The last week or so, we've seen at least two celebrity couples filing for divorce. The breakup of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline is not really all that surprising -- although they've become the butt of so many jokes that it seemed inevitable that they were going to part ways. Coming as it does just weeks after the birth of their second child, however, I am wondering if either is thinking straight or if they've realized they can't cope with being parents period. Seems to me that childbearng is an inevitable consequence of getting married -- or living together period. There are always going to be people who hate Spears for no reason whatsoever but if getting away from K-Fed helps her career it might not be a bad thing.
It's the breakdown of the marriage of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe that is the real tragedy in my estimation. They too have a couple kids between them but it appeared that they were the kind of couple that was weathering the storm of Hollywood, managing to stick together. I thought that maybe this was the "working couple" of the new generation, making it work like some other long-term power couples in Lalaland, perhaps the most famous being Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
Unfortunately, it seems, at least one of the couple was unfaithful -- repeatedly. Some kind of role model, eh?
If people in general want to know why I am so cynical about life in general, it has a lot to do with the lack of role models in the entertainment industry; who seem to think the rules of faithfulness and commitment to one's family don't apply to them or should take precedence over their careers. If they even bothered to try, the divorce rate in the rest of the population -- and its attendant consequences in terms of court costs as well as mental health -- would drop a fair bit.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Free online video worked against George Allen; let's make it work against Larry DiIanni
George Allen must rue the day YouTube was invented, because he was caught on tape sputtering that infamous "macaca" comment that helped Jim Webb go over the top the other day, just slightly, in Virginia -- in one reckless moment he may have singlehandedly handed Congress to the Democrats.
This morning, I read in the Hamilton Spectator that Fred Eisenberger, the most serious challenger to incumbent Larry DiIanni for the mayoralty but still woefully behind in donations, decided to go on YT with his own video. Staffers for DiIanni dismiss it as an act of desperation.
Hmmm ... anytime someone disses the Internet like that, they should be made to pay with their careers. Anyone remember the "De-Foley-Ate" campaign that helped the GOP win Congress back in 1994?
This Monday: Fred for Mayor!!!!!!
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
This morning, I read in the Hamilton Spectator that Fred Eisenberger, the most serious challenger to incumbent Larry DiIanni for the mayoralty but still woefully behind in donations, decided to go on YT with his own video. Staffers for DiIanni dismiss it as an act of desperation.
Hmmm ... anytime someone disses the Internet like that, they should be made to pay with their careers. Anyone remember the "De-Foley-Ate" campaign that helped the GOP win Congress back in 1994?
This Monday: Fred for Mayor!!!!!!
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Did a local councillor in Hamilton take bribes? Did anyone else?
There has been the whiff of political scandal in Hamilton the last few days, just before the municipal elections. A local bar owner, who's been at war with city officials for years over the seemingly minor issue of getting a variance so he could serve liquor on his restaurant's patio, is now accusing a local city councillor of taking a bribe.
Sam Merulla, who represents Ward 4 (which takes in much of the industrial section of Hamilton as well as the residences south of them to the Escarpment) denies any improprieties. He is a rather wacky character in local politics, but he is a man of integrity and I lean towards believing his side of the story. What's maddening about this, however, is that the OPP got a court order sealing the warrant and wanted it to stay under wraps until after the election. It was only because of another court order that part of the warrant was unsealed yesterday allowing the publication of Merulla's name. As late as yesterday morning, he publicly pondered if he was the one under investigation.
A fair number of people have voted at advance polls already and they can't take their votes back now, especially if they think Merulla has a lot to answer for. What's even more bizzare is the police supposedly not wanting to influence the election. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that line. If there is even a slight hint something might be wrong it will persuade the voters to otherwise change their direction. An informed public has the right to as much information as possible to make their choices, and while a person must always be presumed innocent until proven guilty people must also ask if they want to vote for someone who might remain under a cloud of suspicion after the vote -- so as to avoid a costly by-election down the road in case something illegal did happen.
There are only four days before Monday's vote. We need some answers before the weekend, or the whole election across the whole city will come off as being tainted. If one councillor has been named, who else might be being investigated? Does the probe also include some of the candidates for mayor?
Frankly, I'd like to know, because the answers we're getting so far are not answers. This can be done without jeopardizing the investigation; or the witnesses who might be under protection right now.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Sam Merulla, who represents Ward 4 (which takes in much of the industrial section of Hamilton as well as the residences south of them to the Escarpment) denies any improprieties. He is a rather wacky character in local politics, but he is a man of integrity and I lean towards believing his side of the story. What's maddening about this, however, is that the OPP got a court order sealing the warrant and wanted it to stay under wraps until after the election. It was only because of another court order that part of the warrant was unsealed yesterday allowing the publication of Merulla's name. As late as yesterday morning, he publicly pondered if he was the one under investigation.
A fair number of people have voted at advance polls already and they can't take their votes back now, especially if they think Merulla has a lot to answer for. What's even more bizzare is the police supposedly not wanting to influence the election. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that line. If there is even a slight hint something might be wrong it will persuade the voters to otherwise change their direction. An informed public has the right to as much information as possible to make their choices, and while a person must always be presumed innocent until proven guilty people must also ask if they want to vote for someone who might remain under a cloud of suspicion after the vote -- so as to avoid a costly by-election down the road in case something illegal did happen.
There are only four days before Monday's vote. We need some answers before the weekend, or the whole election across the whole city will come off as being tainted. If one councillor has been named, who else might be being investigated? Does the probe also include some of the candidates for mayor?
Frankly, I'd like to know, because the answers we're getting so far are not answers. This can be done without jeopardizing the investigation; or the witnesses who might be under protection right now.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Hamilton needs traffic calming, now
Early Sunday morning, there was a terrible accident just down the street from where I work. Two cars were racing down a one way street and one crossed an intersection struck and killed a twenty-one year old pedestrian who was just trying to cross the street. The debris field, if you can call it that, stretched for so long I had to take a side street for about a dozen blocks before getting back on the main road. It's the latest fatality in an increasing trend and has made some wonder whether Hamilton's system of one-way streets should be totally done away with.
