Michael Ignatieff Tom Flannigan Quote: as a politician "your task is mostly to conceal the truth".

In today's Globe and Mail, I was struck dumfounded by this quote I mistakenly thought was attributed to Michael Ignatieff:

As an academic, he said, "you just build up a habit of trying to give honest answers to questions. ... Then once you get into politics your task is mostly to conceal the truth. The truth becomes a gaffe."

The article then goes on to talk about the development of his vision, blah, blah, blah, and basically makes not other mention about an apparently direct quote from the proposed future Prime Minister of our Country, saying, effectively, that if elected, his task will be to "conceal the truth."

If this is an accurate quote - and I haven't been able to source it elsewhere, why isn't this front page? Are we so conditioned to think so little of the people who shape our lives every day, that we accept their deception?

Is that what western democracy has come to?

While Michael Ignatieff recently posted a picture of himself with Barack Obama on a jumbo screen in Times Square, One posits that perhaps his (Tom Flannigan's) political acumen was acquired from an earlier President, who once said:

"I played by the rules of politics as I found them."

Richard M. Nixon.

Indeed.

I am shamed.

Democracy at Work.. I will keep you posted.

The Honourable Lindsay Blackett;

Minister of Culture and Community Spirit

Mr. Minister:

As you are probably aware, during the 2008 AGM – the members of the PC Party passed the following policy resolution:

Lethbridge West PC Association
Lethbridge East PC Association
Calgary - Glenmore PC Association


2008 AGM Resolution – Human Rights


BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Government of Alberta implement all necessary measures to ensure the full protection of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and freedom of religion so as to foster open discussion and debate on all issues of public interest, including the right of an individual or group to publish their political opinions and preferences, whether during an election or at other times;

and that in support thereof the Government of Alberta amend the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act to exempt from complaint any exercise of freedom of expression or religion, subject only to historic common law restraints on libel, slander and direct incitement to violence.

Thank you:

Rob Harvie – President Lethbridge East
Dale Miller – VP Policy Lethbridge West
Larry Hurd – VP Policy Calgary – Glenmore

The recent announcements of the current government, unfortunately, suggest that the resolutions which are put forward at the AGM are being ignored. The issue of limitations on free speech is manifestly important to Albertans and to Canadians. The decision of not only our Federal Government, but, in fact, the current American administration and several other respected members of the UN to boycott the current UN Anti-Racism conference speak volumes of the importance of securing guarantees of free speech which are currently under significant threat by those who wish to limit open debate and discussion, particularly in areas where human rights conflict with issues of religious freedom. This was the central point of the boycott.

I would appreciate your thoughts relative to this issue and what, if anything, the government is willing to do to assure that there are no further hearings of the sort undertaken against Ezra Levant in particular.

I realize the issue is a sensitive one – however, I would suggest that beyond all freedoms, the freedom to openly debate and discuss matters of importance to all citizens is the cornerstone of a free and democratic society. This issue is too important to disregard for the purpose of political expediency.

I would appreciate your thoughts and your advice regarding what, if any, further action is being undertaken by this Government relative to this important issue.

Robert G. Harvie
President – Lethbridge East PC Association

Follow-up on Letter to the Prime Minister's Office

Well, following up on my letter to the Prime Minister's Office last week, seeking assistance for Hossein Derakhshan, the jailed Iranian-Canadian blogger who was arrested for basically speaking his mind in Iran and seeking to foster peace between Iran and Israel, I can advise:

a) I did get a letter from the PM's office advising that the matter has been referred to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for further attention;

b) I have not heard more;

c) Hossein Derakhshan is still in jail, without charge as I understand.

A quick google of "Hossein Derakhshan" discloses no news, and virtually no further attention since Iran's President Ahmadinejad publicly requested the judiciary assure a fair hearing to Derakhshan and jailed journalist, Roxana Saberi.

Sadly, while the Canadian left was and continues to be up in arms about assuring due process for Omar Khadr, alleged terrorist and murderer of an American Medic - it appears few in Canada, and virtually no one named Michael Ignatieff, has the time of day for a Canadian who made the mistake of seeking to use free expression to promote peace.

Not to leave out the right - while I have received a pleasant letter, it doesn't appear much more has happened in Government, and I certainly haven't seen anything from Ezra Levant or Mark Stein on this issue - I mean - if we, on the right, are truly worried about free speech, it would seem to me that Hossein Kerakhshan is a perfect example of why the suggested UN prohibition against "religious defamation" is such a frightening and inappropriate thing.

