PoliWood: Woody's Views & Skews & Excewz Meez

While You Were Flicking!

2007-04-28T18:58:00.000-04:00

There's no doubt in my mind that the heat turned down in a hurry over the McGuinty government's slush fund controversey the minute "Flick Off" hit the headlines.

But, for the record, you may have missed this gem.

Dalton's Liberals took advantage of their majority status to shut down the auditor general's investigation into the $20 million in grants doled out out to multicultural groups without a legitimate application process.

Dalton further waded into the cess by accusing the opposition of racism in the wake of their complaint over the issue.

It's becoming increasingly apparent that Dalton McGuinty wants to keep Ontarians in the dark... for more than just environmental reasons.

They're Just Tryin' To "FLICK" The Page!

2007-04-26T18:05:00.001-04:00

Great job by the Ontario Libs to shove the red herring out there. In the midst of slush fund discoveries, partisan funding questions, Lottogate, etc.... We and the media fall, again, for one of the oldest tricks in the book.

With the "Flick" of a switch, the switch took place. Focus returned to the benign. For now....

Had to bb this note. Thinking caps back on, Ontarians. Now!

Thumbed via Blackberry

The Flickin' Visual's The Thing!

2007-04-26T14:03:00.000-04:00

Well, it didn't take long for a michievous photog to angle themselves "just so" for the brilliant snap of Ontario Liberal Environment Minister Laurel Broten in front of the province's latest environment announcement backdrop.

A picture's worth a thousand words, they say. One word, in particular!

That is all.....

Hard For Provincial Matters To Cut Thru The Federal Din, BUT!

2007-04-16T20:41:00.000-04:00

Lottogate. It shouldn't just get swept under the rug. I know the Ontario government would love it to, but there a far too many unanswered questions. Ontario PC leader John Tory appeared on CTV yesterday to announce his intentions to call for a formal inquiry before the legislature.

Video can be seen HERE.

It is not likely that Tory's motion will pass in the legislature but he said the issue is not dead.

Tory believes the questions surround OLG will reappear during the provincial election campaign in October.

It's not enough, at this point, for an Ombudsman's report and recommendations when there are clear indications that these types of activities have been going on for as long as it has and as widespread as it seems.

Earlier this month, a senior claimed to have been defrauded of $12.5 million.

Video on that one is here.

Revisiting JJ gives us another indication that this can't go away... ESPECIALLY with the Colby Cosh snippet.

An inquiry may still happen, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Ewww! I'm Like... 67 PerCent Saddam!

2007-04-15T20:35:00.000-04:00

So, like, I'm Facebooking, right. Okay, what-evarr.
But, this friend? Like on her Facebook? She has this, like - THING - like where you can go to this website? And, like, upload a pickcharrr - uv yerself or whateverr? And like it scans it... or something...and then... it shows you? Like what celebrities you look like? And so it do it. And then I find, like, I look like that creep Saddam Hussein? And, so, like, I'm totally creeped out over this.

I'm never going back to that website, evarr. I swarrrr.

Update: Reposted due to link error.

Stop Me If You've Heard This One....

2007-04-13T16:17:00.000-04:00

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a good NDP-ER, and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Conservative. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs.
The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father.

He responded by asking her how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA . She is so popular on campus, college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Conservative Party".

...... yeah, yeah... you may have heard it before. Bit its message is timeless.

h/t my friend, Bill for spamming me with it.

Red Light, Green Light: The Dion-May Story

2007-04-13T10:50:00.000-04:00

h/t Alberta Ardvark for the Red Green reference to the political courtship between Liberal leader Stephane Dion and Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

What's interesting about this is that, within their own parties, they have been criticized for this very type of juxtapositioning.

Some Liberal insiders believe Dion has positioned himself too far left while May has been accused of not being green enough.

Instead of red, one could label Stephane Dion red light and May green light, as opposed to green.

May, in fact has come under fire in the recent weeks for her overtures of Praise for Dion but it obviously hasn't phased her, which has to be, now, a festering sore spot with her own grass roots.

For her own part on Environmental Policy, it seems she doesn't know what she wants even when she sees it.

In all, despite the optical kiss-blowing between the two, the lack of stability within their own ranks because of this cannot be good for either of them.

Que Dion, Dion! Come What May, May Come Red.

2007-04-12T22:50:00.000-04:00

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion will not run a Liberal candidate against Green party Leader Elizabeth May in the next federal election, the first time the Liberals won't run a full slate of candidates. - CBC 04/12/07

No matter how they spin it, Liberal slight of hand or no, this will not work for Nova Scotian Liberals, hence, it will not for Nova Scotians, PERIOD!!

Sucking the pride out of the grass roots of your own party is not the way to ensure success and, the bleeding can spread riding to riding quickly in a party.

What this move only ensures is what many have suspected all along; a standing relationship between Elizabeth May and Stephane Dion or, indirectly, the Liberal Party.

What has us scratching our collective heads is how May can say that Stephane Dion's record on the environment is, somehow, "magnificent".

It's easy, from Dion's perspective, to see the big picture. Take out an enemy without incurring any casualties of your own - and, lord knows, he can't afford any more. But doing so, in such a way, pretty much smacks of selling arms without engaging in the war.

As for May, like Belinda Stronach once said of HER situation, the environment must be a pretty complex file for her to regard Dion's performance as "magnificent".

Or, also like Belinda, perhaps the trappings of future ambitions are just too irrestistable to refuse.

Yup, she does look good in red.

The New Jack Bauer Drinking Game: Dammit, Eh?

2007-04-12T17:25:00.000-04:00

It makes sense, in the Canadian context, that the content matter of upcoming episodes of 24 would hit many places around the world, including Canada.

From TV Squad, h/t National Newswatch, that the Kansas City Star featured an interview with 24 producer and director, Jon Cassar, in which he eluded to the possibility of a Canadian terrorist element.

“We are absolutely evenly employing all the bad guys of all nations,” Cassar says. “Some told me, because I’m Canadian, they said, ‘Hey, why are you leaving us out? Why can’t we be the bad guys?’ I’m like, ‘Good idea. Quebec separatists could be the terrorists.’

“I’d like to go after the Nazis, but they’re not around.”

If this comes to pass, Canadians are going to have to reconfigure this whole Jack Bauer drinking game. View Below for the explanation.

Or... If you're brave enough, you can play the COMPLETE 24 Drinking Game.

Ottawa West-Nepean Ontario PC Breakfast

2007-04-12T12:51:00.000-04:00

Guest Speaker - Tim Hudak, MPP Erie-Lincoln, Ontario PC Finance Critic.

Saturday, April 14th, 9AM

Some spaces left.

Click Here For More Details.

He'll be talking about the lates McGuinty budget and then some.

About That "Grit Quit" Counter ... UPDATE!

2007-04-11T15:22:00.001-04:00

From the comments, C.C. has a running tally. However, I was looking for something more visually impactful. So, what the hell. I designed my own. At least keeping it updated won't be labour intensive.

Scroll to see it................

and... VOILA!

Next????

About That "Grit Quit" Counter....

2007-04-11T13:07:00.000-04:00

Belinda Stronach has become the latest Liberal MP to announce their departure from the electoral process.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion was unavailable for comment as he was walking his dog, Kyoto.

... developing....

Now, about that counter...

Making Stephen Harper's Day!

2007-04-11T12:12:00.000-04:00

If the recent SES poll wasn't enough to make Stephen Harper's day, the latest StatsCan employment figures should do the trick, according to Ian MacDonald of the Montreal Gazette.

In the five quarters since then, the Canadian economy has created nearly half a million new jobs, 158,000 in the first quarter of 2007 alone, the strongest employment growth in five years.

And, as the day rolls along, it can only get better with the launch of an investigation into Liberal era polling irregularities, specifically - allegations of tax-payer funded opinion surveys: More specifically - the relationship between Paul Martin and Earnscliffe Strategy Group.

Kate, over at SDA, has more background on the relationship.

Meanwhile, "Step On" Dion, trying to include himself in his home province where he barely has a 10% approval rating, suggested that non-Quebeckers lack sophistication.

Wondering if I was the only one to catch a line so buried in a CBC report, I found that Angry not only picked up on it but also points out that it ain't the first time Steffi's pulled this.

Good day, eh?

"DION: THE HEMORRHAGING" Now Showing!

2007-04-10T12:06:00.000-04:00

"Everyone knew the situation for Dion was bad -- just not this bad." - Nick Nanos, SES

"All but lost in the electoral wilderness" - Greg Weston, Sun Media

"Fancy meetin' YOU here, Stephane." - Jack Layton, 16 PerCent

"Since the election I came in Alberta seven times." - Stephane Dion

Recall Dalton? If only...

2007-04-09T12:42:00.000-04:00

What Part of "will not raise your taxes" does Dalton not understand? Today, in the Financial Post, he at least admitted to not regretting tax hikes. Corporate or not, "I will not raise your taxes" was the promise made to EVERY Ontarian four years ago.

If only he could recall his promises. I realize it's hard for a Liberal to remember because it's a bloody force of habit for them to hand promises out like candy.

It would do us all good, in fact, to refresh our memories back to 2003.

This Canada has ~~great~~ long list and I find the comment thread somewhat amusing.

Crux-Of-The-Matter has detailed her "Top Ten", if you will.

It's highly recommended that every voter be reminded by October 10th, 2007.

If Ontarians can't "recall" McGuinty, they should at least remember the broken promises and the ineffective governance of the past four years.

If it "Suits" The Grits, Do We Acquit??

2007-04-08T23:32:00.000-04:00

Joan Tintor made a poignant observation earlier this week when she observed the number of occurances of Liberal posturings of righteous indignation in recent months. Now, while, as she also points out with her inclusion of a MacLean's piece in her posting, no party is exempt from criticism when it comes to decorum and substance (or lack thereof), it used to be that an apology demand would suffice whenever an ego-bruise was measured.

Today, though, in our ever bourgeoning litigious world, some suspect that the Libs are setting the table for the ultimate re-brand and their imminant resurgance to glory. As itemized by Tintor, Gerard Kennedy and two Liberal MP's have begun legal proceedings against the National Post and a fourth, Mark Holland, is considering action against the Calgary Sun. And, while these documented accounts of litigation are percentagely lower than than the traditionally episodic whining, the recency suggest a trend.

It's a cunning and highly systematic scheme, my friends, which just might work, thanks to the collective Task Forces On Liberal Renewal. The results of their tireless efforts to yield the quickest return to power has been revealed.

(Drum Roll, Please.......

and now, if you will, a collective "Ta-dah"!)

As former special counsel to President Nixon, Charles Colson, once espoused, "When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow."

How 'bout a SLOGAN, now.

Your ideas are always welcome and will be cheerfully forwarded to the nearest task force we can locate.

There'll be no prize and, as always, wagering is not permitted.

Blog, Blog, Tube. Grits Are Still "It"!

2007-04-08T12:43:00.000-04:00

Much is being made of the '"new media" and its impact on the electoral landscape. MSM, for its part, can no longer simply ignore the potential influence the blogosphere can have and is doing right by acknowledging its presence.

However, the one advantage the mainstream has over the internet is the ability to be concise and, at least, deliver the snapshot. MSM has long possessed the skills and experience necessary to address what Alvin Toffler once referred to as the "blip" culture.

And, while radio, television and print are admittedly retail, they're also legally bound to be, if not impartial, accurate and, as it has enjoyed being the only game around for so long, its audience is quite comfortable with accepting the source.

The web sources, on the other hand, are largely undisciplined and inexperienced. Understandably so. It is, after all, the new media and nothing new, no matter how great its potential, shall escape its own requisite growing pains.

From a political standpoint and, given its economic woes of late, the Liberal Party is banking on the web's pop culture equities to wage its cyber war. I suspect it's only as a last resort. It has no air war and the forecast is "iffy" for its ground game.

In a recent Hill Times article, YouTube 'road warriors' could define the next election campaign,
Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella indicated that it is fair and legitimate for political parties to use technology to track and document what is said on the public record, but he said there is a clear distinction to be drawn between public record, and personal stuff.

That's something that's going to be difficult for a lot of bloggers (well, one Liberal in particular). Hence, one's need to consider the source - should the reader/viewer be that discerning.

As for the Liberal's battle efforts thus far, I doubt that this headline will be trumpeted on Mr. C's blog any time soon. Nor this one.

A campaign, whether it's an "air war", "ground war" or "cyber war" is still a campaign and will require proportional focus on each element in the overall effort to succeed.

The game "Duck, Duck, Goose", regionally re-dubbed, by any other name is still "Duck, Duck, Goose". And the Liberals, with this desperate clutch to the web as a weapon, still seem to be merely running around in circles trying desperately not to be "It".

Olivia "Cat" Chow Using YouTube To Push Pet Food Regs

2007-04-07T13:05:00.000-04:00

Read it Here!

See it Here!

Leave it There!

Just For "Plane" Amusement....

2007-04-06T17:43:00.000-04:00

Pretty "plane" to see that the Dion Liberals are "so not ready" for an election when they can't even secure a campaign jet.

However, not all is lost for the Grits. Turns out long-time Saskatchewan Liberal supporter Hans Stoppemfrumfloppin has stepped forward to donate his two prized aircraft for the campaign.

Seen below, the two vintage Liberal Fokkers will be deployed on each coast and will criss-cross the country throughout the next campaign as Liberal leader Stephane Dion alternates from one Liberal Fokker to another, making as many campaign stops as possible along the way.

Throughout the next election campaign, Canadians will clearly see as one Liberal Fokker is moving left, another Fokker is heading right.

Those Liberal Fokkers. They've done it again!

Better Layton Never

2007-04-06T13:10:00.000-04:00

After shouting loud enough over the din of Tory-Grit rhetoric to say HE'S here, too, Jack Layton now wants the election threats to stop.

At a news conference called specifically to vent his frustration over what he called "pre-electoral games," Layton said the Tories should tone down their rhetoric and get back to work, and he also accused the government of breaking one election promise after another. "The prime minister says he doesn't want an election. Is that so? Is that why we see election headquarters and bunkers being shown off before the cameras? Is that why we see half-baked promises … brought forward while at the same time sending out every signal that he is just itching for an election?" Layton asked.

A news conference to specifically vent his frustration. Layton's likely not as ready as he wants to be for an election but is doing a good job at getting face time, something difficult unless you're in the top two.

When the "we're ready, too" quote didn't get traction, he suddenly switched positions to flood the media with his own brand of anti-election rhetoric.

During the press conference, Layton unveiled the NDP's National Campaign War Room.

To quote a senior Liberal who referenced Stephane Dion... "So Not Ready".

The Pot Called The Kettle GREEN!

2007-04-05T16:57:00.000-04:00

Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion, yesterday, called Prime Minister Stephen Harper a "short sighted hypocrite" in a speech to 750 Liberal supporters in Toronto.

Highlights:

"Never before has a Canadian government done so little with so much," Dion said, as some 30 members of his Toronto-area caucus looked on.

...compared to what the Liberals did to too many with too much for far too little.

The budget, he said, did nothing for the poor or children, while the scrapping of the tax-free status of income trusts was a broken promise for which "a million Canadians paid the price."

...whereas, 33 million would have paid a higher price had the correction not been made.

Dion, a former environment minister, accused the prime minister of cloaking himself in green now that polls show Canadians want action on climate change.

...whereas, calling your dog KYOTO!.. Now, THAT'S action!!!

For what's been accomplished during one year in office, compared to the previous decade and change, it's easy to understand Dion's desperate need to lean heavily on the rhetoric.

Meanwhile, Jack Layton says he's ready for an election... just to get his name in the news.

LATE QUOTE FROM DION: "Do you think it's easy being green?"

Ask Kermit!

Quick! Someone Make A "Grit Quit" Counter!

2007-04-05T12:36:00.000-04:00

Today, comes another announcement of a Liberal "retirement" from politics. On the heels of Paul Martin, Bill Graham, Joe Comuzzi, Jean Lapierre and a host of others, Lucienne Robillard has decided not to run again.

The bleeding continues.....

All's Fair in Love and War Rooms

2007-04-04T19:28:00.000-04:00

The Liberal Party, in the wake of the unveiling of the new Conservative Party National Campaign War Room and the launch of a new wave of TV ads, has declared an "electoral urgency" and is now scrambling to find candidates for all 308 ridings across Canada.

Having stated that the new ads are a signal of a looming election, Liberal leader Stephane Dion can only be wiping the bits of yolk and shell off of his face after rally-crying last week, "We are ready. We are ready. We are ready" (also, to the chagrin of a senior Lib who admitted that they are "so not ready"). While the Liberal Party, being out fundraised 2:1 by the Tories, frantically throws its election machine into ~~reverse~~ gear, the Conservatives insist that they don't want an election.

A leery Dion (shown left wooing possible candidates) is not buying any of it. Dion is ready to counter anything the governing party throws at him with the power of YouTube.com and his army of ~~angry bees lost without power and entitlement~~ Liberal Bloggers.

In fact, the Dion Liberals are about to unveil their own War Room, replete with office furniture, computers and, yes, even chairs.

Yes, I know, "That's unfair."

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Votes, They Say.

2007-04-02T22:57:00.001-04:00

The lustre is coming off of Hillary Clinton's Democratic Leadership campaign already. According to Fox News, A Harris Interactive survey says that a majority will not vote for her, and a Gallup poll this week finds her favorability among Democratic primary voters dropping from 82 percent in January, to 74 percent in March.

The story goes on to say that, despite a lack of attacks from her opponents, it is Hillary’s own campaign appearances that are driving up her negatives!

Funny, I hadn't noticed anything unusual about her appearances. So, to be thorough with my report, I had to go back and study them.

Hmmmm. Interesting. Let's look further back, shall we?

Yes, yes. I'm beginning to see a pattern here. But, I'm still not convinced.

Oh, dear.

In Other News.....

2007-04-01T13:11:00.000-04:00

Could it have ever been more obvious what day it is when the headline at ctv.ca suggested Ben Mulroney would run against Justin Trudeau in the next federal election?

Still, just a few bloggers took the bait.

Perhaps a more believable scenario may have been to report that he's running in some riding called L'autre Ville de Faux.

