosses, more strikes for Canada and less freedom for unionized employees.

“This bill would undermine Canada’s competitiveness, drive away investment and infringe on the freedoms of unionized employees,” says Nicholls, who notes Bill 257 would make it illegal for even unionized employees to cross a picket line.

*******
For more on Bill 257 see this article I wrote.

The Black Brigade

Want to show support for Lord Black of Crossharbour?

Go here.

Poor Jack

Poor NDP leader Jack Layton.

All these political defections going on and no one has yet crossed the floor to join his party.

Maybe if he offered a free calender or toaster it would help.

A New Party

I think we have the makings of a new political party in this country: The Turncoat Party.

Imagine Belinda Stronach, Garth Turner, Keith Martin, David Emerson, Scott Brison, Wajid Khan, Ujjal Dosanjjh, all working together to push their Turncoat agenda. (Bob Rae would also run under their banner in the next election.)

Their guiding principle would be their lack of principle.

Their agenda would be to betray their agenda.

Their stand on any issue would be not to have a stand on any issue.

Hey come to think of it, that's more or less the agenda of every other party!

Turner's Turn

I was pondering Garth Turner's defection to the Liberals and have come to the conclusion that it can only mean one of three things:

a) Stephane Dion and the Liberals are moving to the right.

b) Garth Turner is moving to the Left.

c) When you boil it down, politics is really about one thing: staying in office long enough to qualify for a gold-plated pension.

Media Update

I'll be on Adler Online at about 3:15 PM EST to talk about my article on Stephane Dion's green agenda.

Global Warming? Don't Blame Ontario

Toronto Sun columnist Lorrie Goldstein has a good column today highlighting the political ineptitude surrounding the fight against "global warming".

Goldstein skewers the Liberal environment critic, David McGuinty, who just happens to be the brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Noting how David is trashing the Conservative green record, Goldstein adds: "Why doesn't he phone his brother, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, and urge him to shut down Ontario's Nanticoke coal-fired generating station, Canada's single largest greenhouse gas emitter?"

Good point.

I might add that David has also failed to take his brother to task for his enthusiastic support of a government-subsidized GM plant in Oshawa which will churn out Camaros, gas-guzzling "muscle cars".

Apparently, the Liberals believe greenhouse gas emissions only count if they come out of Alberta.

Friedman Not Impressed

Economist David Friedman looks at the recent and highly publicized IPCC report on Global Warming and asks, "Is that all there is?"

Liberal Strategy Revealed

Anyone who believes Stephane Dion really cares about the environment is forgetting one key fact: Dion is a Liberal.

And the only thing Liberals really care about is getting elected.

Already we can see the outlines of the cynical election strategy Dion and his buddies are concocting.

Yes they will portray themselves as the "Defenders of the Environment" but they will be careful not to upset their power base in Ontario and Quebec.

They won't suggest Quebec regulate or control it's manufacturing sector; nor will they ask Torontonians to stop driving SUVS.

Instead, they will simply promise to make Alberta shoulder the burden -- Albertans you see don't vote Liberal, making them expendable.

In fact, Liberal MP Mark Holland let the cat out of the bag early.

As Lorne Gunter notes in a column yesterday, "When asked whether the Liberals might nationalize the oilsands if Alberta refused to go along with Ottawa's development caps, Holland said his party would try to `work with them collaboratively,' but 'of course, if they refuse to work with us ... there will be consequences.'"

Will the Liberal strategy really help stop global warming?

No.

Will it wreck Alberta's economy?

Definitely.

Do the Liberals care?

Of course not.

All that matters to them is getting back power.

For more on this read Charles Adler's excellent column.

An Inconvenient Cold

Do you know how cold it is here in Toronto?

It's so cold I actually wore my geeky, nerdy, woolen touque.

Of course, if it wasn't for "Global Warming" I'm sure it would be a lot colder.

Oops, better watch it, don't want Stephane Dion to have me charged with being a "climate change denier."

Watch Out Winnie

A bookstore in Qatar is apparently selling Winnie the Pooh books with the images of Piglet blacked out.

Talk about unthinking censorship!

As Winnie the Pooh once said, "People who don't Think probably don't have Brains; rather, they have gray fluff that's blown into their heads by mistake."

And speaking of gray fluff, the mainstream Canadian media will probaby start banning Piglet pictures just in case they offend somebody.

