Big news from Syria tonight

The Syrian rebels are winning.

The Washington Post provides this timeline article:

The shocking speed of Syria’s rebel advance against Assad: A visual timeline

Videos, photos and maps show how Syrian fighters mounted a stunning offensive against the Assad regime, overtaking Aleppo and Hama, and closing in on Homs and Damascus.

Celebratory gunfire. Statues torn down. Families reunited after prisoners were unexpectedly set free.

In just a few days, a broad coalition of Syrian rebel forces have dislodged President Bashar al-Assad’s control over the cities of Aleppo and Hama after a four-year stalemate. The lightning offensive, led by the armed Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Shams, or HTS, has continued to build momentum, moving south along the M5 highway, Syria’s most important artery. By Saturday morning the group appeared poised to overtake Homs — an industrial center and the “capital of the Syrian revolution.”

On Dec. 6, a separate anti-Assad faction captured Syria’s southernmost city of Daraa. It’s not yet clear how this faction, the Southern Operations Room, is connected to HTS, although it’s clear the faction has been motivated by HTS’s success....

From the north and the south, rebel commanders are vowing to continue on to Damascus, posing the biggest threat to the Assad regime in its nearly 54 years of autocratic family rule. Rebel groups are closing in on Damascus, as they overtake suburb after suburb.

Residents reported shops closing and a shortage of cash in the capital on Saturday. Video verified by The Post showed men toppling a sculpture of Assad in Jaramana, less than 10 miles from the presidential palace.

HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani said that rebel forces were on the verge of toppling “the criminal regime.”...

The New York Times adds: 

In the Syrian Regime’s Hour of Need, Its Patron Iran Makes an Exit 

The collapse of a partnership built over four decades would reshape the balance of power in the Middle East. 

For decades, Iran has expended much blood and money in support of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, helping him survive a civil war that threatened his dynastic rule. Iran operated military bases, weapons warehouses and missile factories in Syria, which it used as a pipeline for arming its militant allies across the region. Now, just as Mr. al-Assad needs help to repel a rapid advance by rebel forces, Iran is heading for the exits. On Friday, the country started evacuating its military commanders and personnel, as well as some diplomatic staff, according to Iranian and regional officials. It is a remarkable turnabout: Iran not only appears to be abandoning Mr. al-Assad, its closest Arab ally, but also relinquishing everything it had built and fought to preserve for 40 years in Syria, its main foothold in the Arab world.

Other posts and comments:

Syria is free. The rebels won. The people liberated themselves from tyranny. Freedom won. Russia, Iran, Hezbollah & Assad lost. Historic. The road ahead for Syria won’t be easy. But it will be better than the past. The world should celebrate Syria’s liberation & help it succeed.

— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) December 8, 2024

Today's News: Trump is shooting himself in the foot

Once again, Trump is shooting himself in the foot. 

I think that he and his minions thought it would be terribly ballsey to make a whole bunch of controversial nominations right away for Cabinet positions and directorships, so he could swagger around Mar-A-Lardo and boast about Trump Two: The Revenge Tour, as well as eliminating any questions about his Biggest! Win! Ever! Mandate. 

Of course, it isn't working out very well. 

Because #ETTD Everything Trump Touches Dies.

The early nominations only gifted reporters and bloggers with opportunities for combing through the job histories and social media profiles of every nominee, to find all their embarrassing relationships, past legal follies, and other grotesquely disqualifying antics. Now Trump has lost AG nominee Matt Gaetz and DEA nominee Sheriff Chad Chronister, he is on the way to losing Fox News commentator Pete Hegseth as Sec of Defense and possibly also Tulsi Gabbard as NSI, not to mention Kash Patel at the FBI. And there are still at least two months to go before any of Trump's people will be confirmed in these jobs and able to run roughshod over what used to be a government. Everyone is already ignoring that crazy DOGE lunacy.