More Science to Consider in the Climate Change Discussion.. (bet David Suzuki won't talk about this)

As I've posted before, I'm not an ardent anti-global warming Conservative. What I am is a "thinking" Conservative, which means, I'm not buying the Al Gore line of shit - but I'm not sticking my head in the sand either..

So - another tidbit of information regarding the science of climate issues, with thanks to Mr. Ens for sending it to me:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-missing-sunspots-is-this-the-big-chill-1674630.html

Hmm.. so the sun might not be as hot. And that's been going on for a while. Might.. just throwing that out there for discussion, that just might also figure into a very complicated equation that climate change alarmists would as soon ignore.

Alberta.. freedom to screw up..

Welcome to Alberta..



Ok.. well, yes, that is me in Rome with my wife's father.. but I meant welcome to Alberta "in the context of being in Rome".. yeah.. that's the ticket.

So, it appears that the new "Alberta Brand" campaign used a picture of a beach in Northumberland, U.K., under the caption "Alberta Freedom to Create. Spirit to Achieve." (see story here)

$25 million.

And, when we get caught with our pants down - rather than just initially say, "Sorry, we screwed up".. we try and spin it.. suggesting it was meant to show us in the context of the whole world or some other stupid thing.

As a party, we had best not count on the Liberals to continue being as vapid as they have been post-Ken Nichol. Now - yes, it is true that they anointed Dr. David Swann as their leader, virtually guaranteeing another massive election loss.. but eventually, they will pick a leader with some appeal to the voters (even a blind dog finds a bone now and again) and if the PC Party doesn't get it's act together, they may yet pose a threat to the PC power hold on Alberta politics.

Lean. Mean. And focused. That is where this party needs to go.

$25 million to put a nondescript logo on a beach in England? Get it together boys and girls.. my $.02? I would have commissioned a competition between one team from each Alberta post-secondary institution to come up with the best branding campaign. Winner takes home $25,000.00 per team member and a lifetime tuition exemption to complete their education.

I'm thinking we'd have obtained a better product for a hell of a lot less coinage.

But, that's just me talking.

UN Anti-racism Conference Supports Exactly That Which It Purports to Oppose

If the UN Anti-Racism Conference were a movie - it's most appropriate staring role would have been a younger Jerry Lewis starring as it's central character, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. No other characterization of the UN Conference is as apt as comedic farce. While Iran jails journalists who dare to question Islam or the Government (who are, to be fair, one and the same) they are at the same time given a pulpit at the UN to spew their hypocritical venom, suggesting they are in fact the "victims" of racism.

The conference would be a great comedy, if not for the fact that this is a reality in our world - which, unfortuantely, makes it a tragedy.

As we have seen in our own Country, Islamic extremists - the kind who would forbid women to learn to read, the kind who see nothing wrong in allowing forced marriages of 8 year old children, the kind who pass rape-authorization laws, the kind who jail or even kill people who question Alla - well, they assert that to question these practices amounts to "Islamophobia" and they seek to beat into submission through our Human Rights Commission anyone who dares challenge this.

While many in Canada deride Ezra Levant and Mark Stein for their loud and agressive stance against the so-called Human Rights Commissions - the reality is that their cause is not some "right wing tirade".

We are fortunate that Barack Obama is now the President of the United States - as it would be too easy to dismiss a boycott of the UN Conference if George Bush had carried it out. However - under Obama there is a legitimacy to his position that Bush lost long ago. Obama understands what many in our own country do not - that free speech is the cornerstone of freedom. That sometimes, religion should be open to criticism - no, in fact, sometimes religion MUST be open to criticism - which criticism should not be muzzled under threat of sanction by the state. Obama understands this.

As you read this, Hossein Derakhshan - an Iranian-Canadian blogger has now been held in jail for 171 days and counting,without charage, for apparently doing what I am doing right now. Jailed by the country who has been given the pulpit at the UN Anti-racism conference. It would be funny - if it weren't so terribly sad.

Letter to the Prime Minister - Re: Arrest and Detention of Hossein Derakhshan

Please read, and if you agree, consider writing your own letter to our PM, or to the leader of whatever party you support.