I wouldn't like that. The one ways actually facilitate traffic, especially during rush hour; and complete chaos would ensue if there was an "unconversion." One only has to take a look what happened last year with James and John, the main access / egress to the Escarpment. Traffic simply switched over to the already congested Wellington / Victoria pair and the route they lead into, the Claremount. And those are north south routes. Try to do that to the King / Main pair which runs east-west, and it would be anything but pleasant.
What is needed, instead, are more traffic quieting initiatives. These would include taking out a lane of traffic from each direction -- or two, if a bus transitway is accepted as part of the transport master plan here in Hamilton; chicanes and rumble strips, and replacing some of the more dangerous intersections with roundabouts. All of these would force cars to slow down. The posted limit is 50 km/h, but the "real" limit is 60 and it's not uncommon to see people push it to 70 -- I know because it's the route I take to go to work.
Roundabouts are very popular in Europe because they help reduce the rate of acccidents and speeding; but Hamilton has very few of them -- matter of fact, the only major Canadian city I'm aware of that has quite a few of them is Edmonton. It's at least worth considering. Putting in a few traffic circles would cost a lot less than the widely suggested "alternative."
UPDATE (Thursday 7:42 AM, 1242 GMT): Sorry this is so late -- I was following the nailbitter in Virginia yesterday so I didn't check to see where all my hits were coming from. Fellow Liblogger Altavistagoogle of Edmundston, New Brunswick responds to my thoughts at his blog. Having travelled through NB where roundabouts exist at some major interchanges -- or used to, I think the Trans Can has been twinned since then -- he does raise some valid questions about what I have suggested; and I think everything -- everything -- should be put on the table. As for photo radar, I am in total agreement with him on that. It's time to bring it back, revenue grab or not.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
I wouldn't like that. The one ways actually facilitate traffic, especially during rush hour; and complete chaos would ensue if there was an "unconversion." One only has to take a look what happened last year with James and John, the main access / egress to the Escarpment. Traffic simply switched over to the already congested Wellington / Victoria pair and the route they lead into, the Claremount. And those are north south routes. Try to do that to the King / Main pair which runs east-west, and it would be anything but pleasant.
What is needed, instead, are more traffic quieting initiatives. These would include taking out a lane of traffic from each direction -- or two, if a bus transitway is accepted as part of the transport master plan here in Hamilton; chicanes and rumble strips, and replacing some of the more dangerous intersections with roundabouts. All of these would force cars to slow down. The posted limit is 50 km/h, but the "real" limit is 60 and it's not uncommon to see people push it to 70 -- I know because it's the route I take to go to work.
Roundabouts are very popular in Europe because they help reduce the rate of acccidents and speeding; but Hamilton has very few of them -- matter of fact, the only major Canadian city I'm aware of that has quite a few of them is Edmonton. It's at least worth considering. Putting in a few traffic circles would cost a lot less than the widely suggested "alternative."
UPDATE (Thursday 7:42 AM, 1242 GMT): Sorry this is so late -- I was following the nailbitter in Virginia yesterday so I didn't check to see where all my hits were coming from. Fellow Liblogger Altavistagoogle of Edmundston, New Brunswick responds to my thoughts at his blog. Having travelled through NB where roundabouts exist at some major interchanges -- or used to, I think the Trans Can has been twinned since then -- he does raise some valid questions about what I have suggested; and I think everything -- everything -- should be put on the table. As for photo radar, I am in total agreement with him on that. It's time to bring it back, revenue grab or not.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
US elections 2006, the returns
10:12 EST (0312 Wednesday GMT): So far, so good ... the Democrats have held on to every incumbent seat, but more importantly they've made big gains at the expense of the GOP. Mike Dewine: Out. Lincoln Chafee: Out. Rick Santorum: Out. Chris Chocola: Out. At this point, they still need to pickup three of the following four states to win the Senate: Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Montana. Your guess is as good as mine, folks.
11:11 PM (0412 Wednesday GMT): CNN has just called the House of Representatives for the Democrats. Nancy Pelosi will be the first ever female Speaker of the House of Representatives, and third in line to the Presidency.
11:31 PM (0431 Wednesday GMT): Voters in South Dakota have overturned the law that would have banned virtually all abortions in the state, by a wide margin. Planned Parenthood lives for another day -- but the issue is by no means settled.
12:38 AM Wednesday (0538 GMT): The four Senate races are still too close to call ... and I can't stay up all night. Interesting one from California, though: Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown, once the state's very controversial Governor, will now be the Democratic Attorney General, providing a strong check against Ahnold who has won a full term as Gubernator. You can't win them all, but it's nice to see Brown has cleaned up his act. I'll add to this post and provide a wrap-up -- such that it is -- in the morning.
8:20 AM (1320 GMT): The Democrats will finish with roughly 230-235 seats in the House when the returns are finalized, much more than the 218 needed to win outright. What's important is where they've made their gains, in mostly conservative areas -- suburban and rural Pennsylvania, western Connecticut, rural Kentucky and Tennessee and in the shock of shocks, Kansas and south Texas. This means at least on the House side, the donkey is a national party again.
Tennessee will still be held by the Republicans, but Harold Ford Jr ran a strong campaign and proved evangelicals aren't all elephants; a hopeful sign for 2008 and breaking the religious right's lock on the executive. Missouri will be represented by Claire McCaskill who pulled a come from behind win bolstered by the issue of stem cell research; which narrowly passed. As of this morning, two races in the Senate are still close to call -- Montana and Virginia, but the Dems have a slight lead in both and if they can hold on they will win Congress; as two independents -- the still nominally Democrat Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont and a Socialist -- will caucus with the Dems for committee assignments. If the so-called Karl Rove "firewall" is broken when it's all over in MT and VA, it may be the beginning of the end of one party rule in the South and West.
The Democrats also have a majority of governorships again -- also a good step. A lot of the initiatives for change at the national level begin at the state level, and after a decade the country south of us does need a new perspective.
Several observations on the ballot measures.
