"We will fight and we will win" - Inspiration from Justin Trudeau, comments from Wesley Wark, Charlie Angus, Evan Scrimshaw, Paul Krugman, Jeff Tiedrich. And in late news, US now saying "never mind"?

My illustration today was posted by CdnHistoryEhx - it shows the Battle of Queenston Heights, Oct 13 1812 by John David Kelly. Despite being outnumbered by three to one, the Canadians and the British won against the United States. 

It seemed appropriate because once again Canada finds itself fighting an unwanted battle against a much stronger bully.

 

Trudeau gave a brilliant speech today, and held a brilliant press conference. 

"We will fight, and we will win. ... We're going to make sure nobody goes hungry, and everyone carries their share."

Yes, I agree this was the most remarkable part - Trudeau is not pussyfooting around:

If you can't listen to all of it, read Wesley Wark's excellent analysis:

Wesley Wark / Wesley Wark’s National Security and Intelligence Newsletter

Trudeau comes out swinging

Or, he gets three big punches in, but shadow boxing

... This was Trudeau the boxer, on his toes....

He aimed three big roundhouses.

The very first, right off the top, was aimed at the Trump administration as a whole, that bizarre coterie of loyalists, weirdos, and the under-qualified...

The second punch was aimed at the gut of the American people. Canadian counter-tariffs, Trudeau indicated, was never a shot we wanted to take....

The third swing was to the chin of the Donald. Trudeau didn’t refer to him as The President or Mr. President, just “Donald.” Lese majeste! Cue up howls from the rabid right wing media in the US. This was almost a worse afront than failing to wear a suit. Trudeau reminded Donald that over the course of their respective political careers, “we have done great things together.” Note to Trudeau speech writers—Donald’s memory and grasp of history is not the best (but it doesn’t matter). The PM then went on to really power it in, quoting and agreeing with the Wall Street Journal--that “Donald—this is a very dumb thing to do.”

Then finally, he turned to the Canadian people, not with a punch, but a promise, hopefully not a fairy-tale. American tariffs will be tough, he said, no sugar-coating, but the government will be there to support you.

Probably the most unscripted thing that Trudeau had to say, which came out in the brief Q and A with the media, was that what Trump wants to see with the tariffs is a total collapse of the Canadian economy, which would make it easier for Trump to annex us. Not going to happen, he said.

It was inspiring for everyone:

Elbows Up! Responding to the Trump tariffs

Well, here we go. 

And Canada is in it to win it:

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Trudeau tried. 

But Trump is just in love with breaking things. And I think he is tired of Musk getting all the press lately for Making America Great Again so Trump desperately wants to get some for himself.  And he seems to think that tariffs will return America to his daddy's ideal world - the 1880s. 

And besides, what could go wrong? 

Canada will show him what can go wrong.

BREAKING: Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has confirmed that Canada will implement retaliatory tariffs against the United States. Tariffs will soon be placed on U.S. exports, including orange juice, peanut butter, wine, coffee, cars, trucks, steel, and aluminum.… pic.twitter.com/ecV3DSs2Us

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 3, 2025

CANADA — In response to Trump’s tariffs, Ontario Premier Doug Ford: “I’m going after absolutely everything. And I don’t want to.” pic.twitter.com/lJ60QmOOjf

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) March 4, 2025

"Why is everything so stupid right now?"

Yes, its crazy. 

Just a short one today -- a great theory of the stupidity now in the US, a few funny posts, and Mike Myers.

Brittlestar 

My Global Gas Leak Theory 

Why Everything and Everyone Is So Stupid Right Now

And I have a theory: there has been a global gas leak.

That’s right. The whole planet is just slightly woozy, stumbling around like it stood up too fast after three espressos on an empty stomach. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. Because otherwise, we have to accept that rational people are willingly walking into disaster with the enthusiasm of a dog charging towards a vacuum cleaner.

Look at the sheer volume of decisions that defy any survival instinct. Countries are electing leaders who seem to actively despise them, like a villain in a cartoon who’s just found out he owns the orphanage and now wants to burn it down for insurance money.