Joel wasn't the only one to begin his day with a case of the "gotchas".

As a good time was had by all, a few were "had" by a headline.

... good times.

UPDATE: Dave commented on Joel's post the very clever and ambitious hoodwink delivered by National Newswatch. I, myself, had completely overlooked the giveaway in the browser address bar because of the detailing in the page, itself, right down to the ctv icon.

NICE WORK!! Punk'd on so many levels.

E Minus 200: Ontario Election Readiness Continues

2007-03-25T21:09:00.000-04:00

With less than 200 days until the Ontario Provincial Election, we can now say that the campaign starts now. It's the first fixed-date election for Ontario so, realistically, this campaign has really been in effect since the fall of 2003. However, those involved in politics at all levels can be excused for taking time out to, say, focus on a federal election or maybe a municipal campaign along the way. So, instead of blogging (not that I've ever been that consistent at it), I while the hours doing the little and the large things that I believe will help us put a Tory MPP back in my riding.

We've all been working extremely hard over the past year and we've overcome some monumental setbacks with a small but mighty organization. We've made tremendous strides to update and upgrade our riding association in terms of our accessibility, outreach and fundraising. With, still, much more to accomplish, we believe we're ready and in the hunt.

One of the key developments was the establishment of a website, the first of its kind in the riding... ever. Now, as a hobbyist with a vision, it took a little skunkworking to fall in line with the look and feel of the provincial site, OntarioPC.com and, since a mid spring AGM meant little immediate development, the site was up and running by October. I was so thrilled in January to learn of a new design.

Back to square one.

Earlier this month, the new design was ready. It reflects the theme of the Party with the feel of the riding.

http://www.ontariopc-own.ca

Keep watching the site for news on a spring breakfast event. Details to be hammered out within a few days.

From here on in... the ground game takes on a much larger role. This association's up for it!

You Know What They Say About Paranoia...

2007-03-24T18:44:00.000-04:00

"No!!! Whataretheysaying? Didtheysaysomething??? Whosaidit??"

Not sure why they felt the pressing need to be there but, from reliable sources, Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson and Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur "tagged" along to observe Ontario PC Leader John Tory's reaction to Thursday's budget while in Ottawa on Friday.

Tory and Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod called the presser to draw attention to Dalton McGuinty's ongoing neglect for Eastern Ontario.

Perhaps someone's feeling a tad insecure this weekend....

Ontario Budget: No Soup For You, Big Salad For Me

2007-03-24T13:59:00.000-04:00

As expected, an election budget it is. As Ontario remains oblivious to the 50 or more broken campaign promises of 2003 (as psychologists assert that the human mind cannot "remember" pain), the same issues are being addressed four years later and wrapped, packaged and sold as "Thank God, the knight has finally ridden in on his fast white horse to save the day!!!"

Gee, thanks Dalton. Y'er R Hero!!

The truth is, the time honored Liberal tradition of promising to get elected, not delivering once elected and then announcing to stay elected is as healthy a practice as it's ever been. One need not be a clairvoyant to predict what was going to be in the budget. All that's required is a glance in the mirror to recognize the formula at work.

Below are just a few of Thursday's precursive headlines.

Children and Low Income Families Focus of Ontario Budget

Ontario Budget Expected To Appeal To Voters

Liberals hint at minimum wage hike in Thursday's Ontario budget

This headline from the Ottawa Citizen is quite interesting(McGuinty owes his political life to Jim Flaherty), in that the first line subjects Ontario PC Leader John Tory to the persona of Cinderella's ugly step-sister. Politically, while the optic makes McGuinty look responsible for George Costanza's "big salad", it is merely the feds delivering on the fiscal balancing act. What remains is to see, how quickly over the preceding 72 hours, Dalton McGimme's budget re-writes worked to reflect the federally generated winfall and truly reveal the vote-buying spirit. I bet the ink wasn't even dry at delivery hour. Much like Quebec, though, the timing is merely serendipitous.

But, for the Tories, it's no reason to panic from a campaign standpoint. Dalton may have conveniently blamed lack of balance on some issues, but breaking the majority of your election promises is still inexcusable. Voter's have to ask themselves: "Is he going to shaft me next?" It's something the PC's will have to constantly remind the electorate over the next few months and, with the help from the NDP howling the same message, strategically lay out the positive platform planks and set the agenda.

Back to the budget.

After losing safe seats in by-elections, Dalton has suddenly realized that there are more than one million Ontario children living in poverty and is now providing $2.1 billion through an Ontario Child Benefit over five years. But he's essentially just re-announcing earlier promises to boost funding for Best Start day care initiatives and children's mental health and treatment centre needs.

His affordable housing announcement of $127 million still falls short of his promise to provide 20,000 more units over the course of the term, of which only 7400 have been approved so far.

Starting to see the formula at work now?

On the health care file: Dalton McGuinty’s re-announcement of 1,750 new long term care beds won’t deliver needed beds until December 2009, just in time for his planned mid-term report; a reality succinct in describing the Liberals' modus operandi.

And, while Dalton has spent over $20 billion in less than four years, little has been seen done in many regions of Ontario, notably his own bedroom of Eastern Ontario and, specifically, Ottawa.

No plans to assist with a new and much needed conference centre, no infrastructural assistance for rural communities within Ottawa, no funding assistance to relieve our east-west traffic congestivity, a cut of more than $100 million from the agriculture portfolio, and no help in offsetting the $20 million dollar deficit suffered by the Ottawa Carleton Distric School board, all will play a major factor in the continual decline in McGuinty's approval rating in Eastern Ontario.

And so a government's term draws to an end and the first fixed-date election campaign begins in earnest. So begins the necessary task to do what it takes to remind voters of the past, open their eyes to the present and capture their imaginations for the future. In doing so, there exists the strong potential for a Tory government at Queen's Park on October 11, 2007.

It Works On So Many Levels

2007-03-21T16:59:00.000-04:00

While Monday's federal budget has indiscriminately set people's knickers in a twist (what budget pleases everyone - even the ones with something for everyone?), I've already begun to see transpire what I anticipated from the beginning. It was a minority budget with political impetus. But this one was delivered with just a little more confidence in its substance than merely from a government desperately clinging to power.

This was delivered not with desperation but with aspiration. It was a strategically designed document, underscored and preluded with a number of Conservative Party positional adjustments over the past several months; each one, including the climate issue, gradually nudging the other parties off the pedestal of sole ownership and advocacy.

In a minority government, one can always expect indiscreet spending. But beneficiaries of this budget were specifically targeted to, not only woo approval and support from the electorate but, more importantly, leave the opposition reeling as they frantically re-script their ad-libbed howls of protest and, best of all... divide and conquer.

Its seeds are already yielding desired results.

I heard the announcement today on CFRA in my car early this afternoon that Stephane Dion is further burning his bridges within caucus by booting MP Joe Comuzzi for breaking ranks and doing the only thing he could do for his constituents, who will but benefit from this national fiscal initiative.

"It's for a single issue that's of absolute critical importance to all the people in Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario, and that's the cancer research centre ... and hopefully it's going to be funded in this budget," he told CTV Newsnet's Mike Duffy Live on Tuesday.

The centre would bring 300 jobs to the struggling city on the shores of Lake Superior. "To vote against it, every citizen in Thunder Bay would be tremendously upset with me," Comuzzi said.

It's only a matter of hours before we see the whip come out to keep the troops in place for the upcoming vote, which - while a "given" to pass with Bloc support - is more Dion's narcissistic statement to, not only the House, but the government and (pathetically) to himself, that he's in charge. It's more important for him to flex his will to promote his perception of control, despite his potential surprise at what the budget delivered. His headstrong position will naturally preclude any Quebec Liberal MP's from supporting something that their province has been long waiting for. So, before them: a career choice more imminent than they had anticipated. Not all of them are at the end of their political road with nothing to lose. Many tonight, I'm sure, envy the luxurious position Joe Comuzzi is now in.

In the process, Jean Charest is now charged with finessing the biggest electoral surge of his life if he's to continue as premier of Quebec. Stemming the separatist campaign ebb will, perceptually, represent the lack of desire that Quebecers share to revisit sovereignty. Mario Dumont's ADQ, on the other hand, will be getting a good look and, as a federalist party, will present a much safer and more conservative option for Quebecers in the future.

As for the NDP, they'll always say the budget doesn't go far enough for working families. But even they, this time around, are having difficulty convincing themselves that it's a bad budget.

And, while the opposition parties are now regrouping from this week's events, the dance resumes to new music. The Clean Air talks, as I heard this afternoon, have been called off due to another political impass over unrealistic Kyoto targets.

Meanwhile, mild mannered opposition leader Stephane Dion slips into a centre-block alcove and struggles with his new tights and cape as he prepares to launch his "own" get-tough-on-crime campaign to claim IT as his own.

But as he emerges from the parliamentary bowels, his trusty sidekick, Iggy, notices that a part of his costume is on backwards and cries out, "Your CODPIECE!!!!!"

An obliviously confident hero replies, "Not now! Beside right next! Hi dunt like fish, hanywayz!"

..... as he stumbles off into his own sunset.

As the Prime Minister, his cabinet and caucus continue about their evil scheme to keep getting things done for Canadians............ it keeps working on so many levels.

Congratulations, Mayor O'Brien!

2006-11-14T14:43:00.000-05:00

It's the end of a long roller coaster of a municipal campaign. But, boy, it was worth it to take it right to the end.

Congratulations, Larry.

You educate quickly and you improve meteorically. Your leadership and bias for action will serve well at city hall and, while there will be frustrations from time to time with the pace of your progress, your skills at persuading will result in consensus around the chambers more often than not.

It's been an honour and pleasure to be involved with the many gifted and determined members of the Larry O'Brien campaign team.

And they said it couldn't be done......
(Now I understand how you won that plowing competition. Failure is not an option with you.)

Some Coverage...

Larry king of the capital - Ottawa Sun

O'Brien's win put a fairy-tale ending to a political Cinderella story. When the founder and former CEO of Calian Technologies entered the mayor's race in early August, both Chiarelli and Munter wrote him off, saying he lacked concrete plans to deliver his promises.

Within the first few weeks, his campaign faltered, with several key campaign workers sent packing. But the man who many political watchers laughed off became a menacing juggernaut in the final weeks before yesterday's election.

The hi-tech magnate came within striking distance of seizing the mayor's chair, with numerous polls putting the race at a dead heat between O'Brien and Munter.

Surprising election result - Ottawa Citizen

Heading into the race, Mr. O'Brien didn't even have name recognition. In August, when he announced he was running, hardly anyone outside of business circles knew who he was, and there were some serious stumbles in the first few weeks of his run.

The founder and board chairman of Calian Technology had been active in charity fundraising, but he was probably best-known for a suggestion he made in 1999. Mr. O'Brien said Canada should abolish the Canadian dollar in favour of U.S. currency and integrate the Canadian economy more with that of the United States.

His opponents tried to make hay out of this when he announced he was running, but it did not stick.

Then, early in the campaign, key members of his team quit. And he responded to some media questions with answers that showed he had little understanding of city government. He didn't know that all city workers were unionized, for example, and didn't know that the city administered welfare.

Correspondingly, the first polls with his name on the ballot showed him with four-per-cent support. At the time, several political observers and campaign opponents wrote him off.

Later, Mr. O'Brien said, "We stubbed our toe in the beginning. I have to admit that."

But then, two things happened to turn the tide.

First, former mayoral candidate Terry Kilrea dropped out of the race, leaving Mr. O'Brien as the only strongly right-of-centre candidate on the ballot. Second, he got his campaign team issues sorted out when several of Mr. Kilrea's former communications people and strategists offered their services.

Mr. O'Brien brought them on board, and they are part of the reason for his success.

With these people guiding him, his transformation was palpable. In a few days, he went from an awkward, tentative speaker with not very well thought-out policies, to a smooth populist with firmer ideas.

Childhood dream falls short this time - Ottawa Citizen

"A vote for Alex Munter is a vote for a tax-and-spend social agenda that the people of Ottawa simply cannot afford," Mr. O'Brien repeated during the campaign. Yesterday, even as voting went on, Mr. O'Brien could be heard on radio hammering at the point.

Work right to the end and ALWAYS campaign like you're a vote behind.

Reminder: Vote For REAL Change Today!!!

2006-11-13T15:07:00.000-05:00

As the campaign reaches its conclusion, there is but one task left: Get Out The Vote!! Again, all right thinking Ottawans are summoned to the call to engage and exercise your privilege and vote for the only option to prevent our municipality's fiscal decay from escalating. It's time for "organizational renewal", as it was put so succinctly by a CFRA caller this morning.

This gentleman knew what he was talking about from his many years of experience with organizational renewal intitiatives both here and in Washington, D.C. As many of us had been thinking and preaching all along, this man, too, believes Larry O'Brien will provide the necessary leadership to achieve such renewal.

Vote. Vote now. And urge friends, family members and neighbors who may still be hesitant, to vote for Larry O'Brien for Mayor.

Below is Larry O'Brien's phone message from yesterday. You're encouraged to listen and then act in helping to stop our fiscal hemorrhaging, induced by Munterelli. Thank you.

HT: Splatto

A Call To Action For All Right Thinking Ottawans

2006-11-12T16:54:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is E-Day.

It's the most important election in the history of the city of Ottawa... for two fundamental reasons.

1) This is the first of the four-year municipal terms as so legislated by the province of Ontario. That means an extra 365 days of agony should we mess this one up and we either get Tax and Spend or Taxer and Spender as our mayor. This is also very important when considering your choice for councillor, so I hope you've been keeping good notes in your ward. (see post below, if yer stuck)

2) As both of the Munterelli's have been trying like mad to turn this election into a referendum on light rail, let me say this about THAT!

It has been called the single most important transportation project and capital expenditure in the history of this city. We can debate the capital issue until we're all blue in the face when factoring in the various economic climates, rates of inflation, etceteryadaya. But consider this:

The biggest transportation project in our history was the Rideau Canal. In 1832, Colonel John By was recalled to London due to his inability to control the cost of constructing the Rideau Canal. By's cost overrun was less than 43% against the June 1828 estimates. Initial O-Train estimates were $600 million with an original municipal commitment of one third. As the project's runaway costs top $1 billion, the city's portion, now at $600 million, is already 200% over-budget before it begins.

This is an intolerable development. Col. By was called home for a paltry 43% overrun by comparison and people (though not many, these days) are still considering Bob Chiarelli for another term.

If this, indeed, is a referendum on LRT (which I don't think it should be) then there is only one logical choice: Larry O'Brien.

Alex Munter thinks he can solve the issue East-West, North-South, Up-Down and inside out within two weeks of wielding the gavel. As O'Brien says, all Munter will succeed in changing is the colour of the train in that amount of time.

And further to my argument, Munter will only somehow succeed in adding to the already miserable cost overrun and further contribute to the fiscal tailspin.

This, by the way, is not a referendum on Light Rail. It's a referendum on responsible Leadership.

Munter doesn't possess it. Chiarelli fails to exercise it. O'Brien owns it and he consistently displays it.

DO YOUR PART

Take some time this evening and visit Larry O'Brien's website. Please copy and paste the open email from former mayor Jacqueline Holzman and send it to your friends, relatives and neighbors who are either supporting O'Brien or leaning toward him. I can't possibly come up with more urgent words than hers.

This is important.

Alex Munter, as reported in the Citizen today, is doing the same grass-roots email plea for support and turnout. Bob Chiarelli will, no doubt, be doing the same. He's likely to have people on hand to perform traditional Liberal campaign tasks (catch drift HERE - this for effect to underscore the Munterelli moniker) as well.

Let's not fail in this effort. Let's not fail ourselves. Let's not fail Ottawa!

One more thing: A wake-up call to RENTERS:

Recent Decima findings:

Also, 51 per cent of homeowners say they are leaning toward supporting Mr. O'Brien, while 60 per cent of renters say Mr. Munter is their choice.

This about THAT ONE:

Renters may not be that concerned with property taxes because they don't pay them directly. But if the landlord's taxes go up, their rents will increase proportionately. Though, they may not feel it this year, they will definitely see an increase at renewal and a substantial hike should they decide to move to another rental unit. You pay taxes even if you rent. The costs are included in your lease. You pay and you'll pay more if you end up with Munterelli.

Lastly.

Larry O'Brien will not be gutting city hall. He will not be indiscriminately cutting services. He will not be rampaging on some slash and burn firing spree. Those are the accusations of scare mongerers with no intention of arming themselves with the facts.

Larry O'Brien has done nothing but grow, develop and evolve everything he's been involved with. There is no reason to doubt that this man can utilize the resources at his disposal and make our city's workings more efficient and make the very staff within our city even more proud of the work they do and services they deliver to us; The very people who employ them.

Tomorrow's Election Day. Engage and Activate... and exercise the very democratic privilege that so many fought to establish and, subsequently, so many others fought to preserve for you to possess.

Let's git' er done!!

Pickin' & Grinnin': Ottawa Ward By Ward

2006-11-12T13:16:00.000-05:00

Ottawa Sun columnist Sue Sherring has made her ward picks for tomorrow's municipal election. Let's read along together, shall we?

WARD 1: ORLEANS

Sure, he's never going to set the world on fire with his earnest little speeches at council, but there's enough hot air in that place anyway. In a short time, (Bob)Monette has proven he's listening to his ward's residents.

.... Monette has had too short a stint for an accurate report card.

WARD 2: INNES

A strong nod goes to Bloess

.... Yup.

WARD 3: BARRHAVEN

..residents love the fact that Harder speaks her mind, political correctness be damned

.... But for Harder to be one of the so-called fiscally responsible councillors, she blew it transparently with the North-South vote. She should have been stronger and told her constituents that they deserve better.

WARD 4: KANATA NORTH

Anu Bose stands out in the crowded field by recognizing the importance of transportation for her ward. With a PhD in development administration, with a specialization in waste management, her expertise could be put to good use in the days and months ahead as council wrestles with what to do with its growing mountain of garbage.

.... Little profile and the new ward is a toss up. Watch for Muirhead.

