Words Without Walls

Malicious Mother Syndrome. ( The Drama Part 1)

2007-09-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Here is my experience of being a Father of one child in which the marriage ended in divorce and the Mother is suffering from Malicious Mother Syndrome.

The "One" I speak of is my son, aged 9, born on August 12 1998. I'll never forget the day he was born in St.Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. It was raining as I drove from Port Moody to Downtown Vancouver along the Bartlet Highway. It was eleven in the evening on August the eleven and I had been asleep for about an hour prior to the obvious need to get to the hospital with an expected arrival. My son due date was August 12th so there was really no surprise that we could be making the journey very soon. Unusual for Downtown Vancouver was that parking was a breeze and so we sailed into the hospital and had to deal with the usual admitting questions from the intake clerk. After being hooked up to the monitors a doctor came in to see if the membranes had broken and what should have been a usual procedure turned into a very scary moment when Ryan's heart rate dropped down to 40 beats per minute. Quickly, oxygen was administered and Ryan's heart rate accelerated back up to about 140 BPM after about 3 minutes on continuous oxygen at 10 liters per minute. Those three minutes haunt me to this day for reasons I will get into later.

My sons Moms and I had been married for three years at the time of the birth she did not want to change her name to mine. My feelings about women changing their name at marriage are pretty neutral so I discussed it once in the context of greater family harmony and it went no where so I left it alone. My own mother had the last name of Scott and it didn't affect me, or at least I thought it didn't.

At three in morning the contractions are about 15 to 20 minutes apart and after a real intense one Caren falls off to sleep or a semi-sleep. A chance for me to go outside for some fresh air. alright, for those who know me I wanted a smoke and a stretch as I find hospitals very hard to be in. Too much pain, physical and otherwise. I find a phone to call my Mom in Winnipeg while enjoying a few puffs on cigarette. I explain what had happened, "Ryan's heart rate dropped to 40 BPM". My Mom's a nurse as well so she would understand my concern. She calmed me down and reassured me that all would be fine. I took a few more deep breathes and realized the stars has come out from the rainy dark night. As I studied deep into space for a recognizable constellation I observed a shooting star. To my amazement I saw two more before I darted back into the hospital thinking, what are the odds? The odds are actually very good as I learned two years later. The Perseid's meteor shower puts on a great show every year for my son's birthday.

my son was born at about 8:00 a.m. and I fell asleep on the sofa at about 10:00 a.m. as mother and baby were both fast asleep. By all accounts all seemed pretty normal with the new little family. The following day we returned home and the countless visitors came from all over, "Gotta see the baby!" As ones reads this it is strikingly apparent there was nothing malicious going on at the time of birth. During the three years of marriage prior to the birth there was some indications of malicious behavior but I'll focus this series of post on the events leading to divorce and the events after the divorce. The syndrome is called Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome for a reason. Stay Tuned

Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome

2007-09-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

The summer of 2007 should be remembered as one that saw a set back for estranged fathers from their children. In the last 3 months 4 fathers in my tiny circle of friends and acquaintances have been dealt with by courts and enforcement agencies in a matter that begs for closer scrutiny.

First, Deadbeat Mom sounds horrible but hey, I'm all for equality and I didn't invent the phrase. The phrase does need a definition. The phrase evokes all kinds of emotional responses and I'm not the least bit interested in such a charged debate but rather a clear definition of the phrase. When applied to the male, the definition is simple, it means the father of a child is not paying an equal or greater share of the costs of raising a child or children.

The problem of deadbeat Moms involves a much greater sphere of influence than financial. The impact on all aspects of what it means to be a father through the eyes of the children is negatively skewed. The word deadbeat does not do justice for the all encompassing negative impact. The social, psychological, and emotional development and well being of the children and father suffers greatly.

In searching for a definition that accurately depicts what has happened to me and many other fathers can now be called what it is, "A Syndrome". Like many other syndromes left unchecked can rapidly become a plague in our society. From what I have witnessed in the last three months it is time to sound the alarm bells.

First one must be able to identify the problem so I will publish a paper on the topic written by someone with much more credibility than myself.

JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, VOLUME 10, NUMBER 3, p 253-264, 1995

DIVORCE RELATED MALICIOUS MOTHER SYNDROME
Ira Daniel Turkat, Ph.D.

With the increasing commonality of divorce involving children, a pattern of abnormal behaviour has emerged that has received little attention. The present paper defines the Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome. Specific nosologic criteria are provided with abundant clinical examples. Given the lack of scientific data available on the disorder, issues of classification, etiology, treatment, and prevention appear ripe for investigation.

INTRODUCTION

A divorced man gains custody of his children and his ex-wife burns down his home. A woman in a custody battle buys a cat for her offspring because her divorcing husband is highly allergic to cats. A mother forces her children to sleep in a car to "prove" their father has bankrupted them. These actions illustrate a pattern of abnormal behavior that has emerged as the divorce rate involving children has grown.

Today, half of all marriages will end in divorce (Beal and Hochman, 1991). The number of children involved in divorce has grown dramatically (e.g., Hetherington and Arastah, 1988) as well. While the majority of such cases are "settled" from a legal perspective, outside the courtroom the battle continues.

The media has spent considerable effort raising public awareness about the problem posed by divorced fathers who do not provide court ordered child support payments. Hedges (1991) has noted that less than 20% of divorced fathers provide child support payments three years after their divorce. Research on the decline of women's economic status following divorce (e.g., Hernandez, 1988; Laosa, 1988) has contributed to recent legislation to address the "Deadbeat Dad" problem.

While the media correctly portrays the difficulties imposed upon women and children by the "Deadbeat Dad" phenomenon, the cameras have yet to capture the warfare waged by a select group of mothers against child support paying, law abiding fathers. Every day, attorneys and therapists are exposed to horror stories in which vicious behaviors are lodged against innocent fathers and children. Unfortunately, there are no scientific data on the subject. Similarly, the clinical literature has relatively ignored the problem.

A notable exception can be found in the clinical writings of Gardner (1987, 1989) who has provided excellent descriptions of the Parental Alienation Syndrome. Here, a custodial parent successfully engages in a variety of maneuvers to alienate the child from the non-residential parent. Once successfully manipulated, the child becomes "...preoccupied with deprecation and criticism of a parent-denigration that is unjustified and/or exaggerated" (Gardner, 1989 p. 226). In the typical case of Parental Alienation Syndrome, both mother and child engage in an array of abnormal actions against the rather. Gardner views "brainwashing" as a concept "too narrow" (Gardner, 1989) to capture the psychological manipulation involved in turning a child against his/her non-residential parent.

While Gardner's pioneering descriptions of the Parental Alienation Syndrome provide an important contribution to our understanding of divorce related child involved hostilities, the present paper is concerned with a more global abnormality. As noted in the examples provided in the beginning of this manuscript, serious attacks on divorcing husbands take place which are beyond merely manipulating the children. Further, these actions include a willingness by some mothers to violate societal law. Finally, there are mothers who persistently engage in malicious behaviors designed to alienate their offspring from the father, despite being unable to successfully cause alienation. In sum, these cases do not meet the criteria for Parental Alienation Syndrome. Nevertheless, they portray a serious abnormality.

The purpose of the present paper is to define and illustrate this more global abnormality with the hope of generating increased scientific and clinical investigation of this problem.

DEFINITION

The present section provides a beginning definition of the Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome, which has been derived from clinical and legal cases. As in all initial proposals, it is anticipated that future research will lead to greater refinement in the taxonomic criteria. The proposed definition encompasses four major criteria, as follows:

1.

A mother who unjustifiably punishes her divorcing or divorced husband by:
1. Attempting to alienate their mutual child(ren) from the father
2. Involving others in malicious actions against the father
3. Engaging in excessive litigation

2.

The mother specifically attempts to deny her child(ren):
1. Regular uninterrupted visitation with the father
2. Uninhibited telephone access to the father
3. paternal participation in the child(ren)'s school life and extra-curricular activities

3.

Tile pattern is pervasive and includes malicious acts towards the husband including:
1. Lying to the children
2. Lying to others
3. Violations of law

4.

The disorder is not specifically due to another mental disorder although a separate mental disorder may co-exist.

CLINICAL ILLUSTRATIONS

In this section, I will provide clinical illustrations for each criterion using the reference numbers provided above. As criteria 1-3 are behavior specific to the Malicious Mother Syndrome, I will provide a series of clinical examples. The fourth criterion which addresses the relationship of the proposed syndrome to other mental disorders, will be discussed more generally.

Criterion 1A: Alienating the Children

The range of actions taken by a mother to attempt to alienate her children from their father is impressive. For example:

One mother lied to her children that she could no longer buy food because their father had spent all of their money on women at topless bars.

A doctor's wife forced her 10 year old son to apply for federally funded free school lunches to delude the boy that his "daddy has made us poor."

A woman who for years was very close to the children in a custody battle, was asked by their mother to give up neutrality and join her campaign against the father to "dance on his grave." When the friend refused to give up her neutrality, the mother falsely informed her children that their father was having an affair with this woman.

These behaviors, if successful, could lead a child to not only hate the father but perhaps go years without seeing him. As Cartwright (1993) has noted: "The goal of the alienator is crystalline: to deprive the lost parent, not only of the child's time, but of the time of childhood" (p. 210).

Criterion 1B: Involving Others in Malicious Actions

The second component of the first major criterion where the mother attempts to punish the husband, involves manipulating other individuals to engage in malicious acts against the father. Examples of this kind are as follows:

During a custody battle, a mother lied to a therapist about the father's behaviour. The therapist, having never spoken with the father, appeared as an "expert" witness to inform the Judge that the mother should be the primary residential parent and that the father needed to be in therapy.

One angry mother manipulated teenagers to leave anonymous threatening notes at the ex-husband's home.

A mother who had lost legal custody of her child, manipulated a secretary at the child's school to assist in kidnapping the child.

In the above examples, it is important to note that the person manipulated by the angry mother has, in a way, been "alienated" against the divorcing husband. Typically, the individual "duped" takes on a righteous indignation, contributing to a rewarding climate for the mother initiating malicious actions.

Criterion 1C: Excessive Litigation

There is little question that either party in a divorce or custody proceeding is entitled to appropriate legal representation and action. Individuals suffering from Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome, however, attempt to punish the divorcing husband by engaging in excessive litigation.

A belligerent and unreasonable mother verbally attacked her ex-husband whenever she saw him. Over time, his response was to ignore her. She then took him to court, asking the judge to require the ex-husband to talk with her.

One mother told a judge that her daughter was not really her divorcing husband's child.

One woman refused to stop attacking her ex-husband through the courts despite numerous attorneys being fired or voluntarily leaving the case. Over a three year period, seven different attorneys were utilized.

Data exist which can help in determining the range of excessive litigation. For example, Keel et al. (1988) report on the frequency of post-divorce litigation in a sample of 700 families. Their data indicate that only 12.7% of families file one post-divorce petition to the court, whereas less than 5% file two or more petitions (Keel at al. 1988); less than 1% file four or more petitions.

Criterion 2A: Denying Regular Visitation

Experts are in relative agreement that regular and uninterrupted visitation with the non-residential parent is desirable and beneficial for children, except in extreme circumstances (Hedges, 1991). In fact, some states, such as Florida, have laws written to reflect this view (Keane, 1990). Unfortunately, even when the father and children have legal rights to visitation, individuals with Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome continue to interfere with it.

A mother who previously attacked her ex-husband physically during visitation transfers of the children, refused to provide the children when the ex-husband had the police attend to monitor exchanges.

When one divorced father arrived to pick up his children for visitation, the mother arranged for her and the children to be elsewhere so that the father could not visit with the children.

One mother had her physically intimidating boyfriend assault her ex-husband when he came to pick up his children for visitation.

The President of The Council for Children's Rights (Washington, D.C.) notes that such alienation is considered a form of child abuse (Levy, 1992). Unfortunately, the police typically avoid involving themselves in such situations. Furthermore, unless a victimized father is financially capable of returning to court on an ongoing basis, there is little that can be done to prevent such mothers' behavior. Finally, even when such cases are brought to trial, the courts are often inadequate in supporting fathers' visitation rights (Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System, 1992).

Criterion 2B: Denying Uninhibited Telephone Access

Given the physical absence of one parent, the telephone plays an important role in maintaining the bond between child and non-residential parent. Individuals suffering from Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome engage in an array of actions designed to circumvent telephone access.

A father called to speak to his children and was told that they were not at home when in bet he could hear their voices in the background.

When one father called to speak with his children, the mother put him on "hold," informed no one, and then left him there.

Knowing that the children's father was away on vacation, one mother encouraged them to leave several messages on his answering machine to call back immediately only if he would like some additional visitation time with his children.

Some fathers find the alienation attempts so painful and fruitless that they eventually are extinguished from calling their children; they simply "give up." Placed in a no-win scenario, the father's "abandonment" (Hedges, 1991) unfortunately achieves the precise result aimed for by the individual suffering from Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome.

Criterion 2C: Denying Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities

An integral part of the process of maintaining one's bond with one's child is to participate in activities that one did before the parents separated. School plays, team sports, and religious events are just some of the types of activities of importance. Malicious Mothers frequently engage in maneuvers designed to prevent participation in these activities.

One father was deliberately given the wrong date and time for an important event for the child. The child was asked by the mother, "I wonder why your father didn't want to come to see you today"?

One mother refused to provide the father with any information about any extra-curricular activities in which the children were engaged.

Prior to a child's soccer game, one mother told many of the team parents disparaging falsehoods about the visiting lather. When he came to watch his son's soccer game, many of these parents looked at him with angry eyes, refused to talk with him, and walked away when he moved toward them.

Malicious Mothers who engage in such behaviors rarely have to face penalties for such actions. Judges, attorneys, and policemen cannot involve themselves in every instance of blocked paternal access. Furthermore, most fathers cannot afford the financial requirements involved. As such, the cycle of access interference perpetuates itself.

Criterion 3A: Malicious Lying to the Children

Given their developmental status, children in a disputed divorce situation are quite vulnerable. When one parent decides to attack the other by lying to the children, examples of this type of malicious behavior may include some of the following.

One divorcing mother told her very young daughter that her father was "not really" her father even though he was.

An eight year old girl was forced by her mother to hand unpaid bills to her lather when he visited because the mother had falsely told the daughter that the father had not provided any economic means of support to the family.

One mother falsely told her children that their father had repeatedly beat her up in the past.

These examples of malicious lying can be contrasted with the more subtle maneuvers typically seen in Parental Alienation Syndrome, such as "virtual allegations" (Cartwright, 1993). Here, the mother setting up a Parental Alienation Syndrome may hint that abuse may have occurred, whereas the individual suffering from Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome falsely claims that abuse has actually occurred.

Criterion 3B: Malicious Lying to Others

Individuals suffering from Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome may engage a wide range of other individuals in their attacks upon the ex-husband. However, with this particular criterion, the individual with Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome specifically lies to other individuals in the belligerency against the father. Some examples include the following.

One furious mother called the president of the (1500 employee) workplace of her divorcing husband, claiming falsely that he was using business property for personal gain and was abusing their mutual children at his work locale.

One woman falsely told slate officials that her ex-husband was sexually abusing their daughter. The child was immediately taken away from him and his access to her was denied.

