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Canadian Election Prediction

The Election Prediction Project has their final tally on how this thing will turn out.They supposedly have a pretty good record on predicting elections so we'll see how well they do on this one.

Not likely

Layton predicts historic gains for the NDP.

"You know we're responsible people," said Duceppe. "They heard me during the debates. We're human beings ... we're not eating babies for breakfast."

Right, puppies are for breakfast and babies are for dinner, silly.

Stephen Harper is officially an idiot

I don't like Stephen Harper very much, but I must admit, he's run a pretty good campaign so far. By keeping his more radical party members silent and basically standing by while the Liberals self destruct, he's reaped huge rewards. A little underhanded, but good for him. But today, he screwed up, big time. They sent out a news release entitled Paul Martin Supports Child Pornography? WTF? Now, no matter how you feel about Paul Martin, that's just a totally fucked up thing to send out. It crosses a line that I think all politicians recognize and agree not to go there. I can't think of anything you could say that would be more unwarranted and despicable. And it reeks of political opportunism, trying to capitalize on the outrage over the Briere incident. Absolutely disgusting. You would think Harper would be smart and immediately pull the release and apologize. Nope, he refuses to apologize and refuses to pull the press release. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Update: apparently, they changed the headline and re-released the same content with a different headline. They also sent out another press release titled "The NDP Caucus Supports Child Pornography?", which they haven't retracted, at least yet. Idiots.

Update 2: they still have the NDP Caucus Supports Child Pornography story up on their website. Eek!

Update 3: somebody bought them a clue and the headline now reads "How Tough are the NDP on Child Pornography?"

Briere blames child porn, media laps it up

So this pedophile kills a young girl and then blames internet child porn for his fucked-up behaviour. Pathetic. As if that wasn't bad enough, the media laps it up, and calls for a crackdown, demanding that ISPs be held responsible. And the Ontario government is drafting some kind of legislation to crackdown on internet porn. This is such fucking bullshit, IMHO. First of all, Briere should be held responsible for his actions, this "but child porn made me do it" is a copout, and I'm totally disgusted that so many people have bought into it. Secondly, by all means, shut down child porn sites, but blaming ISPs for the problem is ridiculous. It's like blaming the phone company for bomb threats, they're merely the conduit. The way the media is pumping up the hysteria and outrage over this incident is sickening. Briere commited this heinous crime, not his fucking computer.

Election Debates

After watching the French debate last night, I thought all the leaders carried themselves fairly well, except for Stephen Harper who looked rather lost. Everybody was saying this was mostly just a warmup for the English debate, so I thought tonight's edition would be even more interesting. Ha! What a joke, all the leaders fared much worse in this debate, IMHO. Major suckage.

1. Jack Layton - I was surprised how well he did last night, but tonight he was by the far the worst of the four. The rude little prick was constantly talking at the same time as the other candidates, a smug, little smile on his face at all times and if he bends that pinky finger back any more it's going to bust right off. And if he loves Gilles Duceppe so much, they should go rent a fucking room. Ick, if this was Survivor, he would be the first one voted off the island. I hope he's not around for the next election, very irritating personality.
2. Gilles Duceppe - He did well last night in the French debate, and he started off well tonight but soon sounded the same on almost every issue: Quebec Quebec Quebec. Didn't have terribly much to offer in the debate tonight. He did say unequivocally that he will form the opposition after this election. Great Gilles, I guess we can just skip the whole consulting with the populace thing, eh?
3. Paul Martin - I thought he did very well in the debate last night, but tonight he seemed much more lost, much of it because of Layton talking at the same time as he did. Thanks Jack, for bringing this debate down to the Jerry Springer level. I think Chretien would have strangled this guy before the first five minutes was up. Martin stammered a lot, looked tired at times and clearly wasn't as focused as he was last night. I thought he made some good points last night but didn't manage to make those same points tonight, mostly due to the less structured format of this debate. Rather weak.
4. Stephen Harper - I thought he sucked pretty badly last night, and everybody seemed to attribute this to his problems speaking French. But then tonight he gave pretty well the same performance. Bleh. He's playing a stealth campaign, hiding in the shadows. If his party does form the next government, who knows what we'll get. Somehow, I don't think I'll like it very much.

So this debate sucked, the leaders sucked and I would much rather have watched Da Vinci's Inquest. Lamers.

And hey, I'm not alone.

