Hmmm...
Like Jason has said (more than once!): with me it's either a drought or a downpour. And it's true. I have to get worked up about an issue to post, otherwise I merely peruse my daily reads (I believe they now number 98) and file away the various tidbits in my brain for later use without posting on them.
I suppose it's that I don't find much that I would consider post-worthy. Plus you add in the fact that I'm mired in the middle of a large writing slog at the moment...and you get what this place has become: sporadic.
I'm really itching to just start over from scratch - register a domain, grab some server space, design a site that is tailored to what I want it to do...but it's one of those tasks that is appealing, but never quite within reach, never accessible enough to begin.
Sigh.
Eventually, I'll work up enough steam to pull myself out of the muck. I hope it's sooner, rather than later.
Interesting.
I agreed with 1-9 (not without some hesitation and consideration, mind), and in the follow-ups, I was measured a "libertarian realist."
[HatTip to Ben.]
Vader's thoughts made available via the miracle that is the InterWeb.
(Yeah, I'm late to the party...)
Oh, now this is something I must have.
I might even have to pick it up at Wal-Mart.
It isn't up at his website just yet (and thus is still behind a subscriber wall at the National Post), but come tomorrow (or shortly thereafter) it should be. In the meantime, you're just going to have to take my word for the sourcing (and when have I ever been wrong?):
"[Affirmative action] highlights the least important aspect of a person's identity. We don't go to the theatre to see a Danish Male. We go to see Hamlet."While you're waiting for his latest column to go up, take a look at his previous one (which touches on a similar subject).
-- George Jonas, "A Fancy Name For Tribalism," National Post, 5/20/05
Presented without comment.
[HatTip to The Corner.]
I'm gonna be out of the house for most of the day, so don't look for much posting out of me for the next 24 hours. In the meantime, take a look at (or solace in) Ben's silver lining(s).
...to the Government. I thought as much, though I must confess I figured that the two independents (Cadman and Kilgour) would vote the opposite of the way they each did (Cadman wound up pro-Liberal, Kilgour anti-).
I wonder how many more scandals we'll see unveiled in the coming months? And I wonder if Mr. Harper will ever toughen up? Heck, I want to see how convoluted Mr. Martin's spine becomes! Should be a lively few months.
Huh. Well, it seems that the more corrupt the Canadian government gets, the more it attracts the attention of bloggers and news outlets south of the border. This latest post is from Belmont Club, who has quite an interesting take:
What characterizes much of the Left today as exemplified by behavior from George Galloway to Paul Martin is the increasing necessity to maintain their position By Any Means Necessary. While that is dangerous and infuriating, it is a reliable indicator that they have lost control of the system. Things just aren't working the way they used to. And that, despite everything, is cause for hope.Canadian Conservatives despair, and American Conservatives whisper words of encouragement, as they point to a light at the end of the tunnel.
The typically incendiary Ann Coulter strikes again.
How about the media adding to the list of reasons not to run a news item: "Protecting the national interest"? If journalists don't like the ring of that, how about this one: "Protecting ourselves before the American people rise up and lynch us for our relentless anti-American stories."Oh, can I ever hear the fallout from this one...
There are a number of blogs (most of them, in fact) that I am content to skim via my RSS Feed Aggregator. But there are a few that, though they show up en totál as inline text in the reader, I am compelled to click through, and read every word. Done With Mirrors is one such blog. If you aren't reading Callimachus every day, you're missing out on some of the most insightful analysis I've seen anywhere. It's like candy for the mind.
Ooof...
Had a bit of a minor medical procedure this morning. I didn't think it would take this much out of me, but sure enough, here I am - completely useless. Ugh. And feeling miserable.
Hopefully this will pass soon.
...and saying so might jinx it - but it looks like...maybe...I'm back.
[SHHHH!!!! - ed.]
This may very well be one of the few (or the only) things for which I can say I side with Trump:
Standing in the lobby of his Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, Trump presented a model of his own envisioned [World Trade Center] towers, reflecting the original shape and height of the skyscrapers felled on Sept. 11, 2001.Build it again, but bigger. And better.
Trump's design...centers around two 111-story towers - one floor taller than the buildings destroyed when two jetliners were flown into them.
Captain Ed (who may have single-handedly brought down the Gomery publication ban) has a slightly more optimistic take on the state of CPC affairs:
Ironically, Stronach's defection may have forced Harper into a smarter strategy. Martin's budget had gained popular support even among some Tories, although they indicated support for Harper and his no-confidence effort. However, Harper now has to recognize that the budget may wind up working against him for the upcoming vote, and that the attraction may yet pull away the independents he needs to win a no-confidence vote and bring down the Liberals.
The amendment, which all sides agree amounts to a separate confidence vote, really presents the crux of the Tory argument against continued Liberal rule...
...the amendments do almost nothing for the independents on whom Harper must rely for assistance to toss out Martin and force new elections. The primary budget had a lot to offer Cadman and Kilgour, but the amendment does nothing for them, and they can vote against it without worrying what they'll get with a Tory budget in its place. If they have an inclination to jettison Liberal rule -- and Kilgour already indicated he did -- then the amendment gives them the best opportunity to pull the trigger.
Bob Tarantino for Leader Of The CPC. [Emphasis in original.]
Remember a couple of weeks back when Paul Martin was unveiling a new promise every day? Why were the Tories not unveiling planks from their election platform? Why is there no equivalent of the Red Book or the Common Sense Revolution? Why are we wasting time with byzantine parliamentary tactics? Perhaps it's because the choice which is being presented to the electorate is so mundane: 'switch the managers of the ship of state; we won't rock the boat too much; we'll just be less corrupt; we promise'. The Conservatives should not be afraid of being conservative. And should not be afraid of telling Canadians what that means. To pick a random example, are we in favour of greater privatization of the health care system? Great. Explain that. Explain why. Explain what the proposed changes will mean. Don't shy away and mewl that discussions about greater privatization are the work of independent think tanks and in no way reflect what the party's policies actually are. Then maybe we'll start seeing dramatic changes in public support. We can be sure of one thing at least: the current strategy isn't working.
That's it. I'm done with Canadian politics. [Not that you'd written anything about it for, like, ever. - ed. Hush, you!]
Two headlines from NealeNews:
"Nfld Tory MPs Fear Backlash: May vote with Liberals..."
"Belinda Stronach Defects To Liberals: Sells Out For A Cabinet Post"
Two thoughts:
1) Canadians are so easy to bribe. No wonder the Mafia is doing so well here. You don't even have to offer them ANYTHING - just take their money away, and promise to (maybe) give it back, if the budget passes...maybe. In fifteen years. That's what you call "pathetic." I'm tempted to pull out a variety of historical references, but it would just debase them. Canada is too pathetic to merit historical comparison.
2) Stronach is beneath contempt. "Oh, sure, I'll enable the continuation of the most corrupt Canadian regime in history - one that steals [Literally steals - ed. What did I say?] money from its own citizens. Just gimme a piece of that action."
Enough. You truly want to live in a Banana Dominion? Go right ahead and move to Canada. Me, I'm swearing off caring about Canadian politics. It's way too easy to predict. [Plus, you get to spare yourself disappointment at the inevitable re-election of The Criminal Party. - ed. Last warning!]
Celebrate my descent into cynicism! Now, no matter what happens, I get to laugh at everybody. How freeing is that?
More reactions: from Ben and Brock (especially Mike's final paragraph in this follow-up comment.)
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