Every Trump nomination

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— StrictlyChristo 🦋🇺🇦🌻 (@strictlychristo.bsky.social) December 4, 2024 at 5:15 PM

Today's News: Poilievre is just "hysterically harsh" now

Following Poilievre's apparent rejection of Trudeau's request for a united front against Trump, I'm reading some commentary about Poilievre and it ain't pretty:

Andrew Coyne / The Globe and Mail

Poilievre fumbles the Trump crisis: a missed opportunity to show himself as a prime minister-in-waiting

... it is hard to fault the Prime Minister for trying. It is easy to say that the effort was doomed...

But to many people the Prime Minister will nevertheless have looked practical, reasonable, adult, in all, prime ministerial. It is not a given that Mr. Trump’s bullying will be to Mr. Trudeau’s disadvantage, politically. Mr. Trump’s unreasonableness is well known. If Mr. Trudeau is seen to have gone the extra mile, or 1,300, to deal with him; if he then is forced to take retaliatory measures, painful as they may be, the public may conclude that he has made the best of a bad hand....

If Mr. Trudeau’s appearance with Mr. Trump struck you as cringeworthy, try to imagine how Mr. Poilievre would look next to him. Would he look like – behave like – a prime minister? Would he conduct himself with the dignity and the self-confidence that the job requires, knowing when to speak up and when to stay silent, when to show his hand and when to keep his cards in reserve?

Or would he look boyish, callow, too eager to impress; talk too much, give away too much, signal insecurity throughout? It’s difficult to say, of course. All one can do – all the public can do – is draw inferences from what we already know of Mr. Poilievre’s character and judgment, extrapolating from his comportment to date to predict how he will behave in future.

And what we have seen of him to date has been, not a future prime minister, but a perpetual opposition critic, someone who is seemingly incapable of taking the high road, who never misses the opportunity for a partisan cheap shot, who is always, always in attack mode, no matter the issue, the setting or the situation.

...Mr. Poilievre has, from the day the tariff threat was issued, sounded almost hysterically harsh. At times he has seemed to take Mr. Trump’s side in the controversy, even appearing behind a podium with the slogan “Fix The Broken Border.”

His rhetoric, too, has sounded vaguely … Trumpian. “The Prime Minister,” he said, “has vacated the border and turned it open to anyone who wants to come in.” He is “weak,” “weakened,” “unbearably weak.” He has “lost control of everything.” And this flourish: “With our border in chaos, our economy collapsing and everything broken, we need real, responsible leadership from a strong, smart prime minister who has the brains and backbone to put Canada first.”

Canada First, you say. Yup. The phrase, which I have not heard him utter before the last week or so, has cropped up repeatedly. “We need a plan … to put Canada first on the economy and on security.” “I only care about Canada. I want to put our country first.” And so on.

I’m not sure what he thinks he is accomplishing with this. Perhaps he worries that the Prime Minister will get a lift out of the crisis, a rally-round-the-flag effect often seen in public polling. Perhaps he is afraid that sections of his base, many of them vocal on social media, are inclined to side with Mr. Trump, especially on border issues, and might stray into the People’s Party fold. Maybe he is betting the public believes Canada will be treated better with someone more in sync with Mr. Trump in charge.

Or maybe it’s just that that’s the only gear he’s got. Mr. Poilievre is already unusual in a political leader for being his own attack dog, a task generally assigned to talented thugs and burner MPs. Until now I had been inclined to assume this was strategy of some kind, a matter of zigging while others are zagging.

But it may be that Mr. Poilievre is genuinely unable to strike any other note – that his experience and personality permits no other. ..

Waving the flag and putting country before party

On Tuesday, Trudeau told the opposition leaders to man up and fly in formation. I think the message was received loud and clear: 

 ...Trudeau met with opposition leaders in his office on Parliament Hill on Tuesday to brief them on the situation as it stands now. 

