tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129715302011-04-21T14:07:30.085-04:00Because seeing Blue is so much nicer than Red.Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1138645955081320202006-01-30T13:16:00.000-05:002006-01-30T15:12:47.686-05:00

Looks like everyone's favourite ex-ambassador is out of the Liberal Leadership race before it began. So, just where can a good Liberal throw their support? Brison, who served as a prominent finance critic for the Progressive Conservatives and made a run for the party's leadership, is considered by some Liberals to be an ideal symbol of a "progressive" platform as an openly gay politician.

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1138385569693809912006-01-27T13:08:00.000-05:002006-01-27T13:42:25.233-05:00

The over-reaction has begun to Stephen Harper’s comments on the Northwest Passage, led by the Globe’s John Ibbitson. David Wilkins must feel like packing his bags and going home. Once again, the beleaguered American ambassador has become the lightning rod for gratuitous criticism from the Canadian government -- in this case, the incoming Conservative one of prime-minister-designate Stephen

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1138208922802268402006-01-25T12:08:00.000-05:002006-01-25T12:09:33.896-05:00

Now that the Cons are able to wield some power, they have to look at what moves the Liberals will make with a new leader in place, and obviously two things can happen. A) The Liberals stay, or move, left: how does the NDP react to this? They aren’t going to move their policies down the line to get out of the way, so they need to keep taking a stand against the Liberals that social agendas

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1138112408151083052006-01-24T09:10:00.000-05:002006-01-24T12:01:56.530-05:00

Well, let the communal exhalation begin. Sure, it might not have been what everyone was expecting, but nevertheless Harper’s taken control of the wheel and can start to chart his own course. Even a Liberal must have been impressed with his passion during the victory speech. Observations: My riding, Parry Sound/Muskoka was the tightest in the country with Tony Clement picking up a 21 vote

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137866563512303252006-01-21T12:49:00.000-05:002006-01-21T13:04:38.460-05:00

It seems like the PM doesn’t give much of a _ _ _ _ (four letter word, rhymes with Grit) about his Agriculture Minister, Andy Mitchell. Known in the riding as a perennially “good guy” he’s still in tough against former Ontario Minister of Health Tony Clement, who you’ll also remember wanted Mr. Harper’s job no so long ago. However, bygones being just that, Harper made a stop in Muskoka last

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137779309771794872006-01-20T12:29:00.000-05:002006-01-20T20:59:59.046-05:00

The Dippers always point to Ed Broadbent as their shining example of a man beyond reproach. Maybe he should STILL be their leader. With a scathing "I'm outta here" attack on the Liberals, he showed more passion than Jack Layton has the entire campaign (video link here). As an appetizer: "These are not progressive people," Broadbent told a news conference in Ottawa Friday. "The only time

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137774986604177952006-01-20T11:31:00.000-05:002006-01-20T11:36:26.616-05:00

Apparently I'm not the only person today wondering just how Paul Martin's constant bashing will help the west feel less alienated. Could he say "we don't care about you" in any stronger language? He'll happily trade one western vote for one eastern one. And to think Buzz called Harper the "separatist". GL

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137765520859368182006-01-20T08:55:00.000-05:002006-01-20T23:13:54.096-05:00

On behalf of the people in Ontario that give a damn, I’m sorry. Sorry that eastern Canada feels it’s now OK to dump on you as some sort of backwater that cares nothing about people. Sorry that our Prime Minister is willing to take a shot at western values at each campaign stop, because he’s so desperate to hang onto power. Sorry that it’s become OK to slot the city of Calgary, and the

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137689476450549292006-01-19T11:44:00.000-05:002006-01-19T11:52:19.113-05:00

For THE definitive response to Carole Jamieson's attack on the Blogging Tories, look no further than Stephen Taylor's comments. Well done sir. GL

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137682977183997122006-01-19T09:53:00.000-05:002006-01-19T10:06:30.666-05:00

I read with some amusement, the opinion piece by Andre Picard in today’s Globe and Mail. Addressing the old as dinosaurs debate of multi delivery avenues (I refuse to use the biased term; two tier) in the Canadian health care system, he with ease glazes over many pertinent facts, as opponents of privatization often do. The notion that more private care would "free up" resources in the public

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137621393266252332006-01-18T16:30:00.000-05:002006-01-18T16:58:51.213-05:00

I was under the impression that the CRTC banned the airing of content deemed to brutal for society to watch, but what do I know. Here's the media scrum of Hargrove this morning. Apart from all the separatist hoopla, here are a few other Buzzisms for ya: "It's going to be a meaner place for most Canadians" -Yes, yes it is. I anticipate a Gangs of New York style approach to governance.

