Does John Baird have an education?

[bush_cheney2004]

And your opinion of the US Republican Party, not that it has anything to do with any Canadian party?

I just think it is so cute when some members invoke the American bogeyman to fight dirty. A foil's work is never done.

[charter.rights]

I just think it is so cute when some members invoke the American bogeyman to fight dirty. A foil's work is never done.

Hardly. It one wanted to get dirty they would be calling you Reform Nazis.

[Kitchener]

I guess this is your "anti-American post of the night"? Why do you feel the need to act out your US hatred on this Board. Go visit the American consultate in Berlin, Ontario.

What on earth are you talking about?

[bush_cheney2004]

Hardly. It one wanted to get dirty they would be calling you Reform Nazis.

Too late....they already have. The "Canadian Democrats" were still turfed!

[capricorn]

Do you notice the the cons have managed to derail this thread quite a few posts back arguing over insignificant semantics?

The thread was constructive until you and Kitchener put your two cents in. There were no posts here since December 19th until today when Kitchener posted then you followed with yours. As to who derailed the thread, look in the mirror.

Who cares if the term Canadian Republican dishevels some? That could only happen if they think they resemble the description and don't want to be found out.

Don't flatter yourself. Your comments did not have the effect you hoped for.

The point is that Baird isn't capable of the ministerial position he was given. He would do better at the Ministry of Comedic Anger, IMO.

I would pick Baird as Environment Minister over Stephane Dion any day. As Iggy said, he didn't get it done.

[bush_cheney2004]

I would pick Baird as Environment Minister over Stephane Dion any day. As Iggy said, he didn't get it done.

Indeed, Stephane Dion was an utter failure on the environment file. Even his dog (Kyoto) is disgusted!

[Kitchener]

Good deflection.

If you mean to compliment me for pointing out just a few of the respects in which your leaps of reasoning were confused, I'm grateful. But it's unnecessary.

Canadian and American politics are completely separate.

I assume you intend this criticism (whatever its worth) to apply to the person to whom I responded -- who asserted the similarity between Canadian David Suzuki and American Al Gore. Oh, wait. That was you.

Well, consistency's not for everyone, I guess.

[Kitchener]

The thread was constructive until you and Kitchener put your two cents in. There were no posts here since December 19th until today when Kitchener posted then you followed with yours.

Yes, answering the thread's question directly, and pointing out the flaw in complaints about Baird's qualifications, sure wasn't "constructive". Darn me! Not like your follow-up equating Suzuki and Gore. That was pure quality.

[Michael Bluth]

I would pick Baird as Environment Minister over Stephane Dion any day. As Iggy said, he didn't get it done.

Do you think it's easy to make priorities?

[capricorn]

I'm quite offended by the blatant anti-Americanism of all the Conservative supporters here who consider it an insult to be compared to their American counterparts. What is so wrong with the American Republican Party that you would consider it a smear to be associated with them?

Save your feigned outrage for something worth being offended about. Canadian and American politics are not synonymous. It is a favourite tactic of the left to accuse the Conservative party and their supporters of cozying up to Bush, who as you know is a Republican. Many Canadians think Bush and the Republicans are war mongers and extreme right-wingers. The left uses this public perception to spread fear and uncertainty. That is why the term "Canadian Republicans" is offensive and being offended by that term it is by no means a rebuke of the American Republican Party.

[capricorn]

Yes, answering the thread's question directly, and pointing out the flaw in complaints about Baird's qualifications, sure wasn't "constructive". Darn me! Not like your follow-up equating Suzuki and Gore. That was pure quality.

Your initial post was quite good. The others went downhill.

[capricorn]

Not like your follow-up equating Suzuki and Gore. That was pure quality.

Thank you.

[BubberMiley]

That is why the term "Canadian Republicans" is offensive and being offended by that term it is by no means a rebuke of the American Republican Party.

By no means? Finding it offensive is a complete and total rebuke of the grand old party. You should be proud to be associated with the party of Lincoln, and not outraged to be compared to it. What people on what you simplistically consider "the Left" think of Bush and his administration is completely irrelevant, unless of course you think the same way.

[capricorn]

By no means? Finding it offensive is a complete and total rebuke of the grand old party. You should be proud to be associated with the party of Lincoln, and not outraged to be compared to it. What people on what you simplistically consider "the Left" think of Bush and his administration is completely irrelevant, unless of course you think the same way.

I have no idea what you're talking about but I know there's a thought there somewhere.

[BubberMiley]

I have no idea what you're talking about but I know there's a thought there somewhere.

I'll simplify my language to, perhaps, Grade 2 if you have trouble.

The Republican Party is a great democratic institution. It's offensive for anyone to consider it a smear to be associated with it. Take it as a compliment.

[capricorn]

I'll simplify my language to, perhaps, Grade 2 if you have trouble.

Insults such as this reflect your debating (dis) ability.

The Republican Party is a great democratic institution. It's offensive for anyone to consider it a smear to be associated with it. Take it as a compliment.

Hmm, an insult followed by a compliment....interesting.

[Michael Bluth]

The Republican Party is a great democratic institution. It's offensive for anyone to consider it a smear to be associated with it. Take it as a compliment.

Take another look at this characterization.

"Canadian Republicans" are nothing but American wannabes who would easily sell their soal for a place in Bush's good book.

Is that what you consider to be a compliment?

[Kitchener]

Umm. Yeah.

So, anyhow, Baird need not be a specialist to be a good Environment Minister. The question is whether he acts on the best scientific evidence, and puts the long-term public interest first. I think there are serious doubts to be raised on both fronts, though I don't take myself to have demonstrated this.

Who would best whom in a Suzuki-Baird debate, whether Suzuki is just like Gore, whether Kirk was better than Picard, or whether Batman could beat up Spiderman are quite beside the point.

[BubberMiley]

Take another look at this characterization.

Is that what you consider to be a compliment?

I said take it as a compliment, not that it was meant as one. If the CPC are a bunch of Republican wannabes, well, there are a lot worse things to be compared to than that. It's hardly a smear when looked at in context. Better to defend Canada's pro-American position than to get defensive about someone criticizing it.

[Michael Bluth]

I said take it as a compliment, not that it was meant as one.

It's human instinct to take things as they were intended.

[BubberMiley]

Perhaps. But when people call me a politically correct, cowardly, leftist pothead, I agree with them wholeheartedly.

[Michael Bluth]

Fair enough. But when people call me nothing but an American wannabe who would easily sell his soal soul for a place in Bush's good book I take offence. Funny that.

[BubberMiley]

I take it you don't like Bush and do not aspire to be like the Americans then.

[BubberMiley]

Insults such as this reflect your debating (dis) ability.

Hmm, an insult followed by a compliment....interesting.

I did not mean to insult. You indicated you had trouble understanding what I was saying, but it was clearly stated at a roughly grade 6 level. I dumbed it down, but I'm not calling you dumb.

[geoffrey]

Stop egging the children on boys, just let them blabber to themselves.