An official in Trudeau’s office said during the meeting Trudeau stressed the importance of not negotiating against Canada in public, and asked party leaders to state repeatedly and publicly that tariffs will raise the cost of living on both sides of the border. 

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who attended the meeting, said at an afternoon news conference that unity is key among premiers and federal party leaders, because successfully beating back the tariffs is “not going to happen by accident.” 

 “All of us should be putting country before party,” she said. 

... “If that tone that was used in that type of meeting could show up in Parliament, people would have more confidence in us and take us more seriously,” Blanchet told reporters... 

 ...Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre emerged from the meeting appearing to heed Trudeau’s call to stress the impact the tariffs could have on the U.S. economy. 

 “It should be obvious and easy to make these arguments to the Americans, because they would be doing enormous damage to their own economy,” Poilievre told reporters. 

 But he was also highly critical of Trudeau for enacting policies that Poilievre said put Canada into the position it is in now. He said his demands are for Trudeau to fix the “disorder” at the border and the immigration system, as well as reverse economic damages he says were caused by the carbon price and an emissions cap on oil and gas production. 

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said Trudeau told the party leaders that it would be helpful if they “didn’t amplify the kind of messaging and language that the Trump administration is using to attack Canada.” 

 “When you sit around a table, there’s the sense that we’re all here with a shared view and goals that we share as Canadians,” May told reporters. “That said, there were differences in responses as we went around afterwards how much we were willing to say ‘yes, we will do whatever we can as opposition party leaders to avoid giving the Trump administration any sound bites that sound like Canadians agree with Trump.’” ... 

At least Poilievre tried to keep with the program, though he couldn't resist doing some sloganeering either:

He always struggles to "speak to the moment."

The only thing that makes him even more uncomfortable is if a female reporter asks him an unscripted question.

— dfrntdrmmr (@dfrntdrmmr) December 1, 2024

"Trudeau responded by saying he believes Poilievre “needs to reflect carefully on whether he really wants to amplify the erroneous narratives,” which he says Americans are advancing when it comes to issues surrounding the border." https://t.co/eYgISPyrc0

— TinyDancer 🇨🇦 (@MaroonWendi) December 4, 2024

"Nice little country you've got here. Be a shame if something were to happen to it."

Hey, sounds like that dinner was sorta creepy, doesn't it?

Some countries might go as far as mobilizing their troops over a statement like this Canada’s political, business and media discourse will no doubt revolve around how we need to do more to appease Trump

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— Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) December 2, 2024 at 8:57 PM

Annexation is clearly a good idea that would make both Americans and Canadians better off but nobody talks about it except in the context of occasional nationalist bluster. https://t.co/GJmcjQNEnD

— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) December 3, 2024

Trump musing about making Canada the 51st state is very Putinesque. The problem for Trump is that Canada is no Ukraine.

— HawaiiDelilah™ 🥥🌴🌊 (@hawaiidelilah.bsky.social) December 2, 2024 at 11:59 PM

Does this surprise anyone from the guy that wanted to sell Puerto Rico and buy Greenland?? Dumbest sack of 💩 on earth and 70 million voted for him.

— bvessels.bsky.social (@bvessels.bsky.social) December 2, 2024 at 9:02 PM

Just in case anybody needed a reminder of where Canadians are at:

I guess American media know an important story when they hear one:

“Trump appointed the Grand Wizard of the KKK to be Secretary of State and threatened nuclear war against Canada but in a major new development Hunter Biden had his laptop serviced again…”

— Mikel Jollett (@mikeljollett.bsky.social) December 2, 2024 at 10:28 PM

Today's News: Wistful thinking

I suspect this is just wistful thinking, but isn't it delightful that it maybe might be true?

I can't stand Poilievre but Doug Ford? He's the dopiest fucker outside of Smith ,and Ferrari perhaps.
What does that say about the party when Premier Lardass is the best they can come up with?