During the course of a custody dispute, one mother falsely informed the guardian, who was investigating the parenting skills of each parent, that the father had physically abused her.

Snyder (1986) has reported on the difficulty imposed upon legal authorities when confronted with someone who is an excellent liar. Consistent with research on the inability of "specialists" to detect lying (Ekman and O'Sullivan, 1991), a skilled fabricator can be a compelling witness in the courtroom (Snyder, 1986). While sometimes seen in borderline personalities, Snyder (1986) notes that pathological lying (Pseudologia Fantastica) is not restricted to that particular character disorder.

Criterion 3C: Violating Law to Attack the Husband

Individuals suffering from Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome have few if any boundaries in their campaign against the divorcing husband. Violations of law are common in many cases, although the laws broken may be relatively minor. However, in some cases, the violations of law may be quite serious.

One woman deliberately drove her automobile into the house of her ex-husband where their mutual children resided.

In the midst of a custody battle, one woman broke into the residence of her divorcing husband and stole important business papers.

An angry divorcing mother called a Christian evangelical television station and pledged $1000, giving the name, address, and phone number of her divorcing Jewish husband as the pledgee.

The above descriptions may remind the reader of certain personality disorders (e.g., antisocial, borderline, sadistic) but these behaviors may be demonstrated by individuals with Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome who do not appear to meet official diagnostic criteria for an Axis II disorder. Further, in each of the four examples provided above, none of the Malicious Mothers involved was sentenced for such behavior by a Judge.

Criterion 4: Not Due to Another Disorder

In assessing the Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome, it is important to note that many of the above clinical examples seem to have occurred in individuals who had no prior mental disorder diagnosis or treatment. In fact, one mother who engaged in extreme maliciousness toward her divorcing husband had several mental health professionals testify that she was not suffering from any type of mental disorder. Clearly, it would seem that individuals who have Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome may or may not have a concomitant mental disorder.

In the author's experience, for each mental disorder that might come to mind to account for some of this behavior, an exceptional case presents. For example, in some cases an Adjustment Disorder might seem an appropriate diagnosis, yet one woman still denied her ex-husband visitation 10 years after the divorce. Other cases might suggest a possibility of a personality disorder diagnosis, yet one woman who repeatedly violated the law in attacking her ex-husband, received no personality disorder diagnosis despite being evaluated by masters level and doctoral level examiners. In some instances, Intermittent Explosive Disorder might be considered, yet the anger for many of the mothers does not appear to be intermittent.

Finally, the reader should appreciate that while diagnostic accuracy for certain psychiatric difficulties is not as good as one would like (e.g., the personality disorders, see Turkat, 1990), the problem is compounded in family law where incompetent mental health examiners sometimes become involved in the judicial process (Turkat, 195)3). Clearly, the relationship between Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome and other mental disorders is a complex one which requires significant investigation.

DISCUSSION

The above description of the Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome raises a variety of important clinical, legal, and scientific issues.

From a clinical perspective, families that involve a Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome are subject to serious episodes of stress and distress. Yet, there is no scientific evidence on how to treat this phenomenon. It is particularly compromised by the fact that many of these cases that appear to meet the proposed diagnostic criteria deny that there is anything wrong with them.

An additional difficulty is that many therapists are unaware of this pattern of malicious behavior (Heinz and Heinz, 1993). As such, there are therapists who are "fooled" by such cases and, as noted earlier, will come to court testifying that there is nothing wrong with the mother involved.

From a legal perspective, there are some attorneys who may unintentionally encourage this type of behavior (Gardner, 1989). On the other hand, there are some attorneys who deliberately encourage such behavior, as the financial rewards for them are time dependent. In other words, the more involved the litigation process, the greater the profits for the attorney (Grotman and Thomas, 1990). However, even for the subset of attorneys for whom this may be true, there is a point of diminishing returns. Furthermore, independent of economic considerations, many who become involved with family law courtrooms find that these types of cases are not handled well (Greif, 1985; Levy, 1992).

The woman who is not disturbed "enough" to lose custody of her children in the courtroom will not have money denied to her because she engages in this behavior; nor will she go to jail. Thus, many clients report significant frustration when they and their children are exposed to this type of behavior, and the courts seem to do little if anything about.

In a review of pertinent law literature on bias against men in family law proceedings, Tillitski (1992) concluded that there is widespread discrimination. This is well illustrated by one family law Judge's statement that, "I ain't never seen the calves follow the bulls, they always follow the cow; therefore, I always give custody to the mamas" (Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System, 1992 p. 742). Similarly, it is noted that visitation rights of fathers are not enforced as rigidly as are child support orders (Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System, 1992). Such bias against men in family law proceedings results in a unique group of fathers who unintentionally become relatively helpless victims of the system (Tillitski, 1992). This situation would seem to reinforce much of the vicious behavior displayed by women suffering from Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome.

The issue of sex distribution of the disorder certainly needs to be addressed. The overwhelming majority of custodial parents are female (Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System, 1992). Gardner (1989) has noted that Parental Alienation Syndrome appears most commonly in females, although it is possible for a male who has custody of the children to engage in the same type of alienating behaviors. The author's experience with Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome is similar to Gardner's. However, the present writer has yet to see a case of a father engaging in all of the criteria listed. This does not mean that it is not possible for there to be a "Malicious Father" Syndrome. In fact, Shepard (1992) reports that there is significant abuse of some custodial mothers by non-residential fathers. On the other hand, it should be noted that there are females who are required to pay chiltl support, but we have yet to heara about "Deadbeat Moms." Given at the present time that a case in which the father met all of the criteria for Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syntlrome has yet to be documented, it appears advisable to await scientific evidence to guide issues of nosologic labeling.

How prevalent is the Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome? The answer is unknown. Gardner (1989) reports that approximately 90% of all custody battles involve some aspects of parental alienation. Further, Kressel (1985) reviewed data indicating that up to 40% of maternal custodians denied visitation to the ex-husband in order to punish him. Relatedly, Arditti (1992) reported that 50% of a sample of divorced fathers (N = 125) indicated that visitation was interfered with by the mother. While aspects of parental alienation may be common, it is highly unlikely that such a percentage of maternal custodians would meet all of the criteria for Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome.

In regard to incidence, it would appear through the title of this syndrome that the malicious behavior is precipitated by the divorce process.

However, this is clearly an empirical question. While the malicious actions may first be noted during a divorce process, it is possible that maliciousness may have been present earlier but undetected. Research on pre-divorce parental conflict (Enos and Handal, 1986) supports this speculation. Relatedly, it may also be that there are some cases of pre-existing mental disorder that have not been discovered until the stress of the divorce itself unfolds.

Finally, it should be noted that research on the nature of post-divorce family functioning is beginning to emerge. Some data exist on the role of parental conflict in children's postdivorce functioning (e.g., Frost and Pakiz, 1990; Furstenberg et al., 1987; Healy, Malley and Stewart, 1990; Kudek, 1988), but studies have yet to appear on the more extreme cases of Parental Alienation Syndrome and Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome.

The Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome represents an important societal phenomenon. The disorder affects children, parents, attorneys, judges, guardians, mental health professionals, and others. Until this phenomenon is explored more thoroughly in the scientific and clinical literature, the problems imposed by individuals suffering from Divorce Related Malicious Mother Syndrome will continue to plague us. Hopefully, the present manuscript will stimulate research so that clinical and legal management guidelines can be developed.

REFERENCES

Artlitli, J. A. (1992). Factors related to custody, visitation, and child support for divorced fathers: An exploratory analysis. J. Div. Remarr. 17: 23-42.

Beal, E. W., and Hockman, D. (1991). Adult Children of Divorce, Delacorte Press, New York.

Cartwright, D. F. (1993), Expanding the parameters of parental alienation syndrome. Am. J. Fam. Ther. 21: 205-215.

Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System. (1992). Gender and justice in the courts: A report to the supreme court of Georgia. Georgia State Univ. Law Rev. 8: 539-807.

Ekman, P., and O'Sullivan, M. (1991). Who can catch a liar? American Psychologist, 46: 913-920.

Enos, D. M., and Handal, P. J. (1986). The relation of parental marital status and perceived family conflict to adjustment in white adolescents. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 54: 820-824.

Frost, A. K., and Pakiz, U. (1990). The effects of marital disruption on adolescence: Time as a dynamic. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry 60: 544-555.

Furstenberg, F. F., Morgan, S. P., and Allison, P. D. (1987). Paternal participation and children's well being after marital dissolution. Am. Sociological Rev. 52: 695-701.

Gardner, R. A. (1987). The Parental Alienation Syndrome and the Differentiation Between Fabricated and Genuine Child Sex Abuse, Creative Therapeutics, Cresskill, NJ.

Gardner, R. A. (1989). Family Evaluation in Child Custody Mediation, Arbitration, and Litigation, Creative Therapeutics, Cresskill, NJ.

Greif, G. L. (1985). Single Fathers, Lexington Books, Lexington, MA.

Grutman, R., and Thomas, B. (1990). Lawyers and Thieves. Simon & Schuster, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Healy, J. M., Malley, J. E., and Stewart, A. J. (1900). Children and their fathers after parental separation. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry 60: 531-543.

Hetherington, E. N., and Arasteh, J. D. (eds.). (1988). Impact of Divorce, Single Parenting and Step-Parenting on Children, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ.

Heinz, H. R., and Heinz, S. A. (1993). Emotional incest: The tragedy of divorcing families. Am. J. Fam. Law 7: 169-174.

Hernandez, D. J. (1988). The demographics of divorce and remarriage. In Hetherington, E. M., and Arasteh, J. D. (eds.), Impact of Divorce, Single Parenting, and Step-Parenting on Children, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 3-22.

Hodges, W. E (1991). Interventions for Children of Divorce, (second edition), Wiley, New York.

Keane, G. (1990). Florida Divorce Handbook, Pineapple Press, Sarasota, FL.

Koel, A., Clark, S. C., Phear, W. P., and Hauser, B. B. (1988). A comparison of joint and sole legal custody agreements. In Hetherington, E. M., and Arasteh, J. D. (eds.), Impact of Divorce, Single Parenting, and Step-Parenting on Children, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 73-90.

Kressel, K. (1985). The Process of Divorce, Basic Books, New York.

Kurdek, L. (1988). Custodial mothers' perceptions of visitation and payment of child support by non-custodial fathers in families with low and high levels of pre-separation interparental conflict. J. Appl. Devel. Psychol. 9: 315-328.

Laosa, L. N. (1988). Ethnicity and single parenting in the United Stales. In Hetherington, E. M., and Arasteh, J. D. (eds.), Impact of Divorce, Single Parenting, and Step-Parenting on Children, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 23-49.

Shepard, N. (1992). Child-visiting and domestic abuse. Child Welfare 71: 357-367.

Snyder, S. (1986). Pseudologia Fantastica in the borderline patient. Am. J. Psychiatry 143: 1287-1289.

Tillitski C. J. (1992). Fathers and child custody: Issues, trends, and implications for counseling. J. Ment. Health Counsel. 14: 351-361.

Turkat I. D. (1990). The Personality Disorders: A Psychological Approach to Clinical Management, Pergamon, New York.

Turkal, I. D. (1993). Questioning the mental health expert's custody report. Am. J. Fam. Law 7: 175-179.

A Healing Leap

2006-07-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

Watching ABC's Primetime Live featuring Adam, also known as ,"The Dreamhealer" I was astounded at the double speak masked as commentary in attempts to discredit this 20 year old Canadian.

My favourite was, "Is this Adam healing or a placebo effect, mind over matter?". Adam claims to use his intention or mind to make corrections in the flow of energy that surrounds a body, an ailing body will most definately have a disruption in the flow of electricity that feeds and forms it. I would say that Adam healing and the placebo effect are one and the same and the only difference is who's intention is involved. What didn't get explored was the emotional state of the ill people Adam was making corrections on.

If I were to say, avoid anger as you would the plague. The anger you hold is making you sick and consuming your liver in the form of cancer or cirrhosis, how many would immediately give up the anger? Without proper counsel, as in AA, I don't think many would, for anger is as addictive as alcohol and tobacco. As anger disrupts life energy in support of the liver, what of envy, greed, sorrow, grief? By who's intention do people hold on to these destructive emotions. Yes, mind over matter, or the placebo effect is real and unfortunatly we see the self destructive side effects of the minds of the masses everyday in the healing industry. So if Adam is a placebo then the intentions of the ill are anti-placebo, that which causes themselves harm, and those intentions show up in their body.

Spiritual reasons for abolishing the seal hunt.

2006-03-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

In the Universe of laws we find that which is all consuming at the expense of others to be considered negative. As humans we strive to create abundance in our lives and the lives of others at the expense of no one. Humans passing through creation, observed as evolution, did in fact, have the necessity to be consumers of energy at the expense of others. These practices have diminished over time and are now considered primitive and even barbaric and predatory.

Given that the seal hunt is a consumption of life energy in exchange for material benefit, a benefit that has no spiritual gain, I would expect that evolution or the continued progress of creation, will, in time, resolve this imbalance. The aboriginal understood this law and gave thanks and gratitude and ceremony to the Earth and animal used for survival. Homo Sapiens were very good at negative consumption of life energy for material gain without giving it a second thought.

Homo Spiritus values life above all else and has respect for the laws of the Universe. Homo Spiritus creates abundance in lives using the laws of the Universe and not by breaking them. The law; each action has an equal and opposite reaction, when placed in the context of the seal hunt, means to me, that the Universe will balance the consumption of 320,000 seals. How? I'm not even going to guess but a butterfly just flapped it's wings off the coast of Africa and Canada seems to owe the Universe a debt.

Perhaps we will just end the seal hunt but my guess is that some Homo Sapiens will blame God and CNN will get a spike in ratings when the debt is being paid.

Wangari's Invitation, The Green Belt Movement.

2006-03-17T12:15:00.001-08:00

What do trees have to do with peace?

Thirty years ago, in the country of Kenya, 90% of the forest had been chopped down. Without trees to hold the topsoil in place, the land became like a desert. When the women and girls would go in search of firewood in order to prepare the meals, they would have to spend hours and hours looking for what few branches remained.

A woman named Wangari watched all of this happening. She decided that there must be a way to take better care of the land and take better care of the women and girls. So she planted a tree.And then she planted another. She wanted to plant thousands of trees, but she realized that it would take a very long time if she was the only one doing it.So she taught the women who were looking for firewood to plant trees,
and they were paid a small amount for each sapling they grew. Soon she organized women all over the country to plant trees, and a movement took hold. It was called the Green Belt Movement, and with each passing year, more and more trees covered the land.

But something else was happening as the women planted those trees.Something else besides those trees was taking root. The women began to have confidence in themselves. They began to see that they could make a difference. They began to see that they were capable of many things, and that they were equal to the men. They began to recognize that they were deserving of being treated with respect and dignity.

Changes like these were threatening to some. The president of the country didn't like any of this. So police were sent to intimidate and beat Wangari for planting trees,
and for planting ideas of equality and democracy in people's heads, especially in women's. She was accused of "subversion" and arrested many times. Once, while Wangari was trying to plant trees, she was clubbed by guards hired by developers who wanted the lands cleared. She was hospitalized with head injuries. But she survived, and it only made her realize that she was on the right path.