Oh bother.

H/T Paul Tuns

Attention Crazed Ayn Rand Worshippers

Want to visit a hard-core libertarian site?

Check out Samizdata.

Apparently it's made up of a "varied group made up of social individualists, classical liberals, libertarians, extropians, futurists, 'Porcupines', Karl Popper fetishists, recovering neo-conservatives, crazed Ayn Rand worshippers, over-caffeinated Virginia Postrel devotees, witty Frédéric Bastiat wannabes, cypherpunks, minarchists, kritarchists and wild-eyed anarcho-capitalists from Britain, North America, Australia and Europe."

Sounds like a fun crowd.

Time to Move to Greenland

Ok let's assume global warming is caused by human activity.

The next assumption on the Left is that big government will fix the problem.

Yeah right.

Big government has done such a great job in the past of fixing our health care system and of ending poverty and of stopping drug abuse that I am sure it will reverse global warming in no time.

But just in case, it's probably best to follow the advice of P.J. O'Rourke and buy real estate in Greenland.

Tips for Dion

Here's my latest column from Report magazine.

In it, I give Stephane Dion some pointers on how he can prove his genuine "greeness".

Mistakes in Iraq

What went wrong for the Americans in Iraq?

Well lots of things, says John Thompson of the Mackenzie Institute, in his group's latest newsletter.

But the biggest mistake the U.S. made he says was the blanket "de-ba'athfication" of the country's military and civil service, which essentially gutted Iraq's police, military and civil service.

"In retrospect," writes Thompson, "trying to rebuild all of Iraq’s institutions by completely purging them while the country was under the lash of terrorism appears to have been a serious error. "

And Thompson highlights another problem, one which will shock left-wing, anti-American types: Americans, despite all the hype to the contrary, are just not imperialists at heart.

Unlike the British or the French, Americans are just not very good at imposing their institutions and values on other countries.

"The United States does not know how to do this and, with the possible exception of the Philippines, has never managed to build a successful administration from scratch in another country," says Thompson.

Is there hope?

Maybe says Thompson but, the way things look now he also says we better "get used to seeing war footage on your television news; we’ll be seeing ever so much more of it in the coming years."

Myth Busting

People who work for the media like to think of themselves as hard-bitten cynics who "tell it like it is."

Yet, it seems to me much of the media is more into myth-making than in reporting cold hard facts.

Here are some of the more prominent media myths of late:

Myth 1. Liberal leader Stephane Dion is an ardent environmentalist.
Why is this so? Because Dion calls himself an environmentalist, because he named his dog Kyoto and because he sported green scarves at the Liberal leadership convention. That's enough to win over the media.

Myth 2. Climate Change is the Number One issue for Canadians
Yeah, I know the polls tell us Canadians care about the environment. But the "environment" can mean anything from having clean hiking trails to litter free beaches. And I'm sorry Canadians don't really think global warming should take priority over poor old grandma who has to wait eight months to get her hip replaced.

Myth 3. If your last name is Trudeau you are part of a natural ruling dynasty.
All the media fawning over Justin Trudeau is bad enough but putting that photo of Alexandre Trudeau's baby on the front page of the Globe and Mail, come on give me a break. What are we living in a monarchy?

Myth 4. Belinda Stronach has a legitimate shot at one day becoming Prime Minister
Here's what Belinda is: a spoiled rich kid with skads of money to hire the best spin doctors and publicists. Here's what she isn't: a serious political actor with any sense of vision or ideas.

Myth 5. The media is unbiased.
We all know the media tilts to the Left. But lately it seems to have become openly become the cheering section for the Dion Liberals. The Globe and Mail has especially evolved into a Liberal Party newsletter.

Mind you, reality has never been all that important in politics, but it would nice if once and awhile the media would look beyond the razzle, dazzle.

Thirty Years Too Late

Came across this book in the library the other day.

Man if only it was in print when I was in high school, my life might have been a lot easier.

A Not so Angry Man

Here's an interview I gave to Beryl Wajsman on the radio show The Last Angry Man.

We discuss the evils of big government.

And despite the name of the show, Beryl is not really all that angry, passionate yes, but not angry.

You should also check out Beryl's group The Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal.

Hot Air Politics

Here's how the politics of "Climate Change" seem to work.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper thinks Kyoto is a bad idea, but he will now apparently seek to implement it; Liberal Leader Stephane Dion thinks Kyoto is a good idea but he did nothing to implement it.

