kimmy

All of that might be true, August. I merely point out that people who voted for the Liberals have no business complaining that their favorite trained seal has been muzzled. -kimmy

Something similar to the Theo Van Gogh murder did happen in Canada. There was a journalist who wrote damning pieces about a community in Canada. Soon, the things this reporter was saying became so offensive to members of that community that one of them made an attempt to kill that reporter. I guess that Maple Syrup would say he had it coming and that he should have kept his mouth shut. That reporter was Michel Auger, and the community that was so inflamed by his writing was, of course, the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. Is Canada's Muslim community like a motorcycle gang or a mob family, where you speak out at your peril? Is the reporter who detailed the hate-filled rantings of Vancouver's Dar Al Madinah mosque going to turn up dead some day soon? In Syrup's new 21st century Canada, I gather that the answer would be yes? Is that right, Syrup? -kimmy

I had to look at it from an opposite point to come to that conclusion. What if, for example, we didn't live in a bizaro world and people we elect make sense. I vote for Parrish BECAUSE she is one of the few MPs in a government that is blatently pro US. Then, when she speaks against party policy but for me and almost half of Canada and says she thinks Americans and Bush are the best. Then gets fired. I would be pretty concerned that my elected officials and my voice in government was being trodden under foot. That's my point. The woman is an a-hole of the first order but freedom takes supersession. This is a very good post, because it addresses the shortcomings of Canada's parliamentary system rather than the possible shortcomings of Carolyn Parrish. The Reform Party and its offspring have long argued in favor of giving MPs more ability to represent their consituents' views. I believe the NDP had something similar in their election platform. The Liberals, though, have always maintained that backbenchers are "nobodies" and "trained seals", as Trudeau put it. Certainly Da Little Scumbag from Shawinigan was of similar mind. Then along comes new leader Paul Martin with many promises of great things, including parliamentary reform, a bigger role for backbenchers, and "addressing the Democratic Deficit." And like pretty much everything Paul Martin has promised, the action has failed to live up to the hype, and like pretty much everything Paul Martin said he believed in, his actions thus far have showed otherwise. -kimmy

Out of curiousity, why isn't selling/trading one of the chickens to my neighbor a choice? -kimmy

If the Brave New World of the 21st century is one where you can't speak out on important issues for fear that you'll offend somebody and be killed, then we've gone seriously astray and we need to take action against it right now. Your vision of the 21st century makes me want to puke, syrup. Let me ask: how different is Holland from Canada? Holland is supposed to be a free, liberal society, right? Just like us? If this could happen in Holland, could it happen in Canada? And if it did happen in Canada, Syrup, would you be as accepting of it? Suppose some war-like American immigrant to Canada decides that he's had enough of Carolyn Parrish insulting his people, and stabs her to death. Had it coming? Should have kept her mouth shut? Or somebody makes a documentary about sexual abuse in the Catholic church, and some Catholic takes offense and stabs him to death. Had it coming? Should have censored himself? Of course not, Syrup. Absolutely not. In the strongest terms not. Nobody worries that a disgruntled Catholic is going to lash out violently against a documentary film-maker who offends him. So why is the argument different when it comes to free speech that Muslims don't like? Why is it that Theo Van Gogh should have known he was risking death by speaking out against Muslims? *because you hold Muslims to a lower standard than other people.* You have apparently decided that Muslims are not civilized enough to understand concepts like the right to express an opinion. That might be something to keep in mind when you're out there branding other people as racists. -kimmy

Well, at least she didn't burn it. -kimmy

If Kimmy goes scatalogical, that means Kimmy's a cross-dresser. (whaaaa?) Scatalogical? no. Zoological. Spend some time with Discovery Channel, and you will learn that our simian friends like to lob feces at each other. Why do they do it? Self expression? Pent up frustration? Recreation? I don't really know. Why has Carolyn Parrish been lobbing verbal feces around? Self-expression? Pent up frustration? Recreation? I don't really know that either. Paul Martin was content to sit by and watch these nuggets sail past, until one of them caught him square in the face. I suppose some people will object to my characterizing Parrish's attacks on Bush as verbal feces; that's debatable. But for her bizarre outburst against her own party last week, I think it's a very apt description. -kimmy

