WestCoastRunner

A great note from JOHN DOYLE, a television columnist at The Globe and Mail in Toronto: If there was ever doubt that the United States is a complicated mess while Canada is simply cool (Rob Ford shenanigans aside), the issue is settled with the matter of the official athlete uniforms for the Sochi Olympics. Oh, America. What a jumble; what an eyesore. Those knit patchwork cardigans, apparently the work of Ralph Lauren, are eye-poppingly awful. It appears the patches were attached to oversize cardigans by people unlucky to be both colorblind and uncoordinated. And he goes on to say: Besides, who on earth wears a cardigan in midwinter? Canada’s athletes go to Sochi in simple, sensible cold-weather shmattes. Their duffle coats, pants, tuques, scarves and trapper hats, the creation of the Hudson’s Bay Company, are vaguely vintage in their clean lines and slim design. The red, white and black outfits also feature three iconic Canadian animals — the beaver, the polar bear and the loon. They are, in a word, chic. The United States outfits are, in a word, loony. We always believe we are better at winter sports, and we are about to prove it again in Sochi, possibly because we know how to dress for them.

It will be interesting to see if he 'behaves'. They may have to put his wife in his segments to tone him down.

The UN committee on the rights of children has denounced the Vatican over child abuse and demands immediate action and has released a report of the findings. Barbara Bain, President of the U.S. based Survivors Network of Those Abused described the report as a scathing indictment of the way the Vatican has handled the scandle. "This day has been a long time coming, but the international community is finally holding the Vatican accountable for its role in enabling and perpetuating sexual violence in the church," said Katherine Gallagher, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights. "The whole world will be watching to ensure that the Vatican takes the concrete steps required by the UN to protect children and end these crimes. Impunity and cover-up, including at the highest levels of the church, will not be tolerated." And this is nothing to do with religion??? It has everything to do with it.

In the past 5 years the federal govt has dismissed more than 2,000 scientists and hundreds of programs and world-renowned research facilities have lost their funding. Programs that monitored things such as smoke stack emissions, food inspections, oil spills, water quality have been drastically cut or shut down. This week scientists went public with their concern that irreplaceable science could be lost. The fifth estate recently televised a program on this very subject called 'Silence of the labs'. I missed it but I'm sure there is a video of it on cbc's website if anyone is interested.

That's quite a condemnation of Rob Ford. Have you ever met him Rue? Are you a psychiatrist, therapist or psychologist? Are you counselling him? If not, you should probably not analyze him so disparagingly when he is clearly in need of help.

Seriously, why are you so condescending? If this board wants to attract a diverse group of members, including female, I suggest the tones should change towards women. I don't see a lot of female members around here. Sounds like a bunch of middle aged, biased white men.

Seriously, race trumps gender? You are clearly in the dark ages. I think you may be in for a surprise.

Hillary has broad democratic support across ideological, gender, ethnic and class lines. Not only that, her lead is the largest in an early primary lineup in 30 years (post ABC polling). The latest polls show her with 3/4 support from men and women, whites and non-whites, young and old, as well as lower and higher income voters. On the other hand, the race for the republican nomination is wide open with possibly 6 candidates registering 10 to 20 percent. No candidate has broad backing from tea party activists or mainline republicans. Perhaps there may be a dark horse in either party but as it stands now, Hillary will be the next POTUS.

The latest report leaves no doubt that the americans died as a result of negligence and bad judgement at the highest levels of the state department for which Hillary was ultimately responsible for but do you seriously think this will stop Hillary from getting elected if she decides to run? Most republicans have accepted that the mainstream media have decided there is not much more here to report on, especially considering the lack of interest. If the Benghazi report is the best the republicans can do, they better start digging up more dirt.

I can add to the above: "Although the Supreme and Federal Courts of Canada recognized clear violations of Khadr's human rights, the Canadian government refused to take effective measures to bring Khadr back to Canada for REHABILITATION, unlike (adult) citizens from other western countries who were detained with him at Guantanamo Bay."

I can certainly imagine Hillary as POTUS. And I say that in a complimentary way. WWWTT, I'm guessing your comment was a negative remark? And if so, why?

Indeed!

Armyguy, I applaud the work you do with families of your comrades but maybe that is clouding your judgement of Kadr. Have you read his psychiatric reports, interviews with his lawyers and supporters? Or are you avoiding them so you don't have to question your judgement?

Blown out of proportion? Hire women even if they aren't good at their job? This doesn't even deserve a response.

Well, I will vote for the best person who will represent my riding and I doubt that would be Justin. I live in BC. As far as the current government I do have issues with the Harper Government, especially on women's issues where we have lost ground: According to Barbara Byers, Executive Vice President of the Labour Congress, Women's rights in Canada have been pushed back and the push is still on. Women have lost ground in workplace opportunities and pay equity. There is a lack of a national childcare program, and a lack of shelters for women facing violence. According to the inter-parliamentary-union, Canada barely makes it in the top 40 countries and a parliamentary participation rate of just under 25% of women which is far behind Nordic countries. The Nordic countries will not accept women participation less than 40% while in Canada we celebrate 25%! And I haven't even mentioned Harpers track record on aboriginal women and women of other disability groups.

I should correct myself. Let's respect the office of the PM, not necessarily the PM.

I wasn't insinuating you called him an embecile and my response was directed to the thread in general not to you specifically. A man like him likes power so I just don't see him resigning for the good of his party. And yes, I believe they will be defeated as well.

I don't think Harper is going to resign anytime soon and anyone who thinks so is a fool. Why would he resign? I am one of Harper's biggest critics and his values certainly don't represent me or my family. However, he is the PM and as such, that post should be respected. There is a process in place where he will be bounced from office in 2015 but until then, let's respect this imbecile.