"Do not go gentle into that good night. Blog, blog against the dying of the light"
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Halloween Apples!
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Worth the read: Upside-down maps; Russian spy stories; Presidential election thoughts; and Canadian ghoulies & ghosties
....Is it fair for any country to be geographically regarded as “the lowest of the low,” as Chile, Argentina and Australia are? How would a south-upwards map of the “bottom half” of the world change the way we treat each other and see ourselves?Or we could just throw all caution to the wind, as Melbourne University student Stuart McArthur did, and turn the whole damn thing upside-down for good:(This map [shown above] launched on Australia Day in 1979, has now sold over 350,000 copies.)However you choose to see the world, never forget that it’s a choice. Maybe not exactly yours, for practical reasons, but certainly someone’s, at some point in time.And if that’s true, what other elements of our “basic common sense” views of the world are up for grabs, if we choose to look at them a bit differently? It might be fun to find out.
...In the same way that we ought to proactively disclose evidence of foreign influence operations here, we need to be careful not to make hasty and rash allegations based on insufficient evidence. In all cases, we should let the evidence to do the talking, or else we’ll wind up shadowboxing, growing more distrustful and paranoid. Then, we’ll be doing our adversaries’ work for them.Yes, some instances of foreign meddling involve million-dollar payments and a clear paper trail. But lots of clandestine work falls into a gray zone.
...it is absolutely the case that Trump is a threat to democracy and is an absolute lunatic. We can’t become complacent or start failing to understand just how terrible he is. He is not just a run of the mill far right politician. He is a genuine threat to the Republic and lord knows he must not win. Please don’t fuck this up.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Carla came close
There are some very close seats, and the mail-in ballots still remain to be counted:Latest update from Saskatchewan election website
— ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉธJennifer vaxxed, masking (opt luvhkng cal) (@Iluvhikingjen) October 29, 2024
44.53% so far
270,000 advance
100,000 election day ? pic.twitter.com/a6mqROe2i7
Elections SK issued 32K mail ballots. Returned ballots will be counted in the final count on November 9th. pic.twitter.com/O3GGTYmwqA
— Wilbur Turner ๐จ๐ฆ๐ (@queergranddad) October 29, 2024
Monday, October 28, 2024
Sask Party's Greatest Screw-Up Hits!
I just saw this amazing thread from Regina Poster Boy about the Sask Party's parade of screw-ups and I had to share it tonight -- our Saskatchewan election is Monday! Its very long, but I'll break it on Monday night when I post another tweet. The latest polls show Carla Beck and the NDP maybe winning a majority of the Sask seats, and this can't come too soon for me!
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Today's News: Pre-emptive surrender from the gutless Washington Post and LA Times
Billionaires spent all week making the best arguments I've ever seen for why they should be globally taxed out of existence.
— Patrick Spooky Tomlinson (@stealthygeek) October 25, 2024
Jeff Bezos being too afraid of Trump to allow the Post to endorse Kamala is probably a better argument for how dangerous Trump is than anything the Post's editorial board would've written.
— Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) October 25, 2024
The billionaire class in America is making a very good case for its own demise. People, Americans in particular, don’t tend to begrudge someone for making a lot of money, especially if they did it making a product people find useful. But when they start buying elections, and… https://t.co/YhgtHh1hRg
— Andrew Coyne ๐บ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ (@acoyne) October 26, 2024
It turns out “democracy dies in darkness” was not a motto but a prophecy.
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) October 25, 2024
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Wrapping up the week with some great news for the Sask NDP and Carla Beck
I have been reading news snippets over the last week or so about how Carla Beck and the NDP are moving ahead of Scott Moe's tired old Saskatchewan Party but I couldn't really believe it.Final Mainstreet poll predicts Sask NDP will win the popular vote in a close race to the finish. https://t.co/TKJNkMwQkg
— Sask Votes ๐พ ๐ณ️ (@SaskVotes2024) October 26, 2024
Friday, October 25, 2024
Today's News: "Get the clearance, take the briefing, protect the country"
Pierre Poilievre received a briefing Monday from the PM's national security adviser on the allegations against India, his office said Tuesday. "If the government believes that there is further information that Mr. Poilievre needs to know, they can, through CSIS, utilize 'threat reduction measures' under section 12.1 of the CSIS Act, to make further information available in a manner that would not limit Mr. Poilievre’s ability to speak to Canadians," his office said Tuesday.
