tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110124822009-02-20T19:35:49.150-06:00Canadian, U.S., and international politics; and life in general. Heck, whatever strikes my fancy...jdpnoreply@blogger.comBlogger870125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-71073124900634432072007-01-04T10:28:00.001-06:002007-01-04T10:28:12.884-06:00

As much fun as I've had blogging over the last year, I've decided to pack it in.  I appreciate all the loyal reader(s) who were interested in my perspective.  I'll likely keep blogging every once in a while at the Marturia blog.   Thanks for the memories.

jdpnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-33305891908911610862007-01-01T12:06:00.001-06:002007-01-01T12:06:40.887-06:00

The Ethiopian backed Somali government is regaining control of their country and pushing back the Union of Islamic Courts which has overrun the country last year.  The Somali Prime Minister has offered amnesty to the Islamic fighters if they turn in their weapons, and has called for peace keepers.  Let's hope that peace can be brought permanently to that region.

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-15961984056575707842006-12-27T15:39:00.000-06:002006-12-27T15:40:00.695-06:00

Here is a summary of what is happening with the Conservatives crime fighting bills currently stalled in Ottawa.  The opposition is stalling on the age of consent bill (raising it from an unacceptable 14 to 16). The opposition is stalling on mandatory minimum sentances The opposition is stalling on cracking down on drug driving The opposition is stalling on a bill to crack down on people

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-65737978949264641312006-12-27T15:34:00.001-06:002006-12-27T15:34:47.626-06:00

"We do not know where to escape, we are already suffering from floods, hunger and disease," Abdale Haji Ali told AP from Jowhar. "We are awaiting death." - CTV   It looks like there will be war between Somalia and Ethiopia, which is being described as either Islam fighting the infidels or a war to curb the influence of Al Queda.  And where is the UN?  What can they do?  What are they good for?

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-51576521168918777252006-12-27T15:14:00.001-06:002006-12-27T15:14:32.908-06:00

Who knows if Ronald Reagan would have been elected in 1980 if Ford had defeated Carter in 1976.  Anyway, here is an interesting timeline of his life (interesting fact: his real name not Gerald Ford).

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-45548471388597466852006-12-27T15:12:00.001-06:002006-12-27T15:12:50.718-06:00

I hope everyone had a great time with family and loved ones over the holiday.

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-65497058570241013132006-12-23T13:07:00.000-06:002006-12-23T13:08:00.596-06:00

according to CNN: -- The U.N. Security Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program.

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-68188345800273403332006-12-20T09:56:00.001-06:002006-12-20T09:58:02.213-06:00

Say it ain't so! Harper has gone green , which is good politics but questionable policy. But It is a good move, so I'll cut him some slack. From what I've seen, the preponderance of evidence suggests this is a real and a serious problem," he said in a National Post interview yesterday. "As you know, the science has evolved several times even in the last couple of decades, but all the evidence

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-29381883337407765582006-12-18T23:15:00.001-06:002006-12-18T23:15:41.563-06:00

Dion has made Ignatief the deputy Liberal leader: "We will have a dream team to offer to Canadians," Dion said as he made the announcement in the city of Quebec Monday. "In this dream team, my dream was to have Michael Ignatieff as close to me as possible." Does anyone else find this wierd?  Probably good politics, but still... 

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-82833061128851618802006-12-17T20:20:00.001-06:002006-12-17T20:20:15.350-06:00

Or at least the elected senate idea.  Hey, and so do I.   Speaking of Mr. Harper, Time Canada has named him the NewsMaker of the Year   Speaking of Time, the US edition has named YOU as the person of the year.  It's an interesting cover and and an interesting concept.   Ok, enough speaking of.

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-43910197186901548322006-12-17T08:38:00.001-06:002006-12-17T17:41:09.103-06:00

No one should expect an army to be perfect. By their very nature they are flawed, and it's only in modern times that we want them to be agents of gentle change. Update: and here's a look at how our army is trained. Pretty interesting...

