shoe-in

You're calling Preston Manning a demagogue? That's funny. Say what you want but if you took a poll asking: "Who would be the best man to lead the CPC party today" I bet you a bundle that over 70% would say Manning.

Re-reading Coyne's article I came to realize that even an inexperienced eye can plainly see that it's a scathing piece, against all the Tories. He calls them backstabbing mutineers and adolescents while handing Harper a reading assignment that Rudyard wrote for adolescents. And when he said about Harper: "And he remains, for all his faults, head and shoulders above any likely rival" (hardly a favorable recommendation on anybody's resume).... I knew right then that Andrew, too, is looking for help. Preston Manning could help, why doesn't he ask him?

[iF] If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream--and not make dreams your master, If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much, If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son! --Rudyard

I agree that Babs isn't as sly as, say, Andrew Coyne. That man can hide his true feelings well, and it takes a really sharp eye sometimes to figure out where he truly stands. His piece in today's NP is a perfect example. What may look like a tribute to Harper to the inexperienced eye, is the complete opposite to the insightful one. Note where Andrew says: "For Mr. Harper, I prescribe a daily rereading of Kipling's 'If'." The part he wants him to reread and reread, of course, is: "If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; you'll be a Man, my son!" Babs is nowhere as slick as Andrew, that's for sure.

Preston was looking & looking & Mario came too late. But this idea does not seem to have occured to Harper ... domage. Hey Boris ... picking up your latest book "The Turkish Gambit" tomorrow. Hope it's up to your usual speed!

Ou est LaFontaine?

There are lots of good names being kicked around daily in my dailies. HERE'S a good one. From today's National Post: "Re: Decision Time For Stephen Harper, editorial June 13. I agree the Conservative party needs to step back and have a leadership review. And I suggest that Preston Manning be added to the list of contenders. He would be an awesome leader for Canada. John McCaffery, Lower Sackville, N.S." I'd support anybody Preston gives a nod to.

Since day one Barbara Yaffe has been working harder than anyone to get Harper's ass off of the opposition party's throne so that a more capable politician could step in and lead them to the promised land. Today is no different. In The Van. Sun she writes: "For the country's health, Conservatives need to gain a foothold in Quebec. If that means a change in leadership, so be it." I know the easiest way for the CPCers to gain a foothold in Quebec ... but like Barb ... my lips are sealed until someone worthy occupies Preston Manning's throne. I am a blabbermouth though, and worry that someone, on some web board or forum, could butter me up to the point where I would talk. I hope not.

Most Czechs can explain things better than you can, most of the time.

Among other things.

At least none of us squirrel away a nasty snipe like yours here at the end of a longwinded disjointed spew. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> lol "People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little." - Jean Jacques Rousseau

Thanks for the hot tip, Bakunin, but isn't it kind of rude not to translate into English what he said? For the monoglots, you know. Took me a long while, but here it is, to the best of my ability: Monday, June 06, 2005 What a return! Hello with you! I regret having neglected my blogist during my time of examinations. I succeeded however well. Next Thursday I will be in Boston to receive my diploma of control! I am particularly proud. These last weeks one be intense, examinations, work.... I return just of the Congress of the Québécois Party. Never I would have thought of living such emotions! My first thoughts go to my friend Bernard Landry like to all those and those which testified their support to him. I read each comment left on my blogist. Thank you for your generosity. While waiting for the continuation of things, if you want to contribute concretely to my réfelxion, buy your chart of member of the PQ! www.pq.org I return to you quickly... Andre

Leo, The difference between you and me is that I'm probably wrong as many times as you are right. Once in a blue moon.

He wasn't entirely wrong, when landry left, we were all thinking that duceppe would come and many wanted him to come but after thinking twice, alot of people thought it was better for him to stay at the bloc where he his doing a very good job. In other word, people prefer rebuild the pq from scratch with a young leader rather than patch it temporary. Many think its too much risky to leave the bloc with no strong leader if ever things turn out wrong for the pq, i guess thats what duceppe think, he his willing to sacrifice his personal ambition for the sovreignist movement. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You are most likely right. Who am I fooling .... it is more likely a sure thing. I just wish I had been given the opportunity to make some money off of that. Oh well, maybe next time.

The conference monday is in ottawa, so its a clue that he won't jump because if he would have quit the bloc to join the pq, he would prolly do the conference in quebec in front of all the local media. That makes sense, Bakunin, but I'll still stick with Don Martin. Tomorow we'll find out who was right.

You have to remember that these people respond very well to strong men who don't pussyfoot around with them. Mr. Saddam Hussein was a good example.

Bet the bank (but consider the source) on this: Mr. Harper is heading for 24 Sussex Dr, come the next election, with over 40 per cent of Ontarians voting for the Conservatives. shoe-in

A very good friend of mine just called me and gave me an earful for using his words without proper credit. My defence, blaming it on liquor, didn't impress him much, so here goes: "Bet the bank (but consider the source) on this: Mr. Duceppe is heading for Quebec City later this month." - Don Martin BTW - I DID bet a bundle on this latest tip of his.

So? .... Who sniped them? Leo91? Who else could it be? Leo is my #2 suspect.

This doesn't surprise me. ROTFPIMPALMFAO!

Bet the bank (but consider the source) on this: Mr. Duceppe is heading for Quebec City later this month. shoe-in

"Rafsanjani warned of the outbreak of World War III." I have no idea who Rafsanjani's allies would be. He reminds me of that Iraqi information minister, remember him? All I know is that if it came to that, and if Rafsanjani started something, the bigger it was the bigger smile we would see on George Bush's and Vladimir Putin's faces. "COME ON, PUNK, MAKE GEORGE'S AND VLADIMIR'S DAY" is all I have to say.

You've sure got nerve boyo. Anthony is dead. So is LLL. And so is Greyhound. All of these brave men suffered the same fate. A bullet. In the back. Seeing as how Argus took on their cause in this thread, I'm surprised he's still standing. What's the matter, Blck Dog, losing your touch?

You asked: "When somebody makes a statement and is asked to provide evidence on whom does the onus lie to provide that evidence?" The answer is simple my friend. It all depends on who's talking. If some VIP here makes some ludicrous statement, such as ... "Israel was created because nobody wanted the Jews" ... they go scott free. If some ordinary Joe said it without providing evidence they'd be kicked out in a New York heart beat.

NAME ONE !!!! BTW - WHERE IS MY UNCLE JOE HANGING AROUND THESE DAYS ??????????????????