Liberal Attack Ads

Just saw the new Liberal attack ads on the CBC. Incredibly stupid move, if you ask me. [yeah, I know, you didn't] I don't think attacking Harper's policies is a bad move, in fact it's long overdue. The problem is the tone of the ads. They are just nasty, vicious, ugly ads and will likely hurt the Libs more than anything. Big mistake. Why the hell didn't they run these things by a focus group or something beforehand? They just had some viewer reactions to the ads, and every single one was negative. Martin, fire your campaign manager now, I think he/she might be a Conservative mole. [David Herle]

New Yorker article on Iraq prison abuses

Rather interesting article in The New Yorker detailing what led up to the Abu Ghraib debacle. Will this be enough to make heads roll further up the food chain? Err, probably not.

Is Ralph Klein Losing His Mind?

A few days ago, our premier lost it because somebody dared asked him for a receipt. Never mind that this was before the all-party public accounts committee, where it's kind of their job to ask these kinds of questions. He ranted five times "Are you calling me a liar?" when all she did was ask if he'd be willing to provide a receipt.
And now he's saying Chile's Pinochet was 'forced' to mount coup because the former elected president of Chile nationalized the copper mines. This was in response to the opposition's suggestion that we consider a public auto insurance plan. Considering how badly the private auto insurance companies are gouging consumers, this isn't exactly a radical idea. He doesn't want to be like Fidel Castro, apparently. I think Ralph is in desperate need of some vacation time.

Go to hell, Helene

Heritage minister Helene Schrerrer declares that she will table legislation to crack down on music downloading. How predictable. And pathetic. Apparently, she was 'motivated' by discussions she had at the Junos with Canadian music industry officials. Hello. On a day when a poll is released that shows the Liberals continuing to lose ground, this isn't exactly the smartest thing to put out there. You're supposed to represent the people, not the spoiled brats in the music industry. Bitch.

The CRIA filed an appeal today of the ruling making file sharing legal.

That quote is from the Heritage Canada site. So they're going to enact legislation that they realize from the get-go is doomed to failure. What an incredible waste of time. The music industry will get their 29 sacrificial lambs, and it won't change a damn thing.

Here's some contact info I got from here. I hope it's current.

Hélène Chalifour Scherrer
Minister of Canadian Heritage
Room 511-S
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Fax: (819) 994-1267
Email: Scherrer.H@parl.gc.ca

Lucienne Robillard
Minister of Industry
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Email: Robillard.L@parl.gc.ca

House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage
c/o Clerk, Rémi Bourgault
House of Commons
Pîèce/Room 640, 180 Wellington
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone : (613) 947-6729
Fax : (613) 947-9670
Email: HERI@parl.gc.ca

Re-test all drivers

Our Alberta government wants to re-test all drivers. This has to be the stupidest idea I've ever heard. They've already passed the driver test, what the hell makes them think it would be any different the second time around? The problem isn't that people don't know the rules of the road, it's just that some people choose not to follow them. Re-testing won't change a damn thing. And the cost, there must be millions of drivers in this province! I think the money would be better spent on healthcare, education, roads, and beer. Just a ridiculous idea.

Britain relaxes law on cannabis

Britain relaxes law on cannabis. Cool, I guess, though you can still get up two years for possession, a bit much.

Britain's Home Secretary David Blunkett said he expected the move would lead him to "take a bit of stick over the next few weeks."

What the hell does that mean, that he's going to call in sick to work and smoke reefer for the next two weeks??? Aye, I'm feeling a bit 'stick', har har.

Teresa Heinz Kerry

I don't know if her husband would make a good president or not, but I'd vote for her! [not that I could, being Canadian and all]
The Observer | Kerry's gold

And asked whether she would take her husband's name, she shot back: 'Politically, it's going to be Teresa Heinz Kerry, but I don't give a shit, you know? There are other things to worry about.' And she added: 'Swearing is a good way to relieve tension'.

Harpy Harper

Rick Anderson, of all people, tears a strip off Stephen Harper for his sour kickoff speech. He's got a point, vilifying Paul Martin because he's a successful businessman kind of goes against their free economy platform. And this will probably be the last time I ever agree with Rick Anderson.

Palestinian Reaction

It's hard to believe anybody would be upset with Saddam's capture. The Palestinians are. Ugh. I wonder why.

Saddam paid over $35 million to the kin of Palestinian suicide bombers, militants and bystanders who died in an uprising that began in 2000.

A Smiling Saddam No More

Interesting account of Saddam Hussein's capture. What the hell are they going to do with him. though? Any suggestions? Ha. And I wonder if the insurgencies will die down after this. You think they would, with Saddam captured, he ain't coming back. They should just try to get on with their lives.

