Friday, December 30, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sarah Silverman Discusses Racism in the Republican Primary With Rachel Maddow
See it here via The Huffington Post.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
US Plans Post-Iraq Troop Buildup in Gulf After Exit From Iraq
Read about here in the New York Times.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Ontario Leaders' Debate
I wasn't going to watch the debate because I had to go to the grocery store and I was pretty sure I knew how it was going to turn out anyway, but I got sucked into it and was mildly surprised.
Dalton McGuinty wasn't as bad as I thought he would be.
Tim Hudak was a little better than I thought he would be.
Andrea Horwath I had no expectations of and she was alright.
One thing I hate that everyone is so into now is choosing one person and talking about their personal stories as though that anecdotal tale is somehow symbolic of everything. Yes, it's important to know these stories. Yes, it's important to meet with individuals and really think about what they're saying. Yes, it matters that you can care about individuals.
But in a political debate you're debating matters of broad policy. You're not crafting policies specifically for Jim that you met at the truck stop when you ran out of Doritos on the bus. You're crafting policies for everyone and you hope that they'll do right by Jim.
Does it impress me as a viewer of the debate that you spent the hour before it started sitting with your staff, memorizing peoples' names?
-"OK. Who used to have a manufacturing job but lost it because of the unfair HST?"
-"That was Bill!"
-"No! That was Krystal. We were looking for Krystal."
-"Now who couldn't get a job because they gave it to a foreigner?"
-"I know it! That was Leonard!"
-"No! That was Bill."
And they went on and on and on with those things all night.
I also don't appreciate the politicization of candidates' families, especially children. But what can you do?
There were a few good moments but my favourite was when Dalton McGuinty asked both of the other leaders why they used to be in favour of abolishing the HST but now neither of them are. There were some pretty awkward expressions on their faces then. Not that he took the opportunity to explain while people might actually be watching why the HST is supposed to make Ontario more competitive.
Dalton McGuinty wasn't as bad as I thought he would be.
Tim Hudak was a little better than I thought he would be.
Andrea Horwath I had no expectations of and she was alright.
One thing I hate that everyone is so into now is choosing one person and talking about their personal stories as though that anecdotal tale is somehow symbolic of everything. Yes, it's important to know these stories. Yes, it's important to meet with individuals and really think about what they're saying. Yes, it matters that you can care about individuals.
But in a political debate you're debating matters of broad policy. You're not crafting policies specifically for Jim that you met at the truck stop when you ran out of Doritos on the bus. You're crafting policies for everyone and you hope that they'll do right by Jim.
Does it impress me as a viewer of the debate that you spent the hour before it started sitting with your staff, memorizing peoples' names?
-"OK. Who used to have a manufacturing job but lost it because of the unfair HST?"
-"That was Bill!"
-"No! That was Krystal. We were looking for Krystal."
-"Now who couldn't get a job because they gave it to a foreigner?"
-"I know it! That was Leonard!"
-"No! That was Bill."
And they went on and on and on with those things all night.
I also don't appreciate the politicization of candidates' families, especially children. But what can you do?
There were a few good moments but my favourite was when Dalton McGuinty asked both of the other leaders why they used to be in favour of abolishing the HST but now neither of them are. There were some pretty awkward expressions on their faces then. Not that he took the opportunity to explain while people might actually be watching why the HST is supposed to make Ontario more competitive.
Friday, September 23, 2011
More to Know About the Use of Government Jets
We haven't seen the end of the story of questionable use of government jets.
According to CBC 60% of the planes' flights were taken by passengers not needing the extra security, as well as other interesting uses. Check out this laundry list: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/09/22/challenger-use.html
In a separate story they report that Peter MacKay also used one of the government's jets to bring him to his home riding in order to participate in the serious government business of defending his title as champion lobster bander at a lobster festival.
According to CBC 60% of the planes' flights were taken by passengers not needing the extra security, as well as other interesting uses. Check out this laundry list: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/09/22/challenger-use.html
In a separate story they report that Peter MacKay also used one of the government's jets to bring him to his home riding in order to participate in the serious government business of defending his title as champion lobster bander at a lobster festival.
Morgan Freeman Discusses The Tea Party and Racism With Piers Morgan
In a conversation with Piers Morgan, Morgan Freeman discusses Obama, the Tea Party and racism.
See it here via The Huffintong Post.
See it here via The Huffintong Post.
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