For almost thirty years, she was threatened physically, and she was often made fun of in the press. But she didn't flinch. She only had to look in the eyes of her three children, and in the eyes of the thousands of women and girls who were blossoming right along with the trees, and she found the strength to continue.

And that is how it came to be that 30 million trees have been planted in Africa, one tree at a time. The landscapes--both the external one of the land and the internal one of the people--have been transformed.

In 2002, the people of Kenya held a democratic election, and the president who opposed Wangari and her Green Belt Movement is no longer in office. And Wangari is now Kenya's Assistant Minister for the Environment.

She is 65 years old, and this year she planted one more tree in celebration and thanksgiving for being given a very great honour:
Wangari Maathai has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She is the first African woman to receive this award.

After she was notified, she gave a speech entitled, "What Do Trees Have To Do With Peace?" She pointed out how most wars are fought over limited natural resources, such as oil, land, coal or diamonds. She called for an end to corporate greed, and for leaders to build more just societies. She added: "Our recent experience in Kenya gives hope to all who have been struggling for a better future. It shows it is possible to bring about positive change, and still do it peacefully. All it takes is courage and perseverance, and a belief that positive change is possible. That is why the slogan for our campaign was 'It is Possible!' "On behalf of all African women, I want to express my profound appreciation for this honour, which will serve to encourage women in Kenya, in Africa, and around the world to raise their voices and not to be deterred."

"When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope. We also secure the future for our children. I call on those around the world to celebrate by planting a tree wherever you are."
As she received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, she invited all to get involved:
"Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our
thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system.
We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own."

* * *

Can we accept Wangari's invitation?

As we look around our neighborhood or city,
as we look at our own country, What is needed?
Where are women and children suffering?
Where are people feeling disempowered?
Where does the Earth need our help?
What is our equivalent of planting one tree?

Holding you in your highest; honouring you where you are; and
inspiring you to go beyond!

In the Oneness of Awakening.

Margrit Bayer. Special thanks to Remi Thivierge

Image of Christ turns Anti-Christ.

2006-03-10T09:01:00.001-08:00

I pulled this picture of a holy image off of creekside, I guess it is supposed to show an image of Christ. I wouldn't have believed it but I have come to the conclusion that it is an image of Christ because when I created a negative of it.... well look at the picture below. Creepy.

Yes that is an image of, if you look real close you can make out a ghostly face of the Anti-Christ.

This post is for satirical purposes only. It is not intended to imply that Warren Kinsella is the actual Anti-Christ, even though he makes that claim himself.

Long live the beaver, eh.

2006-02-24T12:02:00.000-08:00

Cindy Klassen

Chandra Crawford

With the Olympic Winter Games almost done I would like to give an Olympic sized hug to the Canadian women athletes that made this game so enjoyable.

Alanna Kraus

Regan Lauscher

With a proven track record like this and an incredible showing in Italy, I can't wait for 2010 as it should be declared the year of the beaver.

The Trampification of Mother Teresa.

2006-02-14T18:11:00.000-08:00

Paris Hilton as Mother Teresa, hey it wasn't my idea.

What about John Goodman as Ghandi or Keanu as Albert Einstein? Please fell free to offer more really bad casting ideas in comments.

David Emerson, enough already.

2006-02-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

Ok, ok, enough already. I'm sure Vancouver-Kingsway really wanted a member of the opposition so badly that they are willing to spend all kinds of money on a by-election to get one. So Ian Waddell, if your still interested in sitting opposite the government on behalf of the constituents of Vancouver-Kingsway in a re-do, have at it.

I'm sure David Emerson could easily sit in one of the seats surrounding Vancouver so he can get some work done on a very important file. Or, the Liberal riding association and other parties and MP's can shut the hell up so Emerson can get on with the work he was doing in November.

UDATE:In the get a life please, lammo use of cyberspace.

What would Jesus do ?

2006-02-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

An original Cartoon by me, created with the greatest respect.

PM Dilbert.

2006-02-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

Andrew Coyne wants a nickname for our new PM Harper. I read this cartoon during the election and thought this would be a good nickname for Harper if he became PM. Going from Dithers to Dilbert works for me.

Muhammad, The Prophet, The Best Beloved.

2006-02-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Given the unbelievable insensitive nature of some of the cartoons being published that depict one of the great contributors to human civilization, I am reminded of something I read ten years ago.

First one needs to remember the climate in which Muhammad lived.

Muhammad appeared in the desert of Hijaz in the Arab Peninsula, which was a desolate, sterile wilderness, sandy and uninhabited. Some parts, like Mecca and Medina, are extremely hot.Pg 22(1)

The people that Muhammad lived with were gripped in the deepest of savagery and barbarism.

the people are nomads with the manners and customs of dwellers in the desert, and entirely destitute of education and science. The Banu-Tamim tribe would bury their daughters alive, glorying in it as an honorable thing to do. Thus many of the men would threaten their wives, saying, "if a daughter is born to you, I will kill you."Pg.19 (1)

The mission of the Best Beloved Muhammad can only be described as the work of the Holy Spirit. In my opinion, a work that should be likened to a return of the Christ.
His message of love and community and some scientific fact to these people was met with the severest oppression and cruelty as the nomadic tribes united against him.

The first question which He put to them was, "Why do you not accept the Pentateuch and the Gospel, and why do you not believe in Christ and in Moses?" They argued," Our forefathers did not believe in the Pentateuch and the Gospel."
In such a country, and amidst such barbarous tribes, an illiterate Man produced a book in which, in a perfect and eloquent style, he explained the divine attributes and perfections, the prophethood of the messengers of God, the divine laws and some scientific facts.Pg.23-23 (1)

Muhammad's contribution to humanity is well documented and worthy of everyone's respect. During the middle ages, While Europe was in the lowest depths of barbarism , the Arab peoples were superior to the other nations in learning, in the arts, mathematics, civilization, government and other sciences.

Our Best Beloved Muhammad was the Enlightener and Educator of these different Arab tribes, A Founder of the nation state form of government and Illuminator of human perfections through justice, a corner stone of western civilization.

I'll end this post with Muhammad's direction to his followers about a community of Christian people that lived in Najran and were under his care and protection.

"If anyone infringes on their rights, I myself will be his enemy, and in the presence of God I will bring a charge against him." In the edicts that He promulgated it is clearly stated that the lives, properties and honor of the Christians and Jews are under the protection of God.Pg.21(1)

(1) Some Answered Questions; Abdul Baha,1964 Bahai Publishing Trust, Wilmette, Illinois

Another Kelowna Artist.

2006-02-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

Listen to Brandon Scott

Gerard Kennedy

2006-01-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

I would be curious to see how Ontario grapples with having a Western based Ontarian vs an Ontario based Westerner to vote for in the next election, Perplexing indeed.

Could be the biggest gains in NDP history in that province. Bring it on!

Quick hit on Harper.

2006-01-27T17:40:00.000-08:00

I bought a house and I'm just finishing up the moving. I think I'll do a post on Zen and the art of packing. Can I get that 1% discount on the GST, huh, even on the lawyers fees.

For now I only have time to note that the first three days has been very good for Prime Minister Dilbert. He has rattled the Americans by standing up for Arctic sovereignty and shown why he has personal reasons for ensuring clean air, regardless of treaties signed. Who better to mind the environment than an asthma suferer.

Quick, somebody check a poll, are they in majority territory yet?

New Artist from Kelowna!

2006-01-25T20:27:00.000-08:00

This is my Good Buddy, give a listen to Josh's song Sunday Papers

He would like to know what you think so leave a comment.

SES gets it right again. Almost exactly!

2006-01-24T00:53:00.000-08:00

I would say that SES gets a gold star for the most accurate poll. Just like I said here. Gregg and Bricker where off in 2004. I don't know why SES gets it right but they do.

Election day notes, quotes, and nothings.

2006-01-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful day in Kelowna, +6 degrees blue sky with a gentle breeze blowing across the shimmering lake. A day not too uncommon here in the heart of BC, a Province the media and pollsters say will decide this election.

On my way to the church to cast my ballot, I stopped into the new Starbucks for a tall Americano long shot. Seems to me everyone else wanted to see the new Starbucks, cause the line was easily 20 deep. I waited a little and asked the guy and gal at the end of the line if they've been here long. They both rolled there eyes and indicated that it seemed like 20 mins already. Really? I said in disbelief. I grumbled that I didn't think anyone should wait that long to pay $2.50 for a cup of coffee and that I was heading to Tim Horton's for an extra large double-double. The frustrated coffee couple agreed and added that it would only cost a buck fifty. As the newly converted coffee couple followed me out of the door I asked, "Did you vote yet", they said, " right after our double -double." Ah well, I chuckled to myself, if only Stephen Harper had it so easy.

Just listening to conversations in Tim Horton's you'd think that the NDP would have a very strong showing in this riding of Kelowna-Lake Country. I imagine what goes on is that people think it trendy to say they'll vote NDP and never actually put the X beside the name. Even in the heart of Conservative country I haven't heard anyone say outright that they are a Conservative. They usually stutter something like," well, I just don't want the Liberals anymore and I like the NDP but they can't do much, maybe I'll go Green". This is probably more pronounced in Ontario and Quebec. So the unofficial Tim's poll is NDP 6, LIB 2, Tory 8 with said disclaimer attached.

I thought this was interesting, on my drive to the polling station, unsure of where the church was, I observed the first direction marker at the corner of Martin St. The very next street that had a direction marker was Stockwell St. That's very odd I thought, did they rename the streets after failed leaders? As I pulled into the parking lot of the place with pictures of dead Popes on the wall I noticed that the church was located at the corner of Gordon and Wilson, See link for those who aren't familiar with BC politics.
It is kinda creepy with the ghosts of failed leaders and dead Popes watching you vote but it got me thinking, instead of hanging Paul Martin's portrait in parliament, why not put up Ed Broadbent's picture?

That was my election day so far and the best part is yet to come. I have one more big decision to make today, who's coverage should I watch? The CTV has had the best coverage of the campaign but I'd love to see the CBC spin wildly like Dan Rather did down south two years ago, that was priceless. Maybe Kevin Newman?

A victory for integrity.

2006-01-20T22:57:00.000-08:00

I think it is safe to say that Stephen Harper will be the Prime Minister in a safe, workable minority government after all is counted. He will have three new seats in Quebec and greater representation in Ontario. The Conservatives will have prevented the Bloq of Quebec from taking a majority in popular percentages. Duceppe and Martin will talk of seats and the Conservatives and NDP will talk of POP vote increases. Everybody wins!

If I could speak to the the voters in Ontario I would say, " the West is in and so is Quebec, what are you waiting for?" I think it will now be more acceptable to refer to the Rest Of Canada to the exclusion of Ontario. That's right, opposition Ontario, or more precisely, opposition Toronto. The opposition will be filled with those that responded to fear, sovereigns, and socialists. The extreme elements in Canadian society.

I'm glad that Canadians overcame fear and replaced it with integrity. If one could develope a scale of values based on that which is good for society versus that which is bad or destructive. Love for fellow citizens would rate at 500 while murder or war would rate at 0. Integrity would fall at about 200 and fear at 70. This was the great failing of the Liberal Party, they didn't understand that fear , being destructive is ultimately destroyed by that which is progressive. The Universes natural selection for ensuring there is continued progress.

Integrity is a good place to start, but it is just a start. Canada can move forward to trust, hope and greater harmony within our country. Wouldn't that be real progress?

Polls

2006-01-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

warning: we do not consider a single night of tracking to be scientically conclusive. These nightly releases are intended to respond to curiosity about day to day movements. Their true statistical significance will become clearer when analysed as part of a larger weekly sample.

I'm just saying.

I guess on Monday we'll know for sure. I will say that in 2004 SES was the closest at 34 - 32

Layton's bad pick-up lines.

2006-01-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize that Jack Layton was the kind of guy that would use a line like he did in this news release. "C'mon baby, just this once", sounds really creepy coming from a middle aged bald man with a tickler mustache. I guess Jack is trying to appeal to the female vote with this line but let me offer some free advice. Lines like that almost never work, at least not since high school. If Jack is trying to appeal to the young female swing vote, great but I don't think there are enough to make a difference in this election. Maybe Jack should shoot for the Desperate Housewife demographic and utter something like, "C'mon baby, vote NDP, no one will find out".

The leader of the NDP has gone from looking and sounding like an infomercial during the debates to some creepy little porn star from the 80's. I wonder how Jack would look in an orange leisure suit and gold chains.

Stephen Harper sounding off in Ontario with the old Liberal Mantra, " a vote for the Conservatives is a vote for national unity", made me cringe. Look, I didn't like it when Liberals said it and I don't like it going the other way. That phrase wreaks of arrogance, the fact that Canadians are free to vote from coast to coast to coast on January 23 speaks to our national unity and no single national party can claim a monopoly on it. To make any one feel they are not for Canadian unity because they vote for another party does nothing for national unity and would not stand up to logic. As if 60% of voters are against national unity, such a position is moronic.

I understand that you need to speak about the unity of the Canadian family. For some reason Ontario needs Quebec consent before accepting the Conservatives. A poll rise in Quebec means a rise in Ontario, the so called echo effect.

This would be like having your sister check out your boyfriend to see if he can stand up to the scrutiny before meeting Mom and Dad. I always believed that what the Liberals did in the name of national unity was to slap Quebec across the face in the form of adscam. They slapped Ontario's sister and it was just a matter of time before they dumped the Liberals.

The last thing the Conservatives need to do is alienate her and possibly set her up for another slap. Conservatives need to offer substance and not phony rhetoric for the sister's in confederation.

Officially Screwed!

2006-01-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

Officially Screwed has a very good blog that should be on the Blogging Tories Blogroll.
I will add my voice to his request to join.

I know the administrators are busy so I will add this site to my blogroll and encourage others to do the same.

Conservative Cabinet

2006-01-13T17:39:00.000-08:00

Rick Mercer

Minister responsible for scaring homosexuals with scary clips of Christians.

I know it isn't funny but neither is Rick Mercer, lately.

Hey Rick, 36 Liberals voted against or abstained on c-38.

If the Conservatives pick up 25 more seats from Ontario and some in Quebec I'm sure they will balance out those scary Liberals that might still be around after Jan.23.

I look forward to a free vote that doesn't require the cabinet to be whipped. I wouldn't want another's will imposed on anyone.

The British model for resolving this question seems to have worked out just fine. A position very similiar to Mr. Harper's

Une fleur pour la belle dame.

2006-01-13T16:43:00.000-08:00

Another advertising scandal for Liberals.

2006-01-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

scanÃ‚ÃÂ·dal
1. A publicized incident that brings about disgrace or offends the moral sensibilities of society: a drug scandal that forced the mayor's resignation.
2. A person, thing, or circumstance that causes or ought to cause disgrace or outrage: a politician whose dishonesty is a scandal; considered the housing shortage a scandal.
3. Damage to reputation or character caused by public disclosure of immoral or grossly improper behavior; disgrace.
4. Talk that is damaging to one's character; malicious gossip.

