Today's News: American Tune - "...We lived so well so long.... I wonder what's gone wrong"

 

Does anyone still remember Paul Simon's American Tune? 

...And I don't know a soul who's not been battered

I don't have a friend who feels at ease

I don't know a dream that's not been shattered

Or driven to its knees

But it's alright, it's alright

We lived so well so long

Still, when I think of the

Road we're traveling on

I wonder what's gone wrong

I can't help it, I wonder what has gone wrong

... And I dreamed I was flying

And high up above my eyes could clearly see

The Statue of Liberty

Sailing away to sea

And I dreamed I was flying

We come on the ship they call The Mayflower

We come on the ship that sailed the moon

We come in the age's most uncertain hours

And sing an American tune

Oh, and it's alright, it's alright, it's alright

You can't be forever blessed

Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day

And I'm trying to get some rest

That's all I'm trying to get some rest

Simon wrote it in 1973 during the Nixon presidency but it is a particularly apt accompaniment to the events in Washington this weekend, when the American government payment system has apparently been taken over by Elon Musk and his tech-bro putsch.

Trudeau's Finest Hour

 

I think this will go down in history as Trudeau's best speech -- warm but resolute, articulate, clear, telling America they are wrong without blaming them, reassuring Canadians they will be treated fairly without minimizing the pain, detailed without being pendantic, calm yet inspiring message of "true patriot love...we stand on guard for thee". 

Here are some of the best comments I read tonight:

Trudeau giving the best speech of his life right now. And I’m someone that has wanted him gone for years. Amazing job - Canada is important and we all need to stand together.

— Morgan Cameron Ross (@Morgan_C_Ross) February 2, 2025

We are in the fight of our lives. But Canadians have been called to be heroic before and we have never been defeated. This is our time to defend our country. Le Canada est uni. Ce sera une période difficile, mais c’est l’occasion de bâtir notre nation et de célébrer notre solidarité. Vive le Canada

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— Charlie Angus (@charlieangus104.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 8:28 PM

Tariff Suggestion Box: Maybe we should just send Trump a few million?

So it looks like the tariffs are on, and the suggestions are coming thick and fast -- some funny, some serious: 

First up, maybe a bribe?

When I read Josh Marshall's comments today, it made me wonder -- since the Trump administration appears to be "open for business" so to speak, maybe Canada can get Trump off our backs if we just give him a platinum Visa card and build him some golf courses near Toronto and Banff? 

I'm sure Ford and Danielle Smith would kick in, too. 

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo 

Trump DOJ Rolls Out New Payment Plans (Yeah, In That Way…)

...the dawn of Trump’s second term now sees the rollout of a host of new Justice products and payment plans.

This week, matters took a degree of a step forward (or backward, depending on your metaphor) when Trump had his acting U.S. attorney abandon the criminal case against former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). Fortenberry wasn’t some high-profile Trump ally. And his crimes weren’t particularly political or Trump-adjacent. He got caught taking laundered political contributions from a Nigerian billionaire and then repeatedly lied about it to the FBI. Pretty generic graft, pretty garden-variety political corruption. 

Then came word that the Trump DOJ is in “conversations” (how do these conversations go exactly?) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan about dropping charges against New York City mayor Eric Adams. This is a criminal prosecution that is already underway and apparently going quite well. By all indications, they’ve got Adams dead to rights and the prosecutors have plenty of cooperators. ..

...New York City is the center of all Trump’s dreams and grievances. It is another way in which he coincides, albeit from very different points of origination, with the GOP ID. It’s hard to imagine a tableau more appealing to him than having the nominally Democratic mayor of the city admitting that Trump was right all along and inviting ICE in for bouts of wilding across the city.

 ...What’s novel here is that you don’t have to be a Trump ally any more to get protection from the law. You can open communications to become an ally after you get into trouble. And people are already responding to the new rules. The parents of disgraced crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried have begun sounding out Trump allies and lawyers about a pardon for their son who only just started his 25-year prison sentence, according to an article in Bloomberg News. They hardly come from traditional Trump stock. They’re both professors at Stanford Law School. 