April 20, 2009

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

Re: Arrest and Detention of Hossein Derakhshan

I have recently become aware that a Canadian-Iranian, Hossein Derakhshan, has been arrested and detained in Iran since November 1, 2008, apparently without formal charges having been filed against him – though the information I can glean suggests that he may be accused of writing critically of the Islamic faith, or that he may be alleged to be spying – much the same as American journalist Roxana Saberi.

As I understand, Mr. Derakhshan is well known for bringing “blogging” to Iran, and in some circles is known as the “blogfather” in Iran. It is my understanding that he has worked to champion freedom of speech in Iran and further, to foster understanding between Islamic and Jewish moderates. At least in my modest knowledge of him, Mr. Derakhshan appears to be the sort of person who is in short supply in this world.

I am writing to request the support of your government on Mr. Derakhshan’s behalf to do whatever can be done to determine the circumstances of his detention and to secure his release should it appear that in fact his only offense is that of advocating for peace and free speech.

As a member of the Conservative Party of Canada, it would strike me that if our party stands for anything, it should be for freedom of speech, and I would hope that when one of our citizens is arrested for seeking to express himself freely in the cause of peace, that our Government would come to the aid of such a citizen.

I thank you for your consideration of this issue.

Yours very truly,

Back online.. some thoughts over the past week.. including why Hossein Derakhshan doesn't merit attention of Irwin Cotler unless he's a terrorist

So.. to my three readers.. sorry I've been AWOL.. was organizing and hosting a PC Dinner last week, so, I was a little distracted and didn't get a chance to post anything, so, trying to make up for my absense, I'll make a few observations this Monday morning..

Oh - the dinner was a great success, the speaker, Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology was excellent, and better, he was an engaged and interesting dinner companion at our table. It is great to see a politician who is sincerely interested and excited over what he does. Good job Doug, and thanks!

Other thoughts.

Well, good on the U.S. Navy Seals for sniping the Somalian pirates. That country is truly a dismal mess. Memo to Obama - don't make the same foreign policy mistakes that previous administrations have made and assume it's the U.S. job to fix a horrible political and human rights mess. Let it go. Sure - eventually, China or North Korea will probably eventually prop up some communist/socialist regime - but in the long run, it will fail, like every similar experiment.

Speaking of failed socialist experiments - it appears that perhaps Obama will finally lead the way to remove the ridiculous Cuban embargo. If the U.S. was not so myopic, they could have brought Castro down three decades ago by allowing free trade and movement in and out of Cuba.. like the Soviet Union - eventually, communist dicatatorships fall from within as people see the fruits of freedom and capitalism.

What else? Oh - Harper's approval ratings are not great - particularly in Quebec - which I actually find rather amusing. I mean, the Province is going down a big sink-hole, and they're upset with Harper? One supposes, if history teaches us anything, if the Liberals do regain the government, they will appease Quebec by handing them more of everyone else's tax dollars - leaving all of the rest of Canada wishing that they had already taken their marbles and gone home during the last referendum.

Oh.. and this is extremely intersting. By now, we've all heard about the arrest and conviction of American journalist Roxana Saberi (after a one hour trial that she and her lawyer weren't advised of in advance) - and, in the article I read, is a side-mention of Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan, who was arrested on November 1, 2008 and has been held since, without charge - who oddly enough, was an advocate of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but, gasp, criticized fundamentalist Muslim leaders and "wrote about" the "Pure Imams" of Islam.

Think about that for a moment. Derakhshan is a Canadian citizen. He has never been accused of any crimes, certainly, hasn't allegedly murdered a U.S. medic like Omar Khadr, and yet, the coalition of the stupid and their running-dog lacky, Irwin Cotler, haven't raised an eyebrow over Derakhashan's detention. Well, yes, it's true, he isn't being detained by Americans - and well, yes, he hasn't been accused of being an extremist Muslim terrorist, and, in fact, has tried to bridge differences between Iran and Israel - so I can see why Ignatieff, Layton, Duceppe, and their trained puppy, Irwin Cotler, haven't been raising a stink. I mean - if they stand up for Derakhshan, well, they sort of have to stand up for Mark Stein and Ezra Levant - who also critized Muslim fundamentalism. And we can't have that, can we?