I would suggest that the definition of scandal describes exactly what happened when the Liberals released their negative advertising campaign. What is the opposite of the Midas touch?

I leave you today with this little gem from John Duffy's book "Fights Of Our Lives" pg.194 John commenting on the Tories chances in 1957.

The Tories long-shot wager was simple: put all your money on the leader, as in a Marlboro print ad with 250 square inches of cowboy and three square inches of logo. It was Diefenbaker's only hope. His Party was locked at 30% voter support, barely alive in Quebec and caught out West in endless three way struggles for the anti-Liberal vote.

The Tories went on to shock the Liberals by forming a minority. A year later, that minority went on to form the biggest majority in Canada's history.

John,I know it is not 1957 but clearly there are parallels and you being aware of the result in 1957 why would you let Harper Define himself for a month before attacking him? Why did you let the Prime Minister down? Do you think you should resign or be fired?

Never mind that you attempted interfere with journalistic integrity and got caught on national TV. You now have an advertising scandal of your own and have failed the Prime Minister of Canada. Shouldn't you resign?

The Harper Speech

2006-01-10T14:02:00.001-08:00

Harper to the Americans

Let's start up with a compliment. You're here from the second greatest nation on earth. But seriously, your country, and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and an inspiration to people in this country and across the world.
Now, having given you a compliment, let me also give you an insult. I was asked to speak about Canadian politics. It may not be true, but it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country.

It's called a warm up joke. Self depreciating humor from Mr. Harper about Canada as a Canadian and using the stereotypes they have about us and we have about them.

First, facts about Canada. Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it. Canadians make no connection between the fact that they are a Northern European welfare state and the fact that we have very low economic growth, a standard of living substantially lower than yours, a massive brain drain of young professionals to your country, and double the unemployment rate of the United States.

Canadians leaving for greener pastures in the U.S. is very frustrating. Using harsh terms, Mr. Harper expresses his dismay that young professionals are leaving Canada. Very much like the backlash that occurred in Edmonton and all across Canada when Wayne Gretzsky was traded to L.A.

Another joke by Harper in the same speech.

It's about a constitutional lawyer who dies and goes to heaven. There, he meets God and gets his questions answered about life. One of his questions is, "God, will this problem between Quebec and the rest of Canada ever be resolved?'' And God thinks very deeply about this, as God is wont to do. God replies, "Yes, but not in my lifetime.''
I'm glad to see you weren't offended by that. I've had the odd religious person who's been offended. I always tell them, "Don't be offended. The joke can't be taken seriously theologically. It is, after all, about a lawyer who goes to heaven.''

I would encourage everyone to read the speech from Citizen Harper. It is brilliant and shows his biting, self depreciating personality and deep understanding of the problems facing Canada, now and into the future. It also shows how he has grown into a more politically sensitive leader, unfortunately.

If Mr.Martin, who spent his entire life wanting to be Prime Minister, can change his position on the use of the notwithstanding clause in a matter of weeks. Imagine what eight years can do to a guy that never wanted to be Prime Minister.

Lets be clear on who the tax cutters are. From the CBC

2006-01-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

Reality Check

Taxes: whose cuts are the deepest? By Ira Basen,CBC.ca Reality Check Team | Jan. 9, 2006 | More Reality Check

Ever since CBC Reality Check reported on Friday that a Conservative government plans to rescind income tax cuts that have been in effect since Jan. 1, there has been much back and forth on the campaign trail about which party truly has taxpayers’ interests at heart. The Conservatives issued a press release calling our report "misleading" and "false," but agreed that the Liberal cuts to personal income tax would indeed be rolled back by 2007.

On the other hand, our Reality Check promises chart confirms that the Conservatives are correct when they assert that Canadians will be paying less tax under a government led by Stephen Harper. In fact, it’s not even close. As of Friday, Jan. 6, the Conservatives have promised $58.4 billion in tax cuts spread over the next five years, compared to $40.8 billion for the NDP and $33.4 billion for the Liberals

The Liberals and Paul Martin continue to lie to Canadians.

Mercer is back!

2006-01-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

Well I'm glad to see Rick Mercer is back posting again.

We hard core Conservatives have missed his funny pokes at Harper and company and that post defending beer over kids was pure genius.

The latest post has him predicting a Conservative cabinet and some of the things they have uttered in the past that may give reasons as to why they probably won't be in a cabinet. Rick should caution about over-confidence, there is two weeks left and pundits don't usually predict a cabinet until after the election results are in. Oh well, seems he is yet another Liberal that has no faith in Paul Martin.

I guess Rick and the rest of the Blogosphere know that Liberals have never uttered anything that sounds as bad as these guys and gal have.

I'll have a look around, in the mean time, I get to use my picture again and relieve some of the pent up frustration Conservatives might have over these hilarious posts.

Paul Martin's children.

2006-01-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

This is great, After slamming the Star for it's pathetic headline on the musings of Harper, I found the above article that says a lot about the root cause of violence.

"The depth of poverty has increased over the last 10 years, United Way reports have shown," he says. "Poverty combined with income inequality, combined with racism. ... People can barely get by, though their parents are working. Throw in intolerance, they pick up gansta rap, you literally force them into adopting an alternative identity, because they are living under severe material deprivation."

None of this excuses people handling guns, says Michael Mendelson, a senior scholar for the Caledon Institute on Social Policy.

"The (violent teen criminals) have to be found accountable," he says, "but they are also human beings acting as a result of the forces they are subject to."

When it comes to politicians, Marvyn Novick of Ryerson University says if Harris is to blame, then so is Prime Minister Paul Martin. As Jean Chretien's finance minister, he cut the Canada Assistance Plan, under which Ottawa once paid the provinces 50 per cent of social assistance.

"It's unfair to call them Mr. Harris's children," says Novick. "I'm not a fan, but they're also Mr. Martin's children."

Now put that on the front page

The swingers

2006-01-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

The Toronto Star's feeble attempt to move the Ontario NDP vote towards the Liberals will hopefully fail this time.

More Bullshit from the Toronto Sun

Both stories have no credibility.

"I don't think we know that yet," Harper said.
"Polls will keep changing. As I said from the beginning, we'll know the result on Election Day. Nobody's voted yet," he said at a campaign event near Kitchener yesterday morning after some 2,000 people attended a London rally Friday.
"Any range of outcomes is possible, so I keep telling our people — stop these games of talking about minorities or majorities.
"It would be crazy for anyone to speculate on any particular outcome. The numbers don't show that," the Tory leader said.
"If you look at all the data that's out there, the best read is that it's a statistical dead heat.""We're nowhere near that yet. We've got ... a little over two weeks left. A lot can change; I suspect a lot will change between now and then.

Where does Stephen Harper muse about a majority? He has simply not ruled out any outcome. The headline could just as well be, Harper muses about having fewer seats than Liberals. Or, Harper muses about a minority. Really now, should Harper come out and say, No thanks, I'll take a minority please? What leader would rule out a majority? A leader that has poor judgment.

Paul Martin said the same thing a few weeks back, almost verbatim. The headline wasn't Martin muses about majority, just that he'd be willing to work with other parties to make parliament work.

As far as I'm concerned, if this kind of crap works on supporters of the NDP in Ontario, or anywhere else for that matter, they should just stay home and hide under their bed and let the grown-ups decide for them.

If a leader, that has united a party with factions as diverse as any, has reached out twice to the leader of the NDP, that is now being accepted in the most socially sensitive region of Canada, if that guy scares you, Just stay home! The scary wolves might get you on the way to the ballot box. Little green men lurk behind every corner.

After the election please do get help for your condition. I have taken the time to provide a link for you.

A phobia, (from Greek φόβος "fear"), is an abnormal, persistent fear of situations, objects, activities, or persons. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject.

Your TV guide to the election.

2006-01-07T22:34:00.000-08:00

All In The Family
In yet more controversy on the Quebec front, Environment Minister Stephane Dion seemed to suggest it would be okay to vote Conservative or NDP.

"The key point is vote for candidates who believe in Canada to not vote for the Bloc," he said.

Mama knows best
In Vancouver, an old woman berated NDP Leader Jack Layton, saying: "You stop telling people to not vote Conservative, because they are going to form the next government and beat out the Liberals. Don't do that anymore."

Sanford and Son
Canada's auditor-general did not make much headway in the case. Neither did Quebec's chief electoral officer.

But the secret of how a shadowy federalist group, Option Canada, spent $4.8 million in the lead-up to the 1995 referendum might lie in a box of documents found near a Dumpster at a suburban shopping mall in the fall.

Law & Order
Martin's daily news conference was dominated by questions about a published report that the RCMP is looking into a controversial grant.
Last month, police interviewed two officials at the Department of Canadian Heritage about the expenditure, which went out to a little-known group called Option Canada, which has since disbanded.
The questions were focused on the distribution of about $300,000 of the total grant.
Martin, who was finance minister at the time, said he believed the accounting was done properly as he defended the Liberal commitment to national unity during a tense, high-stakes period in Canadian history.
"Absolutely I'll insist that the rules be followed, but nobody will stop me from defending the unity of my country," Martin said.

The Apprentice
"We have a tax reduction plan, the Liberals have a tax reduction plan," Harper said during a campaign stop in New Hamburg, Ont. to roll out a tax promise involving charities.
"We'll be doing our plan, not their plan."

Toronto Sucks! < hidden link for politics

2006-01-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

As a displaced Winnipegger living in BC, I feel I can shout this loudly!

Go MOOSE!

East - West Election Challenge 2006

2006-01-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

I thought I would pick up where the CBC lead and invite readers to submit an e-mail or comment. Below is an e-mail that seems to be more of a chain letter. I don't know if Alan Robberstad exists but that is not relevant as I am interested in the fact that it captures the sentiment of the Conservative western voter.

I would like to invite an Ontario resident that plans to vote Liberal to submit similar points in support of that decision.

I hope to have many responses from Liberals and those Conservatives from the West can add to Alans list, make corrections,ect.

In the spirit of the grey cup, let the East VS West Election Challenge begin.

Hello.

My name is Alan Robberstad I am a Canadian. One voter out of millions of Canadian voters.
Paul Martin is no friend of mine. Liberal governments have not made my life any better. Liberal governments have made the future worse for my children.

Jean Chretien and the Liberal Party became Prime Minister many years ago. Guess who was the Liberal Finance Minister.....Paul Martin...LEST WE FORGET

Since 1993:
(1) My taxes have increased.
(2) My family's share of the national debt has increased.
(3) My personal expenses have increased.
(4) My waiting time to see a doctor has increased.
(5) My concerns for my family's safety have increased.
(6) My costs to educate my children have increased.
(7) Government interference in my life has increased.
(8) My personal debt has increased.
(9) My income has stayed more or less the same.
(10) My savings have decreased.
(11) The buying power of my dollar, in Canada, has decreased.
(12) The value of my dollar, in the U.S., has decreased.
(13) My trust of elected officials has decreased.
(14) My trust in the justice system has decreased.
(15 )My trust in the immigration system has decreased.
(16) My hope that a Liberal won't waste my tax dollars has decreased.
(17 )My dreams for a better future for my kids, in Canada, have disappeared.

That is my story since the Liberals came to power.

I am not voting for Paul Martin's Liberals. I am voting against Paul Martin and his Liberal Party in January.
I am voting for Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party.
Do I like the Conservatives? Not particularly......I don't really like Politics. I am not political by nature. I am not passionate about politics. I am a middle age guy (48). I live in a small house on a fairly quiet street in Edmonton. I have a wife, Kathy, and two children (ages 19 and 17). I have no pets. I am a middle class man. I don't usually say too much.

Until now.

Now I am going to say something!

In 35 of the past 37 years, Canada has been ruled by:
(1) Pierre Trudeau - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
(2) Brian Mulroney - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
(3) Jean Chretien - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec.
(4) And now we are going to vote for Paul Martin???? - a multi-millionaire lawyer from Quebec???

The leader of the Conservative party, Stephen Harper, is:
(1) Not a lawyer.
(2) Not a multi-millionaire.
(3) Not from Quebec.

Stephen Harper says that the Conservative party will:
(1) Reduce my taxes.
(2) Pay off the national debt as fast as they can.
(3) Shrink the size and influence of the federal government.

That's good enough for me. I'm going to give the Conservative party a chance with my vote.

But wait! Paul Martinis now saying the same thing. My mother told me forty years ago: "Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me!"

The Liberals have had 34 years to be financially responsible. Remember, Jean Chretien was Trudeau's Finance Minister. Remember also, Paul Martin was Jean Chretien's Finance Minister These people have been raising my taxes for thirty four years. They have been mis-spending my tax dollars for 34 years.

34 years!

And now Paul Martin says he'll stop taxing and spending. No way.
Thank you for reading my story so far!

Why am I telling my story to you?

Although I feel alone, I know that I am not alone. Your story may be similar to mine. And you may also feel alone. One small voter in the midst of millions of voters.

What can you and I do together to change things?

Here is my idea: Lets you and I join up together. Just you and I. Together. As a small team of two.

How can you and I fight a huge political machine?

You and I have two things that we can use:
(1) Our individual personal connections.
(2) The Internet.

The Internet is supposed to be this globalization tool, right? Let's put it to use.

I have 27 Canadians in my personal e-mail address book. I am sending this e-mail to each of them.

I'm asking you to do two things:
(1) Forward this e-mail to every Canadian in your own address book.
(2) Vote against Paul Martin and the Liberal Party in January of next year.

Vote for the Conservative candidate in your riding.

I have probably written this e-mail too late. As I said I am not politically adroit. I feel like Peter Finch, in the 1976 movie "Network", when he shouted: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

Please, forward the e-mail RIGHT NOW!!

I hope the Internet is as fast as some people claim it is.

This may not work. This e-mail may "fizzle out" and go nowhere. But you and I will have tried, won't we have?

My best wishes to you. My best wishes to Canadians everywhere.

My thanks to David Stokes from Toronto He actually wrote this just (5) days before the last federal election. Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me!"

Alan Robberstad Edmonton, Alberta.

Harper writes Liberals platform.

2006-01-05T02:20:00.000-08:00

Governing party void of ideas

Harper promises guaranteed wait times for health services
02 December 2005

CBC News on-line

**Excerpt**

A Conservative government would establish and enforce guaranteed wait times for health-care services, Stephen Harper said on Friday.

He also moved to counter his critics by denying he intends to damage public medicare.

"There will be no private, parallel system," Harper told a campaign rally in Winnipeg.

The provinces and the federal government would gather to establish waiting times for various services, and would guarantee that they will be adhered to.

"We will reduce waiting times; we will hold governments accountable," he said.

A cancer patient, for example, should start radiation treatments no more than 10 working days after seeing a cancer specialist, Harper said. Patients should not wait more than 10 months for non-urgent hip and knee replacements.

A group of medical organizations called the Wait Times Alliance, suggested those as medically acceptable targets.

Harper's plan would allow patients to go to other provinces to get services their own province can't provide within the time limits.

This type of guarantee, Harper said, is "the only way that government can preserve the principles of the Canada Health Act and respect requirements of the Charter of Rights."

In September 2004, Prime Minister Paul Martin signed a $41-billion agreement with the provinces, which the Liberals touted as a fix for a generation.