WARD 5: WEST-CARLETON-MARCH

J.P. Dorion just can't compete with El-Chantiry's record of success. Voters in West Carleton-March should mark their X beside the incumbent's name.

.... Eli's gotta go! Anyone remember the Willola Beach Boat By-pass flip flop???
Dorion's been working the ward a lot longer that Eli's been aware of.

WARD 6: STITTSVILLE-KANATA WEST

Small business owner Shad Qadri has emerged as the star candidate. A longtime volunteer in the community, Qadri has a strong understanding of the issues in the ward.

.... Flip a coin.

WARD 7: BAY

Terry Kilrea a chance to show his stuff. Kilrea is a quick study, and we believe his sincerity will shine through. Cullen's efforts have included meddling in issues that don't involve him and serve no purpose other than to bog down city business. Kilrea did the right thing in exiting the mayor's race and is our strong choice for Bay councillor.

.... Kilrea awkwardly wedged himself into Ward 7 with a lot of heft and surprise, prompting vitriolic response from one-time supporter Sherril Noble. But Noble should have done the sensible thing and put her ego aside, joining forces with Kilrea. Cullen may return because of a split between Noble and Kilrea. Terry has better profile and would be a terrific representative.

WARD 8: COLLEGE

We would have loved to see Chiarelli face some serious opposition this time around, but we haven't seen anything to convince us there's a better alternative. As such, residents in the newly named College ward would do well to mark the X beside Chiarelli's name one more time.

.... I live in the ward. Rick's done a lot that doesn't get noticed. He's also been quite effective on the library board.

WARD 9: KNOXDALE-MERIVALE

It would have been far better for Knoxdale-Merivale residents if incumbent Gord Hunter was facing some real opposition this time around. We believe the longtime politician serves his residents, but they deserve a real choice come election time.

.... might just be the wisdom of some who recognize that Hunter keeps earning it.

WARD 10: GLOUCESTER-SOUTHGATE

Residents of Gloucester-Southgate will be happy to see Deans returned to council.

.... Which is why I live in College Ward.

WARD 11: BEACON HILL-CYRVILLE

We'd love to see Michel Bellemare engaged in his job. But we don't. He speaks from time to time, but having watched him for several years now, and we still don't have any idea of why he continues to run for council. Unfortunately, we don't see any fire in the belly of his opponent, Frank Reid.

.... They can't all shine around the council table. Bellemare does float under the radar frequently but he's at least steady.

WARD 12: RIDEAU-VANIER

A strong advocate for francophone rights, Bedard is an easy choice for re-election.

.... Of course. It's Rideau-Vanier.

WARD 13: RIDEAU-ROCKCLIFFE

Jules Bouvier, a city employee, has emerged from the pack with some inside nuts and bolts on how to do things better.

.... Always wondered how Jacques Legendre does it.

WARD 14: SOMERSET

We fear her (Diane Holmes) defeat would be council 's loss. Luc Lapointe is her closest opponent, a strong candidate who knows the ward, understands the issues and has a solid grasp of financial management.

.... Just answered your own concern with that one, Sue!

WARD 15: KITCHISSIPPI

..the nod has to go to Christine Leadman, the executive director of the Westboro Business Improvement Area, who we feel has a better grasp on how to handle taxpayer dollars.

.... Amen!

WARD 16: RIVER

(Maria)McRae is doing just that, with a proven track record of working in the community. She's earned re-election in River.

.... Hallelujah!

WARD 17: CAPITAL

It's time for Doucet to take up poetry full-time and we expect he'll be back at council after the election, looking for an arts grant to help pay the bills. The nod goes to Jay Nordenstrom, who fits the bill in this urban ward.

.... Praise the Lord!!!!

WARD 18: ALTA VISTA

Though a race is on, (Peter) Hume is the only one of the six-pack who has what it takes to lead Alta Vista residents through the next four years.

.... Solid choice!

WARD 19: CUMBERLAND

With three years under his belt, Jellett deserves a second term in Cumberland to show us what he's got.

.... Pretty big belt and, yes, he likely will deliver more.

WARD 20: OSGOODE

...we can count on him to have a parochial viewpoint with little regard to the city as a whole. Unfortunately, (Doug) Thompson doesn't appear to have any solid opposition. Not even his only opponent thinks he stands a chance of winning.

.... He also got worked over by Bob on the LRT vote. Get a backbone Thompson!

WARD 21: RIDEAU-GOULBOURN

Our tip of the hat goes to Scott Moffatt, a youthful candidate who has proven to be a breath of fresh air in a council that has too many egos, bad ideas and campaigns based on bashing their opponents.

.... Fresh blood, perhaps, but don't jack Glenn Brooks for addressing the rural disconnect. I hear, too, that change is in the air in 21.

WARD 22: GLOUCESTER-SOUTH NEPEAN

Former regional chair and Nepean mayor Andy Haydon will work hard on their behalf and speak his mind as he does it. He's solid on the issues and understands and cares about both the ward and the city.

.... flip a coin here. But Haydon would fit in well and bring a lot of horse power to the chambers.

WARD 23: KANATA SOUTH

Feltmate is a rarity around council -- a sincere politician who is there for all the right reasons. She wants to work hard, serve her residents, and better both her ward and the city. No need to look elsewhere in Kanata South.

.... Can never find the perfect councillor, anyway. In this case, Ward 23 was hard pressed to find profile opponents, too.

Two Minutes: A Pittance Of Time

2006-11-11T15:04:00.000-05:00

From Terry Kelly's Website:

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time. Terry later recorded A Pittance of Time and included it on his full-length music CD, The Power of the Dream.

In the interest of creating a greater awareness of the sacrifices that have been made and are still being made on our behalf, A Pittance of Time has been adapted to the French language and titled C'est si peu de temps. Music videos for both audio tracks too were produced in support of the campaign and a musical/theatrical concert production, Two Minutes of Silence - A Pittance of Time, was written for the stage.

Two Minutes of Silence - A Pittance of Time combines music and theatre in an emotional production that looks at the folly of war. The inspirational songs and dramatic monologues evoke memories both tinged with sadness and joy that ultimately underscore the need for hope and faith in the goodness of humankind.

We shall never forget!

Larry O'Brien Leads In Latest Poll

2006-11-11T11:37:00.000-05:00

You could feel it in the room at Sala San Marco Thursday night. Close to 500 supporters attended at rally to support Larry O'Brien. The campaign momentum that has been increasing exponentially for weeks is still showing no signs of stopping.

This morning, we're greeted with the latest news:

O'Brien leaps into the lead

According to a Citizen-Decima Research survey, 37 per cent of decided voters would back Mr. O'Brien if an election were held today. Another 32 per cent pick Mr. Munter and 11 per cent back Mr. Chiarelli. But when voters leaning towards a candidate are factored in, Mr. O'Brien leads by 45 per cent, followed by Mr. Munter at 41 per cent and Mr. Chiarelli at 14 per cent.

If the numbers hold over the remaining two days, 57-year-old Mr. O'Brien would pull off an incredible victory, leaving Mr. Chiarelli with the dubious honour of being the first elected mayor in more than 40 years to be defeated in office.

Two More Sleeps!!!

O'Brien Rally Tonight - Don't Forget To RSVP

2006-11-09T13:51:00.000-05:00

O'Brien Keeps Convincing: A "Genuine" Example

2006-11-08T08:51:00.000-05:00

Call it "damage control". Call it "spin doctoring". Call it "spinning your wheels". It's likely what Larry O'Brien's opponents are salivating over today. But they'd be pulling a risky one if they do because what Larry O'Brien has done is what many voters have long waited to see from a politician; take an honest stand and admit a mistake.

I call it "being genuine".

Maybe it's because he's not a professional politician; because he doesn't have long-in-the-tooth political spinners and handlers on his campaign, that he's afforded a refreshing aura of clarity in his mission. It's the stuff that has created a self-made millionaire out of the humblest of beginnings and it all started with an honest day's work.

For his defence, we can all agree that Larry O'Brien's remarks last week- suggesting citizens stop giving money to panhandlers to feed their drug habits - WAS and IS the only appropriate position to take. He simply articulated this in a general term and the jump was made to the wrong conclusion.

But what's refreshing in the wake of a street citizen's criticism of O'Brien's comment is that the candidate didn't spin the matter. He didn't lament that he was taken out of context. And he didn't cast blame.

He took ownership. He took responsibility. And he took command of the situation.

It all started November 1st, when O'Brien took a tour of the Byward market and made comments to a reporter:

Don't help panhandlers: O'Brien

"It was an eye-opening experience, to see the clear relationship between panhandling and the drug trade," he said.

He said people giving money to panhandlers are often unwittingly contribution to drug use.

If elected, he said, he would start a public information campaign to tell people they aren’t doing panhandlers any favours by giving them money.

"We are killing them with kindness," he said.

What resulted was the general reaction to a stereotype and one man's exception to it. Panhandler Dennis Pettigrew needed to be heard.

No crack for panhandler

What Pettigrew, 54, says he found most hurtful was when a young boy walking with his mother passed him on the street a couple of days ago.

"He pointed to me and said 'there's one of those crackheads mom,'" said Pettigrew, bowing and shaking his head. "That hurts. It really does."

Pettigrew was heard. But what he, himself, heard next was from a most unlikely source these days: the politician responsible for his hurt and confusion.

O'Brien apologizes for remarks

"I truly apologize if what I said hurt you," O'Brien said, putting his hand on Pettigrew's shoulder.

(snip)

Listening intently to what Pettigrew had to say yesterday, O'Brien agreed the city isn't doing enough to make sure people like him are receiving the services they need. "The most effective thing I can do is make sure the organizations intended to help ... are operating as they should," said O'Brien, asking if there was anything more the city could do to help.

"I'd like there to be an ambassador. Someone from the street that could speak to council," Pettigrew told O'Brien.

O'Brien seemed to like the idea.

"Your ideas and judgment are sound," said O'Brien. "I want to keep listening to you. Let's be agents of change.">

What Larry O'Brien succeeded in doing was bring attention to the reality that drugs are a problem on our streets and that a significant percentage of panhandlers are addicts. But there was collateral damage to the reputations of those with genuine need, which was the result of a kneejerk jump to stereotype.

O'Brien's "killing them with kindness" quote represented his genuine concern for the addicted. His direct and contrite response to Mr. Pettigrew represents his genuine concern for the truth. His courageous return to the market to meet personally with Pettigrew resulted in greater perspective, new information and ideas that lead to solutions. "I want to keep listening to you. Let's be agents of change." A genuine attitude that led to genuine success for a genuine leader.

Larry O'Brien, for his first time in the political arena, by his own admission, is getting on-the-job training every day. And every day his performance strengthens, his confidence deepens and his knowledge base widens.

He now knows what the box looks like. He knows where the box is. He'll think outside it quite comfortably. He knows where the lines are but don't be surprised if the crayon draws a new line. It's the innovative quality that promotes "what could be". It says "this can be done!"

As Larry O'Brien's opponents and critics continue howling that Larry O'Brien is not ready for the job of Mayor of Ottawa, it's now time for a new crayon to write the new ballot question...

Because the job is DEFINITELY ready for Larry O'Brien.

Momentum: O'Brien - "A vote for Bob is a vote for Alex"

2006-11-07T14:39:00.000-05:00

With less than a week to go in the Ottawa municipal race, Larry O'Brien continues to close the margin between he and frontrunner Alex Munter, with Bob Chiarelli's support dropping like a rock. It's been circling the drain for some time for Chiarelli and now it looks as though the bottom is falling out.

Recent Media:

Poll shows Chiarelli support down to 17 per cent

Mr. Munter has enjoyed support in the 40-per-cent range for much of the past month, but the mayor’s losses and a strong performance by the O’Brien camp appear to be catching up with him.

Challenger changes gears

Leading mayoral candidate Alex Munter no longer views Mayor Bob Chiarelli as his main threat and is focusing his homestretch campaign on discrediting hi-tech millionaire Larry O'Brien.

O'Brien on the offensive

O'Brien: "The candidate to my left must think I'm getting close to him, he's coming at me with both barrels."

This is a winnable race for O'Brien and, with as much of his own momentum, the parked Chiarelli vote is likely to ride that momentum as Munter has not only saturated his take of former Chiarelli support, he has also peaked in public opinion and the Chiarelli core that doesn't support Munter know that "a vote for Bob is a vote for Alex".

Expect Chiarelli's hemorhaging to continue with the flow of support moving to O'Brien.

"Wham" BLAMS The Tram in Ottawa

2006-11-06T10:20:00.000-05:00

As the November 13th municipal election draws nearer with the Ottawa LRT issue hitched firmly to the ballot question (although I believe the question is a more direct one: Who do you trust to lead the city responsibly for the next FOUR years?), we find stronger activity in the blogosphere surrounding the light rail controversey.

Many questions yet unanswered. Many answers still unacceptable.

One man, a strong municipal advocate for the past few years, is emerging with a growing volume of compelling perspectives and arguments regarding the North-South transit plan. Robert Diotte's blog The Ottawa-WHAMMER! A Musical Dramady reads like a reference library for the transit issue, complete with links to audio and video archives from the media and other sources, peppered with a measure of sarcastic wit.

The reason for the blog's existence?...

The Birth of the Ottawa-WHAMMER! A Musical Dramady came about when it became clear to me that Ottawa City Council was on the wrong track with Light Rail. Anyone who has eyes can see the truth. And the thruth shall set you free.

It's worth checking out.

For more articling with critical documentation, visit ottawalrt.blogspot.com. This site links to other like-minded blogs and serves as a good primer for anyone unfamiliar with the many facets of this controversial project.

More From The Department of Hmmmmmm...

2006-11-06T09:21:00.000-05:00

Clairvoyant led Americans to Saddam, says Geller

... I don't know what to really be afraid of now: That the American military had to go outside its own intel or that George W. is listening to his toaster.

Why do so few people vote in the U.S.?

... see above story...

Other ridulous items in the news found here.

Another Amuhrican Goobernatorial Campaign

2006-11-01T13:59:00.000-05:00

What caught my eye was the fact that this guy's still living with his parents.

Then I find out his campaign messaging is primarily based around his YouTube videos.

Then I check his MySpace and find out he's at the top of his own list of heroes.

Then I find out he's getting a sh#tload of hits on his site.

Imagine my curiosity.

Imagine the mainstream media's curiosity.

Lesson?: As MSM continues circling the drain, this guy (for all his quirkiness) is getting his message out and maximizing what the web can deliver for a campaign.

One day......... er...... One Day... (shuddering at the thought), a lark like this might just blow the doors off a serious conventional campaign.

And, really, where's the fun in that?

Answer: Go back and read this post again... slower, if you must.

UPDATE: Then I find out that, if elected, he'll SLEEP WITH YOUR SISTER!!

.... developing.....

"Our Parliament is a 3 POTTY System!!"

2006-10-30T17:47:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I normally don't cross-post, but this was too irrestistable. If he/she had to pee in Kandahar, I guarantee that he/she would figure out quickly where and when to stand or squat!! Good, god!! If this is what "pizza parliament" breeds, better make sure you really want more parties than what we have already!!!!

Italy parliament fights over transgender MP toilet

... It's a tough, divisive, even "wedge" issue"! National defence, homeland security, health care, tax reform, ... it all hinges on this one debate: Does He or Doesn't She? F#%k it!!!!!! Just slap a "Members Only" sticker on one of the cans and let 'em all figure it out!!!

More of my weird discoveries HERE

It's Not Easy. It's Just Right!

2006-10-29T12:49:00.000-05:00

The brother of my son's girlfriend is currently stationed in Kandahar. Contributing to our ongoing concern is the fact that, not only is Michael performing in the field (most notably the Panjawaii theatre), but his fiancee, Sarah, is stationed in Kandahar at the main base.

It's difficult to write about. It's difficult to talk about.

For them, though, it's difficult work in a difficult place at a difficult time.

I hear people say it's a war we can't win.

"A war we can't win".... "A war we can't win".....

The words resonate within me. And I begin to seethe.

One: I've never heard of any such thing as a "popular" war. It has and always will be a LAST RESORT in international affairs. It comes as no surprise to me that there is an everpresent contingent of peacenicks that will always demonstrate against the very notion of military activity. But the purpose of this mission is to establish stability in that country and give Afghans their country back after years of oppressive Taliban rule.

Two: "A war we can't win". So, just cut and run. Leave it all to the locals who want and need us there to do the right thing, albeit the difficult thing. The defeatism is deafening sometimes.
Worse, it really sounds so very self-serving. "If I can't win, I won't play!" It's the tone and attitude of a generation that have enjoyed all the spoils of a giving democracy and have never known hardship; certainly not the kind being experienced by Afghan locals. It's the sound of selfishness bred by success and prosperity of the new "me" society.

Yesterday's National Post had a story about an Afghan Ambassador's wife.

"Everywhere I go in Canada," Mrs. Samad says, "I get asked: 'What's going on with the women and children?' 'Do Canada's 2,200 soldiers really make a difference?' And then there are people who come up to me and say: 'Aren't our soldiers killing innocent civilians?' 'Don't you hate us?!'

"And I tell them: 'Absolutely not.' If you were to take a poll in Afghanistan, 95% of the people -- or even higher -- desperately want Canadians there, want the other international coalition there. They realize how important it is because they've gone through 23 years of war, and they don't want the Taliban returning."

Three: We can all dislike war. We can all dislike agression. We can all prefer Canada's role in the world as that of "peacekeeper". But before there is any peace to KEEP, we better get busy making some. In order to do that, we're going to get a little dirty because the enemy adheres to no rules of engagement and shares no common value for human life.

It's not an easy thing. It's just the right thing.

Godspeed, Garbi. But "git'erdun"!!!

Oc-TORY-Fest Danke

2006-10-28T19:03:00.000-04:00

Ottawa West-Nepean provincial Tories held their first annual Oct-TORY-Fest last Thursday at Biagio's Italian Restaurant.

Okay, so the venue was a thematic contradiction but the food was still German, the room very accommodating and the atmosphere quite Bavarian in nature and, most of all, everyone had a good time and we raised money for the riding association.

It's the first of many fun events planned between now and the next election to help fill our war chest.

