Today's News: Ukraine fights back

Though most of my attention is on the Ukraine now, there is still actual Canadian news for yesterday and today-- Trudeau has revoked the Emergencies Act, for one thing -- and the insurrectionists who fucked around are finding out more of what Canadian justice has in store for them.

BREAKING: @ONtransport tells @CP24 & @CTVNews they've suspended 12 Ontario large (transport) truck licenses, and issued 27 seizure orders against out-of-province truck operators related to the Ottawa protest blockades. This effectively puts them out of business.

— Brandon Buechler (@B21Writes) February 24, 2022

Jan 28-Feb 14: Ottawa paralyzed. Police do nothing.

Feb 14: Federal emergency declaration.

Feb 18-20: Police move in. Blockades cleared.

Feb 23: Emergency declaration lifted.

In sum: Emergency declaration restores order, is lifted soon after.

Outrage!

— Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦 (@acoyne) February 23, 2022

They can travel, work etc. All they have to do is get vaccinated. This is not a serious imposition in reality, even if they imagine it to be so.
That they do so imagine is sad. They deserve our empathy and understanding. They do not, however, get to set policy. https://t.co/U7fcMQxQVj

— Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦 (@acoyne) February 23, 2022

That permanent power grab argument had a short shelf life. https://t.co/cuGa80G2B3

— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) February 23, 2022

I don't think the people of Ottawa will ever forget this attempted insurrection - I would love to see a book about it, and maybe this artist's work could illustrate it:

Heroes of the resistance. Ordinary people pushed to do extraordinary things during the occupation. #cdnpoli #politicalcartoon #ottawaprotest #resistance #balconyguy #potbangingguy #lawsuitlady #thepress #staysafe #getvaccinated #wearamask #pandemic #cartoon #illustration pic.twitter.com/gbsympIRdg

— Chris Chuckry 🇺🇦 🇨🇦 (@chrischuckry) February 23, 2022

As requested, more heroes of the resistance. The neighbourhood “grannies,” who gave a thumbs down and a “you shall not pass” to a dump truck-lead convoy on their street. Also, blue jacket guy, a bundle of pulsating furiosity who unloaded on some horn honking truckers. 1/ pic.twitter.com/KHv9V1zW4I

— Chris Chuckry 🇺🇦 🇨🇦 (@chrischuckry) February 24, 2022

And never forget the Battle of Billings Bridge:

"our tiny protest with a few people turned into a block party of thousands ...it is this sort of direct action, rather than policing emboldened by an authoritarian Emergency Act, that will undermine sympathy for the convoy’s politics"https://t.co/Ga4fDodCUX

— Alison Creekside (@CreeksideAlison) February 22, 2022

Never forget. pic.twitter.com/MTelgL2nA1

— T💀ri the Dumb Lefty Canadian Radical (@RodneyTori) February 22, 2022

Turning to the war in the Ukraine, I thought this post today was inspirational and beautiful:

Pretty Nose — Hero of the Battle of Little Bighorn, June 25, 1876. First female War Chief of the Arapaho Nation — I send her ferociously beautiful fighting spirit to the people of Ukraine. 🇺🇦🪶 pic.twitter.com/1rQboK2E1T

— Lakota Man (@LakotaMan1) February 25, 2022

And this is just so tragic:

Father saying goodbye to his daughter as he puts her on a bus to safety and he stays behind to fight for Ukraine #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/MBRc2fH59j

— Wu-Tang Is For The Children (@WUTangKids) February 24, 2022

One of the most famous Soviet World War II ballads begins: "On the 22nd of June at 4am, they bombed Kyiv / They told us war had begun."

This time the missiles are coming from Russia. https://t.co/B8rsM7DeNN

— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 25, 2022

There are some reports tonight that the Ukraine army, though outnumbered and outgunned, continues to fight for their country with courage and determination, and even may be winning some battles:

Though Ukraine's initial defense wasn't great today, it will improve. Whether called an "insurgency" or a "guerilla war," UKR will wear down an enemy that already has low morale & an even lower support from their population back in mother RU (see protests). 13/

— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) February 25, 2022

Meanwhile... (Maliar also claimed that Ukraine has destroyed 7 Russian warplanes, 6 attack helicopters, more than 30 tanks, and 130 armored vehicles.) https://t.co/3IwJhv1YEB

— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) February 25, 2022

It is obviously no longer possible for the world to interact with Putin like a normal political leader. China won't bail him out either. He stuck out his neck and thought he could crush Ukraine like he was Ivan the Terrible and leave the West divided. That's not happening.

— Aaron Astor (@AstorAaron) February 25, 2022

And once again, Republicans are on the wrong side of history:

Lord Haw-Haw rides again. https://t.co/q8AaheDVUh

— David Simon (@AoDespair) February 24, 2022

Half of them want Biden to do "more" but can't say what "more" means because they have no idea. The other half is rooting for the Russians. https://t.co/6OxgpumCZD

— Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) February 25, 2022

Cowards.https://t.co/KKyqvhcPmD

— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) February 25, 2022

And one more bit of interesting info:

Very glad to know this now. https://t.co/DNFORZUkuj

— SoniaFesteryga 💉💉💉😷 (@SoniaFesteryga) February 25, 2022

Today's News: War in Ukraine

78 years of peace in Europe was ended today by Russia and Belarus attacking the Ukraine.

#Ukraine is attacked from the north, east, south, air, and ground. This is an all-out war, with Kyiv now under threat by Russian tanks moving in from Belarus. There are reports of amphibious landings in Mariupol and Odesa. pic.twitter.com/G19PsvIvPi

— Mattia Nelles (@mattia_n) February 24, 2022

Map of Russian missile strikes against Ukrainian targets. All military airports are apparently destroyed pic.twitter.com/Q0wY7diVst

— Dmitri Alperovitch (@DAlperovitch) February 24, 2022

Its worth noting that Ukraine and Belarus are both huge countries.