Gay marriage continues to get the thumbs down in America, but what's interesting is that at least a third of those voting for the bans are Democrats. This is not a partisan issue in the States as the MSM wanted us to believe; and Democrats need to understand a lot of hearts and minds have to be changed on the issue before even common-law marriages between opposite-sex couples are accepted, let alone same sex partnerships. (Currently common-law alliances are legal in maybe less than ten states.)
Also, the issue of eminent domain was a hot topic; as in every state where the issue was up for discusion, voters from both sides overwhelmingly demanded it be clawed back. This in the wake of a US Supreme Court decision last year that allowed expropriation of residential properties for private, commercial real estate -- where local tax levies are higher. People have said, correctly, eminent domain should only be used when it comes to creating public property such as public infrastructure; or state or national parks. The abuse had to stop.
In every state where the minimum wage was on the ballot, people voted to increase it above the national standard of $5.15 per hour. The Dems have vowed to revisit the issue when they get the gavel in January and the President needs to understand the nine year freeze on the minimum has to be lifted.
Besides the South Dakota abortion ban that was defeated, voters on the West Coast also shied away from one of the major threats to physician-patient privilege, the concept of parental notification when it comes to pregnant female teenagers. (Actually, California, one of the states where it went down -- Oregon was the other -- does have such a law although it's never been enforced as is the case in New York.) While it is on the books in a number of other states (including Pennsylvania -- where the son of the law's late author won the Senate seat last night), there may be a trend going away from that as parents begin to realize kids can make mistakes and they shouldn't be held to a higher standard than adults are.
Two of the oddest measures also were defeated. In Massachusetts, voters defeated a proposal to allow wine sales in supermarkets -- something peculiar as it's permitted in most states. And in Arizona, an offer of a lottery where a million bucks was going to be awarded in each election cycle to one person who actually showed up to vote went down two to one -- thank God, because people need other reasons to vote than the carrot of cash.
All in all, change is good. The big issue, though, remains Iraq -- and with at least one House in Congress changing hands, the power of appropriating money does as well; and it's there that Bush may be finally nudged into an exit strategy. Let's hope the Democrats don't abuse their power but use it for good both in the Middle East as well as on other issues; and makes America a country the world respects again. A lot more is at stake than crushing the planet's terrorists.
1:13 PM EST (1813 GMT): Donald Rumsfeld has just resigned as Secretary of Defense, and will be replaced by Robert Gates who used to run the CIA. Meanwhile, Montana's Senate seat has gone to the Democrats -- which leaves Virginia and which is still very tight.
9:16 PM EST (0216 GMT Thursday): Virginia has just gone over the top for the Democrats, so they win it 51-49. With both Houses, they have the ability to shape the agenda over the next two years. Nancy Pelosi has promised to pass the 9/11 Commission Report and all of its recommendations with the first 100 hours of the new session of Congress convening -- and Americans are going to hold her and Harry Reid to that. Bush would be wise to sign the bill and protect the homeland for a change -- including America's seaports and air points of entry.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
11:11 PM (0412 Wednesday GMT): CNN has just called the House of Representatives for the Democrats. Nancy Pelosi will be the first ever female Speaker of the House of Representatives, and third in line to the Presidency.
11:31 PM (0431 Wednesday GMT): Voters in South Dakota have overturned the law that would have banned virtually all abortions in the state, by a wide margin. Planned Parenthood lives for another day -- but the issue is by no means settled.
12:38 AM Wednesday (0538 GMT): The four Senate races are still too close to call ... and I can't stay up all night. Interesting one from California, though: Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown, once the state's very controversial Governor, will now be the Democratic Attorney General, providing a strong check against Ahnold who has won a full term as Gubernator. You can't win them all, but it's nice to see Brown has cleaned up his act. I'll add to this post and provide a wrap-up -- such that it is -- in the morning.
8:20 AM (1320 GMT): The Democrats will finish with roughly 230-235 seats in the House when the returns are finalized, much more than the 218 needed to win outright. What's important is where they've made their gains, in mostly conservative areas -- suburban and rural Pennsylvania, western Connecticut, rural Kentucky and Tennessee and in the shock of shocks, Kansas and south Texas. This means at least on the House side, the donkey is a national party again.
Tennessee will still be held by the Republicans, but Harold Ford Jr ran a strong campaign and proved evangelicals aren't all elephants; a hopeful sign for 2008 and breaking the religious right's lock on the executive. Missouri will be represented by Claire McCaskill who pulled a come from behind win bolstered by the issue of stem cell research; which narrowly passed. As of this morning, two races in the Senate are still close to call -- Montana and Virginia, but the Dems have a slight lead in both and if they can hold on they will win Congress; as two independents -- the still nominally Democrat Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont and a Socialist -- will caucus with the Dems for committee assignments. If the so-called Karl Rove "firewall" is broken when it's all over in MT and VA, it may be the beginning of the end of one party rule in the South and West.
The Democrats also have a majority of governorships again -- also a good step. A lot of the initiatives for change at the national level begin at the state level, and after a decade the country south of us does need a new perspective.
Several observations on the ballot measures.
Gay marriage continues to get the thumbs down in America, but what's interesting is that at least a third of those voting for the bans are Democrats. This is not a partisan issue in the States as the MSM wanted us to believe; and Democrats need to understand a lot of hearts and minds have to be changed on the issue before even common-law marriages between opposite-sex couples are accepted, let alone same sex partnerships. (Currently common-law alliances are legal in maybe less than ten states.)
Also, the issue of eminent domain was a hot topic; as in every state where the issue was up for discusion, voters from both sides overwhelmingly demanded it be clawed back. This in the wake of a US Supreme Court decision last year that allowed expropriation of residential properties for private, commercial real estate -- where local tax levies are higher. People have said, correctly, eminent domain should only be used when it comes to creating public property such as public infrastructure; or state or national parks. The abuse had to stop.
In every state where the minimum wage was on the ballot, people voted to increase it above the national standard of $5.15 per hour. The Dems have vowed to revisit the issue when they get the gavel in January and the President needs to understand the nine year freeze on the minimum has to be lifted.