Big thanks to the membership and guests who showed up to support the cause. We're asking those who attended to go and spread the word that Ottawa West-Nepean Ontario PC's are back in a big way and are serious about winning while intent on putting the fun back into fundraising in our riding.

Many thanks to Ottawa West-Nepean MP, Hon. John Baird for attending and giving us great encouragement.

Also thanks to former Ottawa South federal candidate and sponsorship scandal whistleblower Allan Cutler for his presence.

More to come from Ottawa West-Nepean!

Larry O'Brien Campaign Website Impresses

2006-10-26T09:08:00.000-04:00

Ottawa Mayoral candidate Larry O'Brien's campaign website has turned some heads over the past couple of weeks. Transforming from a static traditional site standard to a 2.0 version, very much a blog format (a popular look today), O'Brien's content looks constantly fresh.

The site is also receiving media praise, both MSM and new media.

From Ottawa Start Blog:
Out of the three main mayoral candidates, O'Brien is clearly in the lead when it comes to embracing internet technology. He has a blog, he posts his campaign ads on YouTube, and he's even using Google Adwords to advertise online.

From The Ottawa Citizen's Curbs And Gutters by Dave Reevely:

O'Brien's entries read like the first-draft thoughts of a pretty smart guy who's spending a lot of time thinking about municipal politics, which, when you think about it, is exactly what you'd want to read from a candidate for mayor.

Compare Bob Chiarelli's "blog," which is more or less a list of the places he campaigned each day and some breathless observations about what a truly excellent place Ottawa is. "What a city and people to be proud of!" the mayor muses for Oct. 14 and 15, reflecting on a fundraiser for defibrillators in schools. The next day, he campaigned in Westboro: "This city from end to end is an amazing place, and I am looking forward to the opportunity, that this campaign gives, to address every corner and community in Ottawa to express my vision for what Ottawa is and should be." I'm not sure which is scarier: that Bob Chiarelli thinks his interests are best served by having us believe his insights into the city he's led for nine years are that shallow or that they actually might be.

Not that a website alone can win an election. But it does demonstrate that O'Brien is in touch with today and is using the blog format as one method of getting his message out. And these days, it's a very effective one for web users.

Larry O'Brien More Impressive Each Time Out

2006-10-24T16:17:00.000-04:00

As the Ottawa mayoral race tightens up, Larry O'Brien continues to gain ground and grow in his role as a candidate. His lustre increases every day with this growing confidence with the issues.

His relationship with the media is comfortable now. He doesn't shy from the tough questions and the mettle he displays as a first-time candidate is the same stuff that made him a successful businessman; and it's all self-made.

Yesterday, the Ottawa Sun published a lengthy profile on O'Brien. Written by Susan Sherring, it provides a closer look at the man voters are still getting to know. Click the link below.

O'Brien never far from roots - October 23/06

Last Night, A-Channel Ottawa held a 45 minute debate in which O'Brien became the focus for both rivals. The sample clip below wraps it all up quite neatly.

Campaign A-La-BAMpaign

2006-10-24T09:16:00.000-04:00

From AP yesterday:
Alabama candidate campaigns on cleavage

Libertarian Loretta Nall seems to be pulling out all stops, so to speak, in her Alabama gubernatorial bid.

She has two websites plus a blog site. This poster was found after a long scroll down the blog this morning (It's since been placed at the top). Her fundraising also includes merch sales.

Seems to be a lot of activity on her sites. I checked out nallforgovernor.com earlier this morning and determined it may have been first site before shifting over to lorettanall.com. Quick check a few minutes ago and the first one was down. Either way, her web presence is being felt thanks to the exposure from the media.

Her slogan on the Nallforgovernor site reads: Vote Nall Y'all!!

Spliffy, I say.

She's definitely puttin' the BAM back in Alabama.

Still No Mercy From Mercer

2006-10-20T17:45:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've visited one of my favourite blogs.

Left or right, red or blue, up or down, Rick Mercer takes no prisoners in any sector and is always a guaranteed chuckle.

His new feature ramps up the spirit of the photoshop challenge to a whole new level with video clips.

Even my friend John Baird had to chuckle at the prime example of this week's subject, which is him. Take a look:

In case, like me, it's been a while since you've checked Rick out, you can check out his Mercer Report site at CBC and don't forget to stop by his blog.

Oct-TORY-Fest for Ottawa West-Nepean

2006-10-18T15:26:00.000-04:00

With the launching of the new website, the Ottawa West-Nepean Ontario PC's are continuing to build for the future and, more importantly, the next provincial election in November 2007.

With fundraising and event planning ramping up, the membership continues to grow. For those not aware of the new developments and live in the riding, you're invited to visit the home page and click the event link for details on Oct-TORY-Fest set for next Thursday.

A Subscription to the newly launched e-News will keep you informed of further developments.

The website is still in development but if you have any questions, click here for contact information.

Oct-TORY-Fest details quicklink here.

I Think I Just Became A Loyola-ist!!

2006-10-18T13:51:00.000-04:00

I think I speak for Beatles fans everywhere when I say "Thank You"!!

Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn is claiming responsibility for the breakup of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

Not that I don't like seals. But this bleedin' heart world-travellin' do-gooder was clearly way over her head with the seal hunt and the last thing Sir Paul needed was to be dragged across the Atlantic only to go crawling around an ice flow so that precious Ms. Heather could hug a cod-gobbling seal. (As pictured below, it must have mistaken her for a fish because it attempted to take a bite out of her.)

From Today's Ottawa Sun

(Hearn) pointed to McCartney's famous appearance last spring on the Larry King Live Show.
McCartney was debating Williams, the Newfoundland premier, on the merits of the seal hunt.
Hearn said McCartney appeared to appreciate the points Williams made, while his wife - a vocal animal-rights activist - was "not so gracious."
McCartney saw a different woman that night, Hearn said, and that may have changed his view of her.
And he joked: "We'll take some credit for that."

Amen to that!

Now her true colours are coming out in the divorce action.

Don't mess with a Beatle.

My friend's bumper sticker says it all: "Still pissed at Yoko".

Oooh, That Pugnacious Poilievre!

2006-10-18T11:10:00.000-04:00

pug‧na‧cious [puhg-ney-shuhs] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective

inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative.

—Related forms

pug‧na‧cious‧ly, adverb

pug‧nac‧i‧ty [puhg-nas-i-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, pug‧na‧cious‧ness, noun

—Synonyms argumentative, contentious, bellicose.

—Antonyms agreeable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Know when to pick your fights, I always say.

This morning on the Doc and Woody Show, Randall took another shot at the Conservatives on Doc's pot-stirring cue. This time the target was Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Board President, Pierre Poilievre for the Sun story about Pierre's "threat" to Liberal MP Paul Szabo.

Now, there's no question, Randall plays it down the middle with no particular party preference and when he criticizes a Conservative for something deserved, I have a difficult time refuting. But, once in a while, he can be off-base and I have to rise to the task.

Setting the table, Doc referred back to a couple of Pierre's less-than-shining moments in the media: The F-Bomb and the famous 'right arm' gesture in the house. As always, when things get kinetic on the show, silly stuff ensues. Click the player below to hear the clip

Poilievre may well take one on the chin from time to time, but it should only be for something he deserves. Like I said on the air, there was way too much made of it and it should never have been a story in the first place. And good for you, Szabo, for running to hide behind the robe of Mr. Speaker; especially after such an exercise in provocation. Kids like that shouldn't be allowed outside at recess. It makes them too vulnerable to such schoolyard bullies as...

er...

Sorry Pierre, I can't defend your physiology. You really should eat more.

Try spinach.

As a last resort, do what I do: Three fried baloney sandwiches and a 6 pack just before bedtime.

O'Brien Ready For Prime Time

2006-10-17T09:28:00.000-04:00

With no similar plans from the Munterelli camps to run television campaign advertizing, Larry O'Brien launched his television flight yesterday on CTV. The ad not only boosts his exposure but also seems to be generating free media coverage.

From Today's Citizen: O'Brien hopes TV ads put face to name

Locked in a close race against two longtime city politicians, mayoral candidate Larry O'Brien is counting on a new television advertisement to help voters put a face to his name.
The ad features Mr. O'Brien discussing his personal history and campaign goals against a variety of Ottawa backdrops, including the Peace Tower and a Queensway overpass. It first aired last night on CTV Ottawa. View it below:

More Polling

Also From Today's Citizen: Third-place Chiarelli 'should be worried,' poll shows

According to a survey conducted by Holinshed Research Group in the wake of Treasury Board President John Baird's intervention in the city's light- rail deal, 30 per cent of respondents support Mr. Munter. Mr. O'Brien has the backing of 26 per cent of residents and Mr. Chiarelli garners the support of 21 per cent. Another 21 per cent are undecided or wouldn't state a preference, while other candidates in the race have the support of two per cent of decided voters.

O'Brien Ramping Up Mayoral Campaign

2006-10-16T12:18:00.000-04:00

Over the past couple of weeks, Larry O'Brien's bid for mayor has slipped into a higher gear.

From rising a whopping 12 points to 20% in the late September Decima/Ottawa Citizen survey to the recent Leger Marketing poll which placed O'Brien at 33%, the evident public desire for change has become crystal clear with incumbent Bob Chiarelli now trailing the pack.

Media Highlights

From CFRA News last Friday: Voters Want Ottawa to Focus on Crime: Poll

Four in Five Ottawa residents want City Hall to crack down on crime and improve public safety in the community.

A Leger Marketing poll conducted for CFRA/A-Channel/Ottawa Sun suggests 81 per cent of voters believe crime is "something the city has to focus on"

The Leger Marketing poll suggests Larry O'Brien has emerged as a crime fighter.

90 per cent of voters who will definitely vote for O'Brien consider getting tough on crime the most import issue.

From the Saturday Ottawa Citizen :Mayoral campaign picks up steam

O'Brien should also be satisfied with his week. His performance in the talk radio debate was markedly more assured and informed that at the beginning of the campaign. O'Brien sounded much more like a leader, avoiding the mudslinging favoured by Chiarelli and copied to a degree by Munter. During that debate, O'Brien offered some insight into his management philosophy, saying "a leader says what, not how."

From Today's Ottawa Citizen:Tax talk sure to get voters' attention

Larry O'Brien says his battle cry of "zero means zero" is real and under his watch, taxes would be frozen, not increased or kept at the rate of inflation.

"'Zero means zero' actually means zero," he said.

Mr. O'Brien believes the root cause of the problem is runaway spending. He says amalgamation promised huge savings, but, instead, in six years has delivered a 35-per-cent spending increase -- a figure routinely quoted by rural activists, but hotly disputed by the city. Mr. O'Brien sees the city as a bloated bureaucracy and wants to "reinvent government" and set it on a lean and fiscally-responsible path.

To streamline government, he would introduce "alternative service delivery methods," which means contracting out delivery of city services to the private sector to save money and improve efficiency. Mr. O'Brien says he'll spell out the details later in the campaign.

"It is going to require a culture change, it is going to require the council to decide that we want to reinvent the way city Hall works," he said.

"When you start running a more efficient city, the spending decreases and when spending decreases, you are going to control taxes. ... Spending relief will ultimately lead to real tax relief for the citizens of Ottawa."

Mr. O'Brien acknowledges there'll be cuts, but says these can be done humanely, largely through attrition, to ease the pain.

He says Ottawa residents deserve better than his two rivals' plan to peg taxes to the annual cost of living.

"What they are saying is, 'We are going to have a 10- to 12-per-cent tax increase over the next four years. I don't think that's good enough," Mr. O'Brien said.

From A-Channel this weekend, view O'Brien's appearance with Sandra Blaikie:

O'Brien is becoming increasingly comfortable with the political environment and it shows. It should also be noted that he still has more gears left.

On a curious note: From the Citizen Tax Story Today:

Mr. Chiarelli dismisses his opponents' contention that spending has gone up under his watch and his budgets have led to annual deficits. If the mayor has any new ideas on handling property taxes, he is not letting anyone know just yet. But he says cities around the province, including Ottawa, face massive financial pressures and there is no "magic bullet" for the problem.

"People will say it is an expenditure problem and it is not a revenue problem, but every city in Canada will tell you it is also an expenditure problem," he said.

Read it once again, now - only Slower to catch the full effect.

More things that make you go "hmmmmm".

I'd Like To Thank The Academy....

2006-10-16T09:21:00.000-04:00

Thanks to BBS for notifying me of my latest award....... Not sure how it happened but I won't look the gift horse in the mouth.

Naturally, when I received the email, curiosity got the better of me so I surfed to the Soapbox for more source info. You, know... things like: Do I show up at a luncheon, eat finger sandwiches and shave for the event???

Two things.

1) 'Preciate the kind words.

2) Not sure if it's burning criteria to be a contender but comments have since been activated, so have at me!! It's something I intended to do, anyway, since I separated my politics from my general blog.

Guess the pressure's on now. Next post better be scintillating or the rescind notice comes next.

But for now, I have a swimming pool to drain.

The life of a BT Site of The Week recipient isn't as glamourous as one would think.

Sights Back On The Sites

2006-10-14T21:23:00.000-04:00

Been a crazy week for the Woodman. Had some kinda glitch on my hard drive and needed a serious recovery effort but I'm back online. More stable than I've ever been (computer-wise, anyway).

Now I can get on with my work building a new website for the Ottawa West-Nepean Ontario PC riding association.

This work in progress has certainly had its scheduling setbacks but we're almost there. So, if you live in the riding, bookmark http://www.ontariopc-own.ca and check in regularly for updates. We're about a week away from the full site, if all goes as planned.

Conservative-own.ca is the other site I'm involved in. Almost due for an update there, too. Better get to work.

It's cool to use a hobby for good instead of evil, eh??

Weekend Warriors Work The Ward

2006-10-07T15:02:00.000-04:00

The doorbell rang shortly after one p.m. On a warm, sunny, weekend afternoon I suspected one of two things; either a solicitor for some natural gas conversion scam or a municipal canvasser for the November 13th election.... or, what I most loathe, one of those kids that come around selling chunks of wax they call candles, stale biscuits, tubs of cookie dough and cheesey home decorations. I find it most ironic that their motivational line is that this will somehow keep kids off the streets, yet this does not stop them from ringing my doorbell at 8:30 at night.

It was, to my keen interest, a candidate for council in my ward - or, more precisely, a canvasser of his.

"Good afternoon, sir. My name is Dick and I'm canvassing on behalf of Brett Delmage. He's running for council in this ward."

Being quite politically active in all three levels of politics over the past year with John Baird's federal campaign, Lisa MacLeod's by-election in Nepean-Carleton, Terry Kilrea's aborted bid for Mayor, Dan Cowley's short run for Ward 4 and, now, Larry O'brien's Mayoral run, I was a little surprised to hear that incumbent Rick Chiarelli had an opponent this time around.

But, giving the benefit of the doubt as this could very well have happened while I was taking an afternoon nap, I listened to what Dick had to say.

"He's a fine young chap", he elaborated to exhaustive length. "I just live up the street at 1205."

"I see", was my reply. "Do you have any literature I can read?"

"No" was his response, directing my attention to his name tag that somehow validated his status as canvasser for the candidate.

"Mmm Hmmm!" A little deeper, now. "Does he have a website?"

"Yes", he responded enthusiastically, again pointing to his name tag which only referred to the candidate's name with no url details.

I thanked the man for his time and said that I would "google" his candidate. Looking well into his seventies and braving a feigned expression of understanding, I could tell this gentlemen had no clue regarding the concept of a "google". He merely asserted for a final time that his candidate was a "fine young chap".

As I sat on my front step several minutes later with a cigarette, "googling" Brett Delmage on my blackberry - to little avail, the man himself appeared on my very street.

A quick-thinking Dick spotted me and summoned the candidate over for a quick introduction.

One glance at him and I quickly placed myself in Dick's relative terms of reference, for this "fine young chap" was clearly my age (47) or older. Not exactly a spring chicken.

Not sure if it was an icebreaker or his priority issue, but one of the first things out of his mouth was, "Did you know they changed the name to College Ward?"

"Yes, yes I did." was all I could return. I had expected something meatier from a guy with no lit, a stealth website and a sole canvasser enraptured with the luster and salience of a name tag, if he was to, at all, capture my interest.

But, then, I'm in communications.

So many campaigns, especially at the local level, miss the mark despite their altruistic intentions and democratic valor. Even big campaigns with big money fail in making the big first, last and lasting impressions.

But I gave Mr. Delmage a generous opportunity to discuss the issues. I found him to generally be in the same ballpark of sanity as Larry O'Brien, although Delmage will only hold tax increases to the rate of inflation. He also had some interesting thoughts on waste management and responsible spending. It wasn't enough to secure a vote, but it was worth giving the benefit of consideration.

I have since learned of another filing in my ward, presumably at deadline as was Delmage. Laura Lee DOUPE is all we know. If Brett Delmage was below the radar, this bird's off the charts with absolutely no profile available.

Still, the incumbent Rick Chiarelli has had to step up to real campaign gear now. And I say "good", even for the simple benefit of the voter having a democratic choice.

Rick has been a much different Chiarelli this past term as opposed to the previous and, without question, vastly different from Mayor Bob. With the appetite for change as high as it is, there'll be the obvious tendency to blur the two Chiarelli's. He'll have his work cut out for him, if only for that reason.

With a little over a month to go, the campaign takes on all the compression and urgency of a federal or provincial election.

It's showtime. It's "go" time. Run Ricky Run!!

While We Were Sleeping: Breault Out In 5

2006-10-07T11:07:00.000-04:00

Why does this come as no surprise. From CBC News...

Brault granted parole after serving five months

Let's break this story down, shall we?

1) Five months of a 30 month sentence. How could this be? Simple:

He files an invoice for 18 months, subcontracts the remainder and stashes the unserved time under the mattress in his jail cell.

Also noteworthy:

2) Chuck Guité, the director of the sponsorship program, was sentenced to 3½ years in prison for defrauding the federal government of approximately $1.5 million. He was released on bail pending an appeal of his conviction.

Delay, divert, misdirect. Good plan, Chuckie!

3) Executive Paul Coffin, of Coffin Communications, was released from prison in July after serving three months of an 18-month sentence.