Governments are passing laws that seem designed to make life harder for the very people who voted for them. Policies are being rolled out that appear to have been brainstormed in a room where someone left the oven on and no one noticed.

This isn’t just one country, or one political ideology, either. This is happening everywhere, across all spectrums of thought. It’s as if, overnight, a memo was sent out saying, “Let’s see what happens if we just drive straight into the wall, full speed.” And the worst part?

People are cheering for the wall.

... what happens when there’s a gas leak?

People get confused, make terrible choices, and ultimately, the situation goes from “ha-ha, why did I put my car keys in the fridge?” to “oh no, we’ve blown up the entire house.”

And that’s exactly what global politics feels like right now. Leaders and voters alike are stumbling around in a haze, seemingly unaware that they are making decisions that are setting fire to their own futures.

So what’s causing this metaphorical gas leak? Maybe it’s social media, pumping brain-fogging fumes into our collective consciousness. Maybe it’s the 24-hour news cycle, which feeds us a steady diet of outrage and confusion until we’re too disoriented to tell up from down. Or maybe, just maybe, there is an actual gas leak, and we need to open a window, take a deep breath, and reassess before we collectively pass out in the kitchen.

The good news? Gas leaks can be fixed...

So Trump made Zelenskyy an offer. But Zelenskyy refused ...

Just when I think Trump can't possibly get any worse... on Friday, he turned into The Orange Corleone: 

“You’re either gonna make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out,” said Mr. Trump. “I don’t think it’s gonna be pretty, but you’ll fight it out. But you don’t have the cards, but once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position, but you’re not acting at all thankful, and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest, that’s not a nice thing.”

And there was more:

 

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So Trump tried to bully Zelenskyy. And it didn't work. And by doing this in public, the whole world now understands that Trump is a vain, stupid, cowardly man, and so is Vice-President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio. The impact of this realization will be incalculable.

Criminalizing drug addiction: "We can't punish the trauma out of people by creating more trauma."

Saskatchewan and Alberta are both bringing forward legislation to criminalize 

drug use as well as drug trafficking. 

It seems to be as much a performance, as a plan. 

But the people it will hurt are real. 

In Saskatchewan, the focus seems to be on stopping drug use on the street because its icky: 

Brody Langager / Saskatoon Star Phoenix 

New drug penalties could further marginalize users: PHR executive director 

Prairie Harm Reduction is raising concerns about new drug-related penalties it says could potentially further marginalize people.

The provincial government this week announced legislation to address the battle against methamphetamine and fentanyl in Saskatchewan, including fines of up to $1 million for drug trafficking; seizing property used for or purchased with the proceeds of drug sales; reclassifying drug use and “other disruptive activities” in semi-public spaces as trespassing; and classifying drug-related items (including needles) as street weapons to let officers seize them immediately.

Also under the new measures, driver’s licenses, provincial firearms licences, hunting and fishing licences, and in some cases business and other municipal licenses can be cancelled. As well, provincial benefits could be cancelled.

“While we recognize the need for action in response to the overdose crisis, we firmly oppose punitive approaches that further marginalize people who use drugs,” Prairie Harm Reduction executive director Kayla DeMong said this week following the government announcement.

“For decades, the government has focused on criminalization as a way to solve systemic issues. Instead, they push people further into unsafe conditions, increasing overdose risk and barriers to health care.”

DeMong said charging people for possession of needles or potentially taking away income assistance will strongly impact those who are using substances, not those selling the drugs. She said labelling sterile needles as a weapon is “a direct attack” on efforts that have helped reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, and that needle exchanges and safe consumption sites are proven to save lives.... 

This is the way America ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.

We are the hollow men 

We are the stuffed men 

Leaning together 

Headpiece filled with straw.

Alas, here we go again:

The rest of the world is now realizing what Canada learned a month ago, that America is no longer Reagan's "shining city on the hill". 

It is turning into Mordor.