Besides the South Dakota abortion ban that was defeated, voters on the West Coast also shied away from one of the major threats to physician-patient privilege, the concept of parental notification when it comes to pregnant female teenagers. (Actually, California, one of the states where it went down -- Oregon was the other -- does have such a law although it's never been enforced as is the case in New York.) While it is on the books in a number of other states (including Pennsylvania -- where the son of the law's late author won the Senate seat last night), there may be a trend going away from that as parents begin to realize kids can make mistakes and they shouldn't be held to a higher standard than adults are.
Two of the oddest measures also were defeated. In Massachusetts, voters defeated a proposal to allow wine sales in supermarkets -- something peculiar as it's permitted in most states. And in Arizona, an offer of a lottery where a million bucks was going to be awarded in each election cycle to one person who actually showed up to vote went down two to one -- thank God, because people need other reasons to vote than the carrot of cash.
All in all, change is good. The big issue, though, remains Iraq -- and with at least one House in Congress changing hands, the power of appropriating money does as well; and it's there that Bush may be finally nudged into an exit strategy. Let's hope the Democrats don't abuse their power but use it for good both in the Middle East as well as on other issues; and makes America a country the world respects again. A lot more is at stake than crushing the planet's terrorists.
1:13 PM EST (1813 GMT): Donald Rumsfeld has just resigned as Secretary of Defense, and will be replaced by Robert Gates who used to run the CIA. Meanwhile, Montana's Senate seat has gone to the Democrats -- which leaves Virginia and which is still very tight.
9:16 PM EST (0216 GMT Thursday): Virginia has just gone over the top for the Democrats, so they win it 51-49. With both Houses, they have the ability to shape the agenda over the next two years. Nancy Pelosi has promised to pass the 9/11 Commission Report and all of its recommendations with the first 100 hours of the new session of Congress convening -- and Americans are going to hold her and Harry Reid to that. Bush would be wise to sign the bill and protect the homeland for a change -- including America's seaports and air points of entry.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
US Election 2006
Later today, I'll be blogging about the results from the US midterm elections. It's coming on lunch hour here in the East so expect things to really pick up. What's good to see this time is the religious left finally getting the importance of getting out the vote (GOTV). A lot depends on those pesky, no paper trail voting terminals they have in 16 states that could determine the outcome of the Senate tonight. But one can only be optomistic.
For now, let me say that this has been an extremely nasty and brutal campaign with potshots from all sides -- many of them completely unwarranted. I also think that something Rep. Chris Shays -- a liberal Republican from Connecticut whose seat is actually in play today for the first time in ages -- said last night on CNN was à propos, that people are sick and tired of the polarization on both the left and right and want a return to the centre where large parts of both the GOP and the Democrats used to be. It's something we progressives have been talking about for quite some time now, and the fact that the media -- who largely supports the Republicans, not the Democrats, as most believe -- still doesn't understand that the radical centre has been ignored for so long is very disturbing.
I doubt tonight's results, no matter what they are, are going to change things all that much for the mindset of the MSM, particularly those who are the official organs of the GOP -- namely Fox News, ABC News and Sinclair Broadcasting. Let's face it, presuming control of the gavel paases all the media will be looking to report on is gridlock; when what really needs addressing are such things as the minimum wage, an extremely defective child tax credit, the exploitation of illegal immigrants, and the ability of the government to purchase drugs in bulk for its citizens (which Canada allows, but the Republicans incredibly voted to outlaw). In other words, making government work again for the people who own it.
If Congress can nudge George W Bush just a little back to the left and have him become once again the "compassionate conservative" he claimed to be in 2000, maybe he has some hope of rescuing a small part of his otherwise Nero-like legacy. If not, the real race for President in 2008 will not be the ballot two years hence, but the Democratic nomination for President -- and once again, it could be Iowa that ends it before it even begins.
In the meantime, today should be a lot of fun ... so stay tuned.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
For now, let me say that this has been an extremely nasty and brutal campaign with potshots from all sides -- many of them completely unwarranted. I also think that something Rep. Chris Shays -- a liberal Republican from Connecticut whose seat is actually in play today for the first time in ages -- said last night on CNN was à propos, that people are sick and tired of the polarization on both the left and right and want a return to the centre where large parts of both the GOP and the Democrats used to be. It's something we progressives have been talking about for quite some time now, and the fact that the media -- who largely supports the Republicans, not the Democrats, as most believe -- still doesn't understand that the radical centre has been ignored for so long is very disturbing.
I doubt tonight's results, no matter what they are, are going to change things all that much for the mindset of the MSM, particularly those who are the official organs of the GOP -- namely Fox News, ABC News and Sinclair Broadcasting. Let's face it, presuming control of the gavel paases all the media will be looking to report on is gridlock; when what really needs addressing are such things as the minimum wage, an extremely defective child tax credit, the exploitation of illegal immigrants, and the ability of the government to purchase drugs in bulk for its citizens (which Canada allows, but the Republicans incredibly voted to outlaw). In other words, making government work again for the people who own it.
If Congress can nudge George W Bush just a little back to the left and have him become once again the "compassionate conservative" he claimed to be in 2000, maybe he has some hope of rescuing a small part of his otherwise Nero-like legacy. If not, the real race for President in 2008 will not be the ballot two years hence, but the Democratic nomination for President -- and once again, it could be Iowa that ends it before it even begins.
In the meantime, today should be a lot of fun ... so stay tuned.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Monday, November 6, 2006
The ironing is delicious: Daniel Ortega comes back
I still remember twenty years ago when the Iran-contra scandal broke out. Despite Ronald Reagan vowing he'd never even acknowledge the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni's right to exist, he authorized the sale of weapons to Iran -- violating a worldwide trade embargo -- and then funneled the profits to the contra rebels in Nicaragua who was fighting the Sandanista government. All this, in a feeble attempt to free American and alled hostages being held in Lebanon by Hezbollah.
Most hostages were eventually freed, although a couple were murdered. A major Congressional investigation, made only possible when the Democrats took the Senate back from the Republicans (in part because Americans were pissed at the very notion of consorting with the same enemy who held 52 hostages just a few years earlier), pointed a lot of fingers but stopped short of either censuring or impeaching Reagan -- because he got away with the "aw shucks" defence and besides which he was too damn popular. But worldwide opinion also turned against Daniel Ortega and eventually he was forced to put his Presidency on the line -- which he lost to a coalition led by Violetta Chiamoro.