Real-size profiles of #Belarus and #Ukraine projected on the map of Western Europe. This is a potential scale of conflict-affected areas should #Russia expand its aggression against Ukraine (and involve Belarus into the war). pic.twitter.com/3Nl7jbUu7m

— SERGE KHARYTONAU ❌❌ (@kharytonau) January 31, 2022

Someone said it would take 50 divisions to invade a country the size of Ukraine, and Putin only has 15.

So Russia won't be pulling a blizkreig invasion over the whole country, probably more like pummelling airports and ports and infrastructure, and hoping Ukraine will just collapse militarily and economically, and sue for peace, letting the Russians march in without opposition, ending up with half the country occupied by Russia and the other half another version of Vichy France. 

Its difficult to see now what the rest of the world will do to stop this, and whether Europe and the world can get pulled into fighting too:

Eastern European members of NATO are invoking Article 4, which means urgent consultations on military plans for the alliance.

— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) February 24, 2022

In America, the Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for how they are following Trump's lead and supporting Putin, and many are calling them out:

The corruption of the American right should have been clear with its tolerance of an attempted coup at home. Now our supposed leader flatters a foreign aggressor as he starts an unprovoked and calamitous war. Shame on every Republican who continues to honor or excuse Trump.

— Gregg Nunziata (@greggnunziata) February 24, 2022

In Canada, considering all the pro-Putin Fox News blathering going on, I have been wondering which way our own CPC would go with this - particularly given how steadfast Trudeau has been in supporting Ukraine and how the CPC is always knee-jerk negative to everything Trudeau does. 

But tonight our old frenemy Harper issued a statement that was, I think, a clear message to the CPC to stop with the politics and get with the program:

No further compromises, no resets, no diplomatic niceties, says former Canadian Prime minister Stephen Harper, likening Putin to Hitler in 1938. Bullies must be dealt with by force. https://t.co/5e893W9LZ1

— Allan Woods (@WoodsAllan) February 24, 2022

And finally -- Trump is just such a clueless twit:

Trump thought US troops were fighting Russians in Ukraine. Try to wrap your mind around that for a second. https://t.co/OXg6qZ1yeJ

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 24, 2022

One thing we can count on is that Putin will put everything he can into turning the House and the Senate in 2022, and re-electing Trump to the presidency in 2024. 

It was a dreadful night to search for anything amusing to finish off this post, but this provoked a rueful chuckle:

Really impressed with everyone who got an emergency PhD in epidemiology in 2020 and who now has somehow earned a master’s in Russian Studies

— Olga Khazan (@olgakhazan) February 22, 2022

And in other news: America is furious at the Republican apologists

There used to be a quaint custom, particularly in the United States, that politics stopped at the border's edge - in other words, foreign policy was considered a national issue, and political games shouldn't be played when US interests abroad were at stake. 

The Trump Republicans have decided to ignore this convention now. Trump blathered on about how wonderful Putin was, and his Republican sycophants happily followed him.

Thousands of Americans are absolutely furious -- more than I have ever seen before.  On twitter, the tweets calling Republicans traitors are getting thousands of likes plus hundreds of retweets and comments.

If you’re defending Putin you’re attacking America.

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 23, 2022

SAD FACT: The Republican Party supports Vladimir Putin more than the Russian people do.

— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) February 23, 2022

The fact that you would tweet this today shows how little you care about this nation, its laws, or its people.

Especially since your guy was Putin's proctologist for four years.

— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) February 23, 2022

The MAGA Lunatics who called Colin Kaepernick unAmerican and a traitor are now praising murderous Dictator Putin for invading Ukraine just a little over a year after they supported the insurrection and attempted coup. That’s not patriotism, that’s fascism, terrorism and lunacy.

— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) February 23, 2022

I spoke to family in Ukraine this morning. They are scared, but they are safe—for now. They are just some of the millions in the path of war.

I would invite Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and others to speak with Ukrainians. Maybe then they’d stop praising Russia.

— Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) February 23, 2022

Where are all the “GOP IN DISARRAY OVER UKRAINE” headlines? Where are the stories about how this will hurt republicans in the midterms? #IStandWithUkraine

— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) February 23, 2022

You don't have to be a foreign policy expert to know that trump calling Putin's moves "genius" and "savvy" is a really bad look for a former American President.

Even for trump.

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) February 22, 2022

The GOP is weak on Russia, weak on inflation, weak on crime, and weak on Covid. Pass it on.

— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) February 23, 2022

Yes, I lived through the 2016 campaign and all four years of Trump placing Putin ahead of our intel community, praising Putin, defending Russian positions. And yet here we are at a moment of great crisis, a threat to the order Americans & allies fought and died for.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) February 23, 2022

One of America's two major political parties is, at its core, not just corrupt, not just racist, not just misogynist, not just opposed to truth or science or history. They are, their leaders are, actively enemies of the U.S., our system and what we stand for.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) February 23, 2022

This is the kind of moment when for almost all our history we really did set differences aside, when we came together. What's more, our president & his team are so clearly on the right side at this moment--pro-peace, pro-democracy, pro-international law, pro-our allies & friends.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) February 23, 2022

How have we gone so wrong? How is there even a shred of support for this? How has such a large and vital part of our system become so corrupted? Why are the voices of decent people in the GOP not united in a chorus of denunciation and renunciation of the Trumpist-Putinists?

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) February 23, 2022

Also, imagine when/if Republicans get power in 2024 - the massive global realignment. The US President actively helping Russia, Hungary, Poland, and other countries with far-right governments to promote violence, authoritarianism, and white Christian nationalism. Disaster.

— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) February 23, 2022

Here's one referencing that weird July 4 2018 Moscow trip taken by those Republican congressmen and senators. I have never understood why that stunt didn't get much more public coverage and criticism then or since.

I wonder how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will affect the GOP’s 4th of July plans? @GOP

— NoelCaslerComedy (@caslernoel) February 22, 2022

People are comparing the Republican reaction to the Ukraine with their support of the Canadian insurrection:

Open Thread:

Why is Russia-Ukraine “none of our business” but the Canada protests are worth sending millions in donations?

— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) February 23, 2022

If you're attacking Trudeau and praising Putin right now, I don't know what you are, but you sure ain't pro-life.

— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) February 23, 2022

Today's News: It passed

Done! The Emergencies Act passed the Commons and now the Senators get to posture and preen for a bit before they pass it too.

The fact that we got through this with only ~200 arrests and a few bruises is incredible. It was far from perfect, but this is an operation that could be studied as the benchmark of how crowd control situations don't need to be as violent and confrontational as they often are.

— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) February 21, 2022

Also. The Emergency Measures Act was crafted and enacted by Brian Mulroney and his long dead PC conservative party. This gives it even greater credence in its purpose, validity and use here. It’s tailored precisely for these circumstances. #cdnpoli #EmergencyAct #Ottawa https://t.co/JFrIwwxwbt

— Paul Stewart II (@PaulStewartII) February 21, 2022

We are thinking its over, but the problem is the insurrectionists aren't actually finished yet, they'll be glad to move back into Ottawa or the border crossings as soon as they can.

Was pointed out to me this evening that a main goal of the convoy — w/ the honking, music, trucks clogging streets, the hooliganism — was to punish vaccinated people & the people who promote vaccines & health measures. It's obvious now that you mention it…

— Paul Dechene (@PaulDechene) February 21, 2022

They are going to be a policing problem for Canada for months -- until, I expect, a permanent bill gets passed that allows the feds to confiscate vehicles used illegally in protests and that also does something about the money angle too -- and THAT, my friends, is going to be where many in Canada will find it difficult to draw a line because of the fear - or even likliehood - that a future government could abuse powers like this to shut down legitimate protests.

We're already seeing this kind of stuff happening in the States - laws preventing people from taking water to people waiting in line to vote, for example. We're already seeing hypocrisy here - those who have no problem with dividing people into "good" protestors and "bad" protestors.

Please stop telling me that @JustinTrudeau should have met with the protestors but then also supporting @PremierScottMoe who wouldn’t even meet with Tristen Durocher. If this is your view then you should look up the term hypocrisy. Then tell me who he should meet #cdnpoli #skpoli

— Megan Willis (@meganwillis) February 19, 2022

So there may be some darker and more difficult days to come. 

But Canada will come through, I believe.

And today was a good day.

PMJT just walking across Wellington Street as if it’s just another day.

The Emergency Act vote was a success.#IStandWithTrudeau pic.twitter.com/K6tNQSrtVa

— Canadian Politics (@canadianpoli) February 22, 2022

Today's News: Cleaning up

Ottawa, meet Jack. He’s out there on messy but liberated Kent St. cleaning up the occupiers’ garbage.

And look at that smile. pic.twitter.com/Jp82rxfrR1

— Kiavash Najafi (@KiavashNajafi) February 20, 2022

A few recent statistics:

As I said before: if you're talking about how divided the country is on these protests, it just mostly shows which side of the divide you're on https://t.co/XhTwEghhBi

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) February 20, 2022

Net Support For The Truckers Protest:

By Province:
MB/SK: +2%
AB: -16%
BC: -18%
ON: -31%
QC: -46%
ATL: -50%

By Party:
CPC: +4%
Others: -8%
LPC: -46%
NDP: -75%

Innovative Research / February 14, 2022 / n=500 / Online

— Polling Canada (@CanadianPolling) February 17, 2022

Some comments:

Look, a lot of people may not have much in way of power in this country, but we all have a vote. A lot of people here wanted to remove the PM without an election, and they want to silence the media. I don't think they know what kind of a country we would be if they had their way.

— Carole MacNeil (@carolemacneil) February 19, 2022

The Ottawa Occupiers complain about not being listened to

🙄

Dude, I’m a rural alberta NDP voter. I don’t even exist in the fed poli landscape & you don’t see me mounting a posse with the local yoga club to form an e car convoy to Ottawa demanding more trees & funded pharmacare

— Shawna Gawreluck (@ShawnaGofABPoli) February 18, 2022

Trudeau showed remarkable poise, resolve and other-worldly patience throughout this imbecilic insurrection.
The police operation to dislodge a toxic occupation of the capital was ad gentle as it could be under the circumstances.

— Jack Todd (@jacktodd46) February 20, 2022

I thought this hit the mark:

They should definitely run the next election telling Canadians if their cities are occupied by blaring horns for 3-4 weeks, with mobs assaulting people on the streets, Conservatives won't do anything about it. https://t.co/vLIPh3lGzu

— Asif Hossain (@asifintoronto) February 20, 2022

And some funny stuff, too:

I stand with Law Suit Girl, Pot Banging Guy and Balcony Man. The heroes we need, not the heroes we deserve...

— Eric Woolfe (@ericwoolfe) February 18, 2022

pic.twitter.com/bqBD8FYFE0

— Alberta cowbell Karl (@kandriuk) February 20, 2022

Any final parting words from #Ottawa to the convoy?

I think that sums it up nicely! #GoHomeFluTruxclan #RamRanchResistance pic.twitter.com/vhRq8MC3w8

— Kimberly (@kimbo1942) February 20, 2022

#COVID19 #OttawaOccupation pic.twitter.com/oboObogN0d

— Dr Rasmussen (@StandingHannah) February 21, 2022

And because there's some other awful stuff about to happen in Europe, this is useful info too:

This is well done. https://t.co/8orDAViUNb

— Max Bergmann (@maxbergmann) February 18, 2022

Today's News: Ending with a whimper

Police services cleared hundreds of aggressive, committed zealots out of a large, dense, de facto fortified, urban area, without firing a shot, and without loss of life. The emergencies act was used to crush finances, rather than send in tanks

— David Fisman (@DFisman) February 19, 2022

The least surprising news of the day:

A source in the emergency response team told me that Ottawa Police planned, then cancelled, at least one operation after discovering details may have been leaked to the occupiers. They suspected an officer who was on leave without pay for refusing to get vaccinated.

— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) February 20, 2022

Just as Jan 6 was a Come-To-Jesus moment for some of the American media, so the Ottawa Occupation may become that for the Canadian media. The "both sides" stance is breaking down - a little bit, anyway.

This came from Andrew Coyne today, who is usually a stenographer for the Conservative party. He’s not wrong. I Conservatives have collapsed as a legitimate party. They are done. Put a fork in them. pic.twitter.com/3PjYQm704Z

— PoliticalCupid (@PoliticalCupid) February 19, 2022

First it was Andrew Coyne, then it was Warren Kinsella, now it’s Robert Fife. Not to worry though, RexMurphy & Jordan Peterson went down the rabbit hole together

— S Clark (@ShllClark5) February 20, 2022

CBC's Chris Walker got hammered for this one:

As someone who has been working hard to radicalize people on the far left -- folks, we are not the ones doing fascism. https://t.co/YPmk8W87Yz

— Nora Loreto (@NoLore) February 20, 2022

This Ivison clanger landed with a thump heard across twitter:

Left: please get vaccinated.
Right: we want to overthrow the government and imprison the Prime Minister.

Ivision: both sides! https://t.co/pRL3y83M6x

— Max Fawcett (@maxfawcett) February 20, 2022

And Brian Lilley is, of course, blaming the Liberal government - but also, the insurrectionists! So ...

Latest column: Police did their jobs in Ottawa while the government and protesters engaged is false propaganda.
This will take a long time to heal.
Read & RT #cdnpoli https://t.co/xKstiLs20b

— Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) February 19, 2022

And no wonder, because here's a sensible discussion about those "divisive" accusations against Trudeau from the CPC that too many people in the media keep parroting:

1/ "Divisiveness" is, as Emmett Macfarlane rightly points out, not of itself an argument against any policy. Leaving aside the fact that mandates command huge public support, If division were a disqualifying argument, we'd have no free trade agreements, no same-sex marriage, etc

— Alex Usher (@AlexUsherHESA) February 19, 2022

Anything worth doing can be considered divisive. Bringing in Medicare in SK resulted in a doctor's strike. It was a divisive issue. Divisive is a code word I have heard in the church for not wanting to ordain women or not allowing clergy to perform same sex marriages.

— Rev Barb (@forsyth_barb) February 19, 2022

The thousands of Canadians who took part in this insurrection, and who are still cheering and honking and trying to blockade borders for no reason I can fathom, are going to have a rude awakening:

After experiencing the exhilaration of unlawful collective action, many of them will be waking to realize how alone they are: alone with criminal records; alone with seized assets and frozen accounts; alone and abandoned by those whose directives they followed.

— Josh Greenberg (@josh_greenberg) February 19, 2022

And isn't this the truth:

pic.twitter.com/QsEz6FveZj

— Caliber Carpentry (@CaliberJeff) February 20, 2022

Funny of the day:

Holy Spirit and Blackface Hitler are trending in Canada because lots of folks are having a normal Saturday night online.

— Nora Loreto (@NoLore) February 20, 2022

Mr. Lich informs the court that the Holy Spirit is going to assist him and his wife to travel home from Ottawa.

— James Bowie (@JamesDBowie) February 19, 2022

This so funny. People watch too many US shows! https://t.co/R8scyAEhCe

— Angus Reid (@AngusReid) February 20, 2022

I thought this was priceless:

What Liberals see when they look across the aisle in the House of Commons.#neverforgetneverforgive @cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/SJTX9xjSLl

— Tsiehta ⚛️💉💉💉😷 (@Tsiehta) February 19, 2022

Today's News: Finding Out

Canada was glued to the news channels today, watching as Ottawa police took their city back. Somewhere somebody is already drafting up 3,000-word think pieces about What It All Means and Where We Go From Here and all that. But for tonight, enjoy these:

UPDATE: Bouncy castle seen fleeing Ottawa

— Walking Eagle News (@TheEagleist) February 19, 2022

I would also like to salute the trolls who have been helping make this less unbearable and occasionally pretty funny. pic.twitter.com/PDrpo6VNO4

— Bruce Anderson (@bruceanderson) February 18, 2022

This particular thread was delightful to scroll through:

Police shift change or added deployment in front of Chateau Laurier. #ottawa 9:26 pm pic.twitter.com/MmywdAMOyz

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) February 19, 2022

There goes the u-haul truck. The renter is going to have some explaining to do. #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/FuvniA76Xe

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) February 19, 2022

Definitely a shift change. And more riot-ready police. There would appear to be more police than ever in front of the Chateau Laurier. pic.twitter.com/xW8sqMPAu5

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) February 19, 2022

The towing business is brisk in downtown Ottawa tonight. #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/5nTlQdIZTp

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) February 19, 2022

That’s it: the last of the protest vehicles parked at Rideau and Sussex is gone. Towing operation ends at 11:17 ET. Still ahead Saturday—remaining vehicles near Parliament and others clustered elsewhere in Ottawa. pic.twitter.com/9Q5fP8DSRY

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) February 19, 2022

pic.twitter.com/f1Aj4NbB7N

— Pauline Landry (@vaxxednotwaxxed) February 18, 2022

Some other takes:

The remaining #FreedomConvoy still at the protest are just SHOCKED by what happened

They never believed in a million years the police would arrest and move their fellow protestors out

They really believed the police were on their side#cdnpoli

— G.T. Lem (@gtlem) February 19, 2022

I hope police forces around the world are watching the exquisite execution of police forces in Ottawa to defuse an incredibly volatile situation. So proud of these professionals

— Gary Mason (@garymasonglobe) February 19, 2022

Life is full of tough decisions but “do I or do I not side with the team who uses children as shields?” is like the easiest one

— Pat Dubois (@patdubois) February 19, 2022

You know, it was really the honking that did them in. Canadian public opinion was meh until the honking revealed them as yahoos & bullies who thought they could push everyone else around.

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) February 18, 2022

If you told me in 2021 that a year later I’d be watching videos of cops writing parking tickets online and cheering, I’d have called you nuts But here we are.