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137604421233238012006-01-18T12:08:00.000-05:002006-01-18T12:27:54.100-05:00

From Buzz Hargrove . Among his messages: • Harper is a separatist because his plan to devolve powers would break up the country. • Quebecers, even supporters of the Bloc Quebecois, should do anything to stop Harper. • The Liberals appear poised to be reduced to third-party status. • NDP Leader Jack Layton has give Harper an easy ride. I am speechless. I am without speech. GL

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137600475588506592006-01-18T10:57:00.000-05:002006-01-18T11:07:55.606-05:00

I won't go into massive detail, since Angry and Politial Staples both have this situation well covered. For some excellent rebuttal to the article, don't forget to read the comments section in both. I never thought I'd be a dissident writer. Saro-wiwa, Solzhenitsyn, Giant Large. GL

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137595793546229122006-01-18T09:21:00.000-05:002006-01-18T12:21:59.746-05:00

I know, I know, who expected otherwise, right? That the hub of Liberal-friendly media in Ontario has come out and endorsed the Liberals is hardly reason for comment, everyone knew it was coming. It is worth commenting though, when their editorial contains snippets such as these: After 12 years of Liberal rule in Ottawa, Canadians seem poised for a change. Every poll suggests the

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137593250913742592006-01-18T09:01:00.000-05:002006-01-18T09:13:47.473-05:00

Admittedly, I've been letting some of my posts get ahead of the results lately, but it's all in good fun. I mean, how do you correctly taunt someone when you're willing to admit the race isn't over until somebody crosses the finish line? Am I an optimist? My friends would give that an emphatic, NO. With that in mind, and a nod to the school of sober second thought (as opposed to my usual

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137535312649139902006-01-17T16:47:00.000-05:002006-01-17T17:08:53.616-05:00

After watching the CTV election update with Peter Murphy, it's clear who is going to the top now. Harper: Fire and brimstone speech, IN FRENCH! Shows the Bloc who's boss. Also, Harper today was endorsed by La Presse. Layton: Received many bemused looks from the audience at the Toronto Board of Trade. Martin: Looks like he hasn't slept in a week and has developed repetitive speech

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137531289952370542006-01-17T15:52:00.000-05:002006-01-17T16:01:50.966-05:00

OK, last kick at this can. It's wasting too much of my time!   One last time, here's the link. Thanks Kate!  GL

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137525168734563302006-01-17T14:10:00.000-05:002006-01-17T14:58:21.430-05:00

I hear these guys have cheap rates, and bring their own kool-aid. GL edit note: The generator link can be found here.

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137516864467199012006-01-17T11:40:00.000-05:002006-01-17T12:04:19.126-05:00

Yesterday the PM spent a day ranting that the Conservative platform would lead to deficit and the country would be in a financial mess. In a speech to Vancouver's Board of Trade, the Liberal Leader tried to pick holes in the Conservative fiscal plan, calling it incompetent, suggesting it will raise deficit fears on financial markets and warning it will mean sharp spending cuts the Tories are

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137513303535750952006-01-17T10:51:00.000-05:002006-01-17T10:56:59.850-05:00

Thanks to Kate at Small Dead Animals for creating the Librano Sign Generator. It's fun for the family, and political junkies alike. If I'm so inspired, more signs to come... GL 

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137506932707290962006-01-17T08:19:00.000-05:002006-01-17T09:13:25.123-05:00

I am on record imploring the Conservatives to stay on message for this last week of the campaign. However, last night on Count Down I was treated to some good humour via the Conservatives and their latest TV effort, the "moustache ad" as it's become known. Airing primarily in BC and some Saskatchewan ridings that are tight races with the Dippers, its drawn predictable response from the NDP,

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137428209951108042006-01-16T11:11:00.000-05:002006-01-16T11:18:55.466-05:00

Chatting with a friend of reminded me that everyone who hates the obnoxious, overwraught, over-whining arts/union/Maude Barlow community should read this from Gerry's Blog (gracias: Let it Bleed) It's the Think Twice coalition alright. It makes me "think twice" about any person that would support such an astounding group of jackasses. GL

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137425157571678392006-01-16T09:50:00.000-05:002006-01-16T10:38:05.593-05:00

One week to go and all the Conservatives have to do is keep their foot out of their mouth, according to more good news polling numbers from the Globe. The Tory strategy for the final week is to stay positive and make no gaffes. "We will continue to be attacked viciously by the Liberals," said a senior Conservative strategist. "Cornered Liberals are dangerous. We want to contrast their

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137270104858218892006-01-14T15:17:00.000-05:002006-01-14T15:24:51.873-05:00