It's 2006 and just one day before the Congressional mid-terms which could see control of both Houses go the Democrats -- giving George W Bush his first real opposition in the legislature since 2002. The world's opinion has turned against Bush, especially for the way he continues to bully both the Middle East and the Americas. And wouldn't you know it? Daniel Ortega is back in vogue again, and if the final results from the Nicaraguan elections are correct he will become President -- again -- even with the embassy in Managua trying to rig the election to get the result they wanted, ABO (anyone but Ortega). What goes around comes around.
Incredibly, Ortega ran on a campaign of mantaining friendly ties with the United States, including furthering the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA); and keeping the crime rate down. And Ortega's theme song for this campaign? John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance." No, I don't really care for Ortega, but seeing him come back from the political dead like this must be oddly inspiring to the Democrats. Bush doesn't need the grief, but he'd better just accept the results than try to get rid of a potential rival -- like when Nixon assassinated Salvador Allende of Chile in 1973 to deflect attention away from the Watergate scandal. Like that worked.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Most hostages were eventually freed, although a couple were murdered. A major Congressional investigation, made only possible when the Democrats took the Senate back from the Republicans (in part because Americans were pissed at the very notion of consorting with the same enemy who held 52 hostages just a few years earlier), pointed a lot of fingers but stopped short of either censuring or impeaching Reagan -- because he got away with the "aw shucks" defence and besides which he was too damn popular. But worldwide opinion also turned against Daniel Ortega and eventually he was forced to put his Presidency on the line -- which he lost to a coalition led by Violetta Chiamoro.
It's 2006 and just one day before the Congressional mid-terms which could see control of both Houses go the Democrats -- giving George W Bush his first real opposition in the legislature since 2002. The world's opinion has turned against Bush, especially for the way he continues to bully both the Middle East and the Americas. And wouldn't you know it? Daniel Ortega is back in vogue again, and if the final results from the Nicaraguan elections are correct he will become President -- again -- even with the embassy in Managua trying to rig the election to get the result they wanted, ABO (anyone but Ortega). What goes around comes around.
Incredibly, Ortega ran on a campaign of mantaining friendly ties with the United States, including furthering the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA); and keeping the crime rate down. And Ortega's theme song for this campaign? John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance." No, I don't really care for Ortega, but seeing him come back from the political dead like this must be oddly inspiring to the Democrats. Bush doesn't need the grief, but he'd better just accept the results than try to get rid of a potential rival -- like when Nixon assassinated Salvador Allende of Chile in 1973 to deflect attention away from the Watergate scandal. Like that worked.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Sunday, November 5, 2006
Saddam Hussein: Condemned but defiant
Barring an incredibly successful and lucky appeal, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will be facing the same fate he subjected so many of his opponents to during his rule -- he will be executed. The specific crime in this case isn't the infamous gassing of 5000 Kurds back in 1988 during the closing days of the border war with Iran, but rather the assassination of 148 Shi'ites in Dujail which he ordered as revenge for an attempt on his life in 1982. (Hussein, of course, is a Sunni.)
I've noted several times on my blog that I am against capital punishment -- I have been since my teenage years -- and have applauded the courage of those who have both remained consistent in their opposition to the death penalty, as well as those who have changed their mind and now oppose it. So in that sense, I don't like what is going to happen to Hussein. However, one can't deny the significance of today's events. For the first time since World War II and its aftermath, a country has tried one of its own -- as opposed to an international tribunal set up for the purpose -- for crimes against humanity. By my recollection, the last time this happened was when Vidkun Quisling, the Prime Minister of Norway, was shot for selling out his country to the Nazis and thus lent his name to a synonym for traitor.
What I find so weird and even pathetic is that Hussein persisted in seeing himself as an historical character, someone who did what he did in order to further another cause, the liberation of the Palestinians. That he was even willing to die if it would free the Palestinians. It just doesn't square with me -- and a lot of people on both the left and right -- that he would kill thousand of Arabs to free a couple million more. As we all know, during the First Gulf War, people in the West Bank and Gaza actually bought his line with rather caustic consequences -- their case was actually set back. I really don't know what made him think there was a link between the two or why he felt the need to persecute the Shi'ite majority or the Kurds in order to pursue his agenda. Suffice it to say, one of my classmates from high school who happened to be a Palestinian Christian thought he was out of touch and that the future lay with the Arab League recognizing the Jewish fact -- not trying to destroy it; which I elaborated on in reply to Ed Morrissey's comments about the "martyr" ssue over a year ago.
To be honest, I won't really be sorry to see Hussein go. He -- and Iraq -- wasn't the obstacle to Middle East peace. It was and continues to be the leadership in Iran. However, he was a hero to the Sunnis who ruled Iraq for so long, and when the curfew is lifted anarchy will be the natural follower.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
I've noted several times on my blog that I am against capital punishment -- I have been since my teenage years -- and have applauded the courage of those who have both remained consistent in their opposition to the death penalty, as well as those who have changed their mind and now oppose it. So in that sense, I don't like what is going to happen to Hussein. However, one can't deny the significance of today's events. For the first time since World War II and its aftermath, a country has tried one of its own -- as opposed to an international tribunal set up for the purpose -- for crimes against humanity. By my recollection, the last time this happened was when Vidkun Quisling, the Prime Minister of Norway, was shot for selling out his country to the Nazis and thus lent his name to a synonym for traitor.
What I find so weird and even pathetic is that Hussein persisted in seeing himself as an historical character, someone who did what he did in order to further another cause, the liberation of the Palestinians. That he was even willing to die if it would free the Palestinians. It just doesn't square with me -- and a lot of people on both the left and right -- that he would kill thousand of Arabs to free a couple million more. As we all know, during the First Gulf War, people in the West Bank and Gaza actually bought his line with rather caustic consequences -- their case was actually set back. I really don't know what made him think there was a link between the two or why he felt the need to persecute the Shi'ite majority or the Kurds in order to pursue his agenda. Suffice it to say, one of my classmates from high school who happened to be a Palestinian Christian thought he was out of touch and that the future lay with the Arab League recognizing the Jewish fact -- not trying to destroy it; which I elaborated on in reply to Ed Morrissey's comments about the "martyr" ssue over a year ago.