— KNugent4118 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@KNugent4118) December 1, 2024

Yeah, probably not:

If you’re going to say this, put up or shut up: groomed by who, what is the evidence, how are they going to get Poilievre to drop out

I want memos, meeting records, CCTV, OR SHUT THE FUCK UP WITH YOUR DISINFORMATION https://t.co/9ioOOcssKO

— Evan Scrimshaw (@EScrimshaw) December 1, 2024

But Ford likely couldn't do a worse job than Poilievre is doing now:

Maple leaf milhouse lacks critical thought, patience, and well, ideas. He’s gonna be an abject disaster as prime minister.

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— Seafra (@woodward.ca) December 1, 2024 at 4:01 PM

Pretty pathetic when even Doug Ford has a more intelligent response to the PM's visit. Poilievre stumbles when asked a question, resorting to insults and distraction, followed by changing the subject so he can repeat his mindless slogans. He then usually makes a hasty exit. He's an embarrassment.

— Foolishly optimistic 🇨🇦 #CanadaSky (@ladyjaynes.bsky.social) December 1, 2024 at 7:44 PM

"I'm not the Prime Minister" - ya got that right, buddy!

Final question this morning from Politico.

“Who from Trump’s transition team have you or your party been in touch with since the US election?”

“I’m not the Prime Minister.”

??

Am I missing something here or… pic.twitter.com/MzUV3KziZd

— David Beaudoin (@DavidABeaudoin) December 1, 2024

Follow-up on The Meat Loaf Summit

The Toronto Star had the skinny on the Meat Loaf Summit: 

Tonda MacCharles / The Toronto Star 

Inside Justin Trudeau’s surprise dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida 

Trudeau and LeBlanc discussed trade and the border over dinner with the president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago resort. 

... At the end of the surprise summit, there was no indication that Trump would drop his threat to impose a massive 25-per cent surcharge on Canadian products, announced by Trump on social media Monday — a threat that, if executed, would have a devastating impact on Canadian energy, auto and manufacturing exports. 

Still, the meeting between Trump, Trudeau and several of the future president’s advisers and their wives lasted more than three hours, and was described by a senior Canadian official as a positive, wide-ranging discussion. 

 ....The face-to-face meeting came at Trudeau’s suggestion, said the Canadian source with knowledge of their communications. 

They discussed trade, border security, fentanyl, defence matters including NATO, Ukraine, and icebreakers (Canada, the U.S. and Finland recently agreed to a trilateral pact to rebuild their icebreaking fleets). The leaders and their teams also discussed China, energy issues and pipelines, including those that feed Canadian oil and gas into the U.S. like Keystone XL, Line 5, as well as the Trans-Mountain project and Canada’s liquid natural gas export capacity, the official said, speaking on a background-only basis to disclose some details of the private meeting. 

The two leaders also discussed next year’s G7 meeting that Trudeau will host in Kananaskis, Alta. It will be held seven years after Trump left the 2018 G7 at Charlevoix, Que., only to erupt in anger later after Trudeau said Canada would stand up and fight American steel and aluminum tariffs. 

That outburst led many to believe Trump retained a dislike of Trudeau, however the two leaders managed a working relationship after that and have had friendly conversations since Trump’s re-election, according to two Canadian sources. 

Friday night’s summit, undisclosed to media in advance, was seen as a chance to kick-start the relationship anew, and to connect with some of Trump’s advisers who will be players in his second term. 

 The menu included a dish called “Mary Trump’s Meat Loaf,” as well as a fava bean falafel appetizer, pan seared trout with braised baby artichokes or a kimchi fried rice Asian bowl as a vegan option, said officials. 

 The presence of LeBlanc, the minister responsible for border security, was aimed at countering Trump’s claim in his online statement that “thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before.” He said if Canada and Mexico didn’t act, he would exact a “very big price” on their economies. 

 LeBlanc has said that the Trudeau government is prepared to beef up border security, with more money for technology, drones and more Mounties and border guards on the 49th parallel. 