Go figure.

Are you or have you ever been a climate change denier?

Yesterday in the House of Commons Liberal leader Stephane Dion called Prime Minister Stephen Harper the worst thing you could call somebody these days: a "climate change denier".

No doubt, Harper will vehemently deny this serious charge --but surely that's not enough.

Surely, the only way the Prime Minister can truly establish his eco-friendly credentials is to ruthlessly root out these "climate change deniers" who threaten our society.

And the best way to do that would be to set up a House of Unenvironmental Activities Committee with the power to investigate and expose the non-believers.

As a good "green" citizen, I am willing to do my bit.

To help the HUAC do its job I have even put together this handy list to help citizens spot these "climate change deniers" in our midst:

* Watch out for any citizen who refused to take the "One Tonne Challenge".

* Be on the look out for people who throw their newspapers in the "glass only" section of recycling bins.

* Warning bells should go off if your neighbor named his dog, "Kyoto Science is Flawed"

* Keep your ears peeled for any passerby who takes the name of David Suzuki in vain.

* Does your co-worker refuse to wear green ties?

If you notice any of this behaviour, report it immediately to the government.

We can't afford to have even one citizen thinking freely when it comes to the Kyoto Accord.

Cultural Conservative

Just discovered a great blog from Terry Teachout, drama critic for the Wall Street Journal and music critic for Commentary.

Teachout is also a raririty in the world of culture in that he is also politically a conservative.

Check it out.

Post Letter

In case you missed it, I have a letter to the editor in today's National Post.

It's based on a posting I ran on this blog a few days ago, regarding Jack Layton and ATM fees.

By the way, I will be on the show The Last Angry Man, tonight between 7:00 and 7:30 PM EST to discuss this issue.

Hooray for Attack Ads

I was an in studio guest on the Gary Doyle Show recently and at one point during the interview Gary said he thought "negative political attack ads" were bad for democracy.

Immediately I disagreed, telling him "I love attack ads." Indeed, I have produced dozens of them over the years.

A shocking admission, I know.

In Canada we are supposed to hate attack ads. Canadian politicians especially hate attack ads because they are so impolite and rude.

Back in 2004, for instance, while he was still leader of the Opposition, Stephen Harper denounced "American-style" attack ads and pledged he would never use them.

Yet we now learn the Tories are airing anti-Dion "American-style"attack ads on TV.

And right on cue, Liberal leader Stephan Dion says he is outraged.

"Harper has nothing positive to say about his own record,” Dion told CBC Newsworld. “Being unable to say anything positive about [himself], he wants to spend all this money to try to attack me in a very negative way.”

Yeah right, Stephane it's terrible.

But wasn't it your party that set new lows for nasty attack ads in the past two federal elections?

So maybe my love of attack ads isn't so shocking after all.

In fact, maybe the only difference between me and the politicians is that I'm more honest, although being more honest than a politician is not much an accomplishment.

It's like bragging that your skinnier than Michael Moore.

For more on my view on this check out this column I wrote a while ago for the Vancouver Sun.

Media Update:

I will be discussing this issue on the aforementioned Gary Doyle Show at approximately 12:50 EST and on Adler Online at about 4:15 PM EST and on the Jim Duff Show at about 4:45 PM EST and on The World Tonight with Rob Breakenridge at 8:40 PM EST. And I will also be talking about this tomorrow morning at 7:45 AM EST on The CHQR Morning News.

Divine Libertarianism

Now I am no Bible scholar (although I did see the movie) but I believe God must be a libertarian.

This epiphany hit me when I came across an interesting passage in the Book of Samuel.

It's a story which takes place some time after Charlton Heston has led the Israelites to the Promised Land, so named I suppose because it had no government.

Not realizing how wonderful having no government was, however, the Israelites asked God to give them a King so they could more easily smite their enemies.

God doesn't think this is such a good idea and, through the prophet Samuel, he gives them a warning that sounds like something a prehistoric Milton Friedman might have said:

"This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots . . . He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."

Unfortunately, the Israelites don't listen and they end up getting Saul as their King, and as God predicted that didn't turn out too well.

Of course, today things have changed a lot since those Bible days.

A king no longer takes our donkeys. Today we are a democracy meaning we elect our donkeys to Parliament.