To be honest, I won't really be sorry to see Hussein go. He -- and Iraq -- wasn't the obstacle to Middle East peace. It was and continues to be the leadership in Iran. However, he was a hero to the Sunnis who ruled Iraq for so long, and when the curfew is lifted anarchy will be the natural follower.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Saturday, November 4, 2006
China doles out money to dictators
A dispatch from the BBC reports that Mainland China gets what most of the rest of the world doesn't and has more than doubled its aid to Africa -- to about $5 billion ove the next three years. That should sound like good news ... except for the fact the money comes from Mainland China, which is very comfortable dealing with dictatorships. After all, it itself is a dictatorship and doesn't link development money to human rights reforms. Beijing claims they're just "doing business." Baloney.
Since the money is going right to other henchmen themselves, there is absolutely no guarantee the money will actually go to the people who need it the most. Nor is there any way to check to see the money will even be spent wisely. For all we know, it might be going to build arms, gulags and crush dissent. The most worrisome aspect of it all is this: In exchange for the money, the recipient countries must cut all ties, diplomatic and trade, to Taiwan. The island which Beijing still considers a "rebel province" is home to one of the world's most prosperous and thriving democracies, one so spirited the Parliament there often breaks out in fist fights which make the comedy reels -- but it's a bastion of hope in the Asia-Pacific, one that should be the real beacon to Africa, not the Forbidden City.
The main point is this: China doesn't believe in free thought. The ordinary people in Africa do. China pushes untrammeled free trade. The ordinary people want to lift themselves up and don't want to compete with slave and prison labour in China. China wants to wipe its main rival off the face of the earth, even to the point of using nuclear weapons. The ordinary people of Africa want freedom for all -- in fact, they want their brothers and sisters in China to overthrow their slavemasters in part because they now have the money to be able to do so.
Who's getting the money and loans? Not the people -- but the dictators. This is unacceptable.
Let's face it: Help from anyone is welcome. However, giving that help without conditions doesn't make things better -- it's merely repeating the same mistakes the West has committed repeatedly and especially since the end of colonialism; and now China is doing the same to establish and furthe its hegemony. There's an old saying regarding drugs that should also apply to blood money: Just say no.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Comments:
Snow17/12/2006 11:44:36 PM
(http://yellowsnowstar.spaces.live.com/)
on the topic of so called bargaining power, did you know that America and China are at odds about human rights as well as trade fairness etc? Well lately China is extremely sensitive about it's human rights record especially since the organ harvesting of live Falun Gong practitioners was exposed by Canadian investigators this year.Well, whenever any top leaders bring up human rights around China, China threatens that such free speaking or criticising will "damage US/China relations" or relations with whatever newspaper or whatever institution it may be. The insttitution know s that if it wants money and trade with China and not conflict, it has to take Chinas stance on human rights or at least be silent about it. This is whats happenning now.So anyone who is feindishly greedy enough to comprimise the good of humanity for some immediate cash from China knows that they have to follow the Communist Party's lead about Taiwan, Tibet, Falun Gong, the olympics, trade, slave labour, pollution, all sorts of stuff. China says that whats most important is saving face and whenever anyone says the truth about their atrocities, they say that its not right for that someone to cause them to loose face. Its really cracked.For America they have been so blinded by greed that for fast cash they have just made a deal to sell 4 nuclear reactors to China! It sure paints a clear picture of the situation doesn't it?! America sells nukes to most populated, hate mongering nationalist,manipulative, cold blooded, communist countryheres a BBC article about the nukes deal http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6187491.stm
Since the money is going right to other henchmen themselves, there is absolutely no guarantee the money will actually go to the people who need it the most. Nor is there any way to check to see the money will even be spent wisely. For all we know, it might be going to build arms, gulags and crush dissent. The most worrisome aspect of it all is this: In exchange for the money, the recipient countries must cut all ties, diplomatic and trade, to Taiwan. The island which Beijing still considers a "rebel province" is home to one of the world's most prosperous and thriving democracies, one so spirited the Parliament there often breaks out in fist fights which make the comedy reels -- but it's a bastion of hope in the Asia-Pacific, one that should be the real beacon to Africa, not the Forbidden City.
The main point is this: China doesn't believe in free thought. The ordinary people in Africa do. China pushes untrammeled free trade. The ordinary people want to lift themselves up and don't want to compete with slave and prison labour in China. China wants to wipe its main rival off the face of the earth, even to the point of using nuclear weapons. The ordinary people of Africa want freedom for all -- in fact, they want their brothers and sisters in China to overthrow their slavemasters in part because they now have the money to be able to do so.
Who's getting the money and loans? Not the people -- but the dictators. This is unacceptable.