It looks like he'll be tried in a public, Iraqi tribunal.
A US soldier at the 4th Infantry Division base in Iraq, shouting in the pause after US administrator Paul Bremer announced the capture of Saddam: "That's right, we got Elvis, we know where he is and he's going back to Vegas." quotes
He had $750,000.00 in cash with him, but didn't bother to grab a razor at 7-11 before going to ground, literally? What a twit. I bet his socks didn't match either.

I know you are, but what am I?

"Reports that say something hasn't happened are interesting to me, because as we know, there are known unknowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
Donald 'pass the crack pipe' Rumsfeld

Yeah, but you forgot unknown knowns, when you know something but just don't know you know. You know?

Canada: International Drug Dealer

Interesting story in the Globe and Mail about Americans importing their prescription drugs from Canada. Very strange situation.

Quit bogarting that joint, Mr. Prime Minister

PM jokes he'll try pot once it's decriminalized.

"I don't know what is marijuana. Perhaps I will try it when it will no longer be criminal. I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand," he said in the interview.

So that's what head of state means. Word.

And of course the Americans are all in a snit about this joke. I think that's one of the things I hate most about the Bush administration, their total lack of humour. Fucking robots.

From the Globe & Mail:
It's an unlikely retirement scenario for Prime Minister Jean Chrétien: he's at his lakeside cottage, sipping tea with his wife Aline — and smoking a big fat joint.

Yeah, baby, yeah!

I'm so confused

Britney says "I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes and we should just support that." But Johnny Depp says "America is dumb, it's like a dumb puppy that has big teeth that can bite and hurt you, aggressive." I'm glad I don't live in the US, their politics seem so polarized.

Update: Depp takes it back, he lurves his country, silly.

Blame Canada

More hyperbole from the US administration and their war on drugs. Wow, Canada grows good weed. Big deal. I'm sure most of the weed Americans consume comes from within their own borders. And most weed grown today is grown hydroponically, so there is nothing to stop Americans from using BC bud clones to grow their own crack marijuana. The whole thing is silly. Next thing you know, they'll be labeling us Canadians narco-terrorists. Bleh.

But here's something not widely known: New York State's laws on marijuana are, in some ways, weaker than the ones Canada is poised to adopt.

Officer, I'd like to report some stolen marijuana

York Regional Police say they are taking the case seriously and will do their best to retrieve the 18-year-old's stolen property.

This is so cool. I bet a lot of cops are just hating this. Ha ha tough shit baby.

Bill Would Put Internet Song Swappers in Jail

"While existing laws have been useful in stemming this problem, they simply do not go far enough," said Conyers, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

Millions of people swap songs over the internet every fucking day. They'd better get building a whole lotta jails if they're serious about this. But they're not serious about this, right? This is like the Metallica thing, no?

Alderman Darlene Heatherington

I heard this lady on the radio this morning. What a wacko! Will she eventually relent and step down, or have a massive, psychotic breakdown in public? Personally, I'm hoping for the latter. [Yeah, I know, I'm evil]

"I will not be bullied by this mayor or by members of this council or by any citizens of this city," she shouted.

Chretien

Reading this story, I was struck by how frank prime minister Chretien was. He was criticizing Bush for his huge deficits. Good one, Jean!

The little cry-baby.

Well when you put it that way, I must be a Liberal too!

Wow, a politician who actually 'gets it'. He must read Slashdot in his spare time.

Canada decriminalizing cannabis

The Liberals tabled legislation decriminalizing marijuana today. Yea! It's about time. Although I don't smoke weed anymore, I know a lot of people who do and I have no desire to see their lives ruined because they choose to smoke a joint after work rather than go for a beer.

Its not passed yet tho. And the TV newscast said the furthest it could get this session would be second reading. That means it would have to be passed in the fall session, assuming there is one. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said he wants to get this bill passed by the end of the year, so hopefully it will get through. All parties in the house support this legislation, except the Alliance party, predictably enough. And all the candidates to succeed Chretien support it, so it looks good.

And they say the weed today is so much more potent than the weed of yesteryear. Yeah, right!

U.S. warns Canada against easing pot laws

David Murray, right-hand man to U.S. "drug czar" John Walters, says he doesn't want to tread on another country's sovereignty, but...

You know, if all they were worried about is pot being smuggled across their border, I wouldn't have a problem with this. But of course, it's much more than that. This administration [Bush] wants us to fall inline with their policies and if we don't, then there will be repercussions. Its bullshit. So much for respecting sovereignty, or democracy for that matter.

Damn Canadians, Get with the Pogrom!

Also, Canadian laws and regulations intended to protect Canadian citizens and landed immigrants from government intrusion sometimes limit the depth of investigations

And this is a bad thing? Sometimes I think the government south of the border has totally lost its marbles.