Sexy Contest

The National Post has started a "Search for Toronto's Sexiest Person" contest.

You can email your nomination for this important contest to this address: thecity@nationalpost.com

And remember "Nicholls" has two "l"s

Banking on Jack Layton

Here's the unofficial motto of the NDP: When in doubt attack the banks.

And so no one should be surprised that NDP leader Jack Layton, his party floundering in the polls, has come out flailing against the big, bad banks.

More specifically Layton wants to ban banks from charging fees when customers use automatic teller machines.

"We believe it's gouging when a person comes up and they want $40 or $60 of their cash and a bank is charging them $1.50 or $2, $2.50," Layton said. "That's a rate of payment which is very, very high -- and unfair."

And Layton points out that "ordinary families work hard for their money. If they want to take a few dollars out to go to the grocery store, the banks shouldn't be keeping $1.50 or $2 or any of that money."

Great stuff if you're into populist left-wing rhetoric.

But let's face it, when it comes to gouging consumers, banks and their ATM fees are small potatoes.

If Jack Layton really wants to protect "ordinary families" he ought to be railing against the biggest gouger of them all: the government.

After all, it's governments that hits you with the GST and PST every time you make a purchase; here in Ontario that amounts to 15 percent of the bill.

And then there's the outrageous government fee know as "income tax", that devours a large chunk of the take home of Canadian families.

At least I can choose whether or not to use an ATM; but I have no choice when it comes to taxes.

Harper's First Year

January 23rd, as we all know, marked the first year anniversary of Stephen Harper's federal election victory.

How has Harper done on his first 365 days on the job?

Rondi Adamson answers that question in an excellent column which appears in the latest issue of the Christian Science Monitor.

Check it out.

Friedman Day

Monday January 29th has been officially declared Milton Friedman Day.

Friedman fans are planning all sorts of events to commemorate this great man, but one of the most interesting ideas comes from the Ideachannel, which is holding a "Challenge the Status Quo" contest.

Contestants are asked to produce videos which "challenge government policies or those of your parents. You could challenge urban (or rural) myths. Maybe try to debunk what textbooks or TV reporters claim as fact."

First prize is $5,000.

What we really need, of course, is a political party which will challenge the status quo.

PAAC On the Record

Attended a Public Affairs Association of Canada luncheon today where a panel provided a post mortem on the recent Liberal leadership race.

Now usually I would not be able to report on what happens at PAAC events as they are strictly "off the record".

But as the emcee Steve Paikin noted details of these meetings always end up on the internet in a few seconds anyway, so the meeting was declared "on the record."

That's the good news.

The bad news is nothing was discussed which was all that interesting.

We did learn that being a front-runner was not such a good thing for Michael Ignatieff; and that the turning point of the Liberal convention occurred when Gerard Kennedy's delegates went en masse to Stephane Dion and that Bob Rae's strength was more illusionary than real.

But heck I already knew that stuff.

The best tidbit actually came from a Liberal activist sitting at my table, who told me she would sooner "eat glass" than see Bob Rae as Liberal leader.

Something tells me the wounds have not yet healed.

De Gaulle She Aint

Appeared on the radio show Montreal Today a few minutes ago to give my reaction to French Socialist presidential hopeful Ségolène Royal's comment on Quebec sovereignty.

In case you missed it, Royal told reporters yesterday,"It goes with our common values, which are Quebec's sovereignty and freedom. I think that Quebec's influence and its place in the hearts of the French people support that."

Clearly it's inappropriate for a foreign leader to make any kind of comments on the domestic politics of another country -- imagine if President George Bush voiced support for Alberta separation.

However, Royal's statement hardly rates up there with Charles de Gaulle's infamous "Vive Quebec Libre" speech.

For one thing, de Gaulle was a larger than life figure; who the heck is Ségolène Royal? De Gaulle was actually president of France at the time; Royal is just an opposition politician. And de Gaulle's comment was a lot more strident.

Yet, the Quebec nationalists are all excited about this "endorsement", which I believe reflects their political weakness -- I mean who cares what an obscure politician says?

Besides if Quebec separatists really want to be successful they should stop seeking advice from socialists, who seem to be making a mess out of their own country.

Beware: Opinion Ahead

Blogger extraordinaire, Stephen Taylor posts about how network regulators want to clamp down on TV spots the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association wants to air.