— Carl Boucher (@CarlBoucherKnee) February 18, 2022

Just a note for those who need clarification: you don't have and never had the right to do anything you want, any time you want and anywhere you want. Grow the fuck up. #TruckerConvoy

— Ed the Sock (@EdtheSock) February 19, 2022

Fox News was apparently going into hysterics about some insurrectionist knocked over by police on horses and it was, of course, another total lie.

This would be the "find out" part.

More of this, please. https://t.co/qRSWqxizWQ

— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 19, 2022

All the antivaxxers on Facebook are already saying “it’s been confirmed the disabled woman who was trampled has died”. She wasn’t trampled and got up 35 seconds later in the video. These people are insane.

— david delores frank (@brainnest) February 19, 2022

Omfg... now it's an indigenous elder 🙄🙄🙄 soon it will be a pair of visually impaired children.... https://t.co/jg8tgkARMO https://t.co/V4M7BpUB1h

— Tertiary Person-#ChooseForward 🇨🇦 (@kaythird) February 19, 2022

Here we go. The woman who fell was missed by the horse, and has a sore shoulder.

Police are owed an apology for being falsely accused of killing someone.

Good grief. https://t.co/KDIpeJShvd

— Adam Stirling 🐎🐎🐎 (@Adam_Stirling) February 19, 2022

Here's a concerning story:

My latest for @pressprogress:

A nation-wide network of far-right Evangelical pastors are participating in the occupation of Ottawa & blockades at the Canada-US border.

Pastors built US networks through opposing church capacity limits.https://t.co/tpp2bbWn7w #cdnpoli #ottnews

— Emily Leedham (@Emily_Leedham_) February 18, 2022

And finally, this also:

Sorting through hundreds of emails, and every once and awhile there's one about protecting caribou habitat and it's like oh, yeah, there are other issues in the country too.

— Jeff Jedras (@jeffjedras) February 18, 2022

Today's News: Waiting for the end

Today Canada started to feel like maybe the end is in sight for the Ottawa Insurrection, or FluTruxKlan, or whatever it will end up being called. 

Ottawa police plus reinforcements FINALLY implemented a plan - they have set up a Red Zone in downtown Ottawa around the Parliament Buildings and they are trying to prevent new protestors from entering. Also, I think the fuel supply is getting cut off now. The organizers are getting arrested. And according to some twitter reports, the tow trucks are on the way. 

I really hope it isn't going to be a water cannon moment - I am still terrified for the children there, what are their parents thinking? -- but it looks like we are at the beginning of the end.

We shouldn't expect it to be quick. It took weeks to get into this mess, so I imagine it will take until the end of February or longer to get everyone out and figure out how to stop new convoys from forming. But I think Canada will be willing to wait now that we see some progress being made toward cleaning up the streets and implementing serious and well-deserved financial penalties too.

I could not care any less who thinks its a good idea or a bad to use the emergencies act.

Generally, the most radicalized people are against it. Left and Right.

The question is: do I trust the government to use it accordingly and do I trust the checks & balances.

Why yes I do.

— kris meloche (@krismeloche) February 17, 2022

Can trying to overthrow a government ever be characterized as "peaceful"?
Yes -- if it's done by voting them out in an election.
Otherwise -- never.

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) February 17, 2022

Plz stop calling the #OttawaOccupiers "protesters". They're obstructionists. Criminals and lawbreakers. Racists. Neonazis. Unfit parents. "Opportunity escorts" as Tamara Lich called them, who drove in rigs, SUVs, campers, vans expecting to get paid. Terror tourism on the cheap. https://t.co/3ENHZV4VHP

— deBeauxOs (@deBeauxOs1) February 17, 2022

Key Findings
2/5 #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/lnu0okNqgh

— L'il Jan Pissed Off On the Prairies ❄🍁❄ (@Learning2GetBy) February 18, 2022

Key Findings
4/5 #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/FnfUAVcPdC

— L'il Jan Pissed Off On the Prairies ❄🍁❄ (@Learning2GetBy) February 18, 2022

The Conservatives may still be trying to trying to promote their Insurrectionist Street Cred but I think fewer Canadians will be buying it:

My cousin who is a strong Conservative is shaking his head at this Conservative party. I hit him hard today with the so much for the Conservatives being the law and order party. He didn't disagree. https://t.co/Qkju57PqVJ

— Jaro Giesbrecht🇨🇦 (@JaroGiesbrecht) February 18, 2022

Conservative Party of Canada #CPC the party that supports the #OttawaOccupation. Led by Skippy and Candy.
"Give me your racists, your bigots, / Your Nazis yearning to breathe free” pic.twitter.com/2t5IHHwho5

— 🇨🇦 Merlin 🇨🇦 Wear an N95 #COVIDisAirborne (@MerlinofCanada) February 18, 2022

When Pierre Poilievre is the cream of the crop you probably got your crop insurance from Andrew Scheer.

— Dean from Winnipeg (@Dean_Winnipeg) February 11, 2022

This is exactly why the Trudeau government announced its implementation of immediate financial disaster for any insurrectionist who continued to protest:

I seriously believe exactly this led to the 24hr clearance at Coutts.

"That's it, son. Bring the tractor home NOW."

— Rugged Broad (@ruggedbroad) February 18, 2022

And as the police and the accountants get a grip on the insurrection, Canadians are able to start laughing at these yahoos who thought they could intimidate Trudeau and the Liberal government:

So glad this episode of Trailer Park Boys Goes to Ottawa is almost over. It's ending like every other episode too. They walk away with nothing, and we all get a good laugh#OttawaOccupied #FluTruxKlan

— SmokeyB (@smokeyb4242) February 18, 2022

Apparently the entire #TruckNut convoy is made up of hundreds of "isolated incidents" and unrepresentative bad apples. #cdnpoli

— Stephen Lautens (@stephenlautens) February 17, 2022

It’s getting real now. Protestors are deflating the bouncy castle #cdnpoli #ottnews pic.twitter.com/RL1ozLBZ0L

— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) February 17, 2022

And the people of Ottawa are absolutely outstanding! Here's another Canadian Heritage Moment:

pic.twitter.com/mKqbWn521y

— snooktronic (@snooktronic) February 18, 2022

Not all heroes wear capes. 👍#OttawaOccupiers #FreedomConvoyCanada2022 pic.twitter.com/QzQ3Y2BxYf

— 🌿🦇 Deep Green Resilience 🍁🍃 (@naturecognition) February 17, 2022

Could the city just bury the trucks in snow and tell the owners they can come pick them up in the spring?