It’s probably best to see their efforts in the context of the rapidly expanding Trump payment culture. We got a nice view of it in that glimpse of the new relationship between Trump and Mark Zuckerberg when the incoming president told Zuckerberg that a settlement payment (eventually agreed at $25 million) would be necessary to allow Mark to be “brought into the tent.” CBS/Paramount is now also trying to reach an agreement on a similar cash payment to the President.

A payment to Trump’s personal account to be “brought into the tent” isn’t the same as a cash payment for a pardon. But in the world of Trump they are probably best seen as slightly different versions of the same process. After all, coming into the tent is fundamentally about regulatory protection which in many of the most important ways is also centered in the Justice Department. It’s not too much to say that if you’ve got the money or the influencer bullhorn and you’re not asking for a Trump payment plan, you basically want to stay in jail.

Next, a serious suggestion - how about a science fund to lure all the suddenly-unfunded research programs?

🧪 If I were Canadian PM I would immediately: 1. Create a new $15B science fund 2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada 3. Immediate permanent residency 4. Citizenship after 2 years Overnight a science superpower

— Gary Swergold MD, PhD (@gs314.bsky.social) January 31, 2025 at 4:04 PM

Oh, just tariff the Douche-Panzer:

Did I actually refer to Elon Musk's legendary Telsa as a "douche panzer"? And at the parliament of Canada's press gallery? I wonder how that term slipped out. But yes, I'd hammer him with tariffs. I don't like fascists. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vyR...

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— Charlie Angus (@charlieangus104.bsky.social) January 31, 2025 at 6:36 PM

Trump 2 The Revenge Tour: Son of Sharpie-gate

What a shameful day - 67 people die and Trump makes it all about him. 

This is really just another "Sharpie-gate" -- remember in 2019 Trump insisted that he hadn't made a mistake when he panicked Alabama about a hurricane warning, by inviting reporters into his office just to show them a doctored hurricane map with a half-circle added over Alabama. It was pathetically obvious what he had done with a Sharpie pen.

So today, reporters got to see Trump babble and argue at a press conference, then sign a so-called "Executive Order" to blame Obama and Biden for the American Airlines-helicopter collision. 

I presume he used another Sharpie pen, too.

The American media should be ashamed to "cover" such tripe:

not to downplay the ugliness of this but this is the equivalent of busywork. they are giving him executive orders to sign so that it feels like he’s doing something.

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— jamelle (@jamellebouie.net) January 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM

Mayor Pete says it:

BREAKING: Pete Buttigieg just said exactly what needed to be said in this moment. We need real leadership. pic.twitter.com/5w6Xp76XSm

— Trump’s Lies (Commentary) (@MAGALieTracker) January 30, 2025

the headline is not “trump blames deadly plane crash on DEI” but “trump seizes on deadly plane crash to attack minorities”

— David Mack (@davidmackau.bsky.social) January 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM

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Turn-around? The Liberals are rebounding

 

Yes, I know, I know, the Foreign Interference Commission report is more important than a polling bump - and if you want some good reporting on that report, see Dale Smith and Wesley Wark and Scrimshaw. And the tariff questions. And the Ontario election.  All way more important.

But I just had to share about this polling - it's so delicious.  

Because the Liberals are turning it around:

EKOS Politics 

Major and Straight-Line Decline in Conservative Advantage over Past Month 

Rising national anxiety lifting Liberal fortunes? 

...The lead initially started narrowing after Justin Trudeau announced his retirement. The acceleration of this trend became clear in our polling about two weeks ago. It was contemporaneous with the entry of Mark Carney to the race which appears to be a factor. It was also reinforced by the dramatic announcements of potential 25 per cent tariffs from newly inaugurated Trump and repeated discussion of annexation of Canada. This seems to have captured the attention of Canadians, particularly the more recent recruits to the Conservative fold. Since then, that trend has continued and, in a roll-up of the past six days (since our last report), this gap has narrowed further to a remarkably thin three points. 