The CRFA ads extol the virtues of renewal fuels.

Hardly controversial, right?

Wrong.

After carefully reviewing the ads, the Television Bureau of Canada (TVB) has decided they actually express an "opinion".

Shocking!

This is Canada, we can't go around airing TV ads willy, nilly that express a point of view. Who knows what unregulated exposure to opinions would do to our citizens?

It might cause a panic.

But the TVB is on the case. It says the CFRA has to re cut the ads to make sure Canadians realize that they are hearing an "opinion."

Of course, I have an opinion about all this, but I don't think I would want the TVB to review it.

Update:

Stephen Taylor has done some interesting research on the TVB.

Barking at the Home Show

Went to the Metro Home Show last night.

It's a great place if you're in the market for showers featuring more electronic gadgets than the space shuttle, or for "lush and vibrant" artificial grass that's resistant to salt damage, fire and nuclear war, or for furniture that looks like it was lifted from the set of some episode of Star Trek.

Yet what really piqued my interest was the "All Terrain Cabin" or ATC.

The ATC is the brain child of a government-funded project called BARK, a British Columbia non-profit "collective" that is supposed to raise the profile of Canadian design and ingenuity.

BARK's motto, by the way, is "Same-Sex Marriage + Crude Oil = Canada".

Inspiring isn't it? Somebody should translate that into Latin and put it on our coat of arms.

Anyway back to the ATC, a 480 sq ft. "mobile, self-contained, low-impact, smart, tough, cool and all Canadian," cabin which is supposed to "provide inspiration for our nation."

Actually, it's not so much of a cabin, as it is a mobile downtown Toronto condo.

I mean how many cabins have Gourmet settings cutlery or or Omer Arbel Hanging Lights or Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas wall murals?

It even has a toilet that makes potting soil. (Note to self: never eat anything grown in an environmentalist's garden.)

What gets me is the choice of videos the cabin includes.

You would think an all Canadian cabin would feature the latest Don Cherry Rock'em Sock'em hockey video.

But no, the BARK "collective" decided the left-wing documentaries The Corporation and Manufacturing Consent better raised the Canadian profile.

Mind you, I wouldn't mind all this, except that as a taxpayer I am forced to finance the ATC, and that doesn't make me happy.

In fact, BARK makes me want to BARF.

I'm not an evil reptilian demon

Had the pleasure to give a speech today in Kitchener to the Confederation Club.

I met a lot of great people and had a wonderful time.

Blogger Brian from Cambridge, who attended the speech, has a write up on my talk here.

Check it out.

Key quote: 'I also had the opportunity to talk to Gerry, and he is a very nice, decent man, not the evil reptilian demon from hell that the Buzzistanians make him out to be."

Thanks Brian, it's good to see you appreciated my true nature.

Now if you will excuse me I am going to look for a nice hot rock to rest on.

Smoke'em if you got em

Medical News flash.

The Ontario Liberals have discovered that smoking in casinos is not a health risk.

Doomsday Approaches

In case somebody asks you for the time today, just tell them it's five minutes until doomsday.

So says the "the elite board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" which the Toronto Star tells us is "moving the minute hand on their Doomsday Clock closer to the fatal hour of midnight."

In case you haven't heard of the Doomsday Clock, the elite board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists created it back in 1947 as a way of warning us about the dangers of Nuclear Armageddon.

Reportedly the minute hand will be moved two minutes, from the current seven minutes to midnight to five.

I guess when the clock does officially strike midnight we will all turn into nuclear pumpkins or something.

Mind you, we really shouldn't be too fearful.

After all, back in 1953 the Doomsday Clock was set to two minutes to midnight, meaning we are actually three minutes safer today than we were 50 years ago.

Still we are supposed to take this as alarming news.

"This is a sober and highly alarming judgment by a group of people who are knowledgeable and experienced," said Nobel laureate John Polanyi, a faculty member in the University of Toronto's chemistry department.

Yeah, I guess the rest of us had no idea that this is dangerous world. Good thing a bunch of smart scientists are out there to point it out to us.

All this reminds me of an article American writer P.J. O'Rourke wrote a few years ago lampooning Nobel Prize winners who released a statement on how to solve the world's problems.
"Nothing in their statement indicates that the opinions of common men are worse or more foolish than the opinions of Nobel Prize winners," wrote O'Rourke.