— Lisa's Hideout (@CanadaehMemes) February 18, 2022

Today's News: The Hollow Men

This is the way the world ends 

This is the way the world ends 

This is the way the world ends 

Not with a bang but a whimper.

The insurrectionists are The Hollow Men tonight as their convoy occupation falls apart.

Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.

CTV National: Ottawa Police ticketing and towing protest vehicles on arterial routes, not Wellington yet.
Police moving in groups performing enforcement action.

— Jon Liedtke (@jonliedtke) February 16, 2022

Happening right now..Police bringing in multiple big truckloads of crowd control fencing into the Parliamentary District. Prepare for Kettling #FluTrucksKlan #FluTruxKlan #FluTruxClan #Clownvoy #OttawaOccupation #OttawaOccupied pic.twitter.com/U1rSEQzZIL

— Shawn Bethke (@bethke) February 17, 2022

Boom...
We had a bet in my office that as soon as things got tough, Pat King would skip town.
That's what bullies do.
He's heading for the hills leaving everyone else to face the cops.
Fortunately the financial costs of this debacle will follow him. https://t.co/pvm9AzdR4I

— Charlie Angus (@CharlieAngusNDP) February 17, 2022

But I expect there will be some very sad and deluded people abandoned in Ottawa to clean up the mess:

Thank you, Senator Brazeau, for speaking up on this, and the fact these people are ruining their lives to help these organisers in their nefarious cause. How hard will it be for them to find work and lead a normal life after this, if they have a criminal record and massive debt? https://t.co/3rEv8ygS8c

— Danika Dragomir (@NikaDragomira) February 17, 2022

The Conservatives were seizing on the Emergencies Act declaration for their usual Question Period freakout - when Trudeau told them the truth, they erupted.

Candice Bergen leaked email to CPC MP's "we should keep the convoy in Ottawa, it will hurt the PM' (paraphrased because I don't have it in front of me) Standing with them is exactly what she chose to do and all the back pedaling and denial can ever erase it.

— Mike Morris (@1MikeMorris) February 16, 2022

This is NOT just like the War Measures Act. There are not 15, 000 soldiers patrolling the streets. A thousand people were not immediately arrested. Habeas Corpus was not suspended.

— Duane Bratt (@DuaneBratt) February 16, 2022

I remember the War Measures Act too - I was in university at the time, and I was accused by some of my friends of being naive to trust the Liberal government with that much power. 

But I did - basically, we all did.  

They proved themselves worthy of that trust. After Trudeau got the Charter passed, the Mulroney government got rid of the War Measures Act and passed the Emergencies Act instead and nobody gave it a second thought. 

Until now. 

So yes, once again I trust the Liberal government to be responsible with the powers it is now going to be using against the insurrection.

Which, by the way, is even worse than we realized it was.

New | A convoy tried to re-occupy the Ambassador Bridge within the past 24 hours, according to Windsor's mayor.

Drew Dilkens says police intercepted the convoy.

Live presser happening here - CBC's @jennlagrassa is in the room. https://t.co/bFt8IGPdYT

— Chris Ensing (@ChrisEnsingCBC) February 16, 2022

Coutts blockaders discussed blocking airport cargo terminals: private threat assessment - National | https://t.co/bcKaDFV2Ba https://t.co/AZ7R3Nowo0

— Charles Rusnell (@charlesrusnell) February 16, 2022

4) psych torture & economic terrorism is being used.
5) organizers have setup supply chains in Ottawa and Nationally including comms messaging.
6) they want to over throw an elected government.
7) the office of the prime minister is under direct threat.
8) children are shields

— kris meloche (@krismeloche) February 16, 2022

Meanwhile, though we may all be done with Covid, it isn't actually done with us, is it?
 

Indeed. I characterize much of the current attitude as someone declaring they're done with gravity but I don't see them floating about

— stephen mills (@jogginsboy) February 16, 2022

Finally, some of the funny stuff today:

He is just saying what all of us want to scream! My heart breaks for our city and the level of hate these occupiers are inciting in our city and our country!

— Donkeyontheedge (@Donkeyontheedg1) February 17, 2022

And another Canadian Heritage Moment suggestion:

Can Ram Ranch become a Canadian Heritage Moment now?

Only in Canada could you shut down an insurrection with a gay cowboy song!#RamRanchResisitance #KluTruxKlanGoHome pic.twitter.com/Sm9ZTLP8th

— TFMJonny 🐺 ENVTuber (@tfmjonny) February 15, 2022

And Ottawa had a city council meeting today. It went about as well as you would expect, after Council found out its Police Board had fired Chief Sloly and apparently then hired a new chief without any competition:

Live shot of the current proceedings at Ottawa City Council. pic.twitter.com/fjtik8rmcK

— Cheryl Fougere (@cherylfougere) February 17, 2022

Keeping count so far, the insurrectionists have managed to get rid of 

-Conservative leader Erin O'Toole 

-Ottawa Police Chief Sloly 

-Ottawa police board chair Diane Deans plus three or four other board members.

Trudeau and Freeland and the rest of the federal Cabinet are still here.

Today's News: But the accountants never will

I found twitter to be in a bit of a lull today. 

Proclaiming the Emergencies Act gave us expectations that the FluTruxKlan will be arrested, broke or out of gas pretty soon, even as Tucker Carlson lost his mind. 

Chief Sloly resigned in Ottawa, thereby ending the public humiliation of one of the most inept public servants I have ever seen. 

The Coutts blockade and the other border convoys melted away as people realized there could be some expensive consequences to their yahoo behaviour. 