Today's News: Liberal debate night two "Chrystia Freeland won on tone, Mark Carney won on policy"

It was the second night of the Liberal leadership debates, and once again, no fireworks:

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Today's News: Liberal leadership debate, night one; and Trudeau in Ukraine

My photo is by "PoliLEGO" on tonight's Liberal leadership debate from @polilego.bsky.social -it shows @markjcarney.bsky.social @chrystia-freeland.bsky.social @karinagould.bsky.social and Frank Baylis.

So tonight I went spinning through X, Threads, Bluesky and the news, and here are some of the opinions about the French debate for the Liberal leadership. 

First, I saw many comments like these:

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Some questions for the Liberal leadership debates

So on Monday night the Liberal leadership candidates are debating in French, and on Tuesday in English. 

Like most Canadians, I have been semi-following the leadership race -- I wasn't prepared to support Mark Carney at first, but I loved Carney's appearance on Jon Stewart, he seemed like a potential Prime Minister to me -- if we're going to select an inexperienced politician to go up against Poilievre, then it should be an experienced leader like Mark Carney.  As much as I have liked Freeland in the past, I don't think she can win a federal election over Poilievre. As for Gould and Bayliss, they seem nice but relatively unknown. 

I get the feeling too that much of Canada now agrees:

Weekend break: Funny stuff, some beautiful paintings, and of course, Animal Crackers

Nailed!

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Hooters is deflating:

"Courage is found in unlikely places": Chris Kluwe, Charlie Angus, AOC, Zelenskyy and Europe, Mike Pence, FP Wellman, John Cole...

Taking one of my favorite Lord Of The Rings quotes as my text today, I thought I should highlight some of the people - both likely and unlikely - who are showing courage against the fascist hellhole that is today's America: 

Football player Chris Kluwe:

Parker Molloy / The Present Age 

Democrats Could Learn Something from Former NFL Punter Chris Kluwe 

Chris Kluwe's strategic protest shows exactly what's missing from the current resistance to authoritarianism. 

... Chris Kluwe, who has long been outspoken about social issues, got himself arrested at a city council meeting while protesting a proposed "MAGA" plaque for the local library. 

But before he did, he delivered a searing indictment of what MAGA really means: "MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence. MAGA stands for resegregation and racism. MAGA stands for censorship and book bans. MAGA stands for firing air traffic controllers while planes are crashing. MAGA stands for firing the people overseeing our nuclear arsenal. MAGA stands for firing military veterans and those serving them at the VA, including canceling research on veteran suicide. MAGA stands for cutting funds to education, including for disabled children. MAGA is profoundly corrupt, unmistakably anti-democracy and most importantly, MAGA is explicitly a Nazi movement. You may have replaced a swastika with a red hat, but that is what it is." 

 Then he did something crucial: He got arrested. 

Peacefully. 

Deliberately. 

And most importantly, strategically. 

He made sure his arrest would be theatrical without being violent. And guess what? It worked. The story got picked up everywhere from the LA Times to Sports Illustrated to Fox News. His message reached millions of people... 

MP Charlie Angus: 

Charlie Angus / The Resistance 

Speak Now or Forever Lose Your Peace 

Final Dispatch from NATO, Brussels 

 ...we can resist the Trump/Putin plan. My hope is that in the coming months, nations like Europe, Australia, Japan, Latin America, and Canada can work together to oppose the Trump gang. Trump is being reckless on so many fronts, and he will trip and fall. And this will be the opportunity in the United States to begin pushing back. 

 But my advice to fellow Canadians and our international allies is that we can’t wait or hope for America to get its act together. The resistance must start now. 

 I am hoping that a coalition from around the world will join Canada. But if not, we will stand on our own. Canadians will never kiss the gangster ring, no matter how hard the fight. 

What a game!

I had a post about politics almost ready to go, but not tonight! What a great game:

You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 21, 2025

Never has a win felt this good.

— George Stroumboulopoulos 🐺 (@strombo) February 21, 2025

Lol yup 😂

— QuickDickMcDick 🇨🇦 (@QuickDickMcDick) February 21, 2025

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More than just a hockey game:

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Cue the pearl-clutching -- "Ohhh, she changed the LYRICS!"

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Scorch!

