Alberta

On the advice of Anne McLellan we are at the Alberta suite where there is free beer and beef-on-a-bun.
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Garneau

What? Space is way cooler than parliament!
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Just keep talking about Paul the Finance Minister...
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Tewks

Guy's definitely on happy pills
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MC

Mark Tewksbury?
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Martin

Constitutional talks

So far everyone that has spoken on this topic has used metaphor. And, man, is there a lot of curmudgeon.
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Gladhanding

I've almost become trapped in Ignatieff rallies twice now. Truly terrifying. Team Dion has tried to rope me into volunteering. Phil and I just gladhanded Bob Rae. Nice guy, but not as engaging as I would hope (probably because of my purple non-delegate badge). Not as tall as I would expect either. I am now in the Laurier Lounge. Yay snootiness!

Maritimers

I have a meeting with the Premier of New Brunswick today. My boss has a habit of disappearing, and I have not heard from him since he disappeared last night.
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Liveblogging the LibCon

People just applauded an ammendment regarding an apostrophe. I often forget that these conventions are an important venue for 'unique' party members.

Whoah, David Orchard is speaking now...

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Interlude from the Alberta Nation

Even those of you outside Alberta have probably heard by now that Ted Morton came a close second in the first ballot for the Alberta PC leadership race. As much as I would love to see the country governed by my alma mater, this is quite concerning. Ted Morton is conservative in all the ways that those who stereotype Albertans think. His only defining moment of the legislative session was being anti-gay-marriage. He wants to take on the bogey man that is Ottawa (isn't Ottawa now Morton's buddy Steve?).

Any Albertan that wants to keep some progressive in their conservatism, and wants to improve the image of Alberta outside its borders, should do whatever they can to stop Morton. And it's actually pretty easy. Go out and buy the $5 membership, even if you don't fancy yourself a Conservative, and vote.

I don't know Ed Stelmach very well, but I trust Duncan's judgement on this, so go vote Ed first and Jim second. Alberta will be better for it.

A Canadian Nation

A Canadian nationality -- not French-Canadian, nor British-Canadian, nor Irish Canadian: patriotism rejects the prefix -- is, in my opinion, what we should look forward to, that is what we ought to labour for, that is what we ought to be prepared to defend to the death. Heirs of one-seventh of the continent, inheritors of a long ancestral history -- an no part of it dearer to us than the glorious tale of this last century -- warned not by cold chronicales only but by living scenes passing before our eyes of the dangers of an unmixed democracy, we are here to vindicate our capacity by the test of a new political creation...

if we would make Canada safe and secure, riche and renowned, we must all liberalize, locally, sectionally, religiously, nationally. There is room enough in this country for one great free people; but there is not room enough, under the same flag and the same laws for two or thre angry, suspicious, obstructive nationalities. Dear, most justly dear to every land beneath the sun are the children born in her bosom and nursed upon her breast; but when the man of another country, wherever born, speaking whatever speech, holding whatever creed, seeks out a country to serve and honour and cleave to, in weal or in woe, when he heaves up the anchor of his heart from its old moorings, and lays at the feet of the mistress of his choice -- his new country --all the hopes of his ripe manhood, he establishes by such devotion a claim to consideration not second even to that of the children of the soil. He is their brother delivered by a new birth from the dark-wombed Atlantic ship that ushers him into existence in the new world; he stands by his own election among the children of the household; and narrow and unwise is that species of public spirit which, in the perverted name of patriotism, would refuse him all he asks . . . I am not about to talk politics . . . but I am so thoroughly convinced and assured that we are gliding along the currents of a new epoch, that if I break silence at all, in the presence of my fellow subjects, I cannot choose but speak of the immense issues which devolve upon us, at this moment, in this country. Though we are alike opposed to all the invidious distinctions on this soil, we are not opposed, I hope, to giving full credit to all the elements which at the present day compose our population . . .

We Irishmen, Protestant and Catholic, born and bred in a land of religious contreversy, should never forget that we now live and act in a land of the fullest religious and civil liberty. All we have to do is, each for himself, to keep down dissensions which can only weaken, impoverish, and keep back the country; each for himself do all he can to increase its wealth, its strength, and its reputation, each for himself . . . to welcome ever talent to hail every invention, to cherish every gem of art, to foster every gleam of authorship, to honour every acquirement and every natyural gift, to life ourselves to the level of our destinies, to rise above all love limitations and narrow circumscriptions, to cultivate that catholicity of spirit which embraces all creeds, all classes, and all races, in order to make of our bondles province, so rich in known and unknown resources, a great new northern nation."