He served that only after the shock and outcry over his "speaking sentence" to impressionable students on the value of "ethics". That's like having Conrad Black speak on, oh - I don't know...
say.... "ethics"!

4) Meanwhile, Jacques Paradis of Publicités Martin faces fraud charges in a criminal trial that is expected to begin in December.

See items 1, 2, and 3 for possible scenarios.

5) Chrétien, his former chief of staff Jean Pelletier and former minister Alfonso Gagliano have legally challenged the findings of the Gomery report, with the Federal Court expected to begin hearing the challenges in the spring of 2007.

Any wagers on the outcome? This will all likely be swept back under the rug at the exact moment Canadians go back to sleep on this issue.

Elsewhere in sports..........

Step 1: Stop The Hemmoraging

2006-10-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

Apply Direct Pressure:

Mayor Bob took the first steps this morning in attempting damage control and containment of his unravelling North-South Light Rail plan (see below entry).

This from CFRA News:

"Alain Carle is no longer the head of transit services. Carle took over the top job at OC Transpo from the retiring Gordon Diamond less than a year ago. It's not known yet whether Carle quit or was fired."

(Word from inside suggests the latter)

Do NOT Attempt To Clean The Wound:

It would seem that Mr. Chiarelli is attempting to quickly identify a scapegoat for this fiasco. It is, indeed, an embarrassing situation to have develop in the crucial phase of the election. With little time to repair such a complex problem, the best thing to do is point and blame.... right?

..ongoing...

The Crazy Train Delivers Again!!

2006-10-05T10:57:00.000-04:00

Well, the so-called "done deal" with Mayor Bob Chiarelli's Light Rail legacy quest (something he thought he successfully fast-tracked through council earlier this year) appears to be coming off the rails.

The federal Treasury Board is delaying delivery of it's committed $200 million pending further review of the project.

Now, while Sue Sherring has it half-right in the Ottawa Sun today that both of Sideshow Bob's rivals, Alex Munter and Larry O'Brien, have sounded the alarm over the project, both asking that the deal be reviewed, it was O'Brien's letter two weeks ago to the TBS asking for assurances regarding due diligence and value for money that was the REAL catalyst.

Candidate O'Brien's motive for the request was the open letter Bob addressed to Munter and O'Brien suggesting they not bring the Light Rail issue into the campaign, with the assertion that it was a done deal and nobody wants to hear about it anymore.

O'Brien was suspicious about Sideshow Bob's impetus for such a move, since up until now, it had been a back-burner issue with both opponents, long ago, stating that as Mayor, they would review the project to assure there was value for money.

All that Chiarelli succeeded in doing by trying to sweep this one under the rug, is expose the weaknesses in the city's ability to execute the most important and most expensive transportation project in its history and raise questions about his own leadership abilities. LRT was the one major project for Bob to do that would leave his lasting DNA on and, as things look today, it appears that he can't close the deal. In fact, we learn today that Sideshow Bob hadn't even submitted the contract to the feds.

The circus is back in town, kids. For a brief history on the Ottawa Light Rail issue, feel free to view the video below. Just click play, sit back and enj....... no, make that "wonder".

How Tie-ronach!

2006-10-01T19:50:00.000-04:00

The new bloid trend with blend-branding famous couples as finally taken hold north of the 49th.

It's been a while in coming, but it looks like celebrity Canada is all growed up!

First, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston became the singular synonym "Bennifer".

Then came Lopez and Affleck, whom they tried fiercely to avoid repetition with but, eventually, they, too, were a Bennifer.

Pitt and Angelina Jolie soon became "Branjolina".

Now, Tie Domi and Belinda Stronach are now known as (according to my Hill inside sources)................. Drum roll PLEEZ!!.......................

Belomi!!!!!!!!!!

Pronounce as you see fit!

A little bit Tie-Ronach, doncha think??

Thumbed via Blackberry

Doc and Woody
Weekday Mornings 5:30-9am
CHEZ 106 FM Ottawa

Good Bye To A Good Friend

2006-09-30T15:04:00.000-04:00

The news hit hard. The emails flew all day yesterday across Ontario and the country in Conservative circles.

We lost a good friend Thursday night when Peter Naglik's vehicle left Boundary Road around 2:30 in the morning.

I had met Peter on several occasions over the past few years, but none more impressionable than the two campaign training seminars he spoke to us at. He definitely knew his stuff and his one on one advice and counsel was wise and genuine.
I will always remember him for that.

Peter had worked at one time as a speechwriter for Stephen Harper and had been very active with the Ontario PC party as well, especially in Eastern Ontario.

Federally, he was the very successful campaign manager for the now elected MP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russel, Pierre Lemieux.

He'll be missed and inspired by many.

The latest that I have on arrangements arrived this morning in an email from Ontario PC Eastern region president, Judy Bobka

Eastern Ontario PC Riding Presidents & Friends

I'm very sad to report that Peter Naglik died in a car accident on Thurs. Sept 29, 2006.

Many in Eastern Ontario had the good fortune to be encouraged, supported or directed by Peter Naglik on political affairs.

The arrangements for Peter are as follows:

Visitation at Paul O'Connor Funeral Home, 1939 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, Ont., Wednesday, October 4, from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm and Thursday 9:30-10:30 am (I believe at the church prior to the funeral). Funeral Thursday, October 5, at St. Martin de Porres Roman Catholic Church at 10:30 am, 4179 Lawrence Ave. E. , Scarborough , Ont

For those people traveling from Ottawa a bus service will be departing from the Confederation Building on Wellington at 5am and returning from Toronto Thursday afternoon. If you would like to go via this bus please RSVP to Vida Brodie at vidabrodie@sympatico.ca

Blackberry Fun

2006-09-30T14:44:00.000-04:00

I just tried this with my other blog at http://woodysworldbog.blogspot.com and, lo and behold, it freakin' worked.

Blogging by blackberry is opening up a whole new world of wonders for the Woodman, whose eloquent alliteration is quickly becoming inanely annoying.

Now I feel I can control my urges to babble at will in the palm of my hand.

This blog site, btw, will be for the sole purpose of my political observations and opinions.

For humour and radio antics, click the above mentioned link.

When I have time at the desktop, I'll be reshaping the right colums of both blogs to reflect the theme and content of each.

Get ready for more firing at will.

Thumbed via Blackberry

Doc and Woody
Weekday Mornings 5:30-9am
CHEZ 106 FM Ottawa

Too Bogged To Blog

2006-09-30T13:44:00.000-04:00

I'm getting there. Every so often, as busy as I am with work, charities, campaigns and making my weekly NFL picks, I just get the urge to vent my spleen.

I've moved all of my hardcore political musings to this blog in an effort to keep things separate from my humor blog - although, when criteria crosses over, I'll see fit to cross-post.

Here's to renewal. Here's hopin' I'll get a little more opportunity to throw sumpin' out there!

From The Cupboard To The Cabinet

2006-09-30T13:43:00.000-04:00

As I spent the past weekend halfway across the province in what is renowned as the Honeymoon Capital of the world, the series of ironies of ironies were unfolding before me. While Ipsos Reid's' recent survey found favour for Stephen Harper and, at least, a willingness to let him govern, Nik Nanos' SES findings were being collated to reveal what most (namely: MEDIA) were determined to purvey all along: The honeymoon was over before it began.

As the separate circumstances of irony revealed themselves over the weekend, I was (and still am) of little motivation to jump into the fray at every little knee and jerk of a new government's growing pains and a young party's inexperience with the notion of success and the requisite behavioral responsibility it commands. I prefer to let dust settle and approach matters with a more sober contemplative approach. This is not to say that I'm indicisive to fault. Indeed, when matters require immediate resolve, my historic nature of media, deadline and productivity kicks in to ensure my rite of survival. But crying Chicken Little one day in and weeks before the sitting of the 39th parliament is just what I feared, yet expected, from the very support base Stephen Harper enjoyed and employed in his successful ouster of the worst led government in Canada's history. This is not an irony that I'm referring to: It's just a disappointing observation.

A couple of weeks back, a gentleman that I know, who runs a non-partisan (intended yet not realized) breakfast discussion group under the banner of Peace, Order and Good Government, had posed the topic of Harper's appointments of David Emerson and Michael Fortier for discussion. After witnessing not only my fellow media feast on the fresh carcass of this dying quail of public opinion but fellow conservatives screaming at the site of blood, I decided to seriously study the motives, opportunities and precedents before I drew a final conclusion for myself.

Admittedly, my initial reaction was "Whoops. That won't be taken well." yet I couldn't help but be taken with curiosity at the acquisition of someone of Emerson's industrial strength and Fortier's horsepower and influence base in the birthplace of our first policy document and a region where Conservatives need a strategic hold. I wound up presenting my findings and my argument to my friend as I extended my regrets that I would be in Niagara Falls for the Ontario PC Conference and would miss a stimulating debate on this issue. After reading my submission, he asked my permission to circulate this "thoughtful piece" among the group. I reluctantly agreed as this "thoughtful piece" was indeed rife with weaknesses due to time and space restraints. Complex issues require much more discourse than I had given even after a full week of analysis (an irony I take great pleasure in pointing out in the wake of the Great Partisan Jump-Ship from the SS Harper).

As the ironies of my conference weekend presented themselves one by one, I felt the strongest surrealness.

I fought along side my campaign mates to ensure a stronger federal party by electing John Baird, now a haunting pair of size 10's to fill. I found myself elbowing by and sharing a warm exchange with my friend who is now the new President of the Treasury Board, only to share a bittersweet handshake with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty moments later. As Conservatives, it seems, we help our cause by taking from our own cupboard.

"Argument for Stephen Harper's Cabinet appointments of
David Emerson and Michael Fortier.

As the dust settles and the emotions ebb, let's first
look at the issues objectively.

There have been 86 Ministerial appointments from
outside parliament since 1867 - not exactly an
everyday occurance but hardly something new.  It's no
secret that when it comes to assembling a cabinet, the
Prime Minister must do this delicately in providing
for not only loyalty but regional representation and
practical experience.

Alexander MacKenzie appointed William Richard Scott as
a Minister without portfolio in November of 1873 and
to Secretary of State of Canada in early January of
1874 and it wasn't until the spring of that year that
Scott was given a Senate appointment.

As Prime Minister after John Abbott's resignation due
to health problems, John Thompson appointed
Auguste-Real Angers as Minister of Agriculture a week
before giving him a Senate position in December 1892.

Wilfrid Laurier made Oliver Mowat Minister of Justice
and Attorney General before a Senate appointment days
later in 1896.

Joe Clark did the same thing with Industry Trade and
Commerce Minister Robert De Cotret in 1979.

Many cabinet appointees ran in by-elections or general
elections soon after these appointments, some of them
even losing.

Having Senators in cabinet is also not unheard of,
although the majority through our history have been
limited to Government Leader in the Senate.  But
several have been appointed Ministers of State for
various portfolios and some even Ministers without
portfolio.

What remains to be seen from Mr. Fortier, in addition
to his role in providing a voice for Montreal, is
whether he can do the job as Minister of Public Works.
The same, then, can essentially be said for every
other cabinet appointee since this will be their first
term as minister.

David Emerson is only the 240th sitting member to
cross the floor in parliament so we should all be
shocked and stricken with awe at this blindsiding
maneuvre.  As with recent occurances, more criticism
has been thrown at the member who crossed the floor
for opportunism and political wealth than at the Prime
Minister of the day.  Thus, Emerson will have to
reconcile that with his own
constituents come next election.  (A gamble he surely
will have carefully considered - a payoff hopefully
reflected in his accomplishments for the VGA, the
riding of Vancouver-Kingsway and all of BC.)

As for Prime Minister Harper, though the optics of the
move are not favourable (primarily through the
partisan lense), he is neither hypocritical nor out of
bounds by approaching someone of Emerson's calibre and
geographic convenience.  Harper is not only
demonstrating his innate comprehension of
constitutional boundaries and precedent, he's
exercizing their full potential while continuing to
exhibit his obvious proclivity for getting done what
needs to be done.  While his actions suggest a painful
reality that existing MP's were not cabinet material,
his vision far out-distances even his closest of peers
and short-term reward for the mere sake of loyalty can
very dangerously lead to short-term life for any
government.

While such events as have occurred in the past few
weeks indicate the imperfections within our democratic
fabric and our constitution, they also represent the
flexibilities inherently woven since confederation
because our founders possessed the wisdom and the
vision that all things change, all things evolve and
all things are possible in a democracy.  Thus, as with
all discussion regarding democratic and constitutional
reform, we must always ask "what if" in determining
cause and effect of our critical decisions affecting
the future of Canada.

Stephen Harper, through his efforts in setting the
table for Canada's 39th parliament, is no longer
acting as merely the Leader of the Conservative Party
of Canada.  He's performing and executing his official
duties as this country's Prime Minister.  We must
allow him to do that."

NOTE: Originally posted 2/22/2006 on Woody's Blog

Promise Made, Promise Kept!

2006-09-30T13:35:00.000-04:00

Over the course of fifty six days and nights, I rarely posted so much as a thought about the federal election. In fact, post-Christmas, I was MIA. I was busy. I was focused. I was on the ground.

I was working for Team Baird under the acute leadership of Campaign Manager Chris Froggatt and Deputy Campaign Manager Cara Salci who had both left Queen's Park to drive John Baird's push to represent the constituents of Ottawa West-Nepean, a 17-year Liberal stronghold.

After suffering a crushing narrow defeat with Sean Casey's campaign in 2004, my wife and I promised ourselves that we'd not only work harder within the riding association but that we'd never again wake up the morning after an election, wondering what more we could have done. Indeed, we gave it our all in '04 and post-mortem analysis could easily provide the Liberal fear, smear and civil servant whisper campaigns as a viable scapegoat, but we all should've been ready for such activity.

That being said, I'm sure there was little we could do to fend off the fear attacks. Paul Martin shrewdly dissolved parliament when his polling was high enough to shut down the Public Accounts investigation into Adscam and catch the Conservative Party flat-footed without a ratified policy document. Indeed, what policy initiatives and platform planks that came about in 2004 were merely soft-core offerings based on our post-merger Agreement in Principle.

Fast-forward to March, 2005. We leave Montreal on the Sunday satisfied that after local and regional hair-pulling policy sessions, the National Convention exhibited tremendous wisdom in putting forth a very workable policy document for all Canadians to examine.

Throughout the summer of 2005, Stephen Harper quietly went about his barbecue tour, travelling from coast to coast, talking and listening to Canadians. The shift, while I'm certain it was beginning, was not reflected in public opinion polls and certainly not played up in the mainstream media. No, indeed, for two reasons. Much of the msm is Liberal biased and history will tell you that governments are almost always lost - not won. We would have to hope for the media to play up existing examples of Liberal scandal and incompetence more or hope for a new bombshell.

Throughout the writ period we received a series of little nuggets of assistance to that end, while Nationally and locally, we ran virtually flawless campaigns. The Conservative Party, just turning two years old, was showing signs of unexpected maturity and discipline. Unexpected from the Liberals, that is. We knew differently, however, and with quiet confidence, we forged ahead. While the National messages dealt with Accountability, Health Care, Taxes, Child Care and Gun Crime, the Baird message addressed those priorities from the local perspective, including the continued fight for the Queensway-Carleton Hospital, violent crime in Ottawa West-Nepean plus issues that concern seniors (an important demographic here).

All of us on the campaign team embarked on a post-holiday full court press down the final stretch, installing signs, working debates, performing lit-drops in 20cm snow storms and canvass blitzes with the candidate. The last lit blitz went right through the final weekend and, despite the devious efforts from our competition through reverse canvassing and sign vandalism and theft, our message was getting through: It's time for a change.

While Mrs. Woody and I served largely in a communications role(she was Media Relations and I handled the website and email lists), we weren't above helping wherever there was a need. It was an attitude shared by every core volunteer on the team. Election day saw each one of us going even stronger, covering off polls, running back to the office to identify voter efficiency at regular intervals and, finally, pushing to get out the remainder of our support.

It was sometime after 10:30, CTV News declared John Baird elected in Ottawa West-Nepean. I wasn't aware at the time. I was still in the back office with several others taking results over the phone from our scrutineers still in the field. We didn't let up until Chris was satisfied the numbers would hold and that victory was secure.

It was a promise made and a promise kept. It was a commitment, not only to ourselves but our mandate as directors of our EDA. It was also our belief in a man that will not only make a difference in our community, but who'll be a positive force in government. And that, my friend, is why we do it.

Congratulations to John Baird, the next Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean.

And heartfelt thanks to every member of Team Baird. If I started listing names, I'd only screw up by missing someone and they're all too important, too valuable and too loved for me to do that.

Still standing......

NOTE: Originally posted 1/26/2006 on Woody's Blog

Patience, Prudence, Posture

2006-09-30T13:32:00.000-04:00

Two words on the Liberal gun announcement: Greg Weston

The fact that handguns have been banned since the '30s and that bleeding-heart-liberal legislation protects criminals is all one dare say about it. And even that may be too much. Read Weston.

Meanwhile, two people were gunned down in a Karaoke bar on Somerset a few days ago and a 21 year old Ottawa U student was stabbed in her home last night.

Jennifer Teague's killer is still out there.

What are you still doing here? Read Weston.

NOTE: Originally posted 12/09/2005 on Woody's Blog

Checking Vital Signs, Elections Signs, Dollar $igns

2006-09-30T13:22:00.000-04:00

Since my last post it has seemed that not only have the days become shorter but the hours fewer. It's a busy time for the Woodman. Riding AGM's, campaign readiness, charity and promotional work and an increased workload have all eaten into my precious blog-time budget.

With Doc on vacation last week, my responsibilities expanded to include prepping the content of the show in addition to the production elements. Public appearances included fundraisers for The Spirit of Christmas campaign for underprivileged and sheltered families and the induction of Doc and Woody into the Order of The Good Bear at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario for our fundraising successes over the past 5 years.

Being somewhat reluctant to receive the order in the first place, I felt further at ill-ease hearing the stories about the other inductees of the evening. The honour, as I realized, is about being included in such a fine group of caring citizens.