"I will not call our approach a quick fix," Harper said. "It is a call to action. We are going to reduce wait times, we are going to hold governments accountable for their commitments, we are going to do what it takes to protect the public health-care system and respect the charter."

Harper said his party would work with the provinces to set other priorities for health care, including getting more doctors into the system by expanding educational programs.

Supporting Canadian Families: The Canada Health Guarantee
January 04, 2006

Supporting Canadian Families: The Canada Health GuaranteePrime Minister Paul Martin today set out the next steps in the Liberal government’s plan to support Canadian families with a bold new health platform, including a Canada Health Care Guarantee; 1,000 new family doctors; a new National Cancer Strategy; and a Canadian Mental Health Commission.

“Canadian families have a right to a health care system that puts their needs first. They have a right to quality care in a timely manner by ensuring that critical wait times are reduced. They have a right to a health care system that is accountable to them. Above all, they have a right to care based on need not ability to pay,” Prime Minister Martin said.

That’s exactly the kind of health care system that the Liberal government will deliver.

Building on our strong record of getting results for Canadian families through collaboration with the provinces and territories, we will ensure Canadian families have access to the quality health care they need, when they need it.

The Canada Health Care Guarantee

Working with patients, health care providers and governments, a new Liberal government will act to ensure Canadians get the care they need, where they live, within medically-accepted timeframes.

An additional $300 million will further increase capacity in Canadian teaching hospitals to reduce wait times, and a $50 million investment in the Canada Health Infoway will accelerate the development of registries, booking systems and electronic health records to aid in wait list management. A further $10 million invested through the Canadian Institutes for Health Research will develop a national research agenda for the development of future wait-times benchmarks.

As well, an investment of $10 million will help foster patient-management training programs for health professionals, particularly physicians, aimed at wait list management and helping patients navigate the health system.

We will also invest $75 million to create a Health Care Guarantee Fund to assist patients and a family member with travel and accommodation costs to receive treatment in a public facility in another province in order for them to obtain timely care.

An NDP budget? Now a Conservative plan for health care? This is what happens when you don't have a vision for Canada. Hey Dithers, it is supposed to be fiscally conservative and socially progressive, not the other way around.

Harper shows no Mercer.

2006-01-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

The gloves are off and Harper is finally taking it to the Liberals.

Feel free to add any more sports metaphors as you see fit.

Condition Red, or is that Blue?

2006-01-02T20:19:00.000-08:00

The Liberals have raised the threat level.

A funny little button from Liberal for life.
Too bad he is lacking integrity!

Income Trust Scandal. Goodbye Goodale!

2006-01-02T14:28:00.000-08:00

Ralph, when did the Prime Minister know about the decision on income trusts?

"And my last conversation with him (before the announcement), we were not at a final decision-making point," Goodale explained.
"And his comment to me was, `You're the minister of finance, you make the decision and I'll support your decision whatever it may turn out to be.'"And I made the decision personally after that conversation," Goodale said.

Ralph seems to suggest that the Prime Minister wasn't one of the "need to knows". Shame that they can't get their story straight in the middle of a campaign.

Goodbye Goodale, This would suggest your done.

And now a word from the sponsor!

2005-12-30T22:52:00.000-08:00

And now a word from the sponsor.

One of these Links is a performance by the Pussy Cat Dolls, thank-you very much.
The other is a new boring election ad.

LINK

LINK

Martin lying?

2005-12-30T17:03:00.000-08:00

One thing you never do when being asked pointed questions about integrity is, touch your face. It suggests you are lying.

"I knew and I'm one of them. The fact is, that the people who would be on a need-to-know basis would have that information,"

Never, ever, cover your mouth like you did when you spoke the above phrase to a room full reporters on national TV.

But hey I could be wrong, maybe your face is just itchier or you received some bad face cream or after shave from Sheila the wife.

Goodale is no Martha Stewart.

2005-12-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

The leaker and leakee both paid a heavy price for what they did. It was the lying that did Martha in.

WAYNE M. CARLIN (WC-2114)
Regional Director

Attorney for Plaintiff
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Northeast Regional Office
233 Broadway
New York, New York 10279
(646) 428-1510

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,

Plaintiff,

-against-

MARTHA STEWART and PETER BACANOVIC,

Martha survived this ordeal by stepping down and taking her punishment like a man.
Of course, Goodale is no Martha stewart and I guess we'll find out if Canada loves the Liberals like Americans love crooked celebrities.

Robert Blake:

Actor acquitted this year of the murder of his wife.

Winona Ryder:

Actress convicted and given probation in 2002 for shoplifting.

Halle Berry:

Actress pleaded no contest to leaving the scene of an accident in 2000; received $18,000 fine, 200 hours of community service.

Robert Downey Jr.:

Actor served one year in prison in 1999 for cocaine possession.

Christian Slater:

Actor convicted of assault and served 59 days in jail after punching his girlfriend at a party in 1997.

Hugh Grant:

Actor arrested in 1995 after being caught in a car with a prostitute. Fined $1,800 and told to take course on AIDS dangers.

O.J. Simpson:

Former football star acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife and a friend in 1994.

Zsa Zsa Gabor:

Actress sentenced to three days in jail for assaulting a police officer in 1989.

Roman Polanski:

Polish movie director admitted unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977, fled to France on eve of sentence.

Robert Mitchum:

Actor served two months in jail for drug possession in 1948.

Errol Flynn:

Actor acquitted of rape of two underage girls in 1942.

Fatty Arbuckle:

Actor charged with rape and manslaughter in 1921. Two trials ended in hung juries; he was acquitted in a third.

Liberals losing public TRUST!

2005-12-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

Here is a story to remember. Dr Sheldon Elman, as is revealed by the CBC story provides private health care to Canadians that can afford it.

Of course it is listed on the SP/TSX as MHG

Below I have a snapshot of the volume of shares traded over the last month.

Price History

Medisys Health Group
Price History for Symbol: MHG.UN-T
Last: 13.350 Last Trade: Dec 29, 2005 15:59 EST
Date Close High Low Volume
Dec 29 13.350 13.350 13.200 10,918
Dec 28 13.400 13.400 13.250 2,880
Dec 27 13.500 13.500 13.500 0
Dec 26 13.500 13.500 13.500 0
Dec 23 13.500 13.500 13.500 500
Dec 22 13.500 13.500 13.500 2,134
Dec 21 13.500 13.900 13.450 1,256
Dec 20 13.700 13.700 13.200 4,562
Dec 19 13.000 13.200 12.950 16,350
Dec 16 13.000 13.000 13.000 1,500
Dec 15 13.000 13.000 12.750 1,700
Dec 14 13.000 13.000 12.900 600
Dec 13 12.750 13.000 12.750 35,800
Dec 12 13.000 13.200 13.000 1,100
Dec 09 13.250 13.250 12.750 61,925
Dec 08 12.750 12.750 12.000 51,000
Dec 07 12.000 12.060 12.000 65,150
Dec 06 12.000 12.050 12.000 4,000
Dec 05 12.000 12.100 11.990 39,809
Dec 02 11.700 11.700 11.700 1,200
Dec 01 11.700 11.750 11.700 14,900
Nov 30 11.750 11.780 11.750 8,900
Nov 29 11.750 12.000 11.750 1,560
Nov 28 11.750 12.000 11.750 3,206
Nov 25 12.000 12.000 11.700 5,053
Nov 24 11.500 12.000 11.200 9,045
Nov 23 11.020 11.200 11.000 6,220
Nov 22 11.000 11.000 10.800 203,953
Nov 21 10.800 10.800 10.650 5,714
Nov 18 10.600 10.620 10.600 1,530

Find Out More
• Chart
• News
• Company Snapshot
Click here to print this page.

Notice anything odd about Nov.22/05? The Cheif Executive Officer of the private deliverer of health care is the Prime Ministers personal physician.

All of this is, of course, just a coincidence. Nothing strange here, go back to sleep.

Jack Layton attacked by top Liberal in B.C.

2005-12-28T17:09:00.000-08:00

Jamie Elmhirst, President Of The Liberal Party Of Canada(BC) In yet another personal attack on Jack Layton.

Jack Layton had a great weekend in BC. First he managed to find something nice to say about Svend Robinson, although the performance struck me as a touch insincere, even for Jack Layton. How did Minister Emerson describe his style at our Convention dinner? Oh yes, he said that Jack Layton had a boiled dog's head smile. That would have made even me wince if I hadn't have been laughing so hard. Then Toronto Jack really caused a stir by declaring that he wasn't really all that opposed to private health clinics. Ummm, so why are we having an election then?

More evidence that Sheila Copps isn't just spouting sour grapes.

Attack of the homosexual.

2005-12-26T16:30:00.000-08:00

This story does nothing to help the concerns the gay community has with respect to marriage and A Harper Government.

I expect more from the Canadian Press than a misrepresentation of why Harper spoke of same-sex marriage at the start of the campaign. He simply responded to a question, probably from the same CP reporter.

Harper's response was much more mainstream than the reaction to it. The storey left me with the impression of a bunch of paranoid, militant, ignorant homosexuals, over- reacting to a free vote and a protection of the status quo. A free vote Harper does not expect to win.

This is the kind of storey that actually hurts the homosexual community because it lacks integrity,is totally inflammatory, not to mention it is a month late for a group to be, "alarmed" into, "high alert".

Hopefully the CP will act more responsibly and foster consultation between groups, to alleviate fears and bring greater understanding of the others concerns. Freedom of religion and equality before the law must be respected by both sides. It should not be inflamed because it happens to be a wedge issue for the Liberals, nor should the unity of Canada.

Mike Klander, the writing on the wall.

2005-12-25T12:28:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas,

Paul Wells points out this dead blog by an Ontario Liberal organizer. I can't find the story anywhere else so I asked Paul Wells via e-mail which Star reporter was it that got into trouble, and this is his reply.

Susan Delacourt. Maybe only on their election blog, which should be easy to find but I can't. Anyway several readers saw it in the Star or one of its appendages and Susan confirmed it for me. cheers pw

Should be gold for the Ontario Conservatives and the NDP as the second half of the campaign heats up. Who is Mike Klander? Soon to be a household name.

There is still a story waiting to be told in B.C., see TDH Strategies for Dec.16,21 and 23.

Warren Kinsella eludes to it here

December 20, 2005 - It being the holiday season, when one sees happy scenes like this, one wants to think about snow, not snow.

Snow what I mean?

(He will, soon enough!)

So Paul Martin has questionable friends working for him in Ontario and B.C., perhaps planting seeds to the next big scandal. Wasn't it the friends of Chretien once being appointed to power positions that fed Federal money to even more friends of Liberals.

I think Liberals should be very concerned, imagine no electoral prospects in Ontario, B.C. and Quebec for a generation or longer.

If the CBC, CTV, The Globe & Mail, and The Star went after Paul Martin's gang of thugs, like they do to Bush and the Conservatives in Canada, the Liberal Party could become extinct. Can it happen? Of course, where is Mulroney's party?

The Liberals were already write offs in Alberta and now Quebec, it seems. Sound Familiar? It should, for it was the very same Provinces that most dramatically rejected the Progressive Conservatives by electing Reformers and Bloq candidates.

Liberals have admitted their poor chances in Quebec, for how long? Who knows. I do know that if they go for the hat tick by destroying their electoral chances due to scandal in B.C. or Ontario, they are done for. If or when the NDP moves to the center/left they will be ever more likely to replace the Liberals, filling the spectral void created by the Grit's implosion.

The writing on the wall is not Seasons Greetings.

UDATE:

More from Mike Klander; Chow, Ambrose and Rahim, Chretien, the disabled, The reason for a spring election Thanks Patrick!

Upperdate: Mike has resigned! Nuff said.

CBC, there is only one place to turn.

2005-12-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

Did you catch it?

The latest promo on CBC Newsworld for election coverage goes like this;

"When it's a question of politics" superimposed over Harper and Duceppe.

"There is only one Place to turn" superimposed over Martin.

A call to all you wonderfull video jockies in the blogosphere to pull this and post it to expose this biased, not so subliminal messaging from the CBC.

Canadian Socialism

2005-12-12T22:01:00.000-08:00

CLASSIC VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house
and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool,
and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is
warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he
dies out in the cold.

THE END

THE CANADIAN VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house
and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool,
and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is
warm and well fed. So far, so good, eh?

The shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why
the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others less
fortunate, like him, are cold and starving.

The CBC shows up to provide live coverage of the shivering grasshopper, with
cuts to a video of the ant in his comfortable warm home with a table laden
with food.

Canadians are stunned that in a country of such wealth, this poor
grasshopper is allowed to suffer so while others have plenty.

The NDP, the CAW and the Coalition Against Poverty demonstrate in front of
the ant's house. The CBC, interrupting an Inuit cultural festival special
from Nunavut with breaking news, broadcasts them singing "We Shall
Overcome."

Sven Robinson rants in an interview with Pamela Wallin that the ant has
gotten rich off the backs of grasshoppers, and calls for an immediate tax
hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share".

In response to polls, the Liberal Government drafts the Economic Equity and
Grasshopper Anti-Discrimination Act, retroactive to the beginning of the
summer.

The ant's taxes are reassessed, and he is also fined for failing to hire
grasshoppers as helpers.

Without enough money to pay both the fine and his newly imposed retroactive
taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.

The ant moves to the US, and starts a successful agribiz company.

The CBC later shows the now fat grasshopper finishing up the last of the
ant's food, though Spring is still months away, while the government house
he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him
because he hasn't bothered to maintain it.

Inadequate government funding is blamed, Roy Romanow is appointed to head a
commission of enquiry that will cost $10,000,000.

The grasshopper is soon dead of a drug overdose, the Toronto Star blames it
on the obvious failure of government to address the root causes of despair
arising from social inequity.

THE END

IQ test

2005-12-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

IQ Test

A man enters a bar and orders a drink. The bar has a robot
bartender. The robot serves him a perfectly prepared cocktail,
and then asks him, "What's your IQ?"

The man replies "150" and the robot proceeds to make
conversation about global warming factors, quantum physics and
spirituality, biomimicry, environmental interconnectedness,
string theory, nano-technology, and sexual proclivities

The customer is very impressed and thinks, "This is really
cool." He decides to test the robot. He walks out of the bar,
turns around, and comes back in for another drink. Again, the
robot serves him the perfectly prepared drink and asks him,
"What's your IQ?"

The man responds, "about a 100." Immediately the robot starts
talking, but this time, about football, NASCAR, baseball,
supermodels, favourite fast foods, guns, and women's breasts.

Really impressed, the man leaves the bar and decides to give the
robot one more test. He heads out and returns, the robot serves
him and asks, "What's your IQ?"

The man replies, "Er, 50, I think."

And the robot says... real slowly... "So............... ya gonna
vote for the Liberals again?"

Unknown source, Dec. 2006

Bling and Bong

2005-10-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

I should begin with something cute after such a long hiatus from blogging but I'll spare you though and get right to it.

I have spent four months exploring aspects of self, consciousness, positionality and the ever elusive, unconditional love.

Yes they are all connected to conditions of humanity. This self sitting here typing, usually taking or staking out some position from the Right or Left, Liberal or Conservative, Wordly or Earthly, Bling or Bong (my clever new odd couple). All of these views are in fact only illusions created for the purpose of self in support of it's delusions of grandeur over others and if you like, God.

