Newfie Canadian

I'm not opposed to hitting the US in areas where there are comparble and accessible foreign or domestic entities able to step in should the situation continue for a long time. And let's face it, the US has had ample time to comply with the rules

Isn't a civil union in effect marriage without calling it marriage? I mean if you go through a civil union, aren't you entitled to benefits, rights, obligations and resources in the same way as if you were married? So if it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, what's wrong with calling it a duck? The only difference I see is who officiates at the ceremony in some cases (some religions or religious officials perform SSM), and as I understand the current legislation, religious entities and officials are protected if they don't want to perform the ceremonies.

So it begins? According to the Globe: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...Story/National/

Indeed. Chrétien deserves credit for his performance. Too bad the same can't be said for the inquiry's lawyers who asked the questions. I don't think the "money laundering" angle that was brought up by Jean Carle was mentioned to Chrétien. It would have been nice to see some questions about it asked of Chrétien. I feel a little sorry for Martin. You get a pretty good performnce by Chrétien, who avoided getting hammered, hindered, accused or implicated, now you've gotta follow it up. I really wouldn't want to be in Martin's shoes. I agree with kimmy that public outrage, and even a Liberal need to be perceived by the public to be doing something about it, got the inquiry going.

Well casear, looks like it's moot. PM PM has said no troops to Iraq. From CTV: There may be the possibility of sending a small number of troops to help with training in a third party country like Jordan.

Sorry, since we were talking about the Bible I was assuming we were talking about predominantly Judeo/Christian societies.

Well, today's the day Chrétien testifies, barring a last minute attempt to avoid testifying (which I wouldn't put past him). I had hoped never to see Chrétien on the national political scene again. CTV Story

While I respect the Bible and those that know it and believe in it (I'm not sure that I believe it in a literal sense), we must remember that it was written a long, long time ago. Using it to make an argument in today's day and age can be a double edged sword. I can't remember ever hearing of people who have affairs being put to death. I haven't even heard a call for it. My point is there are laws and rules in the Bible, particularly the Old Teastament, that are seen in today's context as a little silly and perhaps outdated.

The episode summary on the Fifth Estate website doesn't say the show was about Fox News coming to Canada. It says: It seems to me that the episode was geared more towards an examination of conservative commentators like Coulter, O'Reilly and to a lesser extent Marsden. I thought it was interesting after the interviewer pointed out that the Administration gave up on finding WMD, that she then asked for his definition of WMD.What's hers? It seems a little screwy when you've got the Administration itself saying there weren't the WMD that they thought were there, and you've got Marsden still clinging to it. EDIT-Sorry Black Dog, you beat me to it.

I've done my share of criticizing the CPC and Mr. Harper, so here are a few funny little items that make say "What the heck?" in regards to Mr. Martin. Up to 40 troops could head to Iraq to aid in training of Iraqi forces. While I'm not opposed to this, I just find it a little odd since the government, both under Chrétien and Martin, have refused, rather emphatically, to send Canadian troops into the quagmire that is Iraq. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories Apparently, the cabinet and bureaucracy can't come up with any fresh new ideas in regards to Canada's place in the world, so Martin is getting the help of a Canadian born, Oxford professor. If Martin has to do this, how can we have faith in the people who are running things in Ottawa, and I don't just mean the politicians. I will confess, I was dismayed when I read the headline and story, but I've read Miss Welsh's bio and it's not like she's someone who has been out of Canada and Canadian institutions for decades, so my fears were lowered somewhat. What's interesting is some of her proposals would fit more with a CPC idea of foreign policy than a Liberal one. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...78_8?hub=Canada This is just downright idiocy. I'm talking of course about the Big Canadian Flag Pin Caper. It seems that the flag pins given to Senators and MPs were made in China, but star Liberal(?) MP and Public Works Minister Scott Brison said from now on those pins will be made in Canada. China?!?!? http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...1107569879305_5 I just thought they were interesting little stories. Carry on.

Well, the next big test comes on the Feb. 23 with the federal budget. And while all parties say theu aren't willing to have an election over it, but you never know. I agree, unless the Liberals can engineer their own defeat in the House in such a way as to vilify the CPC and the Bloc, if that's possible, or at least one of them.

It looks like Harper and Martin have something in common with their MPs voting against the party line.

I doubt it. Layton can't be losing any people any more than Martin can aford to lose any more (Martin has already lost 2, 1 with the passing of Lawrence O'Brien and the other of course with the ouster of Parrish). The more Layton loses, the more influence he loses in the minority.

According to the interviewer, Fox News wouldn't agree to an interview because they were being portrayed as "conservative" media, while they claim to be and would prefer to be labelled as "mainstream" media. I remember him saying that near the end of the piece. For the record, CBS wouldn't agree to an interview either. In regards to Marsden, my first exposure to her was that interview, which didn't leave me with a good impression. Since then, I've checked out her website, and while she has a few valid points, there are also some areas on which she seems to be out to lunch, IMO. She seems to have a habit of injecting her opinion without injecting a lot of facts, empirical evidence or logic to try to persuade me that she is right. I'll say again though, I form this opinion on little exposure.

