Why I've Been Too Busy To Blog

My good friend Lisa MacLeod is running for nomination in the riding of Nepean-Carleton to replace sitting MPP John Baird when he steps down at writ drop to run federally in neighboring Ottawa West-Nepean.

In addition to helping her with the campaign any way I can, she was also in need of some assistance in launching her website. Her initial designer wasn't reaching deadline expectations so I was called in to fire things up.

As I've mentioned before, web design is a bit of a passion for me and a hobby that proves to be rewarding. I've already designed and maintain two websites for the Ottawa West-Nepean federal Conservatives - the main site plus the youth subdomain - and had begun work in the spring for Joe Varner, who was to seek the federal nomination in Ottawa West-Nepean prior to John Baird's entry. Joe deferred to John and worked to support Baird in his successful nomination bid. I was going to have fun designing his site, which now remains dormant, because of some new graphics toys. So now I get to play again.

This past week, we unveiled www.lisamacleod.com. It was a treat to work on and will now be an easier and more fun experience to simply maintain and update it.

One of these days I'll put my own site together. If I ever get the time. Till then, I'll play in someone else's yard.

In Politically Correct Company

It's been a good week for Doc and Woody time on other media. CJOH's CTV News supper-hour run is featuring morning radio in Ottawa this week. Doc and Woody wraps up the series with a good blast on the Friday edition.

On Wednesday, we were guests of Catherine Clark on her show "In Good Company". There were the typical questions about waking up early, chemistry between the show principals, "What's your favourite part of the show?", etc.

Then came the more personal tone about family, other interests and so on. In the middle of discussing my personal affairs and family, Randall threw a "Conservative" shot across my bow. He then prompted Catherine to respond regarding conservatism running in her family.

"Only the Progressive part", she asserted.

Now, last week, I had promised to be good and not take issue with her and her father's departure from the post-merger Conservative Party. I was true to my word. It was neither the time nor the place for political discourse or discord. In fact, I have a hunch Catherine and I will meet again in the not-too-distant future in political circles. The fact that she remains a Progressive Conservative is a positive thing. Without going into detail, I have strong indicators that she is connected to the Ontario PC's or, at least, a supporter.

She's a good person - strong in the community with charity work and other involvements. It just stands to reason, that she would maintain some sort of political connection. As an Ontario PC member, I would certainly look forward to working with her.

Meanwhile, I'm just as happy to promote her program.

Catherine Clark's "In Good Company" is seen weekdays at 3pm and again at 5pm on Rogers 22 Ottawa.

Fishing For Theories In Troubled Waters

I'm getting behind in my blogging again. Every time I do, there just seems to be more and more to yak at. It's getting tougher and tougher to keep up, especially with current spate of Liberal scandals.

There seems to be a daily dishing of "Scoop du Jour" surrounding the Martin government. One could even go so far as to consiracy theorize that someone on the inside is having way too much fun making sure these stink bombs are dropped with precision timing; not too much at once and not too far apart - gotta keep the momentum. I'm also getting giddy at speculating as to just how much is in the arsenal. In just the last couple of weeks, we've heard about Dingwall's minty tastes, Volpe's Pizza toppers, Raymond Chan's campaign cha-ching funneling, Indian and Northern Affairs no-paper contract and the Department of Fishy Spending.

As for just who is masterminding this methodical dredging and divulging, we'd be here for months poring over the Liberal Party membership list, never mind their parliamentary roster. There just can't be too many happy Liberals right now.

My wife has a theory, though. She suspects:

THIS MAN
I'm not sure what foundation she's using for this theory. Yes, a Liberal insider he is. And, no, he's not a fan of Paul Martin. But Warren Kinsella, as distanced from Martin as he is, would still have difficulty handling such delicate matters without jumping up and down with glee and claiming ownership of such bold, new and damaging information. I mean, just look at him. Does that look like a man with a head full of hot tips? Aaaaah. Maybe you're thinking stealth, here, eh? Nah.

I'll ignore all such theories and go with the notion that there's just too much corruption in the Liberal culture and it's seeping out through any crack it can find. Their levee's breaking. My advice is to order a complete evacuation of the party before it's too late.

Now, I'm a fan of Warren Kinsella's for various reasons but being a Liberal is not one of them. It's hard to argue with his survival instincts and his political and imaging savvy. The fact that he was once an angst-ridden punk musician (and still is - without the angst) and is now considered one of the premiere relief pitchers in the sport of political hardball makes him quite the dichotomy wrapped in an enigma. The man fascinates me. He has my respect. But I'd be a complete fool to believe that, just because he has a hate on for Martin, he'd be anywhere close to buying a Conservative membership. Anything positive that he writes or says about Stephen Harper is merely a convenient underscore of his disdain for the current Prime Minister.

Still, for now, Warren and I can joyfully share in the same olfactory stimulation from that which wafts from something rotten in the State of Dithers. Last week, it was the mint and pizza. And it smelled like fish. This week, it's actually fish. And it just won't go away.