Hmmm -- so now Poilievre is getting Liberal zingers, with Trudeau leading off:Worth noting, every level of law enforcement, leaders of every party and all three levels of government are now basically saying Pierre Poilievre is hiding from his NatSc background check for obvious reasons. pic.twitter.com/1QaVBTkxY3
— Dean Blundell๐จ๐ฆ (@ItsDeanBlundell) October 22, 2024
“Get the clearance
— Ana Lia Pauchulo She/Her (@Ana_Pauchulo) October 23, 2024
Take the briefing
Protect the country”
Priceless.⬇️ https://t.co/cEwkWwSp0F
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Today's News: Afternoon of the Rubber Knives, Liberal Caucus Edition
Boy, sounds like they really drew a line in the sand for Trudeau, eh?...Sources speaking to Radio-Canada said that 24 MPs signed an agreement to call on Trudeau to step down as Liberal leader.Two sources told CBC News that B.C. MP Patrick Weiler read out a separate document — which laid out an argument for Trudeau's resignation — during the meeting. MPs were given two minutes each to address the room during the three-hour-long meeting. About 20 — none of them cabinet ministers — stood up to urge Trudeau to step aside before the next election, sources said. But a number of MPs also stood to voice support for the prime minister.The dissident MPs gave Trudeau until Oct. 28 to decide on his future, sources said.
So, not exactly drawing another line in the sand either.But no consequences attached to that deadline were mentioned in the document read to caucus Wednesday.The prime minister himself addressed the meeting and two MPs told CBC News that he became emotional when he talked about his children having to see "F--- Trudeau" signs in public.At the end of the meeting, Trudeau said he would reflect on what he heard but didn't indicate that he would resign.Several MPs left Wednesday's meeting indicating that they'd had an open conversation on which caucus members needed to reflect. Others said that the party is "united" in fighting the Conservatives and their leader Pierre Poilievre.
Aha! So what is really pissing off the back bench is those repetative Conservative "Mountain Pierre common man of the people" ads Well, yeah, I can understand that -- they're driving us all around the bend."It was a great discussion, the type of discussion that Canadians would be proud to see," Industry Minister Franรงois-Philippe Champagne said."What really matters in the end is that we come out of that caucus meeting united, resolved and delivering for Canadians.""One thing that we're united on — everybody — is beating Poilievre," Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada said.Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged the frustrations of some MPs and said he respects those who voiced those frustrations directly to the prime minister."Fundamentally, this is something that has been simmering for some time and it's important for people to get it out," he said."This isn't a code red situation. The prime minister can sure as hell handle the truth."Ontario MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said it was a "healthy conversation" but argued that Trudeau needs to take the message from disaffected MPs to heart."The prime minister has to listen to the frustrations — and in some cases the really valid frustrations — of his caucus colleagues and incorporate that into changes moving forward," he told reporters as he left the caucus meeting.It's not clear what changes Liberal MPs are asking for, or if Trudeau promised anything. Erskine-Smith indicated that he thinks the Liberals need to focus on advertising
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Today in the Stupid: Trump
Tim Walz has ZERO f*cks to give:
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) October 22, 2024
“At McDonald's, he looks more like Ronald McDonald and Ronald wears less makeup. Everything about this guy is fake - next he's going to tell you he's a cop or construction worker because he dances to the Village People."
pic.twitter.com/b4wSFal9o5
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Today's News: Provincial elections; and another friendly sausage-maker moment
Canadian Media today: BC elections reflect the political state of Canada, and it doesn't look good for Trudeau.
— Antonio Foix ๐ฎ๐น๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ️๐ (@Aho2ToMan) October 21, 2024
Canadian Media tomorrow: NB elections reflect 100% local issues and do not reflect the political status of Canada.
Monday, October 21, 2024
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Did anybody have "Big Dick Envy" on their Trump Bingo Card?
Big dick envy:A nonzero number of Americans are voting for Trump so they can call stuff “gay” again and meanwhile their guy’s out here lost in a reverie about the late Arnold Palmer’s literal penis pic.twitter.com/2mHtuZqnwT
— Pablo Torre ๐ณ️ (@PabloTorre) October 19, 2024
(๐ข) This is real. There is something wrong with Donald Trump. Even Republicans are saying so now.
