Liberal Platonism

This is a really depressing thing to read. It is about the most cynical (even for me) view of the Canadian voter you will read today. Seriously, all that was missing was the word "sheeple" and it could have come from a Blogging Tory, circa 2005. The thesis of the article posits that the people are stupid and easily manipulated and rather than even try to help them understand the lies they are being fed, it is "smarter" to let them suffer the consequences of their stupidity, so they will naturally fall into the waiting arms of the Liberal Party. I don't doubt for a second that is the "logic" behind his party's move to support the government, but I have never seen contempt for voters so baldly stated before in a Liberal blog. In fact, I haven't seen this much contempt for democracy since I read the "cave allegory". I thank this young man for his honesty. It is a refreshing change from the self-serving happy talk, I usually see on Liberal blogs.

An Oy Update: Wow, Liberals are really feeling their oats these days. They aren't even bothering to cover up their arrogance anymore. If you want to read what the Liberal Party stands for, read Adam Radwanski.

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Iggy Is Rocky Road

I was watching the press gallery pundits on Newman and there is absolutely no question in my mind that they are sick of Harper (and they really despise that know it all prick, Layton). Iggy on the other hand, is the flavor of the month (Newman in particular seems to have a man crush on him). That status can carry Iggy a long way, because the press will overlook the flubs of their favorite flavor. Is that any way to run a modern democracy? You've got me, but that is how it is done in Canada.

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Quote Of The Day

From Paul Wells:

In mid-November, before things got weird in the capital, I wrote, “Given a choice, Harper will avoid spending on things that work or last, because we might conclude that’s what government is for.” That prediction has held up better than others. Harper’s crystal ball having failed him throughout the latter half of 2008, he has abandoned any attempt to plan.

This government is on a Kamikaze run. Their mission has been and always will be, to "prove" that government doesn't work. This budget, although it pisses off the base, is Harpers last gasp at moving his anti-government message along. He will piss away 85 billion dollars and even if it costs him power, he will have achieved what he has always wanted: a demoralized country filled with people who have "seen" with their own eyes that government is a failure. That the Liberals are going along with this insanity, is just mind blowing.

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Apropos Of Nothing

Have a nice day, Iggy.

Update: It is up to more than half the Newfoundland caucus. I bet Iggy's eyebrows are doing a dance.

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Blinded, By Science

I wonder if the National Post will start up its "Brain Drain" series again, now that the Liberals and Tories are willing to gut science funding in this country? BTW, I tried to find a National Post story about this, but I couldn't find one on its home page this morning. They were too busy mocking Jack Layton, I guess.

Instant Update: Doesn't anyone find it outrageous that our government can find billions to shovel at the banks, but can find nothing for science? What does that say about us as a society?

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News Item

Liberal/Conservative coalition votes to gut pay equity.

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Dear Impolitical III

Sadly, I don't have a lot of time to construct a proper reply, but here are my thoughts.

I do wish our parties might cooperate a little more on solving common problems.

On this we agree, however I would suggest to you that this is impossible as long as your party is controlled by those more comfortable catering to corporate interests than the concerns of average Canadians.

Yours in pursuing the return of liberal governance to Canada (note how I use the small "l"),

I take you at your word that that is your goal. I doubt very much it is the goal of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Update and P.S. One of the great triumphs of the Liberal Party has been its ability, despite years of contrary evidence, to convince people like yourself that it is a progressive party. Perhaps someday, you can tell me how they did it.

Final Update: What Antonia said.

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Because, You Know Somebody Was Going To Post It

Footage of Iggy reading the Riot Act to the Tories.

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Yup

Laxer reads my mind:

In the face of this, Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals have made the second choice. They have decided to prop up the Harper government. If I had to speculate about the reason for this, I’d conclude that they are more comfortable with the Conservatives and the business community than they are with social democrats, trade unionists and wage and salary earners.

So be it. This is not a personal matter. Although the media is trying to make it seem that social democrats are miffed because they have been jilted by Ignatieff who is now dating the Prime Minister, it’s really about whose basic interests a party chooses to serve. The Liberals have made things very clear. That’s sad, not for Jack Layton and the NDP, but for Canadians who deserved better.