Humanity should really only concern itself with one division. Learn to separate truth from falsehood. That which benefits vs that which destroys. In the nineteen thirties a world that lacked integrity couldn't see the differences in men named Churchill and Hitler. The same could be said in the nineteen eighties of Reagan and Kruschev. Of course we have present day Bush and Hussien. As long as we struggle to force our positons, even they be false or unbeneficial to humanity, we will find an absence of unconditional love within it. The consciousness as a whole suffers and we find more war, hunger, pain and misery.

Can humanity find a universal way to separate truth from falsehood that does not depend on cultural, religious, or political beliefs. Something to raise the integrity of the planet and foster the growth of unconditional love.

I do believe we have a way but that is for another post.

Love, Sex, Marriage.

2005-06-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

I used to take the position that saving the definition of marriage from political correctness was the right thing to do. This is a blog that really wants to speak for the side of truth, not my perceptions of it.

It all seemed fairly straight forward as society needs to build from somewhere, the concept of cohesion and unity. I thought that children needed to view a duality in parents to learn the principles of that cohesion, just as nature provides us with polarity to understand the flow of electricity or any of the opposites that contribute to the function of existence.

I can't recall when I took ownership of the idea that marriage needed to be saved from the same-sexers, it may have been in science or biology class that I was lead astray because I didn't have a religious upbringing by any stretch. In fact, my upbringing was in a family of disunity and chaos brought on by adultery of one or more parents. This is why I believe my former views on same-sex marriage stemmed from the scientist mind I value and not because God said it is wrong.

I find it incredible that I still don't have such negative feelings about adultery that I once had about same-sex marriage. Adultery should be seen as the greatest threat to marriage, especially since it has had such an impact on my life, yet I find it difficult to get excited about people having sex with someone other than their spouse.

From a religious point of view, people are not to have sex with anyone except their spouse. Sex is intended to be confined to marriage and this is where I've had to adjust my position so as not to be a hypocrite.

I could never tell someone to wait until they were married before having sex or that they shouldn't have an affair, I would simply say it was, "your business". I don't even think I would tell someone to be in love before having sex. This is a far cry from the guy who wanted to save the definition of marriage. Since the intended marriage doesn't exists in our society, why did I ever think it needed to be saved?

So people, fall in love, get married then have sex. Perhaps in a generation or so, marriage will have been saved.

Gallbladder Surgery

2005-06-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

Here is some information about the gallbladder and the surgery.

Suppose 5000 gallbladder operations are performed in Canada each year at a cost of, well, I had a hard time finding out what these cost so I'll link to this page that seems to have a sale on cholesystectomy operations, (act now).
Let's use the sale price of $3,260 US. If anyone has actual Canadian figures please send me the link and I'll update. If my math is correct then that amounts to $16.3 million US. I suspect the Canadian numbers to be more than double that. When you factor in lost productivity, sick days, delays in other surgeries and the lost productivity from them, cost of medications and on and on.

$100 million Canadian is not an unrealistic claim for the cost of gallbladder surgeries to our collective coffers.

A couple months back I had the classic symptoms of a gallbladder attack(See Link above). As it turns out I happen to be one of those weird people that has an aversion to being knocked out and cut open. I couldn't get in to see my doctor anyway, so I figured that I would find a way to rid myself of the hurtful stones without the controlled trauma of surgery.

I came across this site for a Liver cleanse and found it to be a perfectly safe concoction of household ingredients. I thought, what the hell, there is nothing in the mixture that could harm me, even in large doses, I have nothing to lose. I have performed the cleanse three times over two months and have gotten rid of at least fifty stones. I have gross pictures of them for proof of course, and no I won't post them as there are plenty at the link I offered.

I feel great, no more stones and all at no cost to you or the Canadian Welfcare System.

Your welcome.

More Grewal Drool.

2005-06-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

As the media continue to salivate over the prospect of destroying a Conservative MP's career, I would like to simply remind them of two things;

1) The Minister of Health lied.

Liberal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh quickly struck back, saying it was Grewal who made the first approach, seeking a cabinet post for himself and a Senate seat for his wife.

"He approached us. He approached us because he wanted to cross the floor," said Dosanjh, adding that Gurmant Grewal came back several times when the Liberals rejected his initial demands.

"I am actually offended that he wouldn't take no for an answer."

UD - It is not an easy thing. I wouldn't. You really think. My own thinking is it might be possible. No body will make you totally blunt promises, because that is not done in politics, usually. Cabinet right away may be possible, You might be better off for yourself, I know that you might not be ready to do it right now but you certainly be looking for a significant appointment for her, not for you. How old are you now.

Does not sound like "no" to me.

2) The more you work to discredit an already stressed Grewal, the more likely you will generate public sympathy for him.

Especially if Nina describes how hurt he is over the entire situation and has much regret about how he tried to show the way in which Liberals operate, how he thought he was doing a service for his Party and Canada.(beginning to cry) He just thought he was being a good MP. We should protect whistleblowers in this country not destroy them.

Then the public will hear the tapes and focus on the goodies Tim and company didn't offer. The tapes themselves will be less relevant.

Can it be happening already?
As Bill also suggests.

Liberal Demons

2005-06-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

As the Liberal government struggles today to silence its same-sex demons, I wonder what non-deal is being discussed and if a body search for hidden recording devices was conducted prior to the meeting. I would love to see Irwin Cotler donning rubber gloves welcoming backbenchers into the cone of silence.

I know we are a long way from Halloween but this is as good as time as any to display some pretty scary masks.

For those of you east of Manitoba I offer this little gem.

The Harper Mask

Book Tag

2005-06-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

I'm a little hurt that I have yet to be book tagged by anyone to post about my book collection. I guess that's what happens when you have Miss Canada and Star Wars fluff posted for the past week.

I haven't been tagged but need to mention the most important book I've ever read.

Power VS. Force By David R Hawkins, M.D.,Ph.D. Hay House INC. 1995

Not only will it change the way you view politics, but will shift the entire view of reality.

Force often relies upon rhetoric, propaganda, and specious argument to garner support and disguise underlying motivations. One characteristic of truth, though, is that it needs no defense; it's self-evident. That "all men are created equal" requires no justification or rhetorical persuasion.

It's clear that power is associated with that which supports life, and force is associated with that which exploits life for the gain of an individual or an organization.

(pg. 155, Power VS Force,Hawkins.D.R)

Two common themes the book explores are positive and negative attractor fields that become part of your awareness and forever changes the way one views existence.

Miss Canada

2005-06-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Miss Canada is now Miss Universe

Miss Canada
Originally uploaded by Derek Richards.

Canada. You never fail me when producing the best women in the world.

Star Wars Horoscope

2005-06-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

Star Wars Horoscope for Sagittarius

You are superbly wise and have been known to spread your wisdom widely.
You are impatient and pushy when people take your teachings too lightly.
And your philosophical side always peeks through.
Star wars character you are most like: Yoda

What is Your Star Wars Horoscope?

Kelowna in the spring

2005-06-02T22:55:00.000-07:00

Rainbow
Originally uploaded by Derek Richards.

It doesn't rain that much here, sure is pretty when it does.

.

The Grewal tapes have been edited.

2005-06-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

How stupid do you have to be. Hear it here.

This is a no go for the Conservatives.

UPDATE: It is too late, you have lost all credibility and allowed the integrity of the tapes to come into question and this just reinforces it.

When you tape a conversation you don't wait two weeks and release it progressively with edited versions and then the full version only after they have been claimed altered.

The ONLY way a taped guilty party can come out clean is by questioning the authenticity of the tapes. This is exactly what the Liberals did and the Conservatives look guilty on this one. What the hell were they waiting for? A Rolling Stones type deal from Best Buy? Geez.

Restrict Karla Homolka and the Movie

2005-06-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

I can't imagine why a society wouldn't want to place restrictions on Karla Homolka, a murderer that shouldn't be walking the streets anyway, anywhere, anytime. When someone has violated the most sacred law, should it matter that a society honor an agreement or, "keep its word", to that person. The safety of individuals trumps the agreement made, not to mention the honor of the victims families wishes.

The movie, if it absolutely has to be made and released, should be a vehicle for restitution to the victims families. In my opinion 100% of world wide gross should be available to the victims families, a massive disincentive to any producer that wishes to capitalize on recounting crimes through books or movies.

Jewish activists capturing Tory races

2005-05-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Ok I'll take John Reynolds advice, lets see what todays headlines look like with a different religious group inserted in italics.

Jewish activists capturing Tory races

Some in party worry new riding nominees will reinforce notion of 'hidden agenda'

Not by GLORIA GALLOWAY

Friday, May 27, 2005 Page A1
OTTAWA -- Jewish activists have secured Conservative nominations in clusters of ridings from Vancouver to Halifax -- a political penetration that has occurred even as the party tries to distance itself from hard-line social conservatism.

At least three riding associations in Nova Scotia, four in British Columbia, and one in suburban Toronto have nominated candidates with ties to groups like Focus on the Family, a Jewish organization that opposes same-sex marriage.

But organizers say many more will be on the ballot during the next federal election, a feat achieved by persuading people of faith, particularly new Canadians, to join the party and vote for recommended candidates.

Some Conservatives argue that the selection of a large number of candidates from the ethnic minority is an unfortunate turn for a party that was accused in last year's election campaign of harbouring a socially conservative "hidden agenda."

"The difficulty, from a party perspective, is that it begins to hijack the other agendas that parties have," said Ross Haynes, who lost the Conservative nomination in the riding of Halifax to one of three "Jewish, pro-family people" recommended by a Rabbi at a religious rally this spring in Kentville, N.S.

Candidates who are running on single issues such as opposition to same-sex marriage "probably can't get elected because they certainly don't represent any mainstream population view," Mr. Haynes said.

Others within the party say they are extremely concerned and wished the party leaders had been more involved in the nominations.

I could have inserted Muslim, Hindu, Sihk, Bahai, ect. I do not wish to trivialize what the Jewish people have been through in recent and ancient history , I only wish to point out that a headline like the one the Globe and Mail ran with today is inappropriate and all people of faith should be offended and boycott that news agency, that also includes CTV.

And thats the kind of day it has been.

Manley to Join Conservatives

2005-05-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

The more I think about this the more it makes sense to me. A rival to Paul Martin and very critical from the sidelines.

John, why wait on the bench during this void in direction from your former party.

You don't like the way the country has come to a standstill. No progress on the U.S. files, increased spending that puts to shame the legacy budget.

The Liberals change leaders about every 10 years while the Conservatives do so every couple. Your former party needs to select a francophone next time around and the Conservatives require a sensible Ontario leader. Canadians are hoping for something like this to occur so they can dump your former party on it's ass.

So far, your name has come up only once at the Gomery inquiry and it was quickly forgotten. I'm sure your immune from most of the slime of corruption. You would give instant credibility to a party that wants to clean up government and govern in the process.

Non- Partisan Bloggers

2005-05-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank James Bow for linking this Blog with the many other whore bloggers out there. The Whore House, thanks again James.

This brings me to something I didn't know before this minority government started wheeling, reeling, and dealing.

Gilles Duceppe's father was one of the founding members of the Federal NDP back in 1961.

Jack Layton's father was a Tory Minister of State for Mines during the Mulroney years and was a Liberal Party activist before that. Are Conservatives so bad Jack?

As we get back to our disfunctional family in parliament we should try to remember it is not a blue shirt, red shirt pond scrum. No more personal shots, fake claims of racism and campaign spending promises. The Liberals will leave when Canadians decide to throw them out and enough of us just don't seem ready to do that.

Harper success.

2005-05-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

What difference a year makes.

May 14, 2004: Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll
Poll conducted: May 7-9 and May 11-13, 2004
Question asked: "Thinking of how you feel right now, if FEDERAL election were held tomorrow, which of the following parties' candidates would you, yourself, be most likely to support?"

LIB: 40
CPC: 24
NDP: 15
BQ: 11
OTH: 9

Note: A representative randomly selected sample of 2000 adult Canadians was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 2001 Census data.

Anybody that thinks Stephen Harper hasn't done an amazing job in building this party is probably a Liberal who is frightened of what the next year will bring.

To go from minimal support to one vote shy of defeating the government on a confidence vote within 12 months is a victory. The Conservatives must be congratulated for turning their backs on bribes by showning a solid, united caucus.

The Party that has been purged by these events, yet another baptism by fire, will show Canadians a stronger oppostion. Stephen Harper controls a coaltion much hardier than does Paul Martin and Harper doesn't even have the public purse to use as a whip.

The Liberal, Stronach, NDP coalition wouldn't survive the same test. As soon as the Gomery inquiry heated we saw as many as 4 Liberals ready to bolt. Now we'll see what a 10 month campaign brings.

UDATE:
Thought this was funny and an unknown quality of the man that didn't want to be PM

1978 - Harper
Harper graduates from Richview Collegiate in Etobicoke with the highest marks in his class. He moves to Alberta to work as a computer programmer in the oil industry before going to the University of Calgary. During his teens, he had briefly considered himself a "Trudeau Liberal."

This proves that he had a heart, however briefly it may have been.
If Ontario continues to find this guy scary perhaps they should take a collective Prozac.

CBC realty check

2005-05-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

I was happy to see the CBC debunk the Paul Martin lie on the National last night. It was pointed out that the Conservatives don't have a deal with the Bloq outside of a vote to bring the Liberals down. I'm glad 'cause my previous post is just too creepy to look at as a campaign poster. One area the CBC failed was on the Conservatives calling the Liberals corrupt. Reality Check on the CBC:You failed to mention the countless Liberals describing criminal ,corrupt and unethical behavior almost every day on national T.V.
I also wonder why when reporting on the information coming out of Gomery it is important for your talking heads to point out that the "opposition is going to jump all over this". This suggests to the viewer that while Liberals are walking around with sacks full of your cash to stuff into the pockets of their buddies, the opposition is going to blow this way out of proportion. It is not appropriate to had commentary about a reaction to corruption, just show the reaction, "This is what the Conservatives had to say", roll clip.

It would seem that the side deals Paul Martin has been making with Premiers and Phd's has hurt his Image, proving that what works for Martin Sheen in the West Wing won't cut it in our Westminster system.

Those people out there that still suggest we should wait for Gomery are uninformed about the reality taking place in Ottawa and of course I blame the media for an ignorant populace. I'm going to spell it out to you now, pay attention please. The Conservatives and the democratically elected members of the Bloq have said they can't support a directionless, corrupt government. They make up the majority. What the Gomery waiters are saying then is that we should shut the country down for 10 months to get recommendations on how to run the country better.

Hey!, It is really simple folks, don't exchange sacks of public cash to prop up your party. Do we really need Gomery to tell us this?
Maybe we need to know who done it? It seems an entire wing of the Liberal Party was guilty. Is finding out who, so important that we should shut the country down for 10 months?

( Head tilted, rubbing chin)If only there was an economists to run the country while we figure out the question of, who was responsible?

The Globe and Mail's Queer Eye

2005-05-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

Globe and Mail cover photo from Friday May 6 2005

Gee, do you think they are trying to sell Canada the Paul Martin lie. Canada's version of the Enquirer.