 LeBlanc, who ordered the Mary Trump meat loaf dish Friday, is also a hail-fellow-well-met political actor who is trusted by Trudeau, and gets along well with his ideological opposites, like Ontario Premier Doug Ford. 

 ...Canada’s ambassador to Washington Kirsten Hillman and Trudeau’s deputy chief of staff Brian Clow were also at the Mar-a-Lago dinner, having travelled ahead to Florida to accompany the Canadian delegation. 

 Earlier Friday, without tipping his hand, Trudeau said in Prince Edward Island that what is “important to understand is that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it. 

 “Our responsibility is to point out that in this way, he would actually not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, he would actually be raising prices for American citizens as well, and hurting American industry and businesses.” Trudeau added, “ultimately, it is through lots of constructive, real conversations with President Trump that I’m going to have that will keep us moving forward on the right track for all Canadians.” 

 ...“I’m surprised and impressed,” said Flavio Volpe, head of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, that the Canadian leader was meeting with the president-elect, adding that kind of personal facetime with the former and future president is invaluable for Trudeau, and for Canada in the months ahead. 

 “The PM is demonstrating the humility that’s required (by) going to the source. Also the prime minister is demonstrating to the contrary of all the predictions (the idea) that Donald Trump wouldn’t want to work with him is untrue.” Volpe said “nothing final” may come of the meeting, however he said the federal government may get a sense of what the next steps could be. 

More comments:

Trump looks very happy... almost normal.

— Tammy 💪🇨🇦🇺🇦💪 (@Tammyocanada) November 30, 2024

Prime Minister Trudeau ventures into eye of the storm, confronting Trump in his Mar-a-Lago stronghold. Known for his composure under pressure, Trudeau’s move reflects calculated diplomacy, signaling his readiness to face fascism head on. #TrustInJustin 🇨🇦 https://t.co/VDr7h26ihd pic.twitter.com/EyHLKSusLs

— Isis Wise 🇨🇦🇺🇸 (@Libs4Canada) November 30, 2024

Today's news: Talking turkey about tariffs

Tonight, Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago to have dinner with Trump and talk turkey about tariffs. 

Now, Trump is a vain, stupid man and Trudeau is a progressive, a scholar and a gentleman, but both have great charm and both can use it ruthlessly whenever they need to. 

New York magazine's Yashar Ali posts the photo above and writes:

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau dines with President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago. 

I also see Senator-elect Dave McCormick and his wife, Dina Powell, who served in senior roles in the Trump and Bush administrations and was a managing partner at Goldman Sachs. 

North Dakota Governor and Interior Secretary-designate Doug Burgum and North Dakota’s First Lady, Kathryn Burgum. 

Commerce Secretary-designate Howard Lutnick and his wife, Allison. 

Incoming National Security Advisor and current Congressman Mike Waltz and his wife, Julia Nesheiwat, who served as Homeland Security Advisor to President Trump in the first administration and, prior to that, served in the Trump and Obama administrations as U.S. Deputy Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. 

And that looks like Canadian Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc and Prime Minister Trudeau’s Chief of Staff, Katie Telford. 

Obviously, seeing who was attending, this dinner was not just a spur-of-the-moment spasm, but a well-organized event reflecting thoughtful consultation on both sides.

Trudeau having a Thanksgiving dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Trump.

I’m impressed.

The old veteran has a few more passes left in that arm yet. https://t.co/X9jWImT4cq

— Flavio Volpe, C.M. (@FlavioVolpe1) November 29, 2024

Today in The Stupid: Canada v. Trump

Canada got to see its premiers in action yesterday, facing the first of the many existential crises that will define the Trump Administration, and it wasn't a pretty sight. 