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How Far We Have Come

Before the election we had the Liberals propping up the Tories with the NDP criticizing from left field. The bloggers affiliated with the Liberals and NDP spent as much time slagging each other as the government. The Blogging Tories were as happy as pigs in shit.

Now, the Liberals are propping up the Tories and the NDP are criticizing from left field. The bloggers affilitated with the Liberals and NDP are spending as much time slagging each other as the government. BUT, the Blogging Tories aren't happy anymore. Welcome to politics as it is practiced in Canada.

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Incoming 2

More cover fire from the MSM.

To Be Fair Update: A dissenting voice from the MSM.

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Dear Impolitical

Thank you for your prompt reply. I know that you yourself are a progressive with impeccable street cred. That is not in question. I do however question your party, which has supported and sadly, looks to continue to support, the right wing agenda of the Harper government.

Are you proud that your leader did not move an amendment calling for the end on the attack on pay equity? Are you proud that your party did nothing to change the problems in EI? Are you happy that your party is supporting a budget with permanent tax cuts, something your leader said he wouldn't do, only a couple of weeks ago? You don't have to answer these questions. I know you are not happy with any of these stands. Yet you continue to support the party that has absolutely no problem with any of these policies. Oh, I know they say they do, but they are not going to actually do anything to change them, are they?

Finally, thank you for your spelling corrections. I do suffer from a mild form of dyslexia and your help is most appreciated. I depend on smart people like yourself to point out my errors (because as everybody with dyslexia knows, good spelling equals smart). I will look into a better spell checker. That will help me out too. If only your party's troubles could be fixed as easily.

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Dear Impolitical

I appreciate the fact that you appear to be sincere in your explanation of your party's amazing turn today, but forgive me if I don't believe a word of it. I wish your party would just come out and openly support the government. Stop feeling so guilty. You have voted with the Tories for the last couple of years, so why pretend you oppose them? Embrace your coalition with the Tories. It is a natural fit after all. I think the root of all your party's problems over the last number of years is your false embrace of all things "progressive". It isn't where your party is and pretending that it is has only caused you grief and a loss of more than half of your seats. So, I say, revel in your new role as the junior partner of the new small "c" conservative government. It suits you, down to a "t". Be loud, be proud, be blue.

Update: Edited to correct spelling errors, kindly pointed out by Impolitical.

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An Empty Leash

As I said over at Warren's place (he must have misplaced my comment), what a perfect metaphor for Iggy's maneuver.

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Incoming!

The cover fire begins.

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Color Me Unimpressed

Well, that was anti-climactic. I knew this was a strong possibility, but the reality is pretty sobering. We now have, in effect, a Liberal/Tory coalition. The Liberals agree with the direction (if you can call that unfocused spend-a-thon a direction) of the budget and are demanding a few tweaks and regular reports as the price for allowing the government to carry on destroying the country. About the only fun thing about this whole thing is watching the Liberals insisting to anyone who will listen that they are still virgins and that this new partnership was conceived immaculately.

Update: According to Scott, the Liberals are not even asking for those few tweaks. So, how is Iggy different from Dion?

Final WordI wish Layton's response sounded less angry (though I can understand the feeling). The Liberals and the MSM are loving the opportunity to laugh in his face (talk about being sixteen year olds).

Final Final Word: All that is left is the wait for the cover fire from the MSM. Iggy's retreat will be heralded as the triumph of a new Napoleon, come down from the mountain to lead us all to the promised land. Count on it. Somewhere, Stephane Dion is looking out at the snow and sighing.

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Knife To The Throat

It looks like Iggy might know how to deal with Harper after all. I hope he goes after the government on EI, pay equity and the pay to play infrastructure. If Iggy goes for it and Harper accepts, I still won't be happy (it is still a crappy budget run by unscrupulous ideologues), but at least it slaps our PM down a bit (and that is always good). I still believe that the coalition is the way to go, simply because we have a chance to finish Harper for good and those chances don't often come along twice.