- Thomas D'Arcy McGee 1862

Kennedy

This is going to be good for Kennedy's campaign. The right stand? Maybe, probably, but definitely good for his campaign. It would be much better if he had a support base in Quebec, as he doesn't want to look like the anti-Quebec candidate.

Legacy

Just got a message on MySpace:

Hey Man,
I think I went to HS with you??? You had a mushroom haircut right?

It's so good to be remembered.

Nationhoodie

I really wish Warren Kinsella would write something to piss me off. I've been agreeing with him and Wells far too often lately.

I'm not sure whether or not I think Quebec is a nation, but I do know this: It doesn't matter. I wish everyone would just stop talking about it. Why are we so obsessed in Canada with wasting our energy on things that just don't affect the lives of Canadians. Will one single Quebeccer feel better knowing that the House of Commons considers Quebec a nation (as opposed to a Distinct Society, which they've already done)? Perhaps we can end western alienation by voting on a resolution saying that "The prairies and the Rockies are super awesome."

I don't know if Harper really had a lot of choice here, though. While there is some political opportunism I think he is also trying to just make this whole thing go away.

Comments

I couldn't get my old comments to work (anyone an HTML wiz?) so due to popular(?) demand I have tunred on the Blogger Commments. Let the spam begin!

What did you learn today?

NEVER think that Norman Spector can't be even more of a douchebag.

Comedians they ain't

Bravo Mr. Kinsella

"They're spurned... They're spurned boys," Kinsella says of Stronach's would-be mockers. "And they look like spurned boys always do - ridiculous."

Three Sixty

I'm just saying.

London

If anyone ever hears me say something like "Yeah, I think we should go to that Green Party thing in London (ON)" please kick me. Hard.

Component troubles

I generally think my brother has things a lot tougher than I do, what with having a baby and all. Then he writes things like:

I was worried that I woudn't be able to find component cables for my Wii and would be forced to play it on my HDTV in blurry washed-out colours via composite cables.

Perish the thought.

And yes, I am just jealous that he's getting the new Nintendo.

Dogster attacked

From my dear friend Michelle G:

"no, wait, i want to first address the fact that you have a website for your dog which lists her friends. Are these internet friends or real friends?...I'm sure you have a plaid doggy jacket in your closet somewhere..."

More video fun

See Video 1 and Video 2

Spider-Man 3

There's a new Spider-Man 3 trailer out. It seems the movie has Sandman as Uncle Ben's killer. An interesting twist - not sure if I like it, but I suppose it goes along with the revenge theme of the movie with Harry.



You can also catch the trailer in hi-def at iFilm.

Cheezit

Echo has eaten a block of Pecorino Crotonese cheese. This cannot possibly lead to good things.

Echolection

We went to the Conroy Pit - a dog park in Ottawa - yesterday, and we ran into Echo's sister Allie. I don't know if dogs can recognize each other or not, but they definitely enjoyed playing together.



As you may have noticed, the Lobby Conference is finally over - huzzah. That means I can go back to such luxuries as sleep, nutrients, a semi-functioning liver, at spending more than four hours a day at home. Seriously, though, the conference went really well, but I'm glad it's over. I spent the weekend doing pretty much nothing, except trying to get my dog to remember me.

Today, in addition to day-in-lieu-of-Remembrance-Day, was municipal election day in Ontario, the first of the four year (!) terms for municipal councils. Here in Ottawa the incumbent was destroyed by Larry O'Brien, who also defeated the candidate I was supporting, Alex Munter. It's pretty disappointing that Alex lost, as he's a great guy and a great candidate. It remains to be seen what O'Brien will do, but many people are worried he'll cut important programs. In a race where the mayor had his ass kicked, every single incumbent counselor kept their seat.

Men are from comic books

One of the previews at Borat was for the Ghost Rider movie.

Barb: I don't get it.

Toby: His head is a skull that's on fire, and he rides a motorcycle. What's not to get?

So Not Laughing

Good idea: Going to watch Borat
Not-so-good idea: Watching Saturday Night Live the same night. So not funny...

As Joanna said, in other news:

Remember

For Remembrance Day, here's a Flickr set from Beaumont Hamel

Huh?

Blogging during conference prep is hard, so let me just say:
-Puppy is growing
-Went to Paul Wells event
-I <3 Stéphane Dion

There's no tuition like... inflation-indexed tuition

About five years late, but welcome nonetheless. Congrats all around.