Dale Smith / Routine Proceedings

Roundup: The virtual meeting with the premiers over Trump

...Jagmeet Singh is panicking and demanding performative forcefulness, while Pierre Poilievre is trying to leverage the moment for his own political ends, claiming that the solution is to do everything he says (conveniently!). Premiers have been all over the map, going from caution to outright boot-licking (looking at you, Danielle Smith), and this was one of the messages that emerged from that meeting. I also find it particularly crass the number of premiers who set up American flags for their backdrops before their media availabilities before and after the meeting. Seriously, guys?

Chrystia Freeland met with reporters and spoke about the need for a united front and not to be seen to be squabbling with one another, but premiers with their own agendas haven’t really seemed to warm to that necessity, because they’d rather score points against the current government with boneheaded accusations that they were “blindsided” by the threats, and that they don’t have a plan. (They’ve had a plan for over a year, guys. You might want to actually pay attention). And after the meeting, most of the premiers made their own individual points about how they want so many more resources poured into their province (such as more RCMP members that don’t exist because they can’t recruit and train them fast enough, or retain them in the toxic culture of the Force), but Smith remains particularly stubborn in trying to leverage this into foregoing the emissions cap and trying to say that Trudeau shouldn’t be leading the effort to defend Canada (again, to her benefit).

... Trudeau has talked about strengthening border measures, which has been an ongoing process, particularly since the amendment of the Safe Third Country Agreement, so maybe that too [as with Mexico] will be enough to get Trump to declare victory? I guess we shall see, but in the meantime, we’ll see how many premiers can keep their cool.

Well, here they are, bowing and scraping:

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God…” 🇺🇸🫡

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— Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) November 27, 2024 at 9:55 PM

Why not put a white flag up while you’re at it? https://t.co/zPm65sdJjD

— Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪🇲🇩 (@acoyne) November 26, 2024

If Scott Moe thinks his buddy Lindsey Graham is going to stand up to the orange orangutang then he’s not paying attention. Graham is scared of his own shadow. pic.twitter.com/6I0Dai76En

— Larry Hubich (@LHubich) November 28, 2024

Even worse than crawlers for Trump, 🇨🇦 crawlers for Trump. 😔#CdnPoli pic.twitter.com/DfCzAYY31O

— Joanbeam3000 (@Joanbeam3000) November 28, 2024

Greatest line in television history

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly"

And more here

America's attention-junkie shoots himself in the foot

Slapping a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico is like trying to rob a bank by threatening to shoot your own toe off.

— Human☮🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇸🌊 (@4HumanUnity) November 26, 2024

Trump wants to put massive tariffs on Canadian exports to the US: 

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday promised massive hikes in tariffs on goods coming from Mexico, Canada and China starting on the first day of his administration, a policy that could sharply increase costs for American businesses and consumers. 

The move, Trump said, will be in retaliation for illegal immigration and “crime and drugs” coming across the border.... 

"Measures proposed this evening could hit a number of strategic US industrial sectors hard, add approximately $272 billion a year to tax burdens, raise goods prices, lift interest rates, and sap strength in an already-vulnerable household sector,” said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay Cross-Border Solutions. 

 After the announcement, the Canadian dollar fell 1.2% against the US dollar, and the Mexican peso fell 2% against the dollar. China’s yuan, though controlled by the government, traded higher – above 7.6% – in offshore markets. 

 Although investors believed the tariffs could ultimately strengthen the dollar, America’s financial markets took a hit, too. 

The extraordinary tariffs would raise costs dramatically for Americans for everyday goods that had previously come over the border without any import taxes. 

That stunning shift could stymie economic growth, especially if inflation-weary consumers spend less in the face of higher costs. 

US stock futures, which were higher before Trump’s announcement, fell somewhat – Dow futures were down 160 points, or 0.3%. Nasdaq futures were 0.4% lower, and the broader S&P 500 was also down 0.4%. US Treasury bond prices fell. 

I really never realized the solution to all our problems was a trade war with Canada.

— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) November 25, 2024 at 9:44 PM

Personally, I think Trump just wanted to draw attention to himself yesterday because Biden is about to succeed in brokering a peace deal between Israel and Lebanon, and Attention Must Be Paid Only To The Orange One!

trump’s doing this for media attention. His middle name is Clusterfuck. He’s not even inaugurated yet & he’s got us flapping around like monkeys. We’re being had. 🇺🇸

— BKBelton (@bk_belton) November 26, 2024

It’s a mistake to ask this question because it assumes Trump’s rationality. He wants to do this because it makes him feel powerful. He doesn’t care if the effects are good or bad. Indeed, the more destruction he causes, or the more people fear destruction he may cause, the more powerful he feels.

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— George Conway (@gtconway.bsky.social) November 26, 2024 at 7:04 AM

It's always something. If it's not one thing, it's another.

So how come Canada is hosting nine Taylor Swift concerts?  

Because when Trudeau invites you, you come:

It’s me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you. So, don’t make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 6, 2023

So Swift set up multiple concerts in Toronto and Vancouver!

But of course Trudeau can't ever be given any credit for doing anything as remarkable as this. 

So cue the hysterical shitposting about Trudeau going with his family to one of the Taylor Swift concerts on the same night there was an anti-NATO protest riot happening in Montreal: 

Not only did PM Trudeau take his daughter to the Taylor Swift concert...he was also there with his ex wife! What an absolute monster! Having a healthy relationship with his daughter and ex wife, the audacity of this man.#ConservativeImpotentRAAAAGE https://t.co/j1FzJ1p0bk pic.twitter.com/s9wLfkSBVp

— J Hunter🍁 (@MrJoKeR604) November 24, 2024

Because you know these Poilievre Conservatives -- they're the Roseanne Roseannadanna of Canada - It's always something, if it's not one thing its another.

I see the usual suspects got the memo “while Montreal burns, Trudeau is dancing at a Taylor Swift concert” 🙄

— Jiggly News (@JigglyPants44) November 23, 2024

Funny stuff and animal crackers

This was the very first strip in Calvin and Hobbes, on Nov. 18, 1985 - all in all, I think Calvin and Hobbes was the world's best comic strip. 

Moving on, some comments about the current scene:

I never wanted to live in interesting times.

— Molly Jong-Fast (@mollyjongfast.bsky.social) November 10, 2024 at 8:35 PM

Many people think that as you get older, you care less about politics. But it’s not true. You start thinking a lot more about the kind of world you want to leave behind. You want it to be better than the one you were born into. We all have a personal legacy in mind. Mine is to outlive Trumpism.

— George Takei (@georgetakei.bsky.social) November 15, 2024 at 10:51 AM

Ain't he having some fun now!

Thanks, Justin!

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday a suite of new measures meant to alleviate some of the affordability pressures people have been experiencing in the post-COVID era — including a two-month GST holiday on some goods and services.

The Liberal government will also send $250 cheques to the 18.7 million people in Canada who worked in 2023 and earned $150,000 or less.

Those cheques, which the government is calling the "Working Canadians Rebate," will arrive sometime in "early spring 2025," Trudeau said.

The GST/HST holiday will start on Dec. 14 and run through Feb. 15, 2025.

People will be able to buy the following goods GST-free:

-Prepared foods, including vegetable trays, pre-made meals and salads, and sandwiches.

-Restaurant meals, whether dine-in, takeout or delivery.

-Snacks, including chips, candy and granola bars.

-Beer, wine, cider and pre-mixed alcoholic beverages below 7 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV).

-Children's clothing and footwear, car seats and diapers.

-Children's toys, such as board games, dolls and video game consoles.

-Books, print newspapers and puzzles for all ages.

-Christmas trees.

With these exemptions, all food in Canada will be essentially tax-free.

"For two months, Canadians are going to get a real break on everything they do," Trudeau said at a media event in Newmarket, Ont.

"Our government can't set prices at the checkout but we can put more money in peoples' pockets. That's going to give people the relief they need. People are squeezed and we're there to help."