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Hot Off The Presses

From the National Post Liveblog:

Daniel Goldbloom: Wow. Andrew Coyne and Chantal Hébert are just livid about the budget.

Coyne because of what he sees as too much spending, Hébert because she thinks that the government didn't focus this budget enough, instead just 'pushing all the buttons' and waiting to see what happens.

I agree with Hebert. This is a throw everything at everybody and hopefully everyone will be so busy picking up dollar bills that no one will notice we haven't done anything, budget.

Instant Update: From what I have seen, this is a mess, created by people who really have no clue what they are doing. All kidding aside, it really does look like someone in the PMO said "Give everyone a dollar and let's see how that goes". There is no plan, no vision, just a sense that they had a pile of cash to push out of the door before they were tossed from power.

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Read Jeff Simpson Today

If you want to see, in one column, the distilled version of the received truth of our nation's pundits. For the record:

A) The coalition was a stupid idea.
B) Iggy is too smart for such a stupid idea.
C) If he votes with the government, we will give him cover fire, because it distances him from Dion and we really didn't like that guy.
D) We don't like Jack Layton. He should get cancer and die. Power loving commie bastard.
E) We don't like Harper either, but better a psychotic conservative than a socialist any day.
F) The Liberals are afraid of an election.
G) The budget will pass after the Liberals complain and shake their fists at it. We will describe it as a win for the nation.
H) It's all meaningless anyway since everyone knows Canadians are stupid and greedy and will forgive a government anything, as long as they are bribed well enough.

You're welcome.

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Panic Grips The Official Opposition

TURNING and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

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What's Wrong With This Picture?

We have a government that is pleading with the press (successfully, I might add) to scream from the rooftops, that they have seen the light and will no longer play games -- at the same time they are systematically leaking the budget, in a effort to manipulate public opinion ahead of the budget. Is anyone but the stenographers in the MSM really fooled by this?

Partial Update:At least Paul Wells isn't fooled. I suspect the rest of the MSM isn't really fooled either. They just have their own reasons for playing fools.

Later Update:While I have often been critical of James Laxer's fondness for the Liberals, I must agree with him here.

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It's On, By The Look Of It

With all of the leaks coming out about the budget, culminating with the PM signaling the inclusion of permanent tax cuts (to permanently cripple the government and force cuts in services down the line), it appears that Harper has come to some conclusions. He may think Iggy is not serious in his opposition to permanent tax cuts. Or, Harper may think that even if Iggy is serious, he is too chicken to bring him down over tax cuts. Or, Harper, given his paranoid nature, may be convinced that the "conspiracy" to get him is unstoppable so he might as well start the election campaign now. Here's hoping that Iggy is serious and does have backbone and that the Governor General tells Harper to go seek treatment and gives the job to someone a little less crazy, by this time next week.

Update: The punditocracy still insists that Iggy will back down however, on the theory that no one will notice his alliance with Harper and that he can pick a hapless Harper off later (or as I like to call it, the Dion Gambit). If next week goes down the way our MSM overlords say it will, expect many trees to die, as the MSM sings the praises of a "wise" Iggy (though not as many trees as in the past). Harper, on the other hand, will know know the score and will treat Iggy with the same care and love that he showed the last Liberal leader who bent over for him.

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Tell Us How He Does It, Don

Don Martin is still on the pipe:

The challenge is not as daunting for Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. He needs to shine as a recession-fighting alternative with constructive inputs beyond mere snarling at the Conservative government's squandering of a Liberal surplus racked up with ease during prosperous times. And Ignatieff must keep distancing himself from the coalition concept to better define himself and the party as a stand-alone government-in-waiting.

Very good Don, that sounds easy. There is just one problem, Harper cannot survive without a partner. If Iggy becomes that partner (because neither Layton or Duceppe are even remotely interested), it will be impossible for Iggy to portray himself as an alternative anything. Both Harper and Layton, for their own reasons will embrace Iggy's change of heart over the government as "proof" that a) the government is on the right path or b) that the Liberals are feckless and weak and are really just Conservatives with better teeth. Telling Iggy to dump the coalition is great advice -- for the Conservatives and NDP. For the Liberals, on the other hand, it is a recipe for more pain.

