It seems the election is finally getting an injection of excitement, although some of the goings-on are a less-than-stellar comment about our society...
1--Dennis Mills and Olivia Chow getting snarky with each other on the Danforth. The best kind of debates are the honest, emotional ones, and it's nice to see it flowering at last, even though the polite-through-gritted-teeth, on-the-street confrontation was slightly surreal. Their spat was over Jack Layton's ridiculous accusation that Paul Martin was responsible for homeless deaths in Toronto, so all I can add to this is a cry of "go, Dennis go!" Mr. Layton has certainly said some ludicrous things in the past week, and it was nice to see him being given the stick by CTV's Craig Oliver on Question Period. On the same show, Brian Tobin called Layton "the Howard Dean of Canadian politics"....a comparison I find amusing, and even a little apt.
2--The Conservative Language Critic resigns for saying stupid things, trying to market their stupid policies in a very stupid way. Stephen Harper is distancing himself from the comments, saying that the Conservatives believe in the Official Languages Act. No offense, wood-boy, but if you can sell that snake-oil, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn I want to sell to you...
3--The office of Liberal candidate, and mayor of Winnipeg, Glen Murray was vandalized over the weekend, with anti-gay slurs being spray painted over doors and outside walls. Ignorant, savage people do this to a respected man who just happens to be gay... and in the next breath, other people complain about the passing of Svend Robinson's ammendment to the hate crimes legislation, adding sexual orientation to the crimes list! It boggles the mind, but there is one sign that these vandal-criminals aren't exactly brain trusts: the words they used included "liers" (sic) and "unhonest" (sic). Always nice to see that the right-wing rejects from the public education system have found a means of self-expression...
4--Former Unity minister Stephan Dion wrote a wonderful rebuttal letter to Jack (didn't we already mention him?) Layton's ludicrous (did I here an echo?) statement about scrapping the Clarity Act -- a wonderful piece of legislation that tells Quebec separatists exactly where they can shove their traitorous intentions. "Nobody is worried about this except mischievous Liberals who write letters", Layton said in response. What about all the federalists in Quebec, looking at a possible Bloc sweep in the coming vote, hmm?
5--And while we're on the subject of the Bloc Quebecois, Deputy Conservative Leader, and political back-stabber extraordinaire Peter McKay says (on last night's CBC news) that the Conservatives would consider a minority government parternship with the Bloc Quebecois. Aside from being the sickest, most twisted statement this man has made since signing a paper saying he wouldn't merge with the Canadian Alliance, do we really have to re-visit the conflagration that was the Mulroney government under another name? Just leave both feet in your mouth and sit down, Petey.
I know people are mad and cynical, but let's face it...the more I read, the more I can personally assure myself that the Liberals remain the sanest, most moderate, most compassionate, most credible party to lead the Canadian government. Mind you, if you disagree with me, you're more than welcome to pick what might be hiding behind doors number 2 & 3...but be warned. That's the quickest way to owning a jackass!