Liberals only 6 points ahead in GTA

2005-04-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

If the GTA is this close can we really believe the Liberals lead nation wide.

An admission from the Star:

"Paul Martin and Jack Layton are regarded as a far less frightening political couple; rather, it is Stephen Harper and Gilles Duceppe who are seen as disturbing and beyond odd bedfellows."

But the Liberals aren't out of the woods. Buried among generally positive news for the Liberals are these results:

A majority of Canadians, 60 per cent, feel it's time for a new government in Ottawa. Still, that's roughly the same number who thought so a year ago, too.

Anger over the sponsorship issue is still running higher than anger over any early election call. While 52 per cent of Canadians said they would be inclined to punish a party at the ballot box over the sponsorship issue, only 35 per cent said they would hold an early election against any party when making their voting choice.

Martin is seen more as part of the problem than as part of the solution. While 32 per cent said he had no part in the sponsorship scandal and deserves credit for calling the inquiry, almost twice that number — 62 per cent — agreed he should be accountable because he was a key player in the government that ushered in the program.

Why is it buried Susan?, now there is your story.

The Red Book 2005

2005-04-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Jack Layton the iceberg

2005-04-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

E-mail sent to Jack Layton prior to the agreement in principle.

Dear Jack, April 23/05

This link I have provided is how Paul Martin Governs. Why would you support this? He will say one thing and quietly do another. Harper has more personal interest in having clean air as his kids have asthma. I trust him to do the right thing on the environment file because of this personal situation, a guy like Harper would not sell his kids ability to take in clean air to dirty corporations. This driving force , a guys kids, and not Paul Martins poll driven, friend of Power and power crazed motivation will give us what we desire, real solutions to environmental issues.

The NDP has more in common with Harper than Martin and Harper has way more integrity. Please help put the Liberals in their place, it is time for a populist government with the NDP and Conservatives finding common ground and making Canada a great nation again.

Derek K Richards
Kelowna, BC

His reply.

Dear Friend, April 27/05

I am writing on the budget agreement which I believe provides a better, balanced budget for Canadians.

I promised to listen to Canadians and I have.We have succeeded in getting things done and making this parliament work for all Canadians.

This budget deal will enable families to pay less for their kids' education and workers will get better training. Pollution levels will be reduced, affordable housing built and there will be money to protect workers' pensions. I am especially pleased there is funding for a national child care program and the gas tax revenue going to municipalities. This is a balanced budget that is fiscally responsible yet gives a much needed tax relief to small and medium sized businesses.

This agreement represents a victory for Canadian people. We know minority Parliaments can work - the NDP created medicare, affordable housing, and pensions during previous minority governments. The bottom line is the NDP is about people and not about games or corruption.

I appreciate the time you took to share your views and concerns as they have been helpful during this process.

Sincerely,

Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats

Well Jack thanks for sharing your bottom line with me, I appreciate that the NDP is about people and not about games or corruption.

I wonder how you feel today knowing you have been played by a ditherer who happens to be the leader of a self proclaimed corrupt party. The fact the tax cuts will go ahead on a separate track can only mean Martin won't honor your agreement or that he could have spent twice as much on NDP priorities. As I clearly said in my letter, you can't trust the Prime Minister to do the right thing and I would like to say thank you for allowing me the opportunity to tell A Phd., I told you so.

You should also note that it will be ironic that you should be remembered as the iceberg that finally opens the hull of the SS Martin as he adopted an NDP enhanced budget.

Liberals put the party first

2005-04-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

The following quote from Finance Minister Ralph Goodale as he submitted his budget to Parliament;

A commitment to sound financial management is never easy and it is never over. It is not something to be done once or just for a while and then set aside. It requires the steady, unrelenting application of rigorous discipline and vigilanceat the macro level of balancing our government books overall, and at the day-to-day micro level in how programs and services get delivered.

The best line of course is the part about it not being something to be done once or just for a while and then set aside. Hey Ralph what happened to, "steady", "Rigorous discipline". I guess we can't blame the author though, given the weak and vacillating leader that intends to take down the whole team. John Manley made a brilliant move by getting out of town.

Over the past few years, we have given our Canadian businesses a modest but strategic tax rate advantage vis-à-vis the United States. Over that same period, the Canadian private sector generated more than 1 million new jobs.
However, recent tax reductions in the U.S. will gradually erode our margin. To maintain it, this budget proposes to reduce the statutory corporate income tax rate by 2 percentage pointsfrom 21 per cent to 19 per cent by 2010. We also propose to end the corporate surtax, which was introduced in 1987 as a deficit reduction measure. This will help all businesses in Canada, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

We don't have all the details of the NDP re-written budget yet but Given the sentiments stated above it surely means we will fall behind the United States and loose jobs if the Finance Minister was to be believed a few short months ago. How can any Liberal face the nation and suggest they have Canada's interest at heart when they will allow the erosion of the economy to simply try to stay in power.

Ok Stephen and Gilles, you flushed them out, they blinked, vote to pass the budget and take them out on weakness and corruption. The Liberals could sure look like the damn fools they are if all parties supported the budget. Parliament is not broken, only the Liberals are desperate and willing to flip on their own members and agenda.

If the NDP wishes to support the Liberals on a separate motion that charges that the Liberals are corrupt and don't have the confidence of the house and need to resign, well good luck selling that support.

Warren Kinsella more lovable than ever.

2005-04-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

The former Prime Minister attack dog Warren (Pitbull) Kinsella has taken on the likeness of a cute and cuddly Pug. Contrasted below is the Globe published CP photo taken during his Gomery appearance and that of a very adorable Pug.

Caption update: Warren Kinsella reacts to wedgie from David Herle

Yes the Globe could have chosen a more respectable image like the one below, but the editors picked a pug looking mug of Kinsella, "looking serious". Any guesses as to why?

This was the Globes other choice, "A stern-looking Kinsella", but they went with the "serious-looking Kinsella"

Canada second rate

2005-04-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Does this mean that Stephen Harper was right on when he said,

"Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate status."

Voting Liberal for 12 years does not seem to have helped our ability to brag about our social programs unlike those first-tier socialistic European countries.

We used to be number one on the UN Human Development Index. We haven't done that since 2000 and the biggest gains on this scale came under Brian Mulroney's Tories.

I'm glad Stephen Harper has the guts to state the risks that Canada faces by voting for people that have no vision for the country. Yes, Canada did seem content to carry on falling amongst our international peers and over the last four years the Liberals boasted ever more loudly about our economy, surpluses, and health care to mask this second-rate status. Very frustrating to someone with a vision that Canada should be the wealthiest nation on the planet and the most generous.

Must be a Power Corporation thing. Reads like a witness list.

Warren Kinsella threatened by PMO

2005-04-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Warren Kinsella received a threatening phone call today as he was getting ready to testify before the Publics Accounts Committee hearing of possible interference by finance when Paul Martin was minister, in the awarding of Government contracts to Earnscliffe, the very same group running the PMO.

Warren testified that the phone call from a still anonymous source warned him that former Public Works Minister, David Dingwall would be pressured by the PMO to disavow any specific or general testimony given by Warren.

Stay tuned.

Conservative musings brings new fears to electorate.

2005-04-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

This will be the headline ripping Gomery off the front pages of the Nations papers and tuning TV's to some small Alberta or perhaps some rural Ontario riding, maybe the backwoods of B.C., When some Conservative says something so stupid to piss off central Canada.

Just so we remember, cause it won't last, the Conservatives are at about 38% in Ontario and 16% in Quebec.

Any bets on who it might be? Which mouth on the right is it going to be?

Scott Reid ?, Cheryl Gallant ?, Maybe Stockwell Day for old times sake?. Ralph Klien ?, well he and Harris and Manning already tried with their freak out Health Care, stupid timing jackass stunt. They still might have more ammo up their three stooges asses though.

Those are too easy though, this time I'm thinking it comes from the likes of Peter Mackay or Belinda, or hell maybe even John Crosbie or Danny Billions.

(No actual wages please, this is a contest for entertainment purposes only)

The Blue Maple Leaf

2005-04-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

The Blue Maple Leaf

Deserves the support of this blogger in standing up for the right to know.

Gomery Brault ban futile

2005-04-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

Well that didn't take long. The toothpaste is out of the tube and it will be enjoyable to watch the threats and calls to the RCMP as Liberals try to put it back in the tube. International media and the sphere of Blogs will fill the void. Anything that is banned becomes a must see in our society so I don't feel the need to add anything or link to anyone.

Canada kinda, sorta, has a Deep Throat. I had hoped that one would surface to inflict the mortal wound on what is clearly a highly organized system of criminal activity.

I have doubts that when the ban is lifted that the Government will suffer at the polls. The Liberals are already pretending to be victims of adscam and a hell of a lot of Canadians don't have a discerning eye in their head.

As Mark Steyn once wrote, it amounts to voting for the fascists or the thieves and I doubt having the smoking gun will change that. This assumes the Brault testimony is in fact a smoking gun. My feeling is that most Canadians will look at it and surmise that they have always suspected this, but still won't vote for the fascists.

The worst case for the Liberals is a shift to the NDP in Ontario and B.C., kinda like 1988.

I would ask Canadians to try and imagine a Canada without a Liberal Party, C'mon, it is easy if you try. It is their turn at oblivion.

Four Circles For Our Brave Protectors

2005-03-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

I wasn't going to write about the obvious today, linking marijuana legislation to the deaths of the four officers in Alberta. However, the shameless Liberals are already looking to link the two. They wish to use this tragic event to introduce legislation that gets a little tougher on suppliers and legalize the user.

I am not a sociologist, but what happens when there is an increase in demand and supply is cut off, assuming the Liberals are a success in choking off grow operations? Is this plan not a plan for disaster? Prices may skyrocket and lead to more lucrative returns for the supplier and wouldn't this result in greater risks to be taken by them.

Are the Liberals prepared to start an arms race with pot growers in the streets of Canada? Is it just a coincidence that four police officers are killed at a grow op, the same week the Liberals make a show of their newest member, Marc-Boris St. Maurice the founder of the pro pot party?

Is it a coincidence that the youth wing pushing the party towards legal use, comes from the same province that this horrible event took place? I believe it should be viewed as a warning to the Government of Canada, to re-examine the social ramifications of the continued quest to be, popular. It is the wrong policy at the wrong time. It is a wedge issue to be used for political gain and nothing more.

I know many Canadians are asking themselves about the loss of our brave men, "they died for what?"

Michael Jackson

2005-03-01T16:02:00.000-08:00

There is something seriously wrong with this guy.

Where is the Batman?!

Oh, Canada

2005-02-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

Suddenly feeling patriotic?

Of Guns 'n Butter

2005-02-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Liberals released a Conservatoid budget this week. The only people surprised by this are the people that should have seen it coming. Hello Harper and Layton, time to wake up.

The Liberals will bow to the Conservatives on fiscals and the Bloq and NDP on social issues. This is not new, nor surprising, and really, I shouldn't have to write it. 14 Billion in tax cuts and 7 Billion to the military, despite polls, is a Canadian priority not just Conservative party policy. Anybody but me hear of, "campaign on the left and govern on the right"? Not exactly rocket science folks.

That brings me to the multi-personality of the current Prime Minister, "Mr. Dithers", and his attempts to shake the label in his usual clumsy fashion.

See, way back before the election when Mr. Dithers was playing golf with G.H.W. Bush and his Power Corporation alumnus, Brian Mulroney and Paul Desmarais, he understood the need to be a partner in continental defense. That was when Mr. Dithers dreamed of 220 seats, remember that?

Fast forward to the Election free fall of 2004, never mind John Turner's rump of 40 seats, there was fear of emulating Kim Campbell's rump. Scary!
Enter Jerry Grafstein, Dick O'Hagan and other Pearson, Trudeau era medics, intent on stopping the hemorrhage. Initial aid to Mr.Dithers was in the form of using the charter to scare Canadians from the new entity on the right and with the help of Conservatives it worked.

Unfortunately, those same Canadian Idol groupies seem to be having an influence on foreign policy and helps explain the multi-polar nature of this government. If you golf with Mulroney and Bush and get advice from Pearson and Trudeau groupies, I can see being pulled north, south, east, west, left and right. This condition only becomes a disorder when you yourself are void of direction and only wish to keep power.

Stop looking at the Quebec numbers and do what is right for Canada, tell us we need to have guns to protect our butter. We want to be able to stop a missile headed to Montreal and we can only do this with American help, this is a sellable position. Leaders are supposed to shape public opinion not meekly follow it to power.

The Hollow Cast

2005-02-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

I have always considered Warren Kinsella to be a smart man and an intelligent political watch dog. My many posts reference him frequently and I admire his skills as a publicity magnate.

I must say however, that it was just wrong of him to mention the holocaust when he mentioned that Stephen Harper mentioned the holocaust.

Stephen Harper has every right to mention the Liberal record on human rights, that is politics. Warren Kinsella going fishing for Jewish indignation is just pathetic and rings hollow.

Kinsella, and the band of Liberal tethered culture clubs will now scream, "insensitive", and attempt to move the debate to hate.

They wish to move the public eye away from the intelligent views of compromising conservatives to the falseness of fear mongering.

It will not work this time. Liberals look desperate and will lose the debate

A Valentine for Liberals

2005-02-15T06:40:00.000-08:00

A poem for Valentines

Liberals are red,
Conservatives are blue,
Your ethics are dead,
as voters see you.

Can't blame this Tory,
charge them with hate,
our biggest scam in history,
then give us strippergate.

An immigration minister,
a tale of free lunch,
I imagine more sinister,
you can call it a hunch.

The bogey men

2005-02-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

To reflect upon the statements made by Jean Chretien and the current Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin, before Gomery at a commission of inquiry, one can understand the celebratory nature of the Liberals.

By Liberals I don't mean the people that voted for them, I refer instead to those in the party, past and present, that are quite pleased at having put one over on Gomery this week.

I think it is great that old rivals come together for champaign at having been permitted a bogey in the opening 9 holes. I would be very careful of bad weather in the final 9 as Gomery gets closer to the green. After all, won't he have a final report to deliver to Canadians that may make Sheila Fraser sound like Julie Andrews

At any rate, what these Liberals seem to be in a festive mood about is not the fact they pulled a one upmanship on Gomery, Roy, and Mulroney. The bogey men in the Liberal party are quite happy because they think they have put one over on the Canadian Public at the expense of the Canadian Taxpayer.

So enjoy the party while you can cause there are gathering clouds down the bottom 9.

Jean Chretien shatters own image.

2005-02-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, the former Prime Minister gave a speech at the Gomery Commission today.

Even though one shouldn't give speeches at a commission of inquiry, it was permitted by both sides. For the people who claim that the cost of the inquiry is a concern of theirs, I'd like to ask on behalf of the Canadian tax payer, how much did it cost? Was it one MRI or two, or more?

For those that claim they want to get to the bottom of adscam, did they honestly think the bogeyman would appear and admit in a recycled, garbled speech, that he did anything wrong? Have you been asleep for ten years?