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Does This Sound Like A Guy Ready To Support The Budget?

Iggy today:

"I asked Mr. Harper not to play games like that. I told him, put the facts and figures on the table, don't let them slip out at his convenience. But the guy just can't help himself," said Ignatieff. "He thinks it's all some kind of political game but the release of this budget information was irresponsible and costly to our economy."

I don't think he is ready to jump on the Tory Express either. But, if Iggy does end up supporting Psycho Steve, he will have some explaining to do.

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Sadly, No

Don Martin thinks Canadians are brain dead. How else to explain this bit of brilliance from yesterday:

All the Liberals need to do is nitpick at the budget's flaws, ridicule the squandering of surpluses their party generated starting in 1998 and swallow their pride to abstain from voting for or against a free-spending budget that could noose the Harper government.

So, the Liberals can bitch about the budget and then let it pass by abstaining? That worked so well for Dion that I can't believe the Liberals actually dumped the guy. The bottom line is this, despite cover fire from CanWest, the Liberals have two choices. They can support the government and own the budget, whether that support comes from abstaining or voting in favor; or they can vote against the budget and take their chances with the GG. Canadians won't be fooled into thinking the Liberals are "really" opposing the government, when they are voting with it. That kind of logic only works on CanWest columnists and Stephane Dion.

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BSG Fix

To "lighten" the mood. For Dan, who told me he would never watch last week's episode of BSG again, a tidbit from Ron Moore:

My attitude was pretty much, “Look, we’re in the last chapter here. Anyone who’s come this far and doesn’t want to watch the rest -- they’re a minority at best.” People are going to want to see how this turns out. And yeah, this is a very dark chapter. This may not even be the darkest chapter.

Oh and who nuked the Earth? I predict it was BSG.

Update: Just to be clear. Dan still loves the show, but the darkness of last week's episode was soul ripping.

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And People Wonder Why I Am Cynical

News Item: Hoyer: Obama Unlikely to Investigate Torture. Obama talks right pretty, but he is, in the end, an empty-suit liberal.

Added Bonus Snark: America won't torture... unless it is necessary.

Friday Update:Glenn Greenwald calls Bullshit.

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When Koloth Drove A Big Rig

Here is a blast from my past. This goes out to my friend Dan. Here is a show I was watching when Dr. Who wasn't on. It stared William Campbell, better known as Koloth.

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Let Me Lay It Out For You

The NDP will not vote for the budget because they have concluded (rightly) that Stephen Harper is a lying sack of human excrement. Harper will promise to cure bad breath in this upcoming budget. He will claim to have found the formula for turning lead into gold. He will, in short, say anything to save his own job. To those (and there are many, both in the MSM and in the comments sections of our newspapers) who suggest that is irresponsible to reject something out of hand without seeing it first, I would ask you what value is there in listening to the proposals of a serial liar? How much stock can anyone put into anything Harper says? The issue here is not economics, it is trust. Harper has lost it and the NDP is not willing to be consciously fooled in order to stave off the "horror" of a potential election or (if you read the corporate press) the prospect of a government that includes the NDP. In my opinion, it is much more "responsible" to call out a liar than to be fooled willingly, for fear of being ridiculed by a press that is in the bag for the status quo. Good on the NDP and shame on the cowards of our punditariat.

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What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate

Look, I love Mississippi, and I am sure that the people there are nice, but I wouldn't want to live there and I sure don't want to have a race to the bottom with them as a means of "saving" our auto sector. We should thank Tony Clement for his honesty. At least we now know to where the Tories would like to lead us.

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Liberals Beware Part 2

Tories are great at announcing things, but not so great at actually following through. Something to remember as you contemplate the merits of their upcoming budget.

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See Evil, But...Whatever

Shorter Obama administration: Waterboarding is torture, but prosecute? Nope. Why look backward and possibly upset Republicans over something as trivial as torture?