I've seen photos of him as well... he seems to be a full head shorter than every adult male I've seen him photographed with. I suppose it's possible that he just has very tall friends... Maybe? I still have high hopes that somebody from Chretien's inner circle is going to see jail time. Sadly, it looks like a few underlings will take the fall. Just like in the mob. I didn't say mafia thug. I just said thug. Wait and see? Wait for what? I doubt anything will ever come of this. Although I doubt Gagliano is going to be planning any trips to New York for a while. -kimmy

Well, that's an excellent question, syrup. I think part of the answer is that North American bible-thumpers are less likely to blow up resorts, kidnap and behead humanitarian workers, and crash airliners full of people into skyscrapers full of people. -kimmy

You inferred that because I didn't post any links from prior to the doll-stomping incident? No; I only posted links relating to the doll-stomping incident because we were discussing the doll-stomping incident. If I must, I can go back and post some of the links I found (during 2 minutes of Googling) pertaining to her analysis of the US election results. Or, you could go do it yourself. But it is easy to find evidence that her comments about Bush and her comment that US voters were scarred by 9/11 were not overlooked and not generally well-received. Dude: the point was not the editorial prowess of the Toronto Free Press. It was simply that Parrish's latest shenanigans were reported in the Drudge Report. You guys probably don't think much of Drudge either, but it has a massive readership. Point being: no, this didn't escape notice south of the boarder. -kimmy

http://www.torontofreepress.com/2004/cover111904b.htm http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/19/internat...l/19briefs.html http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20...02552-5945r.htm

Whaaaaaa? The September 11 attacks created no dialogue on the Paliestinian issue. The only focus on Palestinians on Sept 11 was the video of that stupid bitch dancing in the streets and handing out little cakes to all her celebrating friends. I don't think the Sept 11 attacks did anything to change US policy towards the Palestinians. The departure of Colin Powell will probably be a bigger factor for them than the 9/11 attacks were, as Bush will have one less voice of reason in his inner circle. -kimmy

Alfonso Gagliano was interviewed briefly on Global tonight. He felt it was completely unfair that the paper published the story without contacting him to get his side of the story (or, at least giving his trigger-men a chance to "whack" the reporter). Needless to say, Gagliano insists he has never met any of the people mentioned in the article. Today was not the first time "Gagliano" and "mob" have been used in the same sentence during Question Period, as a few years ago was accused of using his influence to help an Italian mobster's wife obtain Permanent Resident status in Canada. -kimmy

Jack Layton talks about the missile defense shield like an informed adult. Carolyn Parrish talks about the missile defense shield like a spoiled child with Tourette's. So, of course it is Parrish that gets all the headlines. Why is it that a poo-flinging monkey like Parrish gets the headlines, while a guy who has done a lot of research into the issue and has articulate things to say, gets little press at all? Is it a reflection on the news media? Or is it a reflection on the public's short attention span and hunger for easily digestible "takes" on any particular issue? -kimmy

Parrish herself hit it right on the head: she was making Martin look weak. That's why he had to bust a cap in her ass. If he lets himself get verbally bitchslapped in public by Parrish, it's an open invitation to mutiny. It's not criticism Martin couldn't stand, it's an open, public challenge to his ability to lead the party. She more or less dared him, said she didn't think he had the stones to discipline her. How could he let a backbencher try and twist his sack like that? What does this actually mean for our minority government? Probably not much. Wherever Parrish is sitting, the Liberals still need the support of either the Bloc or the Conservatives to win a vote, right? So is anything different today than it was yesterday? -kimmy

It's starting to seem as thought the Americans' opportunism in banning Canadian beef will come back to haunt them. During the ban, Canadian beef processing capacity has more than doubled, while American processing plants in the northern states have suffered due to the lack of Canadian cattle to slaughter. During the ban, Canadian beef exports have been edging out American exports in Europe and other markets. A proven case of BSE in American cattle will probably increase the demand for Canadian beef further, giving Canada's industry further opportunity to use the new capacity it has developed during the US ban. For the Canadian beef industry, this is perhaps a case of adversity making you stronger, and for the American beef industry, "ye reap what ye sow." -kimmy