Let's face it: Help from anyone is welcome. However, giving that help without conditions doesn't make things better -- it's merely repeating the same mistakes the West has committed repeatedly and especially since the end of colonialism; and now China is doing the same to establish and furthe its hegemony. There's an old saying regarding drugs that should also apply to blood money: Just say no.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Comments:
Snow17/12/2006 11:44:36 PM
(http://yellowsnowstar.spaces.live.com/)
on the topic of so called bargaining power, did you know that America and China are at odds about human rights as well as trade fairness etc? Well lately China is extremely sensitive about it's human rights record especially since the organ harvesting of live Falun Gong practitioners was exposed by Canadian investigators this year.Well, whenever any top leaders bring up human rights around China, China threatens that such free speaking or criticising will "damage US/China relations" or relations with whatever newspaper or whatever institution it may be. The insttitution know s that if it wants money and trade with China and not conflict, it has to take Chinas stance on human rights or at least be silent about it. This is whats happenning now.So anyone who is feindishly greedy enough to comprimise the good of humanity for some immediate cash from China knows that they have to follow the Communist Party's lead about Taiwan, Tibet, Falun Gong, the olympics, trade, slave labour, pollution, all sorts of stuff. China says that whats most important is saving face and whenever anyone says the truth about their atrocities, they say that its not right for that someone to cause them to loose face. Its really cracked.For America they have been so blinded by greed that for fast cash they have just made a deal to sell 4 nuclear reactors to China! It sure paints a clear picture of the situation doesn't it?! America sells nukes to most populated, hate mongering nationalist,manipulative, cold blooded, communist countryheres a BBC article about the nukes deal http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6187491.stm
Friday, November 3, 2006
He is well paid who is well satisfied
On a personal note, I want to express my gratitude to my employer who has recognized the work we do at the call centre here in Hamilton as well as those in Toronto and Ottawa and the fact that there has been a huge turnover in workers. Not because we in particular are seen as a "job between jobs," but because some other call centres have paid their employees more -- significantly more -- just to start, more even than those who work in middle to upper management It was certainly a huge surprise to find out what my hourly wage will be as of the week after next. Part of it is an across the board increase while the rest is based on merit; so for obvious reasons, I won't say exactly how much of an increase I have received myself -- but it's large enough to convince me to stay for a little while longer.
Manufacturing and primary industries like agriculture and mining are the hearts of this country, what we're built on. But 80 percent of Canadians work in the service sector, and they deserve respect too and to be compensated with a decent wage or salary. This particular increment is a sign that least my employer respects my co-workers and me and the sometimes mentally enduring work we have to put up with on a daily basis. Mind you, I can't help but wonder whether this was inevitable or if there was a direct link to the income trust decision the other day -- in an FTE setup like the company I work for, unitholders demand a lot of the cashflow go to them and not to the employees that make the distributions possible.
It's probably just a coincidence, but I'm grateful. In the real world, if we're well satisfied then we're well paid. But as Shakespeare wrote, it's supposed to be the other way around. At least I know there are some who think it's both. If it helps stem some of the turnover, so much the better -- it's kind of hard fostering friendships at work if you don't know if they'll be there the next time you report for work.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Manufacturing and primary industries like agriculture and mining are the hearts of this country, what we're built on. But 80 percent of Canadians work in the service sector, and they deserve respect too and to be compensated with a decent wage or salary. This particular increment is a sign that least my employer respects my co-workers and me and the sometimes mentally enduring work we have to put up with on a daily basis. Mind you, I can't help but wonder whether this was inevitable or if there was a direct link to the income trust decision the other day -- in an FTE setup like the company I work for, unitholders demand a lot of the cashflow go to them and not to the employees that make the distributions possible.
It's probably just a coincidence, but I'm grateful. In the real world, if we're well satisfied then we're well paid. But as Shakespeare wrote, it's supposed to be the other way around. At least I know there are some who think it's both. If it helps stem some of the turnover, so much the better -- it's kind of hard fostering friendships at work if you don't know if they'll be there the next time you report for work.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Death of the other "Crocodile" -- the wretched one
Almost unnoticed by many parts of the MSM was the news that Pieter W Botha -- the ironman President of South Africa during much of the 1980s and imposed the so-called "state of emergency" that saw many reporters imprisoned without charge and made the conditions of apartheid so bad that the world finally woke up and imposed trade sanctions against the Cape of Good Hope -- died this past Tuesday at the age of 90.
Unlike many of the other architects of segregation in the country, who fessed up in whole or in part to Desmond Tutu's Truth and Reconciliation Commission to their atrocities, Botha refused to admit any guilt. He saw the end of racial separation as the beginning of communism. In fact, he refused to testify at all, which led to a contempt of court charge -- later tossed out on a technicality.
WaPo's Lynne Duke, who was posted in Johannesburg in the years after the rise of Nelson Mandela, has written her personal memories of the "Croc" -- it's a very interesting insight into who the man was and why he believed what he did. For myself, I don't mourn Botha's passing so much because of who he was and what he did but rather for just how misguided and wrong he was. He wasn't so much evil as he was entirely wretched.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Unlike many of the other architects of segregation in the country, who fessed up in whole or in part to Desmond Tutu's Truth and Reconciliation Commission to their atrocities, Botha refused to admit any guilt. He saw the end of racial separation as the beginning of communism. In fact, he refused to testify at all, which led to a contempt of court charge -- later tossed out on a technicality.
WaPo's Lynne Duke, who was posted in Johannesburg in the years after the rise of Nelson Mandela, has written her personal memories of the "Croc" -- it's a very interesting insight into who the man was and why he believed what he did. For myself, I don't mourn Botha's passing so much because of who he was and what he did but rather for just how misguided and wrong he was. He wasn't so much evil as he was entirely wretched.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
US televangelist resigns over ... gay "improprieties"
And another one bites the dust. This time, it's the Rev. Ted Haggard -- the leader of the National Association of Evangelicals -- over accusations he has engaged in gay sex. The allegations are as yet unsubstantiated, but with the election in the US just four days away this is even worse news for George W Bush. and the GOP.
One of the reasons I decided not to become a priest in the Roman Catholic Church was my absolute disgust over the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Canadian church in the 1990s -- especially how it ruined the lives of thousands of our country's Aboriginals. I simply didn't want to be associated with a group for fear I would be considered guilty by association, and frankly I haven't regretted making the decision I did. I feel a call to service, but eventually I'd like it to be to serve the people in public life, not the sacred.
It never ceases to amaze me then that those who promote "family values" don't value families, they rail against legalized gambling yet they take pay-offs from lobbyists who are working for the gaming industry, they embrace Jesus of Nazareth whose ethical code was built around uplifting the poor but give huge tax breaks to the rich and screw the poor, and most importantly try to get out the vote (GOTV) and pass constitutional amendments against gay marriage and even try to recriminalize the very fact of being gay or lesbian yet in the backrooms commit the very acts they speak out against.
