fellowtraveller

At this point in his career, Layton knows he has to do whatever to get his face back in front of Canadians. They are generally disinterested in what he has to say, the mime show from Gretzskys will have to do for now. If he had thought it through,, he could have brought large flash cards with pithy messages to show the camera.

Agree with your review, it is yet another example of the fine work the Coens do so often. They have the odd dud (The Ladykillers comes to mind) but their body of work is outstanding. I'm not Jewish, but could appreciate what was there, though I wonder why he stuck around through all that......

None of that has anything to do with the token showmanship of having a tiny solar array to produce electricity and hot water. Of course a 120 year old home has some upgrades, it would be a pile of rubble otherwise.

Why would the argument occur if the system works as well as you say it does?

??? What an odd idea! There is no obligation for the govt to answer or to act, which is what accountability means. Really, what universe do you inhabit? The public has no interest at all in watching some obscure TV chaqnnel that features jerkoffs yelling, wasting their time and our money. None. We do not have rep by pop, large inequities exist, and they will not be fixed except by constituional change which is patently impossible. No, there are actually no checks and balances other than the apppointed Senate filled with unelected party hacks. The House has no power since all parties are throuoghly whipped. The PMO runs the show and always has, and always will in this system. It has been our great good fortune not to have had a complete maniac in charge. It has been luck, not planning or good governance.The Brits at least have a system of strong parliametary committees and a far less whipped tradition for backbenchers, and the custom of removing their own PM from within if necessary. The Yanks have three abranches with power plus serious power within committtees. We have none of that, zero. And it is pretty goddam sorry state of affairs when the media has more power and influence than elected people.

Mercer once again demonstrates what a shamneless asskissing suckup he has become. The solar panels on Laytons house would not run a fan, much less the entire house, and the hot water panels would not do anything in that weather. Did anybody else notice the standard air conditioning condenser on Jackos roof? And the geothermal was not yet installed......

according to the NDP press release quoted earlier in this thread, he was there to enjoy a few beers. And grandstand for the camera. as to Harper, I'd be surprised if he was not at hockey games, he is a serious fan (for the Leafs, poor bastard) and knows lots about the history of the game.

Have any examples at all of that happening, holding the govt to account? The Opposition gets to ask some questions, and the government and the country ignore the answers that are rarely provided. In a normal majority government, the kind we have had for 95% of our history, the Opposition has no purpose in the House, the Senate has no purpose at any time, the committees have no teeth or clout, and the PMO simply passess what it pleases. When this setup was designed in the 1860s, they missed some important bits, like checks and balances. We can't even get representation by population, just ask the provinces that are shortchanged electorally. I believe the media has far more influence on govt than any MP or Senator.

Seems to be all the rage: the character that M'Onique plays in Precious is extremely vile, has been nominated and will likely win. There is nothing likeable about her though.

Agree with Argus above, they Libs and NDP won't gain a single vote by beating on Harper about the 'issues'- detainees and prorogation. The undecided out there don't give a shit about either. Always, it is the economy - and the indicators that we are recovering (under the wise and benevolent hand of Stevie)are unmistakable. if the Libs and Dippers and Block are going to make their move, they had better do it soon as their news will not be getting better.

It is hard to blame anybody for expressing contempt for Parliament, given what happens and does not happen there. I often feel contempt for them. Hilarious response to what Layton did , comparing it to Harper taking his kid to a game......

Ah yes, another subscriber to the Lone Bureaucrat Theory of Adscam. Chuck Guite, Rogue Bureaucrat, acting completely on his own and with a personal $500 spending limit, one day independently picked up the Montreal phone book, flipped to "Liberal Friendly Ad Agencies" and mailed them $200 million for no reason. I like your twist though " Meanwhile, back in Cabinet, neither Paul Martin, Greatest Finanical Manager in Canuck History, and his boss the Best PM Ever had absolutely no idea at all this was happening". They stole my money, and gave it to their friends, and got away with it. Glad to see you approve.