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-77872699921394272722006-12-15T15:50:00.001-06:002006-12-15T17:15:32.681-06:00

So a judge has ordered the courthouse Christmas tree removed, fearing that this "Christian symbol" will offend people. Here's an appropriate response: "It's so stupid. I'm at a loss for words," said Muslim Canadian Congress founder Tarek Fatah. "The judge should take a trip to the rest of the world. Christmas is celebrated by Muslims in many countries -- they should ban political correctness,

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1166219115338772092006-12-15T15:45:00.000-06:002006-12-15T15:45:15.780-06:00

Premier Ed "who?" Stelmach has announced his new cabinet, which includes three of his rivals from the leadership race.  Oberg is in at Finance, Morton at Sustainable Resource Development, and Hancock at Health.  Cabinet has also been reduced from 24 to 18.  Not a bad start, all things considered.

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1166045783720018832006-12-13T15:36:00.000-06:002006-12-13T15:36:23.826-06:00

In his last speech, outgoing UN chief Kofi (what problems in Africa?) Annan has complained about Bush and his handling of Iraq.  There's a shocker.    Annan summed up five principles that he considers essential: collective responsibility, global solidarity, rule of law, mutual accountability and multilateralism.   Is he serious?  Responsibility?  Rule of law?  Accountability?  That's a funny

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165956779916580242006-12-12T14:52:00.000-06:002006-12-12T14:55:22.746-06:00

By Milton Friedman, of course When I spend my money on me, I care about how much is spent and how it is spent. When I spend my money on someone else, I care about how much I spend but not so much on how it is spent. When I spend someone else's money on me, I care little about how much is spent but am concerned about how it is spent. And when I spend someone else's money on someone else, I care

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165896648612892322006-12-11T22:10:00.000-06:002006-12-11T22:10:48.840-06:00

The federal government announced today that it wants to deregulate local phone services in areas where there is competition.  Industry Minister Maxime Bernier says the government intends to reverse a CRTC decision regulating local services.  -- more

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165868275178910872006-12-11T14:17:00.000-06:002006-12-11T14:17:55.236-06:00

...polluting the earth more than cars

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165867619365516602006-12-11T14:06:00.000-06:002006-12-11T14:06:59.486-06:00

Chantel Hebert wonders about a Conservative/NDP environment plan .  She figures both parties need it given Dion's emergence as Liberal leader and the rise of the Green Party.   Did you know that the previous Liberal government gave $5M to a Mohawk community to form it's own police force and push out the existing one?  Me neither.  Guess how it turned out?  The chief "staged what turned out to be

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165627365470470122006-12-08T19:22:00.000-06:002006-12-08T19:22:45.616-06:00

I've never heard him so upset and so gloomy about the war on terror and the situation in Iraq.  The interview after that is rough too.  Listen when you get a minute.

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165596230888468602006-12-08T10:43:00.000-06:002006-12-08T10:43:53.376-06:00

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich last night offered a grim outlook for the final two years of the Bush Administration, saying at best it would resemble President Gerald Ford's administration and at worst President Jimmy Carter's. -- more

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165533318175268012006-12-07T17:15:00.000-06:002006-12-07T17:15:18.363-06:00

The vote was 123-175, so the debate is now over.  A number of liberals voted against the motion to re-open the debate, even though they voted against changing the definition in 2005.  That vote was 158-133.   I still think that changing the definition of marriage is bad overall for society, but I'm now convinced that as a political issue it is dead.  No party can or should run on changing the

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165422399171441672006-12-06T10:20:00.000-06:002006-12-06T10:28:45.250-06:00

The government will introduce a motion "to call on government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages." It seems to me that there is no chance this will pass and that people who feel strongly on the issue should have pressed harder 3 years ago. Even those of us who think marriage

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165331032708476642006-12-05T09:02:00.000-06:002006-12-05T09:14:55.646-06:00

Every once in a while, technology surprises me. This is outstanding.

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165270055477255452006-12-04T16:07:00.000-06:002006-12-04T16:07:37.993-06:00

"Our government will not spend taxpayers' money on providing tattoos for convicted criminals,'' Day said. "Our priority is to have an effective federal corrections system that protects Canadians, while providing inmates with access to acceptable health-care and treatment programs.'' -- CTV

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11012482.post-1165155246759892942006-12-03T08:14:00.000-06:002006-12-03T08:14:06.980-06:00

Having barely won the most votes in a three man race, but still shy of 50%, it took the 2nd choice ballots of Ted Morton supporters to push him in to the Premier's chair .  Stelmach finished third last week, but received the endorsements of virtually all the candidates who dropped off the ballot.  Final totals were Stelmach 77,577 Dinning 51,282 (with Morton's second choice ballots added)   This

jdpnoreply@blogger.com0