Pant crappingly funny humour from Proud to be Canaidan (gracias: Let it Bleed). Check that, pant crappingly scary video from Proud to be Canadian. It'd be funny, but that guy in the video, ya, he's our PM. For the love of Key-riist...sigh... GL

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137268913439418822006-01-14T14:30:00.000-05:002006-01-14T15:13:51.933-05:00

I don't like it when my head explodes. It's inconvenient and also means I'm dead, or close to it. This whole experience I've renamed "pulling a Sharon" as it's the most un-PC (no, not THE P.C.'s!) handle I can think of and should mightily upset some poor unsuspecting soul looking for an update. Nevertheless, I came as close as possible to Pulling a Sharon this morning when I read the Toronto

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137247085040043352006-01-14T08:49:00.000-05:002006-01-14T09:01:05.053-05:00

It’s not the ringing endorsement every candidate for Prime Minister dreams of; it’s not really an endorsement at all, but the Saturday Globe and Mail has come out in favour of (drum roll please)……Not Paul Martin! Seeming to acknowledge the malaise the Liberals have settled into: While the past 12 years have been relatively good ones, the law of diminishing returns has been eroding Liberal

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137188903794269692006-01-13T16:42:00.000-05:002006-01-13T17:02:21.670-05:00

Answering the long standing question of “why did the NDP candidate cross the road”, we can now say it was definitively NOT to get fried chicken. (As hilariously pointed out by Damian Penny). Now that the document has been released chronicling the bribe issued by Liberal candidate David Oliver, we can finally see just how sleazy the Liberals are getting. Let there be no doubt this goes right

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137162947117248502006-01-13T09:30:00.000-05:002006-01-13T10:31:52.786-05:00

It seems the Liberal death watch is officially underway at CTV. Are they owned by the same Bell Globemedia as the ever left drifing Globe and Mail? Makes you think the ghost of John Bassett is roaming the halls and the editing room. edit note: It is highly advisable not to refer to the opposing candidate with these words: ...prime minister Harper... -John McCallum: Soon to be Minister

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137161168670065362006-01-13T08:53:00.000-05:002006-01-13T09:41:09.290-05:00

I am feeling much better now is the title of Political Staples reply to the Strategic Council's latest poll numbers. With those few words, he summed up the thoughts of every blogger that had fun thinking up parodies of Liberal ads, but were down deep scared sh*tless. If all this good news from Allan Gregg contiunes, he may take the lead in the "2006 Canaidan Guy With a Beard That Gives

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137106474777309752006-01-12T17:49:00.000-05:002006-01-13T09:41:47.103-05:00

When does crime pay? When you’re Stephen Harper according to the Globe’s Jeff Sallot. Harper's booting to the curb of ex-candidate Derek Zeisman is winning him praise: Mr. Harper, whose whole campaign is built around a promise to restore ethics to federal politics, will now eagerly contrast his action today to Liberal Leader Paul Martin's refusal to ask Finance Minister Ralph Goodale to

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137091082452047812006-01-12T13:31:00.000-05:002006-01-12T17:13:35.066-05:00

It took 2 days, and I had to rip off my own idea for a Stephen Harper ad, but I finally came up with an entry for the contest by PomoChristian. In the effort to not plagiarize myself, I at least expanded my original thoughts! Paul Martin likes children. He also likes meat. He eats meat almost every day. Meat from mammals. Your children are mammals. Paul Martin will eat your children…

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137074758296201842006-01-12T09:05:00.000-05:002006-01-13T09:44:02.946-05:00

Paul Matin is losing it more each day now. It's kind of sad to see a leader spin into his own grave in such ugly fasion, but he's talked himself into a corner and now he can't get out. Pretty soon he'll only be able to answer questions with a blank stare: Courtesy of Small Dead Animals: Notwithstanding 2-Tier Health Care Regular reader "gimbol"; I was watching the CTV scrum of

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137009713775475452006-01-11T15:00:00.000-05:002006-01-13T09:44:19.906-05:00

How did I ever sleep at night? Fresh off a reiteration that banning handguns is the only way to solve gang based shootings, the Martin Liberals are at it again, getting the jump on everyone else by announcing the banning of weapons in space. Whew, that is having your finger on the pulse of the nation, ain’t it? Later today, it is widely expected that Liberal strategists will be ready to

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1137005670556843992006-01-11T13:01:00.000-05:002006-01-11T14:10:29.900-05:00

The GL is stunned at one thing, how dumb Lib campaign reps have become in massaging the media. It's become more of a full body pummeling, with predictably poor results. First it was CTV's Bob Fife , then last night the Puffster unloaded on surnamsake Liberal dumbbell John Duffy. Never having taken the time to become a suave political operative like Mr. Duffy (L), even I know that your