Hell's Angels - a creation of the MSM

In 1966, after struggling for several years as a freelance journalist, Hunter S. Thompson was asked to write an article on the Hell's Angels for The Nation.. which article eventually turned into his first published book - an amazing examination of the Hell's Angels who Thompson saw in the context of the failure of the "American Dream". His comments ring as true today as they did then.

"Far from being freaks, the Hell's Angels are a logical product of the culture that now claims to be shocked by their existence. The generation represented by the editors of Time has lived so long in a world full of celluloid outlaws hustling toothpaste and hair oil that it is no longer capable of confronting the real thing. For twenty years they have sat with their children and watched yesterday's outlaws raise hell with yesterday's world...and now they are bringing up children who think Jesse James is a television character. This is a generation that went to war for Mom, God and Apple Butter, the American Way of Life. When they came back, they crowned Eisenhower and then retired to the giddy comfort of their TV parlors, to cultivate the subtleties of American history as seen by Hollywood."

Since Thompson wrote that - the problem has only become more pronounced with the advent of useless and "ratings driven" media saturation in today's society. Where once, we had a limited, but serious, view of the world's events through people like Walter Cronkhite, we now have so-called "news" piped into us 24/7, through pseudo-news outlets like CNN, MSNBC and FOXNEWS.

News is constantly "dumbed down" from one side of the spectrum or the other - because real news, complex news, is, well, boring. So - media simplifies everything, and in the bargain, we get a distorted and filtered view of "reality". Current government (whose only true goal is to get re-elected) then locks onto that simplistic view of reality and feeds it back to us - and we eat it, like Twinkies and Big Macs - easy to digest, but in the end, hardly nutritious or healthy.

Our broader society is bereft of any ability to critically analyse the problems of our day and of our government - because, by and large, the media refuses to give us "hard news", and instead, chases ratings and/or ideology (which amounts to much he same thing) and in so doing, gives us some biased mish-mash of newsertainment from people like Anderson Cooper, Bill O'Reilly and Rachel Maddow.

The blogworld, smug in their superiority in attacking the bias and failure of the MSM to properly educate the public, is no better. Very few politically aimed blogs appear to have any real ability to critically analyse the failure of "their side" and instead, are a laughable example of like-minded ideologues patting themselves on the back over and over again.

The biggest example of this titanic global failure - why - no less an issue that the welfare of the world's environment. We have all failed miserably.

Everyone, it seems, just picks a side - and in so doing, simply feeds the ignorance pervading society on a very serious issue. So-called scientists like media darling David Suzuki trumpet an alarmist and largely unexplained view of the end of civilization as we know it - while at the same time, the right wing media and blogs, similarly ignore hard explanations and similarly suggest that "all is right".

This blog suggests the issue is worth taking seriously. Spend some time on the 'net, or reading things like, "Climate of Extremes: Global Warming Science They Don't Want You to Know", By Patrick J. Michaels and Robert C. Balling, Jr.., the thesis of the book - that there are cogent arguments for global warming which, however, do not require or in fact even support the alarmist rhetoric that we are inundated with daily.

Make your own dinner for a change. Put down the Big Mac and do some reading.

Stand by Me - too good not to share

This is just too excellent not to share.. and maybe sends a not-so-subtle message about how the world is a smaller place than we think.


Stand By Me from David Johnson on Vimeo.

We are a Country of Laws: Abousfian Abdelrazik should be brought home.. and then watched, very closely

Abousfian Abdelrazik, like it or not, is a Canadian citizen.

Abousfian Abdelrazik has been living in our Sudanese embassy, having been variously detained, and released, but prevented return to Canada since 2003. There are suspicions that Abdelrazik is an Al Qaeda supporter and that he had ties to the "millienium bomber" who tried to cross the border from Canada into the U.S. with explosives, seeking to bomb the Los Angeles airport.

Problem is - suspicion isn't evidence. And CSIS and the Canadian government acknowledge that they have no evidence that Abdelrazik is a terrorist or is supporting terrorists.

So - as a country of laws, he should be entitled to return - and, based upon some of his past associations, he should be watched very closely. Very, very closely.

Beyond that? Well, perhaps what we really should do is review our immigration policy. With known terrorists like the Khadr family given citizenship and now, apparently, a suspected Al Qaeda supporter in Abdelrazik given citizenship, perhaps the time - for now - has come to close our doors to certain countries. Let's be honest - you can't take a blood test to determine Islamic extremism. But, you can reasonably identify which countries and which groups are likely to contain same.