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Edited because I just saw this one, too:

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Some days, we just need to laugh...

How funny people can be about politics, even when things are just so grim!

First, isn't this good news!

And isn't this the way we all feel now: 

Moving on:

Can’t spell tariffs without FFS.

— Jen The Feisty Librarian (@Feisty_Waters) February 12, 2025

"No Kings Day" - A day of protest against Trump and Musk

America won't go down without a fight. 

There were massive protests across the US on Monday, with the rallying cry "No Kings!" -- that precisely expressed the new American message to Trump and Musk. 

Here are some of the best signs - and I also appreciated how they were all handmade - no slick generic "protest" signs here, just a profoundly personal outrage:

 

Morgan Stephens / Daily Kos 

Protests ramp up across the country as rage builds against Trump and Musk 

...The demonstrations, called “No Kings on Presidents Day” or “No Kings Day,” are led by 50501, an online grassroots activist group that started on Reddit. The group initially stood for “50 protests, 50 states, one day,” but it has morphed into “50 protests, 50 states, one movement.” 

 The No Kings Day protest was the group's second wave of anti-Trump and Musk demonstrations. The first nationwide protests took place on Feb. 5 across state capitols. The movement focused on the White House’s dismantling of government agencies and threatened prosecution for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. It explicitly targets Musk’s hostile takeover of sensitive personal data in the U.S. government. 

 This time, 50501 partnered with Political Revolution to list nearly 80 events on its website. This allowed users to find a protest happening near them to attend. The group is a “leaderless” movement, which encourages others to create their own activist groups in their circles. According to a press release, 50501 states that the coalition was created to demand “justice,” “transparency,” and “accountability” to “uphold the Constitution” and end Trump and Musk’s “executive overreach.” 

.... This comes as another group of protesters targeted Tesla dealerships over the weekend. Musk’s Tesla sales have been in an unprecedented decline since he got on the right-wing political scene in support of MAGA. ... 

Good! Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. 

Taking a step back

So now, in this Year of Our Lord 2025, let's look at where are we at.

In Canada, by mid-March, we will have a new federal Liberal leader - I hope it will be Mark Carney - who will immediately need to deal with Trump attempting to crush us with tariffs. The new PM will be implementing tit-for-tat tariffs against America, and likely need to call a new session of Parliament to pass a package of CERB-type support programs for damaged industries across the country. At some time this spring -- later in March, maybe, or in April, or maybe even early June, Carney will call a federal election. And I hope the Liberals will win again, because if they don't Canada will be taking a giant step backwards.

In the United States, they already took their giant step backwards. By mid-March, they will be experiending a profound buyers remorse -- costs for food and gas and home insurance will skyrocket, and the government they took for granted will no longer be able to respond to natural disasters, airplane crashes, hospital closures, epidemics, and all the other things that go wrong for a nation of 300+ million people -- hell, they won't even be able to do ordinary stuff like manage the campgrounds in their National Parks! -- and all the while, Musk and his short-pants boys will gleefully continue to rampage around breaking things they don't understand and causing havoc and misery to public servants who don't deserve it. Not to mention the spreading chaos this summer as crops are unharvested, meat plants unstaffed, facilities uncleaned, restaurants close, and all the other jobs done by undocumented immigrants are abandoned.

In Europe, by mid-March, the Russia-Ukraine war will still be going on, and likewise, in the Middle East, by mid-March, the Hamas-Israel war will still be going on too. While Trump and Rubio and Vance and their ignorant crew of "special advisors" and "special envoys" boast about how they are going to fix everything any minute now, as they continue to diss and insult their friends and allies while they scurry around holding summits with every dictator they can find, the more tin-pot the better. Overall, 2025 is not going to be a productive year, though it may be memorable.

If the world was experiencing an overall "anti-incumbent" spasm in 2024, when so many countries were voting against their existing progressive governments, I expect we can conclude that impulse will definitely be over in 2025 -- the horrors of what I call "Trump 2: The Revenge Tour" will demonstrate to voters around the world why they should never never absolutely never even consider letting their own far-right-wing nut jobs get power.