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1134763519323949672005-12-16T14:51:00.000-05:002005-12-16T15:06:37.343-05:00

I tried watching the French language debate on TV last night, but boredom from the annoying drone of the translators and Tiny Small’s insistence on watching CSI got the better of me. That said, I am looking forward to the English language debate tonight, despite the emasculated format this time ‘round. It has me wondering though, just why the Bloc are allowed to participate? After the

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1134140690925064842005-12-09T09:58:00.000-05:002005-12-09T12:05:19.463-05:00

Here’s a thought I had this morning while reading the latest poll numbers published in today’s Globe and Mail. With the Liberals staring down an almost unanimous defeat in Quebec (it would be something if even Martin lost), what happens when the next government is formed with regard to Cabinet Ministers? Assuming for a moment that the Liberals are returned with a significantly reduced minority

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1134077978872176402005-12-08T15:50:00.000-05:002005-12-08T17:10:46.480-05:00

I don’t know how anyone else feels but I am now in for another sleepless night after hearing that Nicole Ritchie has broken off her engagement. Gimmie the freakin’ Paxil, I just don’t know how I can go on. I’ve been crying all day, devastated because on top of that it seems Britney and K. Fed (no shit, grownups actually refer to him as that) might be packing it in since he’s dedicated himself to

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1134064473508002842005-12-08T12:42:00.000-05:002005-12-08T13:23:10.250-05:00

In a shocking twist of events yesterday, Prime Minister Paul Martin lobbied the Old Adage Society for a change of a long standing policy: guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Well, not according to Mr. Martin. With his stunningly short sighted announcement of banning handguns, Martin showed that he is a firm believer that “guns kill people, people don’t kill people”. Clearly he needs to

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1133981318556665822005-12-07T13:35:00.000-05:002005-12-07T14:00:23.603-05:00

I have a problem. A secret that frankly isn’t very “en vogue” these days. I like girls. There, I said it. I know there is no cachet to being "hetero" these days, but I still particularly enjoy the kind who, in between PETA protest gigs, roll down the runway wearing what can only be described as a cross between gossamer, dental floss and sunlight. So it was with some enthusiasm last night that I

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1133895205357414992005-12-06T13:51:00.000-05:002005-12-06T15:08:38.860-05:00

The GL is back, mainly because he’s had it with Unions. Never a fan in the past, now that Tiny Small is being pushed around because of OPSEU, he’s about to explode. The whole thing has damn near driven me Oobatz! It has convinced me that ‘organized workers’ are no better than ‘organized crime’. Let’s look at their mandates: The Union: We exist to protect workers. The Mob: We exist to protect

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1118407192371697812005-06-10T08:15:00.000-04:002005-06-10T08:48:07.293-04:00

Well, the GL never thought he'd see the day when even the Supreme Court realized that something was broken beyond repair in this country. The decision should have started as such "I declare, the games of the Irrational Health Care Debate...Open". Possibly a small flame being carried in that was lit by a group of Medicare supporters off their bong could light a cauldron outside a government run

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1116534212344137692005-05-19T16:13:00.000-04:002005-05-20T10:58:08.336-04:00

Wendy’s today announced today they would be coming out with an ‘irreverent’ ad campaign aimed at targeting the 18-35 year old audience. By my count that would make them the 1,584,475th corporate advertiser to think that bad jokes sell product. With this move Wendy’s will not only fail to distinguish themselves from the crowd, but become lost in it. Perhaps my old curmudgeonly self is getting

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1116506929446409942005-05-19T08:43:00.000-04:002005-05-19T10:21:08.253-04:00

The Sire and Mare of G.L. returned home last night from a visit to our Nation’s Capital and reported a lovely time sniffing around at the Tulip festival. My mother’s friend Snooky was looking at a bank of flowers near the East Block of Parliament Hill, when she noticed a handwritten note blowing by. She grabbed it and the letterhead indicated it was from the P.M.O. Of course, having no interest

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971530.post-1116423271202546552005-05-18T08:27:00.000-04:002005-05-18T17:12:37.060-04:00

Some nights I sleep poorly because of an 11PM bowl of chili, and some nights it’s because Tiny Small (she being the only one to put up with G.L.’s chili after-effects) gets the “jimmy-legs” and keeps waking me up in our too small bed. Last night was due to drifting off to sleep listening to Lloyd Robertson narrating the greatest defection since I left the Habs to become a Leaf fan in ’93.

Graydon Smithnoreply@blogger.com4