The hack of the trucker donation site provided lots of opportunity to investigate who has been stupid enough to support the grifters.

Luke warm take: if the increased regulatory scrutiny of protest financing ends this (and I think it might), it will be the most perfectly boring YOW outcome possible. Come at Ottawa, and we will Canada Gazette Part I you into submission.

— Glen McGregor (@glen_mcgregor) February 15, 2022

Most don’t really understand the Emergencies Act and think the government has seven days to act. (Parliament needs to vote after seven days.) So they think the end is soon. (It might be?)

— Stephanie Carvin (@StephanieCarvin) February 16, 2022

The government is absolutely amping up to respond in Ottawa.

— kris meloche (@krismeloche) February 15, 2022

-slow rolling w intent to impede the free flow of traffic.
-boarding of foreign nationals w long-term implications.

“These measures will be enforced today,” said an official.

More here soon-ish: https://t.co/vsypyq8yyD#TruckersConvoy2022 #cdnpoli #OttCity

— Rachel Aiello (@rachaiello) February 15, 2022

What Canadians were asking themselves today was, why did it take so long? 

We are fired up now, and ready to kick some more ass.

Likely they are now afraid of the financial penalties Freeland will be imposing on them.
The police may hug them, but the accountants never will.

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) February 15, 2022

Just as a last thing: The Windsor action was orders of magnitude easier. They had less resources, less infrastructure, fewer people. You're talking about 50 people with some vehicles (where police had to arrest 25-30) vs. a crowd of 1,000-2,000 with a ton of vehicles.

— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) February 15, 2022

Ottawa residents are now watching and waiting for the OPS to act. Rest assured if there is no action tomorrow the residents will take action.

— Ron☘ (@kellr2010) February 16, 2022

And we are also trying to start sorting out what it all means, for us now and in the future:

The "leaders" of this occupation have not only demanded all COVID-related mandates end but have also demanded Justin Trudeau's resignation AND have officially offered to form a coalition party with two other currently elected parties. That is an attempt to overthrow democracy.
4/

— Mx. Amanda Jetté Knox (@MavenOfMayhem) February 15, 2022

@BillBlair Canadians need a thorough audit & vetting of @rcmpgrcpolice, @CanadianForces, @OPP, as well as @OttawaPolice officers for any complicity with insurrectionists & ties with extremist & white supremacist groups.

— Ugabug (@MaryPChipman) February 16, 2022

Today's funnies: 

First, this whole thread is hilarious:

Canadian tyranny is snow in May

— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman) February 16, 2022

And finally, this:

Good night all pic.twitter.com/8uxoGDTrFD

— Stephen Puddicombe (@sdpuddicombe) February 16, 2022

Today's News: fuck around and find out

In October, 1970, the War Measures Act was declared when Pierre Elliot Trudeau proclaimed we were in the midst of an apprehended insurrection in Quebec 

Today, it happened again, in Ontario and in Alberta, sort of. 

This time the 1988 Emergencies Act won't suspend civil liberties (in spite of the New York Times breathlessly tweeting this hysterical take) and Parliament is overseeing the Cabinet declarations. 

Bit it was still a scary day -- starting with the news of the Coutts arrests and gun seizures:

More information about the symbology on the equipment from the Coutts arrests by the RCMP. https://t.co/Y90zqZ5cWP

— Aryn Toombs (@ArynToombs) February 15, 2022

As well as ultimately getting rid of the trucks on Parliament Hill, the longer-term impact of the Emergency declaration and its related measures is likely going to be financial -- I think that anyone who contributed to the insurrectionists may find themselves in trouble

Chrystia Freeland just delivered the single greatest "fuck around, find out" lesson in Canadian history. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/nhzLUyWS58

— Max Fawcett (@maxfawcett) February 14, 2022

I don't know about the rest of you, but I will henceforth refer to Trudeau invoking the Emergencies Act as "Truck around and find out".

— Aaron Hoyland (@aaronhoyland) February 14, 2022

Chrystia Freeland called in someone more effective than the military: the accountants.

Welcome to the “find out” part, #FluTruxKlan…

— Carl Boucher (@CarlBoucherKnee) February 15, 2022

I remember when this all started — before most people outside of Canada were even aware it was going on — @JessMarinDavis tried to warn people that the convoy fundraisers were a risk not worth taking. She was right!

— Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) February 14, 2022

Trudeau to the insurrectionists: "If we have to haul your truck off Parliament Hill, we're keeping it!" pic.twitter.com/qic5bSkMuR

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) February 15, 2022

Tonight on twitter the insurrectionists and their backers are trying to get people to make runs on the banks. Real patriotic, eh?

Even the Conservatives are realizing now they need to switch sides and fast, against the insurrectionists:

You guys are really trying hard to absolve our mayor, police and premier of any responsibilities. Tree here shouldnt have been any reason for the Feds to step in but here we are. No one is buying what you are trying to sell. https://t.co/MmKTXnG3v4

— Tracy Corneau (@Tracytms) February 15, 2022

This insurrection is and always was about the money. So expect its architects to go completely bananas about the government’s response. It’s calibrated, non-violent, and will be very effective. They did the right thing today. #EmergenciesAct

— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) February 14, 2022

Desperation. Cons have resorted to recycling years-old fake scandals and retweeting washed-up American pseudolebrities to "own" Trudeau. They backed themselves into an antivax corner so they're grabbing at straws for everything else. #cdnpoli #CdnMediaFailed #JustWatchMe https://t.co/p1l54Qhv4k

— Jackie Blue 💉💉💉 Schmucks in Trucks Go Home! (@MsFuddleDuddle) February 15, 2022

And finally, a Ha Ha moment:

Ha. We put the chips in the ivermectin. Suckers.

— Frank Graves (@VoiceOfFranky) February 15, 2022

Today's news: Ottawa Strong

The people of Ottawa started fighting back today - in the cold, standing out on the streets, being yelled at, carrying handmade signs, abandoned by their own police department and their politicians -- but nevertheless, they persisted. 