This dramatic and perhaps unprecedented movement has been focussed among women (where the Liberals now lead handily), the university-educated, and self-defined middle-class voters. Perhaps more importantly, the Liberals have erased a 20-point gap in Ontario and now have a slight lead. They are also much more competitive in Quebec, they lead in the Atlantic, and they are faring much better in British Columbia. In short, the race has morphed from a pro forma Conservative coronation to a highly unpredictable horse race....

As a lifelong NDP voter, I know what party I'll be voting for in the next federal election. I know a lot of you will be doing the same. Pierre Poilievre is the most vile, toxic, populist politician I've seen in Canada and I have no interest in him becoming our PM.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/MDFFpz0EJi

— J Hunter🍁 (@MrJoKeR604) January 30, 2025

Poilievre, what is your reaction pic.twitter.com/pV0eyHgpEH

— #NeverPoilievre (@BillRobertson_) January 27, 2025

"Gargle my balls!"

Well, yes, maybe it's hopeless but we can still laugh.

"GARGLE MY BALLS!" will be my new battle cry. https://t.co/gkuezCaBtP

— Qiilu (@Qiilu1) January 29, 2025

"Gargle my balls" is the revolutionary slogan this country needs.

— Pete Kotz (@petekotz.bsky.social) January 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM

The correct reply is “gargle my balls”

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— BeardlessMountainMan (@capnrickysully.bsky.social) January 28, 2025 at 6:56 PM

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Weekend round-up: Great stories; FOTUS first week; Funny stuff; Outstanding stuff; and Animal Crackers

Well, it sure wasn't a pleasant week, really, but I still found a few good posts for everyone.

First, some great stories:

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Today's News: In our polite Canadian way, we're actually Mad as Hell!

In our Canadian way, we're all actually mad as hell at Trump and MAGA and the whole benighted American enterprise tonight. 

 

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Today's Commentary: Krugman on tariffs; WIRED on WHO; Black Cloud Six on illegal military orders; Dale Smith on Trump; and introducing "FAFO Watch"

Some useful opinions about the latest news:

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"Gather together to greet the storm"

 

A dreadful day.

Remember how MAGA was all wearing gold diapers last spring when the news "came out" about Trump's shitty smell and his diapers? 

Well today, Elon Musk - America's 12-year-old billionaire - gave Trump the Nazi salute at an inauguration rally. 

Twice.

People with eyes: "Elon Musk make a Nazi salute." Historians who have studied the rise of fascism: "Elon Musk made a Nazi salute." Mainstream Media: "Elon Musk made a heartfelt gesture that was misconstrued as a Nazi salute."

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— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM

I would be more inclined to give Elon the benefit of the doubt over the Sieg Heil salute if he hadn't just endorsed the closest thing Germany has today to the Nazi party

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM

And I fully expect by tomorrow the Nazi salute will be all the rage among the MAGA.

Distractions from Teh Stupid

Since Trump was elected, and the Tech Industrial Complex supported him, and here in Canada we saw Poilievre get to majority territory in Canadian polls, I have been consumed with worry about our democracy. 

But now I wonder, is it possible that their stupidity will save us all?

So today, and whenever I get totally disgusted with Trump and Poilievre and the awful MAGA disaster that is the United States, I will take refuge in scrolling non-political social media and commentary. 

Like these, for example... 

Terrible Maps is often hilarious:

Countries by Human Development Index if Human Development Index was determined by the number of wild penguins pic.twitter.com/lxuBoOGgBJ

— Terrible Maps (@TerribleMaps) January 18, 2025

Weekend funny stuff: Trump freezes his inaugural off, plus some random posts and animal crackers

First, some funny posts about Trump's inaugural -- we might as well laugh, I guess. 

Most of us aren't even going to watch, on Monday or ever again. I think the marches and objections and outrage that we saw from 2016 to 2020 will be much reduced now -- the congressional Democrats are totally demoralized, and the American "resistance" is convinced there is no point because Americans aren't listening. 