While Doc was away in Cuba, we still managed a photo-op to recognize his accomplishments:

As it is Christmas time, I'm shifting my focus slightly to another pet project of mine to help a good friend address the needs of over 300 families who, without his efforts, might well have no Christmas at all.

Ted Long has been running the Spirit of Christmas campaign for the past 15 years in the west end of Ottawa and has constantly seen the numbers in need rise. This year is no exception. Along with Mike Deslaurier, his partner of 8 years in business, and several others of us committed to the success of it all, Ted has been working feverishly to raise the funds and the toys required to deliver at Christmas. That's why I was thrilled last week when the two received their 2005 Community Builder Awards from the United Way of Ottawa.

(Mike/Ted United Way 2005 Community Builder recipients)

Working out of Sonny's Bar and Grill, 1119 Baxter Road (next to the Ottawa Citizen) we've staged a few successful fundraisers but we're still not there. More is required. To that end, I must also recognize Danni and the crew at Dog and Pony Sound karaoke service for coming to the table with a 1983 Hall of Fame autographed Bobby Hull Chicago Black Hawk jersey. We're auctioning it off this week until closing Sunday at Sonny's. Details at the bar.

Danni's Generous Donation

Extending my days even further is, of course, the election campaign. Since I'm talking about people of quality and good deeds for the moment, I have to say that a proud event came last week when, during Stephen Harper's campaign kickoff at John Baird's headquarters, I met this man:

We need more like Allan Cutler and the others I mentioned. To me, that's how you build a community. That's how you build a country.

NOTE: Originally posted 12/06/2005 on Woody's Blog

Old Defence Ministers Never Die...

2005-11-25T14:07:00.000-05:00

My Google-Alert service has just informed me that former Defence Minister Paul Hellyer is calling on Parliament to hold hearings into the existence of extra-terrestrials.

It's a good thing I signed up for these things. Otherwise, I would have surely missed such a pressing piece of breaking news. Below is the opener to the news release.

OTTAWA, CANADA (PRWEB) November 24, 2005 -- A former Canadian Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister under Pierre Trudeau has joined forces with three Non-governmental organizations to ask the Parliament of Canada to hold public hearings on Exopolitics -- relations with “ETs.”

By “ETs,” Mr. Hellyer and these organizations mean ethical, advanced extraterrestrial civilizations that may now be visiting Earth.

On September 25, 2005, in a startling speech at the University of Toronto that caught the attention of mainstream newspapers and magazines, Paul Hellyer, Canada’s Defence Minister from 1963-67 under Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prime Minister Lester Pearson, publicly stated: "UFOs, are as real as the airplanes that fly over your head." Mr. Hellyer went on to say, "I'm so concerned about what the consequences might be of starting an intergalactic war, that I just think I had to say something."

Duly noted. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We'll make sure to validate your parking on the way out.

(Just wait 'til Norad tracks Santa again this year. It'll blow his mind.)

Brison's Braggadoccio

2005-11-22T12:29:00.000-05:00

The taint of Liberal arrogance is more than seeping through the pores of Public Works Minister Scott Brison these days. He's wallowing in it.

Twice in one day, last week, he took aim at the Conservatives with rhetorical spit following a Rotary Club Luncheon in Toronto. First, he fired the expected political salvos at Stephen Harper, accusing him of being anti-gay and other typical partisan positioners. He then compared Deputy Leader Peter Mackay to a "squirrel".

Having the embarrassing misfortune of being forced to eat his own words, Brison apologized to Harper and the National Citizens Coalition yesterday for making earlier unjust allegations of illegal lobbying. Since he was already in reverse gear, he hastily retracted a short-lived Public Works hiring ban on white males.

Now, all of this makes for interesting reading but it's nothing compared to this morning's story about Brison insulting a longtime Liberal supporter.

Sandra McGrath, who has given three decades as a Grit campaign volunteer, has written to Prime Minister Paul Martin urging him to rein in the rude language and inappropriate behaviour.

After serving two terms on the Human Resources Development Canada Board of Referees, she was upset that Brison had led her to believe she was a shoo-in for the reappointment she ultimately did not get.

During a chance encounter at Acton's Restaurant in Wolfville, N.S., McGrath aired her frustration and advised Brison she would not support him in the next campaign.

"He got very upset. He looked at me and said, 'Well I've got something to tell you. I'm going to be the MP for a very, very long time, and you can kiss my ass,' " she recalled. "We were shocked and dumbfounded. This is a cabinet minister and there's supposed to be ethics in government. If he can't take some heat from the people of Canada, he shouldn't be in cabinet."

This is all too much fun seeing "Fancy Pants from Kings-Hants" dance. Self-aggrandizing looks so unflattering on just about anyone. There's just something about this man's smug little aura that makes him all the uglier.

In case you were wondering just what critter Mr. Brison might be compared to, participate in the online poll at Conservative-own.ca.

Gee, Dubya. Lucky It Wudden Wunathem Revolvin Doors!

2005-11-21T12:44:00.000-05:00

Say what you will about George Dubya, grace has never been his strong suit. While he's done his best to clean up his diction since the "subliminable" days of the GOP leadership promises to support "them thar military" all the way up to his plan to put "food on every family", the cliches about leopards changing spots and old dogs with new tricks stand as true as ever with Bush.

Tired of a reporter's questioning about him being "off his game", bush tersely ended the session and proceeded to the wrong exit. As they say in showbiz, hilarity ensued.

Making it an unflattering moment for Dubya wasn't the error in direction, it was the gooberish mugging that followed. It's the stuff that legacies are made of, I tell ya.

Check out the video here.

Belinda's Jagged Pill Still Hard To Swallow

2005-11-16T16:53:00.000-05:00

Today my wife took an extended lunch to attend the Women of Influence Luncheon at the Chateau Laurier where guest speaker Belinda Stronach pitched "Earning Influence". In the description on their website, Stronach was to talk about "how she makes tough decisions, sets priorities and tries to get things done."

Not one paragraph in and I've already hit a fork in the road. I'd could go in a number of directions from here, most of them unflattering toward Stronach, so perhaps I'll pull over and check my moral compass again.

My big question would be, was she earning influence or outright buying it when she two-stepped across the floor to tip the scales just enough to pull Paul Martin's fat out of the fire?

While I may be grateful for Stronach's part in engineering the Alliance/PC merger to repair the damage to our democratic fabric, it's questionable now just how much political will was she responsible for exciting and how much of the influence she wielded was simple financial clout, seeing as she substantially supported both parties, including Peter MacKay's PC Leadership bid - reportedly to the tune of $100,000. To me, that's not earning influence. That's waving it around in tens and twenties.

For Belinda Stronach to have any lasting influence in politics, crossing the floor as a fledgling MP was a big rookie mistake. Selling your vote is, again, not earning influence. It's whoring it. There, I said it. Now I feel dirty.
But, whatever her moral argument, be it that she A) didn't like the direction of the Conservative Party or that B) the Government had a workable budget (a: Very moderate policy for her out of Montreal and b: Not after Jack Layton got a hold of it) she would have kept her integrity intact by merely sitting as an independant. Instead, she chose the motherlode. Ironically (as you may choose to view it), she can forever enjoy the title of the Honourable Belinda Stronach.

And, while my wife had economic pie for dessert, Belinda served up a leftover (insert Ginger Rogers high-heel joke here) speech and I was catching up on shows that I had missed this week, including This Hour Has 22 Minutes. It featured Stronach regurgitating a pre-fed Viagra joke aimed at Stephen Harper. And, yes it was pre-fed. The placement required a contrived set-up and it was stiffly executed. See for yourself here and then ask yourself, "who choked on the pill?"

Perhaps I'm being too harsh. Comedy is a complex file.

Fear Factor: Canadian Style

2005-11-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

The Reality Show "Fear Factor: Canadian Style" is the sweeping the nation with riviting coverage, spectacular spin and dramatic overtone. But the contestants on this show are not lowered into a plexiglass box filled with scorpions, no one has to eat living insects or capture a flag while tethered two hundred feet in the air. Instead, the challenge is more metaphoric though equally dangerous.

"Fear Factor: Canadian Style", you see, is about our politics. From Friday's National Post comes this headline: Voters frustrated with Grits, fearful of Tories: poll

Much like the last 3 weeks of the 2004 federal election, we can expect to see a full writ period of desperate, fear-packed campaigning by a minority ruling party in its last throes pulling out all stops to retain power. Many tories I've talked to over the past few weeks have said that they expect as much. Stephen Harper was right in March of last year when he said "The tired, old, corrupt Liberal party is cornered like an angry rat. They are going to attack us like never before." But, as he couldn't have been more right then, the rat is bigger and angrier this time around.

As with the television show, the test is "how long can you stay in the ring" with the angry rat and "what will it take" to beat it down? As for the voter, how much can they swallow before their gag reflex kicks in?

One of the most critical tools used successfully by the Liberal Party is polling. Not only are they adept at push-polling, they enjoy the benefit of Liberal friendly firms and outlets to provide their spin for them. This isn't a whiny complaint, rather a statement of mere fact. Stephen Taylor wrote a very insightful entry on his blog regarding the recent Strategic Counsel post-Gomery results. Suggestive questioning is employed in these surveys and its only design is to elicit desired results. It was no surprise that, after the first Strategic survey showed a Conservative lead, they went right back to work - only to release a very different result not three days later, knowing the power of the pollster to not only reflect public opinion: It AFFECTS public opinion.

The Decima results from Friday's Post suggest what's been suggested for far too long: Voters are pissed at the Liberals but fearful of the Conservatives. It's interesting that, while nowhere is it found in the quotes or the description of the current poll, the spectre of last year's same-sex, abortion, health-care burns became highlighted. While abortion will not be a factor this time, same-sex and health-care will be hot fodder for the Grits who will wrap themselves in the Charter and Canada Health Act as will be the tired old wale of Stephen Harper dragging us through the war in Iraq. Admittedly, our damage control record isn't exactly stellar on some of these elements.

This time, the Conservatives have to be prepared for what's coming, cap the spiggots and move on to the positive platform issues. Warren Kinsella offers up an example of what I'm talking about in his November 11th blog entry regarding Paul Martin's address at the Empire Club, once again fear mongering about Harper and Iraq. It lists "I really think Canada should get over to Iraq as quickly as possible." - (Paul Martin, North Bay Nugget, April 30, 2003) as the kind of hypocrisy Martin has been getting away with for years.

The spin machines are in high gear, mud is being stirred in the buckets as we speak, the dirty tricks desk is already in operation (Yes, Virginia, I said "dirty tricks". It's time you grew up and stopped believing in Santa Claus,too! Besides, he'll be too busy campaigning to come to your house this year). The Liberals are as ready as they can be. The Conservatives had better be ready like we've never been before.

Want to know what you're playing for? Only a country who's future hangs in the balance of this election.

The biggest fear of all is that the damage to the Canadian fabric is done and irreparable. The unknown is what's killing us. Will Quebec stay or go? Better question: When? Then, who's next and when, Ralph? One thing we all know is who's responsible for the mess. Returning them to power is to bid adieu to Quebec and good-bye to Canada in fast-track fashion. How's that for a fear factor?

Fear Factor: Canadian Style can be seen nightly on your local and national news stations.

Honour and Privilege

2005-11-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

It was a difficult few minutes around 8:10 this morning when the Doc and Woody Show aired a montage of listener messages to our veterans on this solemn morning.

As we ran the underscore music and launched the 2 and a half minute tribute that Doc assembled (I had not heard this yet), it quickly became evident that this was not the hackneyed "thank a vet" posture but, rather, a more personal reflection.

Callers spoke of their fathers and grandfathers, children read poems and recited songs they had learned and young and old alike delivered their heartfelt appreciation for those who paid the ultimate price - who made the ultimate sacrifice for the ultimate purpose: Freedom and democracy. And to those that returned, the words were direct; thank you for your bravery, for your service... and for coming home.

Yesterday, Randall Moore made the trip to Alta Vista station with hundreds of other grateful Canadians to greet the Veteran's Train which made the trek from Halifax to participate in the national ceremonies this morning in Ottawa. Randall spoke of the pride and emotion experienced by everyone in attendance. Young children asked for autographs and adults fought back tears as they extended their arms to deliver one of the most grateful handshakes they would share in their lifetimes. And the veterans. In this, the year of the veteran, they marveled at and humbly accepted the outpouring of respect and appreciation. Respect and appreciation so richly deserved.

I will know that feeling Randall spoke of in a little more than an hour from now as I and Mrs. Woody attend the Centrepointe ceremonies where my wife will be laying the wreath on behalf of our riding association. Our president, Richard Fromm, would normally perform this duty but is out of town with the passing of his father-in-law. (Our deepest condolences to Karen and the entire family)

As Vice President, my lovely wife, is humbled by what we both regard as an honour and an esteemed privilege to step forward to pay our respects and express our thanks to our most cherished citizens: Our veterans.

Harper Lightens The Puck Up!

2005-11-09T17:37:00.000-05:00

Stephen Harper appeared in the season premiere or Rick Mercer's Report on CBC last night. It was a parody of a recent Nike Ad with Harper firing hockey pucks at Mercer from a rooftop.

It's the kind of thing we've needed to see in Stephen. It looks good on him.

If you missed it, you can see the video at Rick Mercer's CBC page. You'll also want to watch Rick's rant. Vintage salient Mercer.

Stop The Presses! Something Else To Pin On Harper!

2005-11-08T23:40:00.000-05:00

As innocuous as this story is, it's making the rounds. Even the Post and Sun Media picked it up from, who else, Canadian Press. I find the comments to the Globe and Mail particularly interesting and mildly entertaining.

Will this become the Conservatives' "Poppygate" or is it more Liberal "Poppyganda"? It's the burning issue of the day, folks. Drop everything and follow this one.

The Torture Never Stops - But, This Time, For Whom?

2005-11-07T21:42:00.000-05:00

So here we are, not more than a week off the Gomery report and we hear of more of the Liberal culture trying to spread itself far and wide through surreptitious means. Had the leading polling indicators not woken me up (had I been a Liberal today), I'd sure as hell be wiping the cruts out of my right eye in time to greet my day with a reckoning fury over this one. My cry to the gods would be "Have they not learned their fucking lesson yet?"

Never mind the headline timeline, for surely the Sponsorship Scandal has had an anniversary or four, yet this sweeping culture of arrogance is driving the Liberal Party deeper and deeper into the hole that they've already dug so deep, they've had to abandon their shovels and scramble for fresh air to the surface with the desperate yelp of "every man for himself!"

Sometimes I hate to admit it, other times I'm proud to say: I used to be a Liberal. I believe that, at least for an occasional glimpse, one should look into all political persuasions to see which agrees with your consistency as a functioning creature in our society. For me, as a young person, Liberalism (or small L) made sense to me. I was idealistic yet pragmatic. Liberal made sense and, not just because my mother was deeply involved in the party. I honestly felt that the moderate approach was always the best approach - that one needed to understand both sides to each issue in order to fully address its causes and remedies. In some ways, I still may well be diagnosed a "small L' liberal and I'm well into my forties, now. But let's be sure of this: It's only my egalitarian nature that drives my bus down the middle of the road. It's my fear of head-on collisions that keeps me pulling the wheel to the right these days.

So with today's story out of the Vancouver Sun, while I wasn't surprised, I was further disappointed and disconcerted with the state of our government. This minority ruling party is grasping at even the shortest straw they can find.

As you read the story of how Liberal insiders wanted to thwart my friends John Baird and Jim Flaherty in their bids to campaign federally, make sure you understand that Elections Canada see no issue under the guidelines with them campaigning while they're still serving in the Ontario legislature. Prior to October, I saw John on a regular basis in my riding - at meetings and events, even grocery shopping. Since then, with Queen's Park in session again, I have seen him once. When these gentlemen campaign, it's on their own time and the party dime - meaning: whatever we can continue to raise with our supporters. It's all above board.

What saddens me is the crap we're put through as a country by the big Liberal spin machine which, in its desperation, is getting mighty sloppy and very embarrassing - even for its opponents. I feel wasted by countless volleys that we must entertain and, worse, I feel sympathy for the moderate, middle-of-the-road Canadian thinker that has, once again, been let down by what he/she thinks was their vision of a Canada they could endorse and be proud of. I can't even be partisan at this moment. It is just too fucking sad.

Good News Is The Best Tonic

2005-11-06T14:23:00.000-05:00

There's nothing like good news to put a little spring into a man's step. On the morning of Stephen Harper's announcement of his new Federal Accountablity proposal, Ipsos-Reid released the first post-Gomery public opinion results showing the Liberal's in a tailspin and, for the first time in months, a surging support base for the Conservative Party.

Mrs. Woody and I, along with others, were invited to join Ottawa West-Nepean candidate John Baird to attend the announcement in the Railroad Room on Parliament Hill. Unfortunately, I had a little radio show to do and we couldn't make it. It was then we decided to make the hour-long drive out to Casselman to see Stephen speak to supporters in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell on Friday night.

Bouyed by the Ipsos results of Friday morning, Harper appeared refreshed and energized. I've always seen him to be calm and casual and, despite a majority media impression, comfortable around people. Let's face facts. He's always been a bit on the shy side. Mild-mannered and unassuming. Not very gregarious but not exactly a wall-flower. He's a polite and respectful man and attentive when greeting the public. But, on this night, there was just a little more zip in his delivery. Confidence is a wonderful thing and if I could notice a difference in Stephen Harper, the news had to be well received, despite his guarded tenor toward polls. Because, you see, this wasn't just any poll. This was Ipsos-Reid.

Ipsos-Reid: The firm that, not one week ago, showed the Liberals at 38 percent, a 12 point lead on the Conservatives. Ipso-Reid:. The firm that has not shown favourable Tory numbers since early May. Ipsos-Reid: The firm that, by comparison to other pollsters, has always turned out an ironically conservative Conservative result - almost begrudging a Conservative lead in support.

Ipsos-Reid. The mecca of media spin. When you have Ipsos, you have impetus.

Stephen Harper, as he did that morning on the hill, rolled out his Federal Accountability Act before a packed Casselview Golf and Country Club with GPR candidate Pierre Lemieux, Defense Critic Gordon O'Connor and Jason Kenney in attendance, among other local notables.