Personally I find this the least shocking revelation since the sun rose this morning (YET AGAIN!) He's a corrupt little thug. Is it really shocking to hear that he has ties to other corrupt people? Corrupt people network with other corrupt people. And finding a high-ranking Public Works official with ties to organized crime is unusual only in that this time it was the national public works department instead of a civic one. Why bother? Gagliano's part of the Chretien era. All this does is give Martin another opportunity to point out that he fired Gagliano's corrupt little ass. It might even help Martin win that wrongful dismissal lawsuit that Gagliano filed against him. ymmik-

What was it? If if was my jacket, please send me a private mail. I would like that back. -kimmy

What exactly is it she's doing? Is democracy in Canada in such a sad state that Canadians now believe that getting your name in the paper a lot is equivalent to action? She's certainly accomplished at finding microphones to yap into, but I'm not sure what exactly this accomplishes. She appears to be steering her political career in the direction of David Kilgour, an honourable man who will never get anywhere in Ottawa because he either doesn't understand the rules or won't play the game. While Martin has such a precarious position in parliament, he might have little choice but to put up with Parrish. But if he enters another election as Liberal leader, I would suspect that he will not allow any Liberal riding association in the country to run Parrish as a candidate. She can go NDP or go Indie, and probably continue to win seats in parliament, but honestly, where's the future in that? NDPers and independents will never go very far in Canada's political heirarchy. A backbench seat is realistically as good as she'll ever get. At least right now she can go on CBC with Rick Mercer. She should enjoy her 15 minutes. -kimmy

(what was that all about? did I miss something?) I'm sorry, Syrup, but I'd rather be right than chill. So, what do you suppose is driving up the price of gold? The Gnomes of Zurich? Is "Efficiencies and innovation" codespeak for "Downsizing and outsourcing"? -kimmy

Well, needless to say, any brain-damaged monkey could run a growing economy and balanced budget with oil revenue to prop things up. After all, look at Klein. Syrup, are you aware that Saskatchewan has a lot of oil? -kimmy

If what you guys are leading up to is that somebody must be trying to frame the Islamists for this murder... uh, don't you think they'd have done things to make it look like it? Some people believe the Americans went to elaborate steps to try to frame Islamists for the murder of Nick Berg. I'd think somebody wanting to try to blame Islamists for an unpopular murder would at least go to the trouble of wearing masks... -kimmy

I disagree, Fleabag. The insurgents seem to want to oppose rebuilding efforts. They have been attacking pipelines that would be key to restoring Iraq's economy. They've been attacking foreign workers who are participating in rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure. Attacking a humanitarian worker, and scaring off other humanitarian workers, doesn't seem unlikely to me. The theory seems to be that if they undermine rebuilding efforts, the general population will grow impatient with the lack of progress, and lose faith in the new government. -kimmy

He looked pretty alive on the video... Huh? What artwork are you referring to? The exact quote you're referring to, on the Larry King show, is: "And I have a feeling that it could tilt the election a bit. In fact, I'm a little inclined to think that Karl Rove, the political manager at the White House, who is a very clever man, he probably set up bin Laden to this thing." He doesn't claim it's a fabrication. He says he thinks Karl Rove put Bin Laden up to it. I'd have been very interested to hear how Walter Cronkite thinks that might have been done, but unfortunately he never gets around to explaining. If an expert on video authentication or voice pattern matching were to say they believed it's fake, or former acquaintances of OBL were to come out and claim they don't believe that's him on the video, I would give it some consideration. If a retired news anchorman comes out and says Karl Rove might have put OBL up to it, well, I'm left wanting more information. So, you're claiming that, what... the current Bin Laden we've seen on the last couple of messages, is an actor? An animatronic puppet or something? -kimmy

It's not bizarre. It's straightforward. When the biggest spender hasn't got as much cash to throw around, it's bad for business. Everybody understands the concept, except apparently you. -kimmy