Here's the "serious" explanation:

An economist on TV today was saying that this GST pause and cheques are affordable because Canada avoided the recession that was predicted this year. This has govt coffers higher than forecast. We’ll also stay under deficit forecast & have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7.

— Stephano Barberis (@HelloStephano) November 22, 2024

And here's something worth noting:

The difference, of course, is that Trudeau isn’t sending the payment to millionaires and the rich, and it is cut off at an income threshold ($150k) https://t.co/QmhShrqqiV

— Evan Scrimshaw (@EScrimshaw) November 21, 2024

And here's a good interview:

A good interview that clarifies Canada's carbon tax. www.cp24.com/video/2024/1... #climatechange #trudeau #carbontax

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— Al Czarnecki (@alczarnecki.bsky.social) November 21, 2024 at 11:05 PM

And here's the "funny" explanation:

WHAT THE LIBERAL PARTY WISHES THEY COULD SAY pic.twitter.com/kfFkwObzAE

— Brittlestar (@brittlestar) November 21, 2024

Today's News: Calling out Dear Leader

CBC calls out the Conservatives version of "freedom":

Christian Noel / CBC

Poilievre's office maintains tight control over what Conservative MPs say and do

Party staffers monitor caucus for signs of message indiscipline and fraternization with other MPs

After two years of Pierre Poilievre as their leader, many Conservative MPs say they are much less free now than they were before his arrival.

The man who promised during his leadership run to make Canada "the freest country in the world" maintains tight control over the actions of his caucus members.

Normally loquacious Conservatives close up like oysters and dare not speak without their leader's approval. MPs are watched by Conservative staffers both inside and outside Parliament. Elected representatives are publicly called to order for deviating from the party line.

Conservative MPs' words and actions are closely scrutinized by the leader's office. Partisanship is encouraged. Fraternizing with elected officials from other parties is a no-no.

Those who follow these rules are rewarded. Those who don't often have to suffer consequences.

"There are always multiple people in the penalty box, there is always someone in trouble," one caucus member said.

"You don't need to be told what to do. You watch the leader and understand what's expected from you," one Conservative source said.

The further you get into this article, the creepier it gets:

"You are celebrated in front of the entire caucus for being a good cheerleader. And you get more speaking time in the House and during question period."

Those who refuse to parrot the lines lose their speaking time, another source added.

It's radio silence at the entrance to Conservative caucus meetings these days. Every Wednesday morning, journalists throw questions at the arriving MPs. Almost all of them pass without answering; some avoid making eye contact with journalists.

... Conservative Party staffers keep a close eye on MPs' activities — who's talking to reporters, who's deviating from the party line, who's fraternizing with MPs from other parties. Journalists have spotted party staffers taking notes and sources say these activities are reported to the leader's office.

"Everybody is being watched. What we say, what we do, who we talk to. We're told not to fraternize with MPs from the other parties. And that's not normal," a Conservative source said.

...Conservative staffers monitor MPs' interactions not only in the Commons chamber but also in the corridors of Parliament and at social events such as the Press Gallery dinner and the Speaker's garden party.

Poilievre's press attaché was even spotted jotting down the names of Conservative MPs attending the Press Gallery dinner this spring. It's an event that Poilievre — who has strained relations with the Parliamentary Press Gallery — and most of his MPs have avoided for the past two years.

"We don't get told not to go, but we can see that the leader doesn't go, so we do the same. Otherwise, it would be frowned upon," said one Conservative source.

...Poilievre imposes iron discipline on himself. He works hard. He works late.

"We've been telling him for months that he needs to take a vacation, but he just won't listen," one source said.

"He's the one who decides everything. His main adviser is himself … The people around him are only there to realize the leader's vision."

..."There's a very small circle around the leader. There's a lack of variety of opinion. That's our biggest challenge," said a Conservative source.

It will be Canada's challenge too, if Poilievre ever becomes PM.