He listed the bullet points of his proposed first piece of legislation as Prime Minister. As he proceeded his delivery became stronger. It quickly crescendoed to a campaign style look and feel. His 'Stand Up For Canada' refrain to close the speech was the stuff great patriotic orations are made of. I wish I could remember his words but I got caught up in the moment. Yes, folks, the feeling was actually passionate.

After he spoke, he met with the jammed room of supporters, one by one, group by group, for what seemed to be another hour. Mrs. Woody and I had specific business regarding our own riding's newsletter with our printer, who was also in attendance. Once we had concluded, we were on our way back to Ottawa. Stephen was still greeting supporters and by, the looks of things, he was still going to be a while.

There is a trend working in the Conservative favour now. Yesterday, Strategic Counsel, revealed a three point Conservative lead in public opinion. It's the first time any pollster has published that kind of news since before June. What's more encouraging, and I've said this before, Conservative numbers have not only been more consistent, they've also translated to be more efficient for the party.

If the news gets any better, Stephen might just relax with the media a bit more. And that couldn't come at a better time. This country doesn't need charisma. Nor does it need Paul Martin style partisan rhetoric. It needs honest-to-goodness Leadership. It needs Stephen Harper. And the way to the voters is through those that write, report and editorialize. The more comfortable he is with the media, the more comfortable the media will be in writing positively about him. I know. I know messenging. I know the messages. I know the media.

I AM the media.

And I know Stephen Harper, Canada's Next Prime Minister. (Get used to it, Stephen. You WILL BE!) He was never in it for his ego. And that makes him the best candidate.

All Conservatives must now work hard enough to make Stephen Harper Canada's most reluctant Prime Minister. Maybe then, we'll see the attention average Canadians deserve from our government.

The best news to put a real spring in his step is the news that, on election night, he not only won the keys to 24 Sussex, but that he won a majority mandate to do the work Canadians have be denied for the past 15-plus years. For that to happen, it takes a team effort. We all must check our egos at the door. It's not fair to expect the work to be done at the top unless we're all about the same effort.

That's why I was at the GPR Harper rally. I didn't need Stephen's face time. I was there to support my neighboring riding. If my celebrity did something to help by being there, it was a mission accomplished. Stephen and I did not speak that night, although he was aware of my presence in the room. He had his job to do and I had mine.. like you have yours to do:

Let's make it a reality. Stand up for Canada. Stand United. Stand Strong. Stand for something...... or you'll fall for anything! That, at the grass roots level, should be our message.

Just one li'l boy's opinion.

Woody's World Of Wonders

2005-11-03T18:06:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy week for the strange and the loopy. Let's get right to the headlines, shall we?

It's The Stupid Pants, Stupid!
I've always shown great distemper toward those idiotic looking oversized pants the kids wear that show every thread of their gotch underneath. Well the stupidity of it all finally caught up to one man, suspected of stealing discs from a video store, when was tripped up by his baggy pants, falling twice before police captured him.

How About Some Buttafuoco Ripple?
Sleazebucket Joey Buttafuoco has been spotted working on the Hollywood sets, selling protein shakes and ice cream to the stars. "Hey, little girl. Want some ice cream? How' bout a cone of Joey?"

They Shoot Messengers, Don't They?
I'm normally of the belief that a wacky stunt can bring attention to a serious cause but, at some point, you just look like an idiot. You just have to read about this guy that dressed up like a horse and ran around a race track to promote democracy. He said he was following the example of British suffragette Emily Davison, who in 1913 ran onto a British race track demanding women's right to vote, and was killed by a horse. And what a fine role model he chose.

Venison Home Delivery.
Deer hunting's just not the challenge it once was. Not only did the guy kill this one with his bare hands, but the dumb animal came right to his home!

You Are What You Wear
A halloween party-goer dressed as "Belligerent Drunk Man" acted the part and some guy dressed up as "The Green Lantern" tried to break up the fight. The world can sure use more superheroes.

What? No Beef Strokinoff?
Someone stole $75,000 worth of bull semen from a Frederick County farm in Wolfsville, Md, last week.
Six canisters containing the semen of 40-50 bulls went missing from the farmer's outbuilding. Sounds like a ranch-hand job to me.

Do I Take It Orally orrrrr......(Web psych of the Week)
This website is a head scratcher. I can't tell if it's an elaborate, well produced parody like Saturday Night Live or that it's the real deal.

Payback's A Bitch

2005-11-02T12:14:00.000-05:00

Justice Gomery's first report on the Liberal Sponsorship Scandal was released yesterday. The party's mass-mail servers immediately began churning to spit this headline at my inbox:

Liberal Party Announces Measures in Response to the Gomery Report

In the release, I was informed that the LPC was to immediately remit to the Canadian taxpayers the sum of $ 1,142,818.27 to represent the "full and complete repayment of improperly received funds, and contributions called into question by Justice Gomery, by the Liberal Party of Canada and its Quebec wing."

When millions of Canadian tax dollars were mismanaged, misspent, missssssteriously evaporated, this sum seems to be a little shy of acceptable. However, we have to accept the Gomery findings of actual identified and documented transactions. This does not, in any way, include the envelopes, briefcases and sacks of cash which traded hands through the sponsorship years. It's hard to keep the exact value of a sack consistent from one occurrance to the next. Therefore, your ledgers would always be out of whack if you tried to record such transactions. I'm starting to appreciate that the Liberals were just trying to go easy on the accountants during a frenzied period of spending and procuring.

So, in my reconciling with the pittance remittance, I decided to view for myself the Resolution of the National Executive of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Whereas the Liberal Party of Canada’s Code of Conduct, adopted on September 10,
2005, along with other sweeping measures adopted by this Executive, governs Party staff
and volunteers in order to further ensure that the same irregularities cannot repeat
themselves;

Of course they can't repeat themselves. We'll all recognize them. Watch for new and improved irregularities.
This, undoubtedly, will take time to develop through long and arduous strategy sessions.

Volpe???!!!! More Pizza!!!

Boo!

2005-10-30T13:12:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Woody and I went out Saturday night to a Halloween Party. We got dressed up as scary people.

Scroll to see our scary costumes!

Happy Halloween!

Martin Launches National Weekly Radio Address

2005-10-29T10:08:00.000-04:00

The mail servers over at the Liberal Party of Canada must be smoking with all the activity of the past week and my inbox is filling up fast. Cutting through the wake of their fall newsletter comes the news that Paul Martin wants to be more presidential than prime ministerial and speak to the masses on the radio each week.

All of 28 stations across our vast land will pick up his ever-so thunderous tones and, unlike in the US where the White House feeds the networks and affiliates air the address at their discretion under no obligation, Martin's addresses are paid for.

In the release I received, "Given that there may be occasion to speak to political matters, the Prime Minister has instructed that the cost of these broadcasts be borne by the Liberal Party of Canada."

This, friends, is what is known as "pre-writ" spending. It's a common practice among all parties who have such luxurious resources. It'll be interesting to hear how the addresses are packaged from the Prime Minister of Canada and not from the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. And just how much "political content" will they contain?

The average listener is about to be sprayed with a weekly dose of partisan rhetoric and propaganda from our top government representative and, while they have the choice to turn the knob, they'll still hear about it from other media who, undoubtedly, have already inked the weekly broadcasts as mandatory coverage on the political beat.

It's slithery, I agree, but clever and technically above board. Where the microscopes come out, however, is during election time when those broadcast costs must be included in the campaign spending under the Canada Elections Act, should they choose to continue the broadcast schedule.

Of the 28 radio stations contracted to run the addresses, only 2 are News/Talk: VOCM in St. John's and CFRB in Toronto. The remainder are decidedly skewed Adult Female in the Soft/Light/EZ-Rock mould with a few Country stations thrown in. CJMJ (Majic 100) and CIMF (French) are the Ottawa sources.

I guess they don't want to talk to "angry white guys" or renegade classic rockers.

PM the PM hits AM and FM for the first time tomorrow, barking on softwood lumber. Dithers' diatribes will last approximately two minutes, though they'll seem much longer.

A Double Edged Sword

2005-10-28T12:43:00.000-04:00

I see in the news this week that a Sikh man is considering taking VIA Rail to the Human Rights Commission for not allowing him to board a train wearing his ceremonial dagger.

I can relate. I remember one time, at Ottawa International airport, security refused to let me board with my ceremonial nail clippers. In fact, the same thing happened to my wife, on her recent trip to Arizona, when she had to surrender her ceremonial travel sewing kit.

If all one has to do to justify boarding a carrier with a weapon is to declare the item "ceremonial", we'll soon witness the flourishing of thousands of ceremonial AK-47's.

Yesterday's Ottawa Citizen editorial on the matter, in my view, was the perfect take. I recommend its reading.

In Other News........

Ottawa City Council narrowly and technically voted down a ban on cosmetic pesticide use in the city this week. Understanding the sensitivity of the issue here in Ottawa, the debate has to continue at this level of heat before people truly understand all the facts and, considering the interest and the input council has received from the public on this one, Baseline Ward Councillor Rick Chiarelli level-headedly proposed the issue be put to referendum on the next ballot a year from now. Of course, level-headedness has yet to prevail with this clowncil and Chiarelli's motion was voted down 16-4 with one councillor suggesting that the public is not up to the challenge of deciding the issue. They may have a point. Look at the council we have: Less level-headed, more anvil-headed.

FYI.....

I got my autumn Liberal newsletter this week. It says the government is in the mindset to get things done. So, I scrolled down to see what all the excrement, whoops, excitement was about and I found a notice on the Aboriginal People's Commission Of The Liberal Party Of Canada. I thought, "this should be interesting" and I clicked the link to learn of a couple of appointments, that the APC met in Montreal last month and that "Many issues were addressed and updates were given, including one provided by the Honorable Andy Scott who talked about the plans for the upcoming historical meeting of the First Ministers on Aboriginal Affairs. This meeting is scheduled for late November in British Columbia." So, by the looks of things, life seems to be good for our aboriginal friends. Just thought you should know.

Harper Aide Returns Bra: Snaps Out Of It

2005-10-26T21:06:00.000-04:00

Cross My Heart, it's a true story. A Newfoundland band's "lucky bra" went missing a few weeks ago during a provincial PC convention in St. John's which Stephen Harper attended. The band performed the night before at the same club where Harper's address to the delegates was delivered during a luncheon.
Ya gotta love the Newfoundlanders for their spirit. Not only is the band called Eight Track Favourites (I love 'em already - note unheard), but they've even named their lucky bra. Check out the story.. I'm not here long. I just have to say I'm glad the bra was returned because it shows the difference between the Conservatives and the Liberals, who feel they always have to support their boobs!

Why I've Been Too Busy To Blog

2005-10-21T11:20:00.000-04:00

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

2005-10-21T06:06:00.000-04:00

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

2005-10-18T13:46:00.000-04:00

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.

Planning For A Slow News Week

2005-10-14T16:15:00.000-04:00

Not sure if I mentioned this before (I couldn't find any previous reference) but CTV News Ottawa was in the house a few weeks ago collecting footage and interview material with reporter Chris Day for a week long series on the supper hour edition about morning radio.

The segments start airing Monday on CJOH-TV. I'm not certain what day the CHEZ story will run but, when you see it, the first thing you'll note is that I didn't shave. It's not that I forgot. I just couldn't find my shaver that morning. Come to think of it, I still don't know where it is. I'm forced to use those plastic twin-blades right now and, for a guy with sensitive skin, it's pissing me off - not to mention sparking fiery red blotches all over my face. When I do shave I look like a walking measle contagion.

It should be an interesting series. I'll be watching for what I remember of the interview to see how much of it made the final cut. It'll also be cool to see how the competition fare on television. While they are the competition, I have a good deal of respect for most of the personalities. Some are good friends. Others are just plain good at what they do. Still, you just have to think the Doc And Woody Show will, somehow, translate better to television. How could it not? The first time the cameras were in, Colin James just happened to drop in that day. I think we had a stunt that morning, too, although I forget what it was. The cameras returned a couple of weeks later and we just happened to have had livestock for that. No Bull! Well, actually, it was a bull. I can't explain it as well as the camera, so click this link and view the promo for next week's series. (Some browsers have trouble, so "right click" and download to your desktop to view)

This will be great for me because, when we do outdoor stunts, I have to stay back at the board. I regret missing the bull charging Eric. Now, I'll get to see it. I'll set my Rogers PVR in case it's really funny so I can play it again and again.

Speaking of Rogers, Doc And Woody - along with Eric and Randall Moore - will be Catherine Clark's guests next Wednesday on Rogers 22. Ironically, Clark's show is called "In Good Company". We'll see if we fit the bill. The last time we met, on our show, Doc brought up her political raising which prompted her to lament the fact that she's "without a party right now". I bit my tongue. What could I do? She admitted she was a fan of the show. So, I thought, "baby steps". But, boy, did I have a few thoughts and a bag of fodder to let go.

Blue Tory, Red Tory, Purple Tory - I don't give a rat's ass: If you believe in something and you know others believe right along side of you, the last thing you do is run. You stay and fight for it. Especially if you thought your important principles were being compromised. Joe Clark ran. Woody stayed. Woody fought - right along side others that believed. Woody continues to fight. And I'm just a little guy. Imagine the difference Joe could've made. Imagine the difference Catherine could've made. Imagine, as well, what they both would've come to learn and appreciate about alot of "reformers" they'd have met in the new party.

I'm sorry. Am I rambling politically again? Damm. Check us out next week on CTV, if you can. Then, Wednesday, we'll be on "In Good Company" with Catherine Clark. Okay, I'll be nice. Again... maybe....

The Blushing Brison

2005-10-10T23:42:00.000-04:00

Federal Liberal cabinet minister Scott Brison, today, confirmed plans to wed his partner Maxime St. Pierre.

Disturbed by the attention he is getting for being the first openly gay MP to tie the knot, Brison said he is "not a gay politician, but rather a politician who happens to be gay."

Impressed with Brison's straight-forward approach to a backhanded linguistic wrap-around, another notable Liberal has already begun to mimic his verbal handywork by saying he's "not a corrupt politician, but rather a politician who happens to chew gum!"

Liberal party well-wishers planning on buying wedding gifts will be pleased to know that the happy couple is conveniently registered at Public Works.

(Pictured: Brison, picking out the "rock".)

Let Me Say This About That, Too!

2005-10-07T13:17:00.000-04:00

Again, I've been neglecting my favourite new hobby in lieu of more pressing responsibilities and I'm downright remorseful about it. I'm so tempted, sometimes, when an idiotic headline crosses my inbox, to drop whatever I'm doing and blast away. But, between airwork, promo and politics, I have little opportunity to do it effectively. I have about 5 minutes right now to get through this, so here goes.

Joe Volpe, on the heels of the David Dingwall spending fiasco, is cited for a $138 pizza expense on his account. Rahim Jaffer took him to task on this one, only to be disappointed with the response that he "had been carrying out consultations on how to improve the immigration system". I can just imagine how it all went down: "We have way too many pepperonis. We should try letting in some jalepenos. Then we can introduce some tandoori. Gee, do you think mandarin could mix with provolone? More Satay, I say! Now, we can add a liberal amount of couscous but we have to put a cap on the polish sausage!!!! And, for God's sake, NO MORE BANGERS!!"

But,what can you expect when it comes from the "top down"? But, really, I can understand that with soaring gas prices, it's so much more economical to fly the "company" jet. After all, it's only the priveleged that deserve the breaks. And on the topic of the PM, the separation of church and state concept could very well rip him a new one right up the middle.

But, back to the gas breaks. I haven't dialed around lately, but general pundit, critic and editorial reaction to the Liberals' snake oil heating rebate plan has pretty much missed the bullseye. I've only noticed Greg Weston nail it this week. Smoke and mirrors, sleight of hand, selling shit to a cow - call it what you will - it's all sizzle and no steak. Very few in the low income bracket will use the benefit for heating costs because they rent. And, even if they did indirectly, trickle down economics will render their winfall painfully insignificant to the increase in rent, transportation, groceries, etc. They'll be in a worse position than before.... with no help on the horizon.

And, this just in: Fed CabMin Raymond Chan in a pickle:funneled $4,900 election funds into his company,plus extra $3,600 to company's treasurer ...

Give thanks this weekend. I know it's difficult. But try to find something. At least we "have our health". A good thing, since we don't have our health care.

Let Me Say This About That

2005-10-02T11:46:00.000-04:00

As the days fly by and the headlines of insanity mount on my "to rant-about" list, I find myself laden with things to get off my chest. I'm just too busy to fire my fodder at every turn, so there's a tendency for things to build up.

Here, then.. are some scattered thoughts as I purge my sphincter in the direction of the ididotic and those that reside within its domain.

Paul Coffin, contrary to the judge's reasoning at sentencing, was not a first-time offender. Every time he cooked an invoice, it was a criminal act. Now go back and f#%king count 'em up again.

David Dingwall and his Royal Canadian Mint staff racked up a whopping $740,000 in office expenses, including $130,000 dollars in foreign and domestic travel, $14,000 in meals and $11,000 in hospitality. It was almost as if they were printing the f$%king money right there!!!!

The federal government doled out over $400,000 to dead people last year! ... like it'll do them any good! From the same story, we dished out $10,000 to 2 prison inmates because their prison transfers were messed up. "I'm sorry, we forgot that you asked for an ensuite with a south-easterly exposure and you're the one with the privacy entrance and the plasma tv!"

Svend Robinson is about to answer the $64,000 question. He's about to declare again... I mean about running for election, silly. Let's see how the voters reward this one. Everybody sing: "This diamond ring doesn't shine for me anymore"......

And, from the department of "Poor, Poor, Pitiful ME!!"... Paul Martin said the sponsorship scandal has been hard on politicians! As expected, not a peep about how hard it's been on the taxpayers or relations with Quebec. If you listen very closely, you'll hear the last plop of sh%t that I could possibly give about Paul Martin.

Now, FLUSH!

(Hmmmm... seems to be a toilet theme, today!)