"Let us have our international actions truly `legitimized by democracy.' When it comes to questions of `What is to be done?' let's ask any old person. Let's ask Mom. Mom says, 'Global warming or no global warming, it's still winter. Wear a hat.'"

Cartoon Babs

Here's the latest cartoon entry from the folks at Stop Her Now.

Why Bill 257 is a Bad Idea

Here's my latest column appearing in Report Magazine.

It's on why I think a proposed labour law (Bill 257) is a bad idea for Canada and for unionized employees.

Soupcoff Blogs at the Post

Marni Soupcoff is hosting an exciting new blog over at the National Post.

Called Full Comment, this blog will feature links to various Post articles as well as postings from the likes of Lord Conrad Black; Andrew Coyne; Lorne Gunter; Barbara Kay; and Gary Clement.

Pay it a visit, and be sure to leave a comment of your own.

Lead Pipes Didn't Cause the Roman Empire to Fall

When I was in grade 11 my history teacher explained all the reasons why the mighty Roman Empire fell.

Mostly those reasons dealt with internal decline, ie corruption, Roman decadence, sapping of martial spirit, even lead pipes.

But according to this excellent book I just read, The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Roman and the Barbarians, the real reasons for the fall were external --- Barbarians and lots of them: Huns, Franks, Germans, Goths.

Anyway, I would recommend this book to anybody interested in classical history (and who isn't?).

It's quite a readable narrative and the author does a good job of modernizing Roman concepts, ie he talks about Roman "spin doctors", who tried to make Imperial disasters sound like great victories.

Some things in politics never change.

Macleans On Kingsley

A few posts ago I suggested the departure of Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley was good for Canada and for democracy.

Well, the editors of Maclean's magazine agree with me.

In an editorial entitled "Keeping Politics and Democracy Separate" they write: "He (Kingsley) strayed unacceptably into partisan politics by advocating restrictions on third-party election advertising."

Exactly.

Work Place Dangers

Our office recently got a call from a government bureaucrat informing us that NCC employees needed training.

Get this: the law requires us to be educated as to how to properly handle "hazardous materials".

We assumed at first it was a mistake.

After all, this is an office not a chemical plant. The closest thing we have to a hazardous material is the cologne one of my co-workers splashes over his body.

But no according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Harzardous Material Information System, such items as liquid paper, toner for copiers and any cleaning product are deemed to be hazardous materials.

I wonder how I have survived this long.

Bad Moooo--ve by Dion

The media keeps telling us that Liberal leader Stephane Dion is a real bright guy.

But if he's so smart why did he recently compare Alberta's economy to a milk cow?

It's true.

In a speech delivered in Halifax the other day, Dion was explaining why Albertans should not fear his Kyoto plans, which many believe will gut the province's oil industry.

"I'm not there to kill the growth," said Dion, "I'm there to make the growth sustainable. I don't want to kill the milk cow. But I want to make sure that the milk will still be good and there for our grandchildren."

Did Dion really think comparing Alberta to a cash cow that needed to be "milked" was a good idea?

Did he really think this would win his party support in Western Canada?

If he did, he should check out this Edmonton Sun editorial which likely reflects the views of many Albertans.

Robson's Top Five Book

My friend John Robson, a freelance writer and broadcaster, has put out a book featuring the best and funniest of his "Top Five Strange Stories of the Week", chronicling the "follies of man and beast and the dumbest criminals too."

And although it's not a strictly a political book it does have the occasional "mordant" bit against big governments everywhere.

It retails for $9.95 (plus s/h and GST).

You can order it here.

Iraq and the Need for Freer Markets

One of the knocks on U.S. president George Bush from conservative/libertarian types is that he is a "Big Government Conservative."

That is he has done precious little to cut down on the size, scope or cost of government in America.

And now it looks like he is exporting these notions to Iraq.

Patrick Basham, of the Democracy Institute , notes this in an article which appears in today's Ottawa Citizen.

Basham notes that Bush's proposed "military surge will be combined with a Back to the Future-style billion-dollar government jobs program that borrows more from FDR's Depression-era statist New Deal than from 21st-century free-market economics. Mr. Bush's New Deal for Iraq is an abandonment of conservative economic principles to match his earlier abandonment of a traditional conservative foreign policy."

So what should Bush be doing?