A couple of years back, Paul Crouch who runs the controversial Trinty Broadcasting Network (TBN) and who repeated ridicules what he calls the "poverty gospel" had to pay off one of his former aides to keep quiet a story that -- we learned later -- involved claims Crouch went "both ways." The claims remain unsubstantiated, but it forced Crouch to cancel of his never ending telethons. And this from a guy who keeps claiming he needs money to keep his (he always says "your" although it's not) network on the air, even raising money to buy his own satellite (not a dish mind you, but an actual satellite) yet lives the kind of life -- wealth wise and personal -- that makes most of the A-list in Hollywood and San Fernando look like paupers; and like angels and not debauchers.
They speak out against gays and lesbians, yet they poke their middle legs down the asses of other men themselves? Man, oh man, no wonder people feel disillusioned. I've mentioned before I personally oppose gay marriage on moral and logical grounds -- but what I oppose even more are those who fail to heed Jesus' warning to "be not like the hypocrites." If what Haggard is accused of is true, I hope the rest of the false teachers follow him and fall down like a house of cards -- the people who have been deceived for so long need to be brought back to the real message of the Man from Galilee which was one of social justice, not exclusion.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
One of the reasons I decided not to become a priest in the Roman Catholic Church was my absolute disgust over the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Canadian church in the 1990s -- especially how it ruined the lives of thousands of our country's Aboriginals. I simply didn't want to be associated with a group for fear I would be considered guilty by association, and frankly I haven't regretted making the decision I did. I feel a call to service, but eventually I'd like it to be to serve the people in public life, not the sacred.
It never ceases to amaze me then that those who promote "family values" don't value families, they rail against legalized gambling yet they take pay-offs from lobbyists who are working for the gaming industry, they embrace Jesus of Nazareth whose ethical code was built around uplifting the poor but give huge tax breaks to the rich and screw the poor, and most importantly try to get out the vote (GOTV) and pass constitutional amendments against gay marriage and even try to recriminalize the very fact of being gay or lesbian yet in the backrooms commit the very acts they speak out against.
A couple of years back, Paul Crouch who runs the controversial Trinty Broadcasting Network (TBN) and who repeated ridicules what he calls the "poverty gospel" had to pay off one of his former aides to keep quiet a story that -- we learned later -- involved claims Crouch went "both ways." The claims remain unsubstantiated, but it forced Crouch to cancel of his never ending telethons. And this from a guy who keeps claiming he needs money to keep his (he always says "your" although it's not) network on the air, even raising money to buy his own satellite (not a dish mind you, but an actual satellite) yet lives the kind of life -- wealth wise and personal -- that makes most of the A-list in Hollywood and San Fernando look like paupers; and like angels and not debauchers.
They speak out against gays and lesbians, yet they poke their middle legs down the asses of other men themselves? Man, oh man, no wonder people feel disillusioned. I've mentioned before I personally oppose gay marriage on moral and logical grounds -- but what I oppose even more are those who fail to heed Jesus' warning to "be not like the hypocrites." If what Haggard is accused of is true, I hope the rest of the false teachers follow him and fall down like a house of cards -- the people who have been deceived for so long need to be brought back to the real message of the Man from Galilee which was one of social justice, not exclusion.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Those pesky electricity "rebate" cheques
The last few days, the McGuinty government has been sending out "Home Electricity Rebate" cheques to low and middle income residents of the province -- and I'm one of the recipients. For all it's worth, the money is helpful. However, like Ernie Eves' similar botched program from three years ago -- when deregulation of the business got totally out of hand -- and Ralph Klein's oil rebate cheques earlier this year which were paid to everyone, there are a few holes in the administration of how it's being doled out.
We were originally told that those who paid for power directly would get a rebate right on their fall utility bill. Instead, realizing that most tenants don't pay for the juice directly, they just decided to write cheques to everyone. Fair enough. But then, in a massive waste of postage and printing costs, they got the Canada Revenue Agency to mail the cheques. Why didn't they just tack it on to the October GST rebate, four weeks ago -- which a lot of us get by direct deposit? When one considers it costs two cents to do an electronic funds transfer but 51 cents PLUS GST to mail a cheque, they blew ... oh, let's see ... well, suppose just two million residents get those rebates. That's about a million dollars, give or take, which could have bought another MRI scanner.
Frankly, I would have rather them kept the money, or as I said given us real tax relief, such as getting rid of the semi-regressive health tax. The price for power has been re-regulated anyway, and giving incentives for people to conserve energy is a lot more efficient. Nice try, Dalton, but coming as it is just a few days before local elections, I don't think people are going to buy it.
If this is going to be an annual event, it should be streamlined with the GST rebate -- just as the provincial child care allowance should be rolled into the federal baby bonus, as it already is in most of the other provinces. Mind you, of course, that would come right when the next provincial election is going to be, too -- so we're probably looking at September next time.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
We were originally told that those who paid for power directly would get a rebate right on their fall utility bill. Instead, realizing that most tenants don't pay for the juice directly, they just decided to write cheques to everyone. Fair enough. But then, in a massive waste of postage and printing costs, they got the Canada Revenue Agency to mail the cheques. Why didn't they just tack it on to the October GST rebate, four weeks ago -- which a lot of us get by direct deposit? When one considers it costs two cents to do an electronic funds transfer but 51 cents PLUS GST to mail a cheque, they blew ... oh, let's see ... well, suppose just two million residents get those rebates. That's about a million dollars, give or take, which could have bought another MRI scanner.
Frankly, I would have rather them kept the money, or as I said given us real tax relief, such as getting rid of the semi-regressive health tax. The price for power has been re-regulated anyway, and giving incentives for people to conserve energy is a lot more efficient. Nice try, Dalton, but coming as it is just a few days before local elections, I don't think people are going to buy it.
If this is going to be an annual event, it should be streamlined with the GST rebate -- just as the provincial child care allowance should be rolled into the federal baby bonus, as it already is in most of the other provinces. Mind you, of course, that would come right when the next provincial election is going to be, too -- so we're probably looking at September next time.
Vote for this article at Progressive Bloggers.
Thursday, November 2, 2006
RIP Ms Dawg
On a sad note, I wish to express my condolences to fellow ProgBlogger Dr Dawg, aka John Baglow. His long time companion, Marianne Elizabeth Mackinnon, lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this very difficult time.
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