Update:Glenn Greenwald has more and is also quite miffed.

Further OMG Update:One of my all time favorites is back (man I am out of the loop, cuz it looks like he has been back for a long time) and has some things to say, too.

Friday Morning Added Bonus Update: Krugman piles on.

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From The Department Of Not Helpful

I submit that Ehud Olmert has done more for the cause of antisemitism than any anti-war protester. This is just what Israel needs, a prime minister who claims to be giving orders to the President of the United States.

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I Am Not A Number!

RIP Patrick McGoohan.

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The Empire Strikes Back

We all knew this was coming. Antisemitic losers are not the real targets here. Those who are asking questions about IDF actions in Gaza are the targets. They must be silenced and so it is time to get out the wide brush.

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Stelmach To Ontario

Drop dead.

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By Their Friends Ye Shall Know Them

Posted without comment.



H/t to Dennis Perrin.

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That Sounds About Right

Today.

Mulcair suggested the Conservatives are laying a trap and will spike the budget with enough concessions to opposition demands to secure survival beyond the point where the Governor General would call on a Liberal-NDP coalition to form the government.

"They are simply trying to get themselves beyond the date after which the Governor General rather than giving the other parties a chance to govern, would (agree) to an election," he said.

Once the window is closed, expect the games of wrong foot the Liberals into an election, to start up once again. First however, Harper needs to make the Liberals into the co-owners of the recession.

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Liberals Beware

I watched Harper's press conference in Vancouver last night and was struck, once again, at his skill at using the Liberals as his meat shield. This time it was on the issue of Omar Khadr's fate. I wish I had a link to the video (if anyone can find one, let me know), because his answer to the question posed to him by the Quebec press about why he didn't intervene on Khadr's behalf, should give pause to the elements within the Liberal party who are eager to roll over and pass his budget. I am paraphrasing but he began his answer by saying he was continuing the policy of the previous Liberal government.

If Liberals allow the Harper budget to pass, they will hear forever, the words "Well, I am just following the budget that was passed with the help of the Liberal Party", whenever Harper is asked about anything to do with the state of the economy. Think about that for a while before abandoning the idea of a coalition. Either way your party is going to own the recession. You might as well be in the driver's seat instead of being tied up in the trunk.

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You Can't Even See The Strings

Republicans needn't worry. Even though Bush is leaving in seven days, there remains one, steadfast outpost of Bushism, to carry on both his policies and his legacy in the Middle East.

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Of Opportunity Cost

Douglas Bell nails it in the Globe:

Hereabouts, and for all that, the Liberals need to ask themselves whether there's an opportunity cost in propping up a Conservative party that's forced to hold its ideological nose in order to pursue an agenda of economic reform. On Saturday, the Globe reported on the Conservatives' internal tensions:

It's a tough sell. The former Reform Party activists and veterans of Mike Harris's conservative revolution in Ontario that make up the government's caucus believe deeply that deficits are nothing but trouble, and even now, amid the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression, they question the wisdom of spending more money than the government brings in.

"Party members will not like this," said Monte Solberg, a minister in Mr. Harper's cabinet who quit politics ahead of last year's election. "Reformers, my heritage, do not like this.”

In short, while the dictates of political expediency ensure the Tories will present a budget in line with the current spirit of reform. can they be trusted to administer it without equivocation?

The answer to that last question is definitely no. The Tories will present a beautiful budget (think Stalin's 1936 Constitution), full of beautiful promises and wads of cash, never to be seen or heard from again (until the next election when they will be reannounced).

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Psst. Buddy.

Shorter Harper: Hey Barack, you wanna try this nice oil? It'll make you feel so warm. No worries, the first taste is free.

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I Am With Krugman

Obama is going to have to stop feeding Republican delusions with public money and spend tax dollars where they will do the most good. He needs to set an example for Canadian Republicans, who are just itching to gut the treasury here, in the name of "stimulus".