Basham says, "for Iraq to become a democratic beacon in the Middle East, it must first become an economic beacon. Such essential economic progress will occur only as a result of limited, rather than extended, government interference in the country's economic life. An end to financial corruption and a program of privatization, low taxes, and minimal regulation -- built upon a foundation of private property rights protected and enforced by an impartial court system -- are prerequisites for building an oasis amidst Iraq's economic desert."

Sounds like a good policy for Iraq, and by the way it sounds like a good policy for Canada.

Now that's Entertainment

Here's why Islamic fanatics will never win: Bikini Rodeo Pie Fights.

H/T Dave Barry's Blog

Freezing in Ottawa

OK I believed it when David Suzuki and Al Gore and Stephane Dion proclaimed that global warming was heating up our winter.

Accordingly on my visit to Ottawa I left behind my gloves and hat and warm coat, thinking it would be a tropical paradise.

Wrong!

It's like 100 degrees below zero out there! I almost died of frostbite going out to get a coffee.

Mind you it's my fault for listening to the high priests of the emerging environmental cult.

Actually, it's not so much a cult, as it is like a primitive pagan religion as practiced by those native tribes in old Tarzan movies.

Chief: Winter getting warm.

Witch Doctor: Winter getting warm because the great god Kyoto is angry.

Chief: What we do?

Witch doctor: Must sacrifice virgin SUV to Kyoto. Make him happy!

Ok so this posting doesn't make much sense, but I am just typing to keep my fingers warm.

A free ad

I needed to go to the nation's capital -- otherwise known as the centre of evil --- on some business and decided to take the new Porter airlines.

And I must say I would highly recommend it.

Located on the Island airport downtown, Porter airlines is easy to get to, its lounge is comfortable and comes with free internet access and its planes are comfortable.

But best of all, taking this airline is a good way to stick it to Toronto's socialist mayor and his gaggle of NDP minions.

Green Blues

If you believe the media this morning the next federal election will centre on one issue and one issue only: the environment.

Check out the screaming headlines in the papers today: "Harper Goes Green", "PM Warms to Environment," "PM Charts a greener course".

And all this because Prime Minister Harper appointed John "Rusty" Baird as his new environment minister.

Now I hate to pour acid rain on all this hoopla (by the way whatever happened to acid rain), but I am not convinced the environment will be the killer issue when the next election rolls around.

As Andrew Coyne writes in today's National Post, "While there are true believers on both sides, the broad mass of the public wants Something Done about global warming, but wants Someone Else to pay for it."

Fact is, if the environment was truly the number one issue of the land, David Suzuki would have been elected PM a long time ago.

Confederation Club Talk

Attention all Kitchener-Waterloo area conservatives!

Mark your calendars.

The Confederation Club, one of the region's largest speaker forums, has invited me to speak to their group on January 18th.

You can order tickets here.

Hope to see you there!

Gag Laws vs. Freedom

Yesterday I posted about Carol Goar's column in the Toronto Star praising Canada's election finance laws.

Well I also sent the Star a letter to the editor on the subject, which was not published.

So here it is:

Re: Election financing comes clean – January 3, 2007

Before Carol Goar deifies the politicians behind Canada’s election finance laws, she should realize there is another side to the coin.

Simply put, these laws infringe on important democratic rights and freedoms.

Imposing excessive restrictions on political contributions, for instance, clearly limits the right to free expression.

Likewise, the election “gag law” --which makes it a crime for citizens or non-partisan groups to spend their own money to express their own views –undermines the right to democratic free speech.

Nor will these draconian finance laws make for “cleaner” elections.

If anything, they will simply help incumbents and drive political influence seeking underground.

In short, you can’t improve democracy by destroying freedom.

Gag Law shot down in United States

Carol Goar has a piece in today's Toronto Star gushing all over Canada's election finance laws, which she says will stop the buying and selling of politicians.

What she fails to mention, however, is that these laws -- such as the election gag law -- also infringe on democratic rights and freedoms.

This is something the American judicial system seems to understand.

In fact, last month a U.S. court shot down an American election gag law, saying it infringed on the constitutional right to free speech.

You would think Goar -- a journalist who makes her living expressing opinions --- would understand the importance of free expression.

But then maybe I am asking too much.

Baby Me

This little guy is me, circa 1960.

Wasn't I just the cutest thing?

And check out the rubber ducky in the lower left hand corner. (No it's not a doll!)

