Not to be taken seriously

Does the name David Grimes sound familiar? He's someone who looks at the lighter side of politics from the conservative point of view. Are you mad yet? He wrote a piece last Sunday warning disgruntled Democrats about the folly of the apparent liberal exodus, particularly to Canada. Sure he didn't paint a nice picture of Canada, but are you so thin-skinned to take what he says to heart? Haven't you said worse things about America and Americans? I thought so.

If there are any left-leaning Americans reading this, I say "Take heart". Don't leave, you are still needed there. Stay and fight for the America you believe in.

This n' That again

Some good news for Muslims. A publishing link, and a differing view on sovereignty. Journalist and former chat show host on smoothing over the rifts in her personal life. A word of advice, if you're in Fallujah, try not to get sick.

Here at home, apparently, Paul Martin has finally had enough of Carolyn Parrish. I agree with his decision certainly, but I question his motives, or at least his timing.

For Air Farce veteran John Morgan, R.I.P.

Cartesian Logic

A couple of times since 9/11, I have been forced to re-examine the roots of anti-Americanism, mostly my own. So I have tried to start with a clean slate, and try to understand it in a way I can explain to people, American or not.

Rene Descartes, the French (!) philosopher, invented the modern idea of individualism, and the ethos of the U.S.A. is based on that. In America, you're on your own. If you're successful, great. If you're not, it's your own fault. They were slow to catch on the socialist reforms of Europe, like welfare and unionized labor. They are, as the Irish would say, "Sinn Fein (ourselves alone)". And of course, there's the idealizing of the market by Adam Smith. Not to idealize European or Canadian standards, but I'm glad to be living where I am and I don't want Canada to be any more Americanized (hear that Mr. Martin?)

Mulroney has some good (!) advice for George W. Bush.

A new war story, quickly forgotten
 
There's a new book coming out about Canada's peacekeeping operation. It's had a checkered past in the last ten or so years, but this is one apparantly worth remembering. Peacekeepers who were in an impossible situation in the former Yugoslavia. It should break some stereotypes.

Note to Quebec seperatists: you have not seperated yet.

Pride

So what did I learn in school today? What one person believes is the main theme of Christianity. I should have known this having grown up Catholic. But in short, here they are:

• Everybody has limitations
• Be humble

So off the top of your head, who does this NOT sound like? Hint: there's a 'W' in his name. There was a faint hope on my part that Bush will not continue as he has been going, but this article by the Globe and Mail doesn't sound hopeful. OK, so he may re-instate the draft. But even then, his resources are increasingly limited, and he won't let little things like facts stand in his way. He can flex all the military muscle he wants, but he cannot and will not win anyone over with brute force. Weakness and exhaustion will happen eventually. God help us.

Here at home
 
How stupid is this? Public servants being ordered to undergo French immersion training just before they retire? I actually agree with it when you're younger. But truly, what good is it when you're retiring?! Complete waste of time and money.

It's not the end of the world ... yet?

So much to talk about today. The obvious thing is to start with the election. The American people have spoken. Personally, I thought that the government needed to be changed, but a slight but undisputed majority disagreed. There won't be any of that killer suspense this time. So as to yesterday's prophecies, how many did I get right?

• Bush will win again --- right
• It won't be as close as before --- right
• The majority will not rule --- wrong
• Charges of "gerrymandering" --- apparently wrong

I'm batting about .500 at the moment. The other set of predictions are for the long term, at the end of his second term, he will end up almost universally hated, as Mulroney was here.

I don't know if Kerry could have done any better, or any different. However, I would like to address any Democrats reading this. My advice is, take the high road, even when, particularly when the Republicans are being poor sports. You'll get some much needed moral points back.

My advice to Bush and Co.: if you care even a bit, you'd better make election reform an important topic, you can start by trashing that ridiculous Electoral College. And you can take some lessons from the Mexicans.

I'm only going to say this once...

Back to the Dems, and to all people living abroad, should my long-term predictions come to pass, we could all say to those of whom voted for Bush's second term,

"You voted for him, we didn't!"

On the other hand, a bit of good news. A tiny bit I think, although they could do better...

Back at the home front

What can you say about Immigration Minister Judy Sgro? More importantly, what is her problem? It's not like there's whole villages hiding out in church basements. The immigration department appears to be near broken, and in desperate need of fixing.

So Dalhousie University has cloned some fruit flies. I wonder, was that a one-time fluke like Dolly the sheep, and more importantly, will it lead to anything?

Que sera sera

The blogiverse (?) seems to really be busy today. The Truth Laid Bear site is down, Unfortunately, as I write this, I seem to have little audience. Then again, I still have to explain to most people I meet what a "blog" is.

Here's a couple of columns by Greg Weston. The first is an open letter to Alfonso Gagliano in response to his own, the other is an even more personal ode to Sheila Copps.

To the inevitable...
 
My prediction, the election system being what it is, is that Bush will win again. It won't be as close as before, but the majority will not rule. We will hear the word "gerrymandering" a lot. Pray that I'm wrong, and also that there won't be lawyers involved as in the last election.
 
I don't think that I'll feel any safer no matter who wins, but if Bush wins again, I predict that America will still be far and away the richest and most powerful country in the world, even though it will be fiscally insolvent. The time will be just right for revolution. How many predictions so far? What percentage will be proven right? I'll have to keep track of that.

If there's any good news about today, it's this, and that.