So it could be that for a while,Trump and Miller and Elon and their boys will be able to get away with just about anything they want. 

Trump may reach America's gag reflex at some point, but I'm not sure anymore what it will take - maybe when he tries to get the Supreme Court to cancel the federal elections in 2026 and 2028, maybe that will that do it? We'll see...

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And yes, Washington is freezing over on Monday....

Well the great thing about moving Trump’s inauguration to the rotunda is that all of his supporters already know how to get there pic.twitter.com/yjSPBcUJly

— Doug Landry (@dougblandry) January 17, 2025

So Trump doesn't like the cold and thinks he can intimidate Canada and Greenland? 🤣

— Roddy 🇨🇦 (@RodKahx) January 17, 2025

Today's Roundup: announcement from Carney, betrayal from Smith, revenge from Trump, incompetence from the tech bros, and a Roomba story

Carney announces and Canada is deciding. 

I just hope Carney realizes quickly that he's not going to find any friends in Canada's media. 

Then again, neither will Freeland.

I’m with you, Stephano. I can’t help but think JT knew this all was going to happen this way.
Every little thing is gonna be alright!🎶🇨🇦❤️🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/MCmewPzPV1

— BKBelton (@bk_belton) January 14, 2025

In the race to become the next PM - and maybe the next one after that - Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre did interviews in their respective safest places. That Carney chose Jon Stewart and Poilievre chose Jordan Peterson tells you almost everything you need to know www.thestar.com/politics/pol...

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— Bruce Arthur (@brucearthur.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM

Poilievre and the CPC have scheduled an all-hands working retreat this weekend to come up with nicknames for Mark Carney. Marxist Mark and Communist Carney are already being focus grouped with select groups of Grade 5 students.

— Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions (@mynamesnotgordy.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 4:34 PM

Here's a fascinating story:

2018 article regarding 2008 crash and Mark Carney's rescue efforts. #MarkCarney2025 www.independent.ie/business/the...

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— Jodie Turner (@jodieturner.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 7:06 AM

Today's News: It's Carney vs Freeland

Wow, a thousand views of my last blog post, and 500+ "likes" on my Thread post about it! 

Just goes to show how much interest there is in Mark Carney, I think. 

Canadians really know very little about him, so that Jon Stewart interview was our introduction to someone who might well be the next Prime Minister of Canada, for a while I guess. 

Eric Grenier / The Writ

Liberal race firms up

Some big names are out, but the two biggest names are still in.

...Most of the news this past week came from potential candidates who have withdrawn their names from consideration. Arguably none of them were in the top tier that consists solely of Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney, but some of them were just below that tier — candidates who had a real shot if one of the two frontrunners declined to run or flamed out on the (short) campaign trail.

... A second tier made up of Joly, Anand and/or Clark would have added an interesting dynamic to the contest and given party members some viable alternatives to the top two.

The decisions of François-Philippe Champagne and Steven MacKinnon not to run, combined with Joly’s, mean there will be no significant candidate from Quebec. It’ll be the first time that a contested Liberal leadership race hasn’t had a candidate either born in or representing a riding in Quebec among the top finishers since 1958.

It also means that there will be a bit of a gap between the frontrunning candidates and the rest of the field — at least at first...

Freeland is getting some endorsements, and so is Carney now. 

And people who thought the Liberals were toast are now liking Carney a lot (though of course, the bar for preferring the personable Carney over the grumpy Poilievre isn't really that high!)

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Today's News: Carney has an outstanding interview with Jon Stewart

I hadn't thought very highly of Carney before seeing this interview - and yes, I do believe now that he has the political skills and smarts to attract Canadians and beat Poilievre!

#cdnpoli #LiberalLeadershipRace
The fact Mark Carney has never held an elected position doesn't deter my support for his run for the Liberal leadership. Mark Carney, who has been former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's @cafreeland advisor has exactly the kind of skills… pic.twitter.com/Y4YA6JVJwk

— timethief 🇨🇦 progressive ABC strategic voter (@timethief) January 14, 2025