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) October 20, 2024
From THE NEW YORK TIMES: pic.twitter.com/3vrHW1t8rS
Arnold Palmer was “appalled” by Trump, his daughter Peg said (in 2020):
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 20, 2024
“My dad didn’t like people who act like they’re better than other people. He had no patience for people who are dishonest and cheat. My dad was disciplined. He wanted to be a good role model. He was appalled… pic.twitter.com/khpr88QIOE
Friday, October 18, 2024
Comedy tonight: Poilievre lettuce-watch, plus some funny stuff about Trump, Harris, birds, art, dogs, dope, and being old
Start the countdown. Pierre Poilievre or this head of lettuce. pic.twitter.com/zUHF4u7XPS
— Roddy ๐จ๐ฆ (@RodKahx) October 16, 2024
Hey, really folks, it was only a little light treason...POILIEVRE'S CAT pic.twitter.com/5NfqfCGl9z
— Brittlestar (@brittlestar) October 17, 2024
Elizabeth May isn’t the hero we asked for, but she may be the one we need. https://t.co/nGz2HrkjVW
— Jason P. (@JasonPYYC) October 18, 2024
Starting a sentence off with “Listen you lunatics” is a great way to show people a valid point.
— JB | Polisci (@cdnpoli101) October 17, 2024
The coping that is happening right now with the slogan fuckalopes is just hilarious. pic.twitter.com/EfJpL9DCBg
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Having some fun now! Trudeau at the PIFI hearing, and Harris on Fox News
PIERRE POILIEVRE IS NOT A SERIOUS PERSON.
— AMC ๐จ๐ฆ (@AMCinHogtown) October 16, 2024
Watch and listen (clip from the PM's testimony at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference – October 16, 2024 ~11:50am). pic.twitter.com/oRFtwpf7HK
Trudeau calls it “bewildering” and “inexplicable” that Pierre Poilievre will not get the necessary top secret clearance to protect the integrity of the Conservative Party of Canada.
— Judy Trinh (@judyatrinh) October 16, 2024
Also an excellent summary tonight from Wesley Wark A National Security PM? One more word on the PM’s testimony before PIFITwo former CSIS directors have just said that there isn’t a justification for briefing Poilievre’s chief of staff when Poilievre himself won’t get the clearance. #PnPCBC
— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) October 16, 2024
...He was forthright in stating that he was astonished to learn, for the first time through CSIS evidence presented to the Inquiry, about a liberal Parliamentarian who had been targeted by FI. He said he should have been alerted but also claimed that the changes that have made to the dissemination of intelligence would guarantee that if these events had happened in the present he would have been informed.But then the PM turned to how best to ensure that all political parties were aware of foreign interference. He expressed some reservations about a policy of briefing Parliamentarians using intelligence information. But he extolled the value of bringing all opposition party leaders into the secret tent so that they could be made aware of intelligence on foreign interference threats targeting Canadians and their parties. This requires opposition leaders to be security cleared to a high level so that they can receive classified briefings. Jagmeet Singh for the NDP and Elizabeth May for the Greens have taken this step. Yves-Francois Blanchet for the Bloc said he would, but appears not to have followed through. The PM said he regarded this approach as non-partisan in nature. Knowledge raises all boats.But then the PM went on to unleash a fierce attack on the Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, for his refusal to obtain a security clearance. He called this decision by Poilievre “bewildering,” “lacking in common sense,” and “irresponsible.” He stated later in cross-examination that Poilievre lacked seriousness about national security and appeared unconcerned that his own leadership race may have been impacted by foreign interference. There was a to and fro with the counsel for the Conservative Party on this. It got juicy. I think Trudeau won that one on points.This was both an electioneering moment and a legacy moment. The PM positioning himself as best placed to defend the country’s national security and deliver policies and actions in the national interest. ...
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Today's News: Quick Takes on Trudeau, Poilievre, the House of Commons, Harris, Trump, the US Election, and Brexit
My latest: This is not a diplomatic spat — it’s state terrorism, and Canada is right to call it out https://t.co/GZGbDh6kNU pic.twitter.com/jOYXwM6RyM
— Andrew Coyne ๐บ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ (@acoyne) October 15, 2024
WAKE UP
— IslandMan (@LaBeaujardine) October 13, 2024
Seriously, the future depends on these two people. The alternatives are unthinkable. There are very dark days ahead if demented Trump & sociopathic Poilievre are running the show and driving our democracies into the dirt. #IStandWithTrudeau2025 #HarrisWalz2024 pic.twitter.com/YY5oe0tYGW
I’m posting this slow-motion clip of Justin Trudeau running his fingers through his hair just to watch Maple MAGA heads explode. pic.twitter.com/smG1yRATss
— cฮฑฮทฮฑ∂ฮฑ ะฝฮฑัฮตs ัั☭ะผฯ (@Trump_Detester) September 26, 2024