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Privatizing Police

Not that anyone cares, but the Harper government is privatizing the training of the Haitian police force. My question, is this a slap at the RCMP or just another way to toss some juicy pork to friends?

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Obama As Human Shield

News Item: Barack Obama to visit Canada after inauguration Shorter Harper: Iggy, you wouldn't want to embarass Canada by bringing down my government before Obama gets to visit Canada, would you?

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The Other Face Of The Two-Faced Prime Minister

No longer combative, Harper calls for co-operation in drafting federal budget They should have added, "this week".

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Peter MacKay, Oy

Shorter MacKay: This contract is good news for a Canadian economy stuck in hard times. What's that? They won't be built in Canada? Still, the fact I look so damn good up here must give everyone a bit of lift, eh?

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A New Record

"Progressive" disillusion with Obama begins before he is even sworn in.

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If Only He Was This Clear About Torture

Iggy supports Israel, without conditions. Somewhere, Jason Cherniak and Warren Kinsella are cheering. So much for a nuanced position from the two big parties.

Friday Update: Thanks to a commenter at Far and Wide, we have the full replies to the questions asked of Iggy. Having read them, the title of my post should have been "Iggy Is As Clear As He Was About Torture".

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Where Have We Heard This Before?

News Item: "Harper pushes to gain control of Senate"

"Gentlemen," concluded Napoleon, "I will give you the same toast as before, but in a different form. Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! "

There was the same hearty cheering as before, and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. But as the animals outside gazed at the scene, it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. Some of them had five chins, some had four, some had three. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then, the applause having come to an end, the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted, and the animals crept silently away.

But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. They rushed back and looked through the window again. Yes, a violent quarrel was in progress. There were shoutings, bangings on the table, sharp suspicious glances, furious denials. The source of the trouble appeared to be that Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously.

Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. (Animal Farm -- George Orwell)

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Wanker Of The Day: Rosie DiManno

Rosie to the Palestinians: Shame about the mass killing. That's what you get for voting the wrong way.

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Apparently, Everyone Is A Nazi

Hamas are Nazis and so are the Israelis. Who knew? Maybe someone should tell both sides, so they can stop fighting and hold a rally, or something.

Thursday Update:Sid Ryan is seeing Nazis too. At least he has the good sense to realize when he is being stupid.

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Good News Everyone

The children won't be firing rockets at Israel from that school anymore.

Wednesday Update: The Harperites fall back on the Nelson Muntz, "Stop hitting yourself" argument they so love, in defending the IDF. Weasel words aside, they accept as fact that Hamas was firing at the IDF from inside the school. Dr. Dawg begs to differ.

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The PM Needs A New Programming Team

10 If question = "which was “bigger” — watching his son, Ben, score the winning goal in a kids’ hockey tournament or Monday night’s junior game?" then goto 20

20 Reply =""As Prime Minister, I'd have to say the game [Monday night]."

Really, his programming team is making the PM look like a heartless douche bag. All they need to do is change line 20 to read "I love my son very much and nothing, nothing, beats watching him play", and our animatronic leader would come off sounding, almost human. You really dropped the ball on this one guys. You think you would have learned from the whole handshaking incident. Tip of the hat to Aaron Wherry.

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Dead End

I am with Haaretz on this one. It is impossible to see how an invasion of Gaza is going to end well, for anybody. The definition of insanity is generally believed to be following the same course repeatedly and expecting a different result. That is the history of the Middle East for the past 60 years. One side commits an atrocity, the other side retaliates, wash, rinse and repeat. Always repeat. The only constant in all of this is the killing and with each new death, the idea that "our side" must achieve total victory over the enemy, is fed. Unfortunately, the endpoint of this logic is genocide, because genocide is the only way that "total victory" can be assured.

I don't pretend to have the answer to all of this. However, if there was ever a need for an intervention of sanity, this would be it. Otherwise, the blood will continue to flow and the crazy internal logic of revenge will continue to dominate the politics of the region.

Update: Ethan Bronner, in the New York Times, asks some good questions. Looking around, nobody has answers, only questions.

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Goodbye 2008

I think I will miss you most of all.

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