I'm on the record as saying we need to do away with the GG (and by extension LGs) and start making our own traditions instead of holding onto the monarchy in the current fashion. I will agree with Kimmy though, honesty was the best policy here, and if that policy was used, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

With all due respect B. Max, I have a 5 year old girl who started Kindergarten this year, and I'm more concerned with what she gets exposed to via TV and people in general as opposed to what she may or may not learn in school about this topic.

Martin at times do seem willing to throw the Charter out with the bath water, so to speak, while in the next breath saying the Charter is sacrosanct. Layton makes some good points. And so does Stoker. Well, if the bill is defeated, Martin goes to the polls (if he follows through with the election threat) looking like a man trying to defend the Charter and minority rights, and the CPC looking like a party shunning a minority and thumbing their noses at the Charter. At least, that's how the Liberals will spin it. If the bill passes, it will be a demonstration that democracy is running rampant in the House, and that the Liberals continue to be the champions of the Charter and minority rights. At least that's how the Liberals will spin it.

Well, looks like it's a deal. NL will get $2 billion over 8 years while NS will get $830 million over 8 years, and if a province is still "have-not" the deal will be extended. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories Williams didn't get exactly what he wanted, but I really don't think he's in a position to be unhappy about the deal. $2 billion can go a good ways. I think he was under pressure to get it done. Sure there was lots of support from the public, but if the books are in as bad shape as he says they are, he needed a deal. He's got contracts up for nurses and teachers within the next year, and they are all looking for money. Plus the government has been taking a beating over wait times for diagnostic imaging procedures and surgeries. On second thought, maybe $2 billion won't go very far.

According to a poll by the Associated Press used by O'Reilly himself, IMR, 80% of Canadians have a favourable opinion of Americans, while 18% have an unfavourable opinion of Americans. I would suggest that if the question was "do you have a favourable opinion of the American government", it would be lower. There have been incidents that I can't argue with. However, American trade policies have done little to diffuse anti-American sentiments. Or can that be a "Chicken and the Egg" argument? I fly the Maple Leaf and have a little Maple Leaf pin in my hat because I'm proud to be a Canadian, not because I am or am trying to prove I'm anti-American. Thanks Stoker.

I hope O'Reilly takes the high road and attacks the CBC and not Canada or Canadians in general, which once in a while he has done. I like the caption on the website: "Candian TV Takes Aim at Bill". Let me know how it goes Stoker. I've never seen the show, but have written letters based on their website info. They even posted one, after editing it. :angry: The ratings right now, while the station and shows are relatively new, are not important by themselves. It will be interesting to see in 6 months and 1 year if they remain high or if they drop or even get higher.

I fear you may be somewhat right about Canada's slip over the past 15 years into mediocrity, Stoker.Having said that however, if she can't get that fact right over a fairly significant military excursion for her country, what else do she have misinformation, misperceptions or outright erroneous info about concerning Canada, which she continually bashes at almost every turn? I will admit, she appeared to have Franken pegged pretty good though. I'm also sorry you missed the West Wing. It was an interesting show. As I recall, there was some mention that the networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and even CNN, appear to be pandering to the current administration. That they in fact are not asking the hard questions of the Bush White House.

The Fifth Estate show was interesting. I had no idea Ann Coulter thought Canada sent troops to Vietnam. She even told Bob McKeown he was wrong when he corrected her. That was funny. (I know some Canadians did participate in the Vietnam War, but Canada never sent troops). No Stoker, I haven't yet had the opportunity to watch Fox News or The Factor yet, although I do intend to just for an educational expereince. I have yet to be impressed by O'Reilly as I have experienced him so far, through web sites and interviews. I'm fair enough to give him a chance through his show, once I get around to watching him.

I can't remember the last time a minister fell on their sword, honourably. You would think that in the era of mass communications and media outlets it would be easier to, for lack of a better term, force a minister into a position where he/she would have to take responsibility for their actions, inactions or statements. Such has not been the case. In regards to the Gomery Inquiry Kimmy, looks like Chrétien is trying to stall it by attacking Gomery himself, although the current Liberal regime is rejecting the thought of removing Gomery thereby stalling the inquiry. If that works, answers are stilll a long way off. Without a breakthrough in Ontario, the CPC is doomed to lead a life as Her Majesty's Official Opposition. Unless they can chip away at Liberal ridings in other areas like Atlantic Canada, pick up some seats in Ontario and totally destroy the Liberals out West, in which case they could probably get a shot at a solid minority government.

And there the honeymoon ends, most likely.

I agree that is preferred. Despite assurances from Rice and Powell, Martin and his advisors should have anticipated at least some mention of BMD. They weren't going to get away with mentioning Canadian issues like softwood lumber and Mad Cow to Bush without Bush mentioning American isssues like Iraq and BMD to Martin. That's political naiveté. I wasn't surprised when Bush brought it up. Why was Martin?