A Hill Of A Success

2005-09-29T21:32:00.000-04:00

Wednesday's "Hands Across The Border" BBQ fundraiser for the Red Cross Hurricane Relief effort yielded $125,000
in just a couple of hours. More on it here.

It was total cooperation between the parties and the media sponsors that made it the success it was. Radio station vehicles lined the laneway at the Wellington Street steps as television, print and radio people worked through the 2,000 plus crowd to meet folks or get a story and grab a burger.

It was a great way to spend your lunch hour. While I was there to file reports back to the radio station, I met alot of friends and made a few new ones. Even Cuzzin' Stephen smiled at me. Or maybe he was just squinting through the smoke. You know, for a guy who oughta be tired of flippin' burgers, he was the only leader that didn't bolt after the media-frenzied photo-op.

I'd keep rambling but pictures say so much more. Captions, too!

Below are just a few shots of my day on the hill.

Intrepid Hill Reporter Woody

Pete's Birthday's Just One Day After Mine!
I knew there was a reason I like him.

"Don't worry, Harps! Club soda'll get that out!"

"Meet My New Chauffeur"
It was all just too much fun!

Looking For A New Lease On Health

2005-09-29T18:05:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow's the last day of a 3 day tour stop at Carlingwood Mall for Nepean-Carleton MPP and Ottawa West-Nepan federal candidate John Baird to garner signatures on a petition to see rent relief for the Queensway-Carleton Hospital.

John and Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre launched the campaign September 18th on the NCC owned land where the hospital was built.

Poilievre has raised the issue before in the house and spoke out again just last Tuesday. You can hear it here.

The two have also purchased an awareness radio campaign with several Ottawa radio stations and have launched the website FREEOURHOSPITAL.CA that explains the nature of the cause.

I'll be joining John tomorrow at Carlingwood from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Hope to see you there to sign with us.

Hands Across The Border: A Hill Fundraiser For Hurricane Relief!

2005-09-27T14:53:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow will be a special day on Parliament Hill. For two hours we will actually see all parties cooperating.

Whodathunkit?

From 11:30am to 1:30pm, in the company of US Ambassador David Wilkins, leaders of all parties along with MP's and Senators will be serving up BBQ burgers, beverages, chips and dessert provided by The Canadian Cattlemen's Association with the proceeds to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief effort. A $10 donation nets you a scoff whipped up by Stephen Harper, Paul Martin, Jack Layton, Gilles Duceppe and many others in this non-partisan show of kindness and support for our American friends.

I'll be there at the CHEZ 106 mic, filing reports back to the station. It'll be a great time for a great cause. Hope to see you there to help us out.

BTW, my money's on Harper for best burger. More experience.

Confessions Of A Party Organizer: Part II

2005-09-24T23:09:00.000-04:00

Okay.. Cardinal Sin recurrance #745 vol 05: I'm stooping again.

I shouldn't even talk about it but it's the talk that gets the talk and that's what gets me talking. If people would just shut up, I'd have nothing to say.

It all started with Carol Jamieson's Open Letter. Well, actually, long before that.

So, there I was, quietly working on the riding association's website.... or was I cleaning out my minivan to make room for a shipment of banquet utensils for a campaign fundraiser with Laureen Harper.... or was I doing something for the provincial party??... Any whoooooooooooo...

The spectre of Carol Jamieson reared her ugly head again. This time she brought all her friends. Her gang: Her Posse - well... a handful of Belindanista Desperados at best. Thank god for Paul Wells. I was so busy being on a riding association board of directors doing my part to help get my candidate elected, which is the mandate for the membership board which is, itself, elected and accountable to the membership who are, in my case, Conservatives and who - in ANY case - would brand, tar and feather any of us who would do something so egregious as to attack the leader of the party and create the downhill domino effect of plummeting confidence in the very candidate on the ground that we're supposed to get elected!!.. (deep breath) .. Where was I? Oh yeah, Inkless!.. His objective take on the whole thing is what got me through the week when I couldn't vent my spleen out here in the spleenosphere because I was too busy being a party organizer.

"Having been one of the first to report the existence of this movement, it's only fair that I report its pathetic failure. (Technical note: I'd link to the website, but I gave these guys plenty of free publicity already and they didn't do much with it.)" Look for the Sept 20th aptly titled entry "Pffft"

Touche, I say! Enough said! Or is it?

This was small potatoes at the worst. But something made it bigger. Ya know what it was? The reaction.

Every time someone said something, the media was waiting for the reaction. And, apparently, enough hasn't been said, because it's still being talked about. Now, I can understand the bloggers, the pundits, the columnists chiming in with their opinions and forecasting the wind directions of this tempest in a teacup. After all, it makes our streets safer at night. But then it happened. It had to, I guess. The media wouldn't leave it alone unless it happened. And now that it has happened, they can't leave it alone because now they have to volley the reaction out there for more reaction because this reaction came from Harper, himself. I cautioned against it. But I'm not a high ranking Tory insider - I'm just a party organizer.

"Any Conservative, anywhere, at any time, can, by criticizing other Conservatives, become an instant and enormous media star. That's just the way it is, we'll have to get used to it,''

Stephen Harper did the best he could. He ignored it. But it wouldn't go away. So, he finally said something to party staffers. No one else. Oh, wait. Yeah, someone else was in the room. It was the media. Funny how we hear about stuff, eh? Even the stuff that isn't newsworthy.

So now the story has new legs. "Why?", I ask. CPAC is giving Jamieson a little add-on to her 15 minutes tomorrow night and, god bless Stephen Taylor and other Conservative bloggers out there, but giving her your attention is all Jamieson wants. (I know, I know. I'm guilty, too, for talking about the talking abouts.)
The most effective response to this call-in show is no response at all. The issue just doesn't deserve its moment and the more focus it receives, the more credibility our little "party organizer" will enjoy.

I would've blogged earlier in the week but I was busy with a John Baird fundraiser with Laureen Harper.
I'll have some thoughts later on the event and this marvelous woman (pictured above with John and myself).

Move Along. Nothing To See Here.

2005-09-17T11:23:00.000-04:00

Newton's third law states: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

But that should only apply to physics.

We see the headlines on an almost daily basis; Liberal skewed print media reeling in the catch of the day from Conservative waters of folly and discontent. And, while they toss back some of the smaller fish from time to time, there can be no mistake, they're no fans of "catch and release" and they're all too quick to have us for shore lunch and mount the trophies. Just witness these recent trumpetings:

Tories split over Harper
Foursome wants Harper gone
Television ads show Harper's losing the plot
Dissident Tories want Harper out
Big shakeup in Stephen Harper's office
Harper Well Done, Martin Over Easy
Harper loses another Quebec staff member

They should come as no surprise and, while they're met with predictable chagrin, I'm never short on amazement to the degree of kneejerk and panic displayed in the Conservative membership.

And for what? A little media bias? It's nothing new and it's not going away. Robert Lorne Stanfield, the "best prime minister Canada never had" once joked that he could walk on water and the next day's headlines would read: Bob Stanfield Can't Swim.

Agreed, today's Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition could use some tweaking in the communications department. But isn't that what just transpired? The fact that Harper recognized an area for improvement and acted on it could only speak to his executive strengths. Instead, we're hearing about the sour grapes; and old, rotten ones at that. The four signatories on the "Quebec Letter", as it turns out, were Stronach loyalists in the 2004 leadership race. They are a) not representative of even a significant minority in Quebec and b) flogging a now irrelevant matter: Belinda's gone and she ain't comin' back.

But does that even require a response from Stephen Harper? Not in my books. Nor do the shakeups, layoffs, or departures themselves. In fact, we should all follow his example and shut up about it. Perhaps then, Conservative fortunes will improve in the polls. What Canadian is going to choose a party rife with disharmony and embroiled in controversy over internal minutia? They're looking for leadership. And not just from Harper. They want it from all of us. If there's anything I can tip my hat to the Liberal party for it's that they know how to keep their internal matters internal. And that, alone, speaks to leadership and discipline.

During his leadership victory speech in 2004, Harper said "The tired, old, corrupt Liberal party is cornered like an angry rat. They are going to attack us like never before." And they did just that. And we let 'em escape the clutches of electoral defeat. It doesn't matter who did or didn't do what during the campaign to let that happen, either at the riding or the national level. What does matter is that we don't repeat the process. Maintaining our internal civility while promoting the policy positions adopted in March, 2005 is a major key to us convincing the electorate that we are for real, platform releases or no platform.

Stephen Harper's stewardship of the Conservative Party has been just fine, thank you. 99 seats without a policy convention? Just imagine. This year we left Montreal with a solid, workable policy document and an 84% leadership approval and since the last election, the Conservatives have out fundraised the Liberals by millions of dollars through a margin of tens of thousands more donors - something we continue to excel at. So, I'd be careful about reacting to recent polls.

Polls can be pushed. Numbers can be crunched. News can be spun. And headlines.. misleading.

The Conservative Party of Canada has come a long way in a short time and impatience will only prove stultifying. It's time we stopped explaining ourselves and got back to promoting the road to a better Canada.

Hey, Look At Me! I'm A Party Organizer!

2005-09-11T10:22:00.000-04:00

In reading the September 7th news coverage of the OLO staff changes, specifically in the Globe And Mail, and the subsequent blog activity that skewered Toronto "party organizer" Carol Jamieson in a matter of hours, I couldn't help but take stock in my own importance to the Conservative Party of Canada. Indeed, I not only proudly carry a membership card, they also sent me an embossed, gold-letter Sustaining Donor card. How cool is that? However, to my dismay, I feel dwarfed by the towering impression of Carol Jamieson's "party organizer" marquee level of influence that she can seemingly wield at the drop of a hat or, at least, the firing of a few employees who are much closer to the inner sanctum than she.

"How does one become a party organizer", I kept thinking to myself. Lemme see.. Jamieson sits on the Board of Directors of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Conservative EDA. I'm on the Ottawa West - Nepean board (listed is my legal name). She doesn't appear to occupy a chair and is simply listed as a Director at Large. I have no chair, except for the one under my ass at the monthly meetings. I am, however, the webmaster for the association's website. I'm not a geek, by any measure, but I know enough low-end tricks that I took the responsibility on with a passion and a purpose to re-design the site and launch a youth subdomain. In addition, I provide regular E-News mailings to the membership to keep them updated. ( Read our latest mailing here.)
But, still, no news outlet has ever looked me up for a comment on party affairs. Hell, I have friends at the Ottawa Citizen and they know my phone number.

My quest shall continue for the coveted, all-important, "party organizer" moniker.

To the cognoscenti, it comes as no great headline that politics is not glamorous. Mrs. Woody (a VP on our board as well as on the Provincial board) and I spent close to 5 hours yesterday with roughly 25 other volunteers, assembling lawn signs for our candidate John Baird. Inside the house, another half dozen dedicated friends finished stuffing envelopes for an event mailing. It was a job several of us didn't quite accomplish well into Thursday night. We managed to assemble 2000 signs and we still have more to do this Wednesday. Yes, we're getting ready for an election and, Newsflash, that writ is coming sooner than you think. Don't ask me how I know because I'm not a "party organizer". You'll just have to trust me.

It's been my experience, both in business and politics, that a membership body or an assembled staff comes with its measure of passengers and tourists. Not everyone dares roll up their sleeves and gets some snot in their nose. I've been involved in many efforts where the usual suspects will show up late and leave early just to be seen by others, while contributing the bare minimum. I also know people who honestly believe there's a job waiting for them at the end of a successful election campaign. They not only believe it, they expect it. Others use their board memberships merely to pad their resumes and validate their egos. As a functioning member of a campaign team and an EDA whose sole mandate is to create a condusive environment to win an election, I recognize this type of character but must work with it maintain our forward progress.

In my estimation, the Carol Jamiesons of this country are a liability for our party for two reasons:

She not only mis-represented her true party status to The Globe And Mail or she allowed that assumption to prevail and she spoke out of turn and her comments were uninformed. As an association director, it is unacceptable to criticize your party openly unless you're prepared to resign. With regard to her inference that this is an Alliance objective to take over the OLO (Good God, people! Enough already!!!), she may have since come to understand that at least two individuals had strong Alliance connections. My friend and former OWN candidate Sean Casey worked for years for Randy White while David Quist, a candidate in BC, also had Alliance ties. As a former PC, myself, I have little time for people with the "us vs them" mentality and I share a majority sentiment. But, again, one idiot allows us to make front page for all the wrong reasons.

So, while Stephen Taylor and Angry were duly and apologetically out of line from their initial take on the issue, the question of Jamieson's standing and her actions in that regard linger on.

As for the label of "party organizer". I sat for an hour yesterday in a Manotick Tim Horton's discussing details of an upcoming Ontario PC fundraiser with my good friend Lisa Macleod and others. And, come to think of it, I did move stuff around the garage to organize the storage of the lawn signs.

Hmm! Looks like I'm a party organizer after all.

Mackay Etched In Stone, Solid As Rock

2005-09-04T11:15:00.000-04:00

Deputy Conservative Leader Peter Mackay dropped in on the Doc and Woody Show Friday morning and spoke strongly on the issue of the day: Gas prices.

I knew he would be in town as early as last week, but I had very few opportunities to focus on booking him and confirming it. I was on my way out of town last weekend, only to return to a hectic but fun experience with the Rolling Stones concert. The frenzied pace continued with what seemed like a week's worth of meetings about the morning show, the fall objectives, a golf tournament to finalize and, of course, Katrina and the fallout.

I ended up meeting Peter at a fundraiser Thursday night for my good friend Lisa MacLeod who will bid for the Nepean-Carleton nomination, replacing John Baird for the Ontario PC Party. I asked Peter on short notice if he was able to swing by the studios. We agreed on a window of any time between 8 and 9am. I emailed Doc and Jeff Brown immediately to provide a heads-up.

The next morning, Doc asked "Is Mackay etched in stone?"
"He's coming in for sure," was my reply, "but it's just a casual visit. He's certainly ready to talk about gas taxes."
"Yeah.. I'm just worried we're getting too many in a row. We're starting to look 'conservaty."
"Well," I countered, "go get some Liberals." His smirk seemed to be a conceding one.

Throughout the morning, Doc was still wondering what to do with Peter. I was confident we'd be talking about gas tax. I knew, somehow, there would be a tie-in with something on the show or the station; but something besides gas that the listeners would relate to.

When Peter arrived, I explained on the air that GASMAN spent the previous morning on Parliament Hill calling out the government for tax relief but nobody met with him. So I thought, "I know government people" and summoned Peter Mackay to the rescue.

The interview flowed with logic and purpose and listener relatability. Peter was able to promote the Conservative commitment to lowering gas taxes and then announced his intentions of travelling to Moncton this weekend to see the Rolling Stones. Nice and comfortable in the Doc and Woody environment.

Unfortunately, I missed my opportunity to ask him which is a greater deterrent to his leadfoot problem; traffic fines or high gas prices.

Stop The Presses: Liberals Want Money

2005-09-01T16:57:00.000-04:00

Just got an email from Liberal Party President, Mike Eizenga. He wants money.

I'm tellin' ya, the Liberal Party is really a shell of it's once proud former self. I mean, why can't they get their money the old fashioned way: STEAL IT!

They must be getting nervous. He wrote the following:
Stephen Harper is threatening our progress. We need your support to make sure he doesn’t get a chance.

You can make a real difference today. We need every Liberal in Canada to donate now. You will receive a tax receipt for your contribution – and join thousands of Canadians supporting the Liberal Party’s campaign for Canada.

The truth is, they're not only well short on donations compared to the Conservatives, they're also short on donors. Close to $4 million separates the two parties, but the telling tale is the difference by tens of thousands in the individual donor column.

What interests me most about this is the timing. There is natural disaster on our minds. People have died. Many are destitute and in need of a lot of help. It may be in a different country but its effects are as far reaching and more immediate than the Tsunami and have as lasting an impact as 9/11. Money was raised in Canada then and it's being raised now. But, here's the kicker.

When you make a political contribution, you're eligible for a 75% tax credit. Charitable donations claims work on a confusing sliding scale and your credit is not near what the political contribution ends up being.

So, there you have it. It's up to you. It depends on whose head you want to keep above water.

Big Stink Makes No Scents

2005-08-31T18:13:00.000-04:00

Another mind-boggling, head-shaking, face twitching proposal came a-belching from the brain of Ottawa City Councillor Alex Cullen last week, when he offered up a notion to possibly ban perfumes and colognes in public places.

Such a ban, Cullen said, could be "the new frontier after pesticides". The new frontier. So now we have former mayor and first apprentice to the Ontario Health Minister, Jim Watson, prancing around the province rehearsing the chorus of "Fat's The New Tobacco", promising to fight the evil obesity in vengeful defiance of his own proclivities to pudge out and, now, we have the "little social engineer that could", Clowncillor Cullen on a mission to outlaw Obsession, boldly pronouncing his new frontier.

To make sure I heard him correctly, I decided to look up the definition of frontier.

n 1: a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country

That didn't tell me a lot, so I decided to look it up in a thesaurus. I found the following synonyms:

backcountry, backwater, backwoods, boondocks, boonies, bush, hinterland, outback, outskirts, sticks

Yup. An accurately chosen word, indeed.

Now, I can be just as put off as the next guy by a carelessly overscented individual, but this new frontier thing has the more offensive stench of a City Council with whacked out priorities. Surely, they can better spend their time and our money on more important issues like, say, better services for the taxes we pay.

But, I must admit, I am just as concerned as Health Play-Minister Watson about fat being the new tobacco. What really worries me is all that second-hand fat I'm taking in.

New Conservative Party TV Ads Released

2005-08-24T18:56:00.000-04:00

In what the Conservative Party is calling 'Phase Two' of their summer campaign, they have released four campaign-style television ads to run effective immediately as summer wraps up and Parliament readies to resume for its fall session in September. The four deal with Health Care, Lower Taxes, Child Care and Opportunities for New Canadians.

The ads showcase Leader Stephen Harper with decisive tenor and highlight the stars of the young, dynamic Conservative caucus, including Deputy Leader Peter Mackay, Rajim Jaffer, Rona Ambrose and Helena Geurgis.

More @ CTV.ca
Globe And Mail
View the ads here.