I agree that he did the right thing, resigning eventually with his Party in complete disgrace for stealing our money..

Let's talk of practical matters. Jack spent at least three hours in the same spot: one hour to bully his way to that coveted camera angle, then two or more hours rooted there so as not to miss a single CTV cutaway to Gretzkys bar. Either the man has a world class bladder capacity or he is still wearing the catheter from hospital. Either way, hats off to his true grit.

That would make perfect sense if you squeezed your eyes shut, jammed your fingers in your ears and refused to view the evidence presented. The mens hockey final is by far more watched than any other event, including womens hockey.Layton isn't watching the TV, he is staring directly at the static camera and making sure he can be seen. He occasionally glances at the TV, which would have a delay of a few seconds, to make sure he can ne seen gazing at the fixed camera. That is why there is a little delay in him pushing down the girls arm, it takes that long to loop back to him. I don't know why you have a problem admitting Layton is an egomaniacal attention whore like nearly all politicians.

Harper was like a good luck charm, it seemed like every time he showed up in the stands, we won a gold. It is probably part of his Secret Agenda.

It is sheerest coincidence that Layton was front and center in every shot that came from Gretzkys, which was several times in the game. Purest coincidence I say. The bigger question is where is Jacks other hand, is he quietly groping that young woman?

Add my vote for Sexy Beast, a fine, tense offering. It is extremely well directed by Jonathan Glazer. It is not so much that Kingsley himslef is scary, but the buildup to his arrival is so well done. Recall the scene where one of the expats drops the bombshell: "Don called, and he is coming here". The fear and loathing is palpable, without knowing anything at all about the guy you know these tough guys are scared witless by him. Add my vote too for The Usual Suspects, one of my favorite movies in any genre.

Would you invest a few billion in Montreal? Because nobody else would either, for a long time now. It must be just a coincidence.

Williams will come home tanned and fit, full of bullshit and bombast, blame it all on Stephen Harper, and Newfoundlanders will love it. In other words, no change to the status quo.

The French/English buntoss is far from small, it has cost the country and at least one province an incalculable and very very large amount of money. And still does. Most of the provinces have given up on trade with each other for this and other reasons. Much easier to trade on your own with the USA or other countries than get past the arcane bizarre world of provincial protectionism, supported and encouraged by such things as federal supply side economics. And you don't think the language/culture war is not central to this? Unreal.

Because - to speak frankly- none of this shit matters to most Canadians, and none of this shit should matter to any Canadians. Either we work towards the common good of all of us, or we fail as a nation. Choose one. Arguing abpout languiage and culture doesn't earn us a dime, and it costs us a lot, and not just in money. Most discussions at least result in something positive, but not this one. We need to all move on , and focus on what makes it all happen in Canada: the economy. Not the Vancouver or Quebec or alienated West or longsuffering Maritime economy- the Canadian economy. This discussion does not advance us one iota, it moves us backward. At least three of the msot prosperous nations in the world flourish because they work together: Japan, Germany and lately China. We don't, and this is a prime reason why.

This thread illutrates just how far this country has its head up its own ass.

What people 'want more French'? If they actually exist anymore, they have virtually no impact on my life. The etymology of either language is of no interest except to pedants and separatists, what is of interest is the future. Trade in Canada, the money that greases all wheels, is mainly and increasingly North-South, not East -West. If you live in English Canada, you're wasting your time learning French instead of Mandarin, Japanese, Hindi or Spanish because those are where the future lies, not in fighting old battles with Central Canada. If you are from French Canada, learn Englisg because your financial future is with the United States and they are not learning your language.

If you want comprehensive coverage of Canadian history, take a few classes. There just isn't time in an Olympic pageant to cover it all.But from the perspective of the host city and province, the cultural aspects they did try to cover- First Nations influence- was far, far more important than French influence. It still is to this day.