Who would have ever thought such an adorable baby would grow up to be the terror of Canada's left-wing.

Of course, even after all these years I still retain my boyish good looks.

The Ten Cannots

Found these on a libertarian site packed with nifty quotes.

The Ten "Cannots" of Political Economy:

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

You cannot help the wage-earner by tearing down the wage-payer.

You cannot further the brotherhood of mankind by encouraging class hatred.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative.

You cannot help man permanently by doing for them what they could do and should do for themselves.

The exact origin of this quote is unknown.

Six Miracles of Socialism:

There is no unemployment, but no one works.

No one works, but everyone gets paid.

Everyone gets paid, but there is nothing to buy with the money.

No one can buy anything, but everyone owns everything.

Everyone owns everything, but no one is satisfied.

No one is satisfied, but 99 percent of the people vote for the system.

New Conservative Site

Check out the website of Jonathan Denis.

Jonathan is a bright young Calgary lawyer who has done a lot of good work advocating for individual freedom and electoral reform.

And I'm not just pushing his site because he mentions my recent National Post article.

Tuns Not Tens

My friend Paul Tuns has posted on his blog the "Eight most important stories of 2006 that will have a lasting impact".

Out of his eight important stories, seven will have negative consequences for the world.

This tells me two things: 1.)Paul is a pessimist, 2) he doesn't believe in the metric system. If he did, he would have listed "ten" of the most important stories of 2006.

See my posting below for instance.

The Top Ten Most Over-Rated Political Stories of 2006

Here's a column I wrote a version of which appeared in the Calgary Sun on December 29th.

Every year at this time, it’s traditional to come up with “Top Ten Lists”.

That’s why we see things like the “Top ten best movies of the year”, “Top ten worst movies of the Year”, “Top Ten `Top Ten Lists’ of the Year”, and so on.

So not being one to argue with tradition (and since I am not all that original) I have come up with my own top ten list: “The Top Ten Most Overrated Political stories of 2006.”

And without further ado here it is:

Stephane Dion’s Dog

The media made a huge deal out of this mutt. Why? Because Liberal leader Stephane Dion named it “Kyoto”. This is supposed to prove Dion is an ardent environmentalist. Yeah, right. I’d be more excited if he called his parakeet “Tax Cuts” or his goldfish “Smaller Government.”

Michael Ignatieff’s Brain

Throughout 2006 the media was all giddy about how Michael Ignatieff was a “public intellectual” and a Harvard professor --as if any of that actually mattered. If intellect was all you needed to succeed in politics Stephen Hawking would be president.

Buzz Hargrove’s Political Savvy

When in the last federal election union boss Buzz Hargrove decided to go campaigning with Paul Martin and the Liberals – we were told this was a great coup. And as it turned out it was a coup, but for Stephen Harper and the Conservatives. And if the Tories are lucky, Buzz will campaign for the Liberals in the next election.

Stephen Harper’s “Right Wing Agenda”

When Stephen Harper was elected Prime Minister, the country’s left-wing elite warned us to brace ourselves for his hidden right wing agenda. Well I am still braced and I’m still waiting.

Joe Volpe’s Leadership Follies

A Liberal getting involved in questionable fundraising practices. Yeah that’s really headline news.

Court Challenges Program Getting Scrapped

When the Tories scrapped this program, which funded constitutional court challenges, some media-types and politicians went ballistic. But let’s face it, the only ones who really cared about it were left-wing special interest groups, feminist lawyers and Linda McQuaig

Belinda vs. Peter

If I want to watch a soap opera I will tune into the Young and the Restless.

Justin Trudeau as Heir Apparent

About the only person who thinks Justin Trudeau is worthy of any media attention at all is ---- Justin Trudeau.

Harper Vs. The Press Gallery

Stephen Harper and the Ottawa Press Gallery don’t like each other. This actually made lots of news in 2006. Memo to media: Nobody Cares!!

Green Party as a New Force in Politics

According to the media hype, the Elizabeth May-led Green Party is on the verge of an historic electoral breakthrough. Just like the Greens were on the verge of an historic electoral breakthrough in 2000, 2004 and 2006.

Of course, I realize that by making this list I am actually contributing to over-rating all these stories.

But that’s OK, because it gives me some ammo for the next “Top Ten List” I am working on.

It’s called the “Top Ten Biggest Ironies of 2006”.