We are living in a dangerous world. There are people out there who resent western occupation of Islamic countries - an anger and hatred that has persisted since the Crusades.. perhaps the time has come to allow strong fences to create good neighbors.

Perhaps the time has come to refuse to enter and occupy foreign lands - even under the best of intentions in the face of the worst of human rights abuses, and say, we have to allow the natural evolution of change to take place - over hundreds of years if need be. In turn, perhaps the time has come to close our doors to immigration from those same countries, until that natural evolution has proven to have rendered those countries citizens true citizens of the world.

Welcome home Abousfian Abdelrazik. And then shut the doors.

The family budget is going to get tightened up..

In a very real sense, we are all family. In theory, we bring our diverse talents and contributions into our "home", and we share the good and the not-so-good.

Right now, in Alberta, mom and dad have suffered a fairly sizeable pay-cut, and the kids are having to be told, well, that trip to Disney isn't going to happen this year, and maybe, you're going to be buying your blue jeans at Winners, instead of Holt Renfrew.

And, rest assured, the children are going to whine and complain - as children do, but, as parents must sometimes do with children, the parents are going to have to put their foot down and say, "suck it up".

It's funny - but the oldest child in this family, we'll call him David Swann, is also the least mature. You see, he's been in University, and he seems to have all these great theories on the best way mom and dad should be spending their money - and when the belt starts getting tightened - his response - "well, you should just get a second job and spend more money."

Of course - he's not getting a job at all - he'll continue living in his ivory tower existence - all the while complaining to mom and dad that, really, the answer is Keynesian economics.. they need to get that second job, increase their income - and simply spend more money by paying the children more allowance, suggesting, but not requiring the children to, in turn, use that money for home repairs. Yes - you see, then they will spend that money, and, uh.. somehow that will, magically, turn into MORE money, uh.. well, he never really explains how giving one child $100 will somehow return more than $100 back to the parents for household expenses.. but he assures them it will work.

Mom and Dad are having none of it.. they tell David he's lucky he's going to University - there are children in Darfur who are starving and being murdered, so he should just shut up and be thankful he lives in Alberta.

Maybe one day, when David grows up, he'll have a house of his own, and have to pay his own bills.. and maybe then he'll understand.

Yoram Bauman, Ph.D. - Stand Up Economist

With thanks to "Captain Capitalism" for this link - some humor in this time of economic darkness.. which is not only funny, but illustrates the danger of taking "experts" too seriously..

Harper could learn a few things from Owen Hargreaves..

Stephen Harper took time out of his schedule yesterday for a photo op with former Calgarian, and current European soccer star, Owen Hargreaves.. most commentators remark on the fact that Hargreaves plays for Manchester United - a team sponsored by AIG. For those of you not familiar with soccer, Man U is an elite soccer program, some say the New York Yankees of soccer. Certainly, Owen is standing tall, playing and succeeding with the best of the best in the world.

What I find more interesting is the background on how Hargreaves got to England in the first place. You see, Owen is Canadian. He played soccer in Calgary for the Foothills soccer club, and after winning the Canadian Junior title with his team.. well, apparently he wasn't good enough for team Canada, and instead, was recruited and ended up playing for the English National Team (his father is from England).

To truly understand this, you have to have some involvement with soccer - and I have, being a former President of the elite girls and women's program in Lethbridge -and having some dealings with the Alberta Soccer Association. You see - in Alberta and, I daresay, in Canada - it's not about being the best. It's about the "smart guys" being able to nurture "their system".. the results are secondary. This is how Owen was overlooked. He wasn't in "their system". He wasn't part of "their plan".

This is Canada at its worst. And Harper and other leaders could learn from Owen, learn that, at it's simplest, hard work and success should be rewarded - not discouraged, or worse, exported to another country who appreciates that sort of thing.

Indeed.

Vancouver Canucks in First Place..

The Vancouver Canucks are in first place... April Fools!!..

What?.. they really are? Cool.

Yep, after last night, Vancouver is officially one point ahead of Calgary and that makes me very happy - maybe that makes me a traitor to the wild rose Province, but, well, a fan is a fan.. through thick and thin.

Sure - things could change in a few days, but for now, me and my fellow Canuck fans will revel in our resergance, and cheer our team into the playoffs.

Oh.. and condolences to Duane and Donnie (they're Oiler fans.. heehee).