What was revealed today is that the former Prime Minister, in his private life, no longer seems to care about his, "regular guy image". He treats his Titleist like the rest of the elitist, by putting his name on them. Only this good son of Power did so with tax payer money. Well, that certainly gives him a bogey over Gomery and the other sons of Power

Tune in on Thursday to catch another round of, Powers Classic Oldtimers Tee-Up, and see if the current favored son can find his balls and the green.

Liberals costly cleanse. Part II

2005-02-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

Update: The Toronto Star and The Ottawa Sun have supportive articles on their websites that highlight the Liberal enema taking place. As Martin and Mulroney's friend align for the purpose of political payback to all things, "Small town cheap", and company, the cost to the tax payers of Canada will grow exponentially. The lawsuits and counter suits will suck up valuable health care dollars for, over to you Warren, "another decade".

The Liberals Costly Cleanse.

2005-02-04T01:10:00.000-08:00

I find myself in total disbelief that there is an attempt to have Warren kinsella remove some of his musings and have him reported to The Law Society of Upper Canada.

I think it is telling that the very body that would take the complaint about Warren has an address like, " www. lsuc. on. ca.", very telling indeed. Isn't that what Warren has been trying to point out, that lawyers are sucking up Canadian tax dollars, and for what?
To learn what Jean Chretien had already stated a few years back when he said, "perhaps a few million dollars where stolen, but we saved Canada billions because the country is together". My point is simple, it is the RCMP who should be responsible for finding the money and make arrests. Instead you have the partisan bullshit, to which Warren also complains, at a cost that is not justifiable.

To all you morons (right wing bloghaters, as Warren would say) that might be inclined to click and tell on Warren, just remember the address is www l suc on Ca, or something like that. You can allow the tax sucking to continue by keeping Warren quiet.

Next, If the opposition actually had fewer idiots in the blogosphere and elected, they could actually use Kinsella's musings to aid them.
Example: Liberal divorce costly to Canadians :
80 million dollars to be spent by Liberals to find the Liberals responsible for missing 100 million.
Opposition calls for an end to the use of tax dollars by the Liberals to cleanse their party.

Instead, we find the idiots going after Warren and supporting Gomery. What will this do? It will ensure Paul Martin looks like he has cleaned out the Liberal Party and that they are set to govern for the next decade. All at the expense of Canadians tax dollars.

Brilliant!

Common Sense

2005-02-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

As Inkless has also pointed out, Jim Prentice, the MP for Calgary Center North, crystallizes the debate on same sex marriage.

His statement shows a very well thought out position that, I would hope, many Canadians could support. His statement is clear, concise, and sounds better than anything Harper or Martin has put out there.

Finally, strength of position with clarity from someone on the home team. Way to go Jim.

The children of Iraq.

2005-02-01T01:58:00.000-08:00

Can anyone look at these faces and not believe Iraqs' future is secure?

Lets forget the political rhetoric and wish them well.

Walls comes down.

2005-01-30T09:46:00.000-08:00

A call out to people on the blog roll of the Blogging Tories.

I was recently removed from the bog roll due the comedy in my previous post.

Derek,I'm asking you to remove that post immediately as it contains1) a personal
attack2) discrimination based upon sexual orientation/preference Even though you
have the right to your opinion on SSM and homosexuality in general, the post does
not align well with the spirit of the Blogging Tories blogroll.Thanks,Steve

Hey, they have that right but why lie about the reasons. I'd like some feedback as to the validity of that claim.

First, Is it a personal attack ? I thought I was pointing to his non position on same sex marriage and his discrimination towards female bloggers with cat pictures. How is it personal?

Second, how the hell am I in a position to discriminate against anyone based on anything.

It is they who discriminate, first, against female bloggers with cat pictures, by virtue of an actual campaign to point them out for purpose of avoidance. This is in the spirit of Blogging Tories? Sounds like another, " alien kitten- eater oversight". Hope you don't work on the next campaign.

Next, they try to bully me into removing, censor, edit or retract my post. That'll be the day when anyone tells me what I can write, notice the title of the my blog.
Start building walls around peoples blogs and your roll will shrink pretty fast.

I'd like to hear from Blogging Tories, if they agree or disagree, with the decision to have me removed from the roll.

A Conservative blogger comes out.

2005-01-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

Some of us are familiar with this guys position on a hell of a lot of topics.

His position on same sex marriage seems to conflict with his Proud Member Blogging Tory button. He has no position and doesn't want to appear biased on the topic of unipolar bliss. This doesn't seem to be a concern in many of his in other posts, especially the anti-cat picture female blogger rant (the first link).

Just to get this straight, A Blogging Tory with no position on same sex marriage that doesn't want to see pictures of female bloggers pussies.

Kinda makes me go, hmmmmmm.....

I think he is trying to tell us something. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Update: No person linked in this post is actually gay. (not that there is anything wrong with that) I value his opinion and enjoy reading his blog. This post was an attempt at comedy that some found offensive. I have found myself between Brock and a hard place. I am sorry I hurt the linkees feelings.

And another war continues

2005-01-28T23:56:00.000-08:00

Even though I was not permitted to post that horned picture of Warren on my Blog, I have not given up my search for a postable picture.

As my search continues here is a quote from the musings of Kinsella that should have the Conservatives jumping for joy, just no hugs and kisses please.

January 28, 05 - Their hatred knows no bounds. Truly. This one will help to ensure the Liberal Party remains divided for, say, another decade. Stephen Harpers gambit worked.

As the Liberal Party eats itself right in front us, is anyone going to ask the question? Are they still fit to govern? I'm talking about the mainstream media. At some point they will need to bring this to the attention of Canadians.

The war that never was.

2005-01-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

I quite enjoyed the little war that erupted between Warren Kinsella and Norman Spector in the blogsphere. I mean even Paul wells got himself tangled up in it by way of pissing off the pit bull Kinsella.

Well wouldn't you know it, the popcorn just finished popping and the credits seem to be rolling on the drama. I even loaded Paul's gun for him to shoot back at Warren for that nice little picture of a horned Wells he posted. So much for the, "Web Flame War". No fizzle, just endless drizzle about the Liberal Family feud on the one hand, and way too much info about the Rock's money problems on the other.

In case your wondering what was in the pistol I gave to the, Kid with the Horned Hat and his corporate blog, without an Alamo, I lay down my ammo. Here it is.

Derek,

No, CP would absolutely not give you permission to use this picture in this way and any use without our written permission would be a breach of our copyright. Within the Copyright Act, section 28.2 to be exact, the question moral rights is covered that gives a photographer the right to protection for this misuse of his work. Under the law you would clearly be at fault should you use this picture and/or use and doctor this picture. CP would pursue legal remedy for such an abuse should it occur.

Sincerely,

Ron Poling
Excecutive Director, Picture Services
The Canadian Press

Original photo credit: CP/Fred Chartrand.
Fake Foto credit: WWW/DKRichards.

CP doesn't have a sense of Humor, too bad.

Stop the Slide

2005-01-24T18:28:00.000-08:00

All Things Canadian asks the question

One question
Paul Martin said
today:
Polygamy is against the law and will always be against the law. So, if
the courts rule in favour of polygamy....

Paul Martin would use the notwithstanding clause to prevent polygamy?
I'm not so sure.

Polygamy may not be on the Liberal agenda right now, but we find an attitude in some Canadians an apathy towards stopping it. A fellow blogger has written me with his views that I will share with the couple of other people who read this blog.

The Conservative position is enhanced when you have Liberal supporters like James Bow admitting the following in an e-mail to me. I've added the emphasis to make it clear that there are Liberal supporters that would allow the charter to protect any deviation in our society, even if they conflict with traditional Canadian values. This is exactly the, "slippery slope" Conservatives are trying to prevent.

I'm not saying that polygamy is something to be feared, and there is nothing the state can, or should, do to prevent consentual polygamous relationships. However, I am saying that Stephen Harper is fearmongering, by making the analogy between same sex marriage and polygamy and using it as an excuse for the state to not respect same sex marriages. If you have any problem with somebody disparaging the validity of consentual polygamous relationships, it should be with Stephen Harper,who brought it up in the first place with the express desire to make polygamy the bogeyman on which to prevent the recognition of same sex marriages....James

Now back to the Bias.

2005-01-23T14:57:00.000-08:00

From our respected news anchor over at the CBC.

The tsunami test
The Southeast Asian disaster has given Paul Martin a chance to show his stuff
PETER MANSBRIDGE

I wonder if this is the kind of crap that made "liberal" a dirty word in the U.S., using a horrible disaster for political gain.

Over at inkless, Paul Wells blames the media for making the PM look like an idiot.

What do you do when you blare to all of your readers that the PM is
THREATENING a SNAP ELECTION when, in fact, he was doing no such thing? You
report his clarification as a retraction. Hence this morning's forest of
MARTIN
BACKTRACKS headlines

Did you learn nothing from the campaign guys, this is one tough cookie to spin for, even Kinsella would have a hard time.

This, That & The Slope

2005-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

*The good people at NASA have caught one of the waves hitting the east coast of India on December 26/04. This was not the biggest wave that hit that day and is an incredible sight from the safe distance it was captured at.

*An incredible graphic can be found here. Try it and enjoy the trip.

*Are we really going to have an election on same sex marriage? I'd say bring it on.

It is a perfectly sound argument to say that making gay marriage equal to heterosexual marriage may lead to an objection of the wording, "one person". Since the gender designation within the definition is offensive to some, why wouldn't the singular over the plural be offensive to others. Why shouldn't conjoined twins be allowed to marry another set of conjoined twins? Should the Canadian Constitution only protect a minority that has a big enough lobby?

Why wouldn't someone object to the, "person" designation. If a Canadian wants to wed his furry, (plush toy) that they have loved since he/she was four years old, should they be stopped? If the charter doesn't protect this individuals rights, why should it protect another's over gender?

Anybody?

"Paul Martin's good week"

2005-01-19T11:08:00.000-08:00

If I am to believe the Canadian media, Paul Martin has had a good week.

Oh come on, a cabinet resignation, a politically motivated aid tour, an appointment of one of the blossoms in the Bush Family orchard.

Welcome to the Paul Martin party of Canada, we accept free labor and pizza in exchange for arrest and deportation.
We will match each of your dollars you donate to Asia with another one of your dollars, up to a point though.
We will meet with the, "rebels" (terrorists) to ensure the free flow of aid and political contributions to our party.
We acknowledge that calling Americans, "bastards" and "idiots" hurt this country in the form of the phony American ban on Canadian beef. It was really about the American beaf with us.

The backdrop to all of this is the adscam inquiry. What we are watching, live on C-PAC, is the climax of the long standing Liberal Party family feud with Gomery as the host. I really do miss Richard Dawson.
The inquiry should not be compared to, as some would say, "Ken Starr of the north". Bill Clinton didn't appoint him to,"get to the bottom" of the Carter administrations suspicious spending habits and it is not some, Hillary Clinton inspired, vast right wing conspiracy.

May Paul Martin have many more, "good weeks".

Canada for Canada

2005-01-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

I watched as much as I could of the Canada for Asia money raiser on the CBC last night. I stopped watching about the same time Celine Dion began to speak. I simply found it too painful to watch.

The pain I felt was for a country that found it necessary to congratulate itself and tell everyone that was willing to watch, just how giving and important we are.

We did this without shame and on the back of a horrible tragedy where people lost everything. This is not the time to celebrate our giving nature and showcase our most gifted.

I, am.....Embarrassed!

Canada, please just shut up and empty your pockets.

The sword bends.

2005-01-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

The efforts of the world community in response to the Asian tsunami has been incredible. Individuals, governments, and world bodies have given like never before.

A handful of nations have risen above and beyond the call and should be mentioned. Australia, Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the U.S. have given two-thirds of the total contributions.
The same coalition that took action in Iraq and was termed a coalition of idiots by some and a coalition of the coerced by others, actually behaved like the concerned global citizens they are.

I recall that many said this wasn't an international coalition and it had failed the international test. If the war in Iraq was an international midterm, then the Asian tsunami was the international final.
China, Russia, and France didn't even bother to show up.

Water becomes a sword.

2005-01-13T09:16:00.000-08:00

Each and every day we go through our routine without thinking about it. We wash ourselves, our dishes, and even our cars. We cook with it, make coffee with it, and of course, we drink it. Water has always been central to our daily life because it is the foundation of life itself.

Many of us, still submerged in the spirits of Christmas , were awakened to a new reality of water as reports came in from Asia. We had seen the destructive side of water as floods in our own country, yet with each passing day, it became ever more difficult to relate what happened in Asia to our own experience.
Not in our lifetime has the ocean become such an efficient sword, killing tens of thousands of people from many nations over thousands of kilometers. The kind of chaos we have witnessed is usually reserved for the destructive power of man and the weapons of mass destruction we posses.

As we continue to help the people whose world was torn apart and destroyed by the very substance that gives us life, we should reflect upon the need to continue to hold that kind of destructive power in our own hands.

The more things change?

2005-01-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome.

As we move from the year of the Monkey(2004) to the year of the Rooster(2005) I thought it was a good time to start blogging.
I'm not a writer but you know a room with an infinite number of monkeys at typewriters will eventually bash out Hamlet. I'm sure the same can be said about Roosters and Bloggers so I'll throw my indiscriminate bashing into the sphere and see what happens.

2004 was a year that saw America go from being a divided nation to being a purple one. This great transition occurred in the minds of the media because a small percentage of voters pushed G.W. Bush over the top in a key state for the win.
Hey, that sounds a lot like the 2000 election though. So what changed? How did America go from divided between Democratic Blue and Republican Red, into a homogeneous purple?

Rural Americans gave Bush 51% of the of the popular vote. This single factor forced the media to abandon the stolen election, illegitimate president, nation divided tune, for a song of various shapes of purple.
Rednecks legitimize president, could have been the headline but the reluctance on the part of the media to call any state Red dismantled the illusion of division and shed light on the fairly homogeneous voting patterns in all states.
America is not any more or less divided than in 2000 and we have the rednecks who voted in greater numbers for Bush to thank for creating the new electoral map of various shades of purple. Thank-you.

The Canadian election of 2004 was really a wedding story.
No, not same sex weddings but the coming together of the Yin and Yang of the Canadian right.
The popular vote numbers look very similar to the 2000 election and yet we have gone from a majority to a minority in parliament. Despite what Warren Kinsella and Paul Wells might want us to believe, Paul Martin did nothing during the election that led to his ultimate fate. Yes he could have won by more, but not when your asking for a fourth mandate.

In this country, it is good enough to simply be from central Canada when your opposition is from western Canada. Since two thirds of your nation won't vote for your party because your address is the wrong side of the 100th meridian, you can be sure it won't change to 24 Sussex. It then becomes a question of how much you'll win by.

The Liberals had to overcome scandal and voter fatigue, the very same conditions Kim Campbell faced in 1993.
Paul Martin had the address advantage in 2004 and would have gained a majority if not for the merge of Conservatives. The Tory base of 24 rural seats in Ontario denied Paul Martin a majority.

Many said 1+1 wouldn't add up for the Conservatives but it did create a new glass ceiling for them .

In Canada, one might say the rednecks created the illusion of a more balkanized country, the opposite effect of the U.S. vote. In reality though, Canadians voted in a very similar pattern to the 2000 popular vote.

You know, the more things change...........