And they did it! #OttawaStrong was their attitude, and their hashtag (the insurrectionist anti-vaxxers tried to hijack it to apply to the FluTruxKlan themselves, but it didn't work.) 

I don't know enough about the geography of Ottawa to understand exactly where all this happened, but a bunch of brave Ottawa citizens stood their ground all day at the #Battle of BillingsBridge, to stop a line of trucks who wanted to join the anti-vaxxers on Parliament Hill. 

And even though police told the citizens to let the line pass, they would not move. More and more people joined them. Until finally the line turned tail and drove away.

Police have been trying to negotiate with the counter protestors to get them to move, with no success.

When the crowd said they’re not leaving, One cop just came up to them asked “so how does this end then?”

That did not go over well with the crowd #cdnpoli #ottnews

— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) February 13, 2022

They did much more too!!! https://t.co/bubVQNKUxX

— Mike Twome (@MikeTwome) February 13, 2022

How can police be ordering a group of citizens to allow a convoy through to join an illegal blockade downtown? The mind reels at the raging and dangerous incompetence of Ottawa police. https://t.co/bHuXFweUsh

— Don Martin (@DonMartinCTV) February 13, 2022

#OttawaStrong If the police won’t do anything Ottawa citizens will. So impressed! Cheering from BC! 🇨🇦 https://t.co/ipuBDgsGDc

— Lisa Thompson 🇨🇦 (@Iwuvsunshine) February 14, 2022

All convoy trucks at the Bank & Riverside blockade have now been sent on their way away from downtown, only after they were made to remove racist decals and flags from their vehicles. The people of Ottawa have won the Battle of Billings Bridge. #OccupiedOttawa #ottawa #ottnews

— Dylan Penner (@DylanPenner) February 13, 2022

Together we win. Remember the #BattleOfBillingsBridge pic.twitter.com/HcW6IvxdJK

— Dylan Penner (@DylanPenner) February 14, 2022

After the citizen barricade today, can anyone believe that the OPS has exhausted every means they had for getting this occupation under control? Forget anyone’s motivation, it’s the sheer incompetence that’s striking. Jesus, they didn’t even try! A hot tub FFS! #CDNPOLI

— 🇨🇦Jacques Leger🇺🇸 (@jacquesleger17) February 14, 2022

The conclusion tonight is that shit is going DOWN! 

Earlier this evening, the mayor of Ottawa announced he had negotiated a deal with the insurrectionists, to move their trucks to another section of Ottawa - basically, it was mostly-unconditional surrender, giving them a retroactive camping permit in trade for them not bothering people as much. Ottawa Twitter was absolutely furious. 

But then half an hour later the insurrectionists pulled the rug out from under the mayor anyway, saying there was no deal even though the mayor had released their actual letter agreeing to it. 

Finally this evening came the news that Trudeau would be holding an emergency Cabinet meeting tonight, and will be meeting tomorrow morning with the Premiers. 

Media reports are that emergency measures are coming in -- maybe the army? Or, at the very least, maybe army equipment to move the trucks:

https://t.co/p9TQP70DPd pic.twitter.com/E5DufwQBMt

— Jackie Blue 💉💉💉 Schmucks in Trucks Go Home! (@MsFuddleDuddle) February 14, 2022

Let the record show this tweet appeared in my timeline right before this one https://t.co/idHQrG5YQa

— Amy (@DameMyniah) February 14, 2022

Now I'm afraid its going to be terrible - the Ottawa police and Ontario Provincial Police have done such a poor job - vacillating, unfocused, inept, pandering - how can they be trusted now to deploy any soldiers? 

If the army is put in charge, then the municipal and provincial police will scream - just as they did in 1970 -- but that may be our best chance to avoid people getting hurt. 

When this February Crisis is over - hopefully sooner rather than later -- Canada is going to have to deal with a serious aftermath. We have observed the US grappling with the fallout from Jan 6, but we are going to have fallout from this, too. 

Not only will there likely be criminal charges for some of the insurrectionists, but Canadians are going to be reassessing relationships with police and politicians, who either stood up to the insurrection or, in too many cases, did not. 

The contrast between how Indigenous people, young people, and poor people have been treated at protests, compared to how these anti-vaxxers have been treated, is disgusting and frightening. 

People are tweeting about it now:

The police treat anti-vaccine protestors in a way they seldom treat the truly vulnerable and oppressed. Power, race, and class account for the difference. I see it every day as a criminal defence lawyer.

— Shakir Rahim (@szrahim) February 13, 2022

It seems that some Canadians are learning some uncomfortable truths about the police that Indigenous, Black and Brown folks have known for years.

— Nader R Hasan (@Nader_Hasan_law) February 13, 2022

I was pushed at TBP, then pepper sprayed, shoved to the ground 4x + nearly trampled by mounted police at Lamport.

FAR WORSE stuff happened to others.

The cops' anger was incomprehensible.

we all just wanted ppl w/out homes to be safe in their community.

The contrast 💔

— jennifer evans (@nejsnave) February 14, 2022

My kid, underage in BC, was arrested twice (trial soon) for peaceful protest at #FairyCreek summer 2021, where #surgical #RCMP swat-style units would pull down protestor masks to pepper spray them directly in eyes 1/3

— Teresa Zackodnik (@TZodiac1) February 13, 2022

And also, unsurprisingly, there is a complete lack of sympathy for any of the anti-vaxxers. That, too, is going to be a difficult legacy for Canada as a country to deal with:

Oh man, po po tore up a few crazies at Ambassador blockade while arresting them today.

Nobody hurt, but let them know its over.

Ottawa will be very tense, get ready to see forceful arrests.

If you pray, start doing it.

— kris meloche (@krismeloche) February 14, 2022

Trudeau gave them their chance - he told them last week that they had made their point and it was time to go home. They didn't listen.

Finally, I guess we can always find a bright side:

Focus on the positives: since the convoys started every Canadian town is a little safer and a little smarter. They are all missing their village idiots.

— Bill Comeau (@Billius27) February 13, 2022