Is this professionally appropriate?

"In interviews last week some said the new staffing choices have created an awkward situation, as Mr. Davey and Ms. Fairbrother have been a couple since they met while working on Mr. Ignatieff's first run for Parliament, in 2005. The Liberal power couple live on Sparks St., near Parliament Hill, in the small apartment which Mr. Ignatieff and his wife, Zsuzsanna Zsohar, vacated when they decamped to Stornoway, the official residence of the leader of the opposition, when Mr. Ignatieff took over from former leader Stéphane Dion (Saint-Laurent-Cartierville, Que.).

"How can you be critical of her?" said the Liberal source.

"[It's] awkward in the sense that you have two people dating and if somebody has an issue about how communications are done, or with a quote, or a story, or just media, who do you take it up with? And so if the buck is supposed to stop with Ian then it's kind of an awkward situation that you're going behind her back to complain to Ian about it. If that relationship didn't exist, that would just be sort of the norm."

http://hilltimes.com/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=2009/august/24/himelfarb/&c=2

I am a huge believer in gender equality.
However, I don't know how the OLO can be effectively managed when the Chief of Staff is romantically involved with the Director of Communications. If I worked in the OLO I would be terrified to criticize Liberal communications practices in the Chief of Staff's presence. The whole situation just doesn't seem right. But what do I know? I'm not a Toronto lawyer and I don't live in Rosedale.

Alfred Apps: Not cool anymore

Forgive me for saying this, but I think Apps is slowly being put out to pasture by Michael. Of the big three who went to down to Boston to lay the groundwork for his homecoming and ascension to leader, Apps is the one guy who isn't getting a reward from the big guy.

Dan Brock has been lured away from a high-paying gig in Toronto to be Michael's Principle-Secretary. He's on the upswing in the inner sanctum of Stornoway and getting accolades from the media.

Ian Davey has been elevated to the pinnacle position of Chief of Staff and comes from the pedigree Rainmaking bloodline.

Meanwhile, where's Alf? Seems like Michael only trots him out to respond to Conservative attack ads. Some reward.

Dan Brock = Promoted.
Ian Davey = Promoted.
Alf Apps = Go mop up the Conservative attacks on us, and make me a sandwich while you're at it.

The Americanization of the NDP

So it seems the NDP's major speaker is Betsy Meyers. She has a 20k
speaking fee and worked for Obama in some capacity.

http://www.speaking.com/speakerindexes/governmentpolitics.php

I find it strange after decades of America bashing by the NDP their
great hope is bringing in strategists from the US. Also I don't know
if she meshes with the current NDP strategy.

Layton's current plan seems to be "Keep Harper in power by shooting
the left in the foot."

I think someone from the 2000 Nader campaign would be apropriate. You
remember him.

He gave us Bush.

Ottawa, we (may) have a problem

http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/17/'bogus'-peacekeeping/

Although I strongly support Michael Ignatieff on the economy, social policy and national unity, he was never my first choice during the 2006 leadership race. I worried that he was too far to the right, too “American” on foreign policy.

Now, I am really beginning to worry about exposure on our left flank. The current issue of Macleans contains some very damaging comments by Ignatieff. In particular, he told an international audience that Canada’s peacekeeping record was “bogus”. The problem is, he made the comments in 2005 when WE were in charge. He also said that he was disgusted by Canadians’ “bitching” about the United States and praised George W. Bush as a human rights champion.

In the article, Liberal HQ refused to tackle the quotes specifically and instead forwarded the writer past controversial statements by Stephen Harper.

I’m sorry, but fighting the Tories to a draw on which party is the most pro-American, anti-Canadian is not a victory for Liberals.

Bush-loving, old Reform Party voters are not going to vote Liberal.

There are no votes to be had by occupying this part of the spectrum. We need to neutralize this issue fast.

Does positive work?

I have my doubts about this "positive politics" business.

Attack ads seem to work. Dion was irreparably damaged, Ignatieff seems to have lost his momentum for now.

Perhaps we should stop complaining and give this charter assassination business a try.

Yet another lame attack website.

Republicans for Ignatieff

Weird.

Don't attack NN

In response to CanPolitico, I think it's pretty clear that he's wrong about National Newswatch.

After all, the Liberals run ads on NN.

However, I think we've all seen anti liberal articles on that site.

Supporting news sites

It's good to see that the party is supporting National Newswatch by buying ads. If the site shuts down and Bourque becomes the only major Canadian news site it would be a very sad day.

However I think that 'Join Now' is a poor idea for the campaign. Most news junkies have already bought a membership in one party or another. 'Donate Now' would be a friendly reminder to Liberal supporters who have let giving money slip their minds.

Christine Elliot is leading in the Ontario Con Leadership race

You know, I can't recall a conflict of interest quite like this.  It's just a little strange to have the wife of the Minister of Finance be a provincial opposition leader.

I suppose that there's no real issue if Flaherty gets turfed before she becomes leader.  That seems likely, so there's no real point in getting upset.

Follow up photos

Michael proves that you don't have to look silly.

And also that you should keep an eye on Martha Hall Findlay.
Photos from here.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I fully support the gay community and the pride parade. However, this picture amuses me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75511860@N00/2877494976/

Ignatieff Button?

UPDATE: Never mind, it was just removed because it had the old logo

So I’ve got a question for everyone…

Is it just me or did Warren Kinsella get rid of a Michael Ignatieff banner? I could have sworn there was one before, but now I see nothing.

Star Trek Follow Up

I was reading Susan Delacourt's latest blog post, and it was somewhat familiar.

I did notice one line -- "Too busy," she said. "We have to work."

I think the real reason is that they are true trekkies after all. At least according to The Onion's take on the subject.

Trekkies Bash New Star Trek Film As 'Fun, Watchable'

Best of Flickr - Jack Layton Time

In honor of the new Star Trek movie, it's the right time to post this.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scotteh/2939330287/

Worried about Ontario?

Have you been concerned about Dalton McGuinty's re-election chances, as the world economy continues to decline?

Worry no more.

Worrying about Kinsella

It seems like there is only one thing that can actually motivate me to post these days.

Once again, our supposed War Room genius is making himself the the issue.

First he insults Chinese Canadians. And then he makes the situation worse by engaging in a public slap fight, apparently unconcerned that it wasn't just him getting cut up and dirty in the press, but the entire Liberal Party.

Now, it appears the author of Kicking Ass is getting his ass kicked (again) by trying to intimidate both a respected journalist and a public broadcaster by leveraging his political connections to pursue one of his online sandbox fights into the real world.

Kinsella's (a) ego and (b) temper are a lethal combination for a party that wants to/needs to make Stephen Harper, and not our warroom staff, the issue.

I could care less that private companies want to spend their moneu on Kinsella but I don't want my party throwing another election out the window because we've entrusted our War Room to a frat boy.

Is Kinsella slipping?

Oh god, the author of "Kicking Ass" is getting his ass kicked. Didn't this happen to him just before the last provincial election, too?

Kinsella's own rules:

• Rule #1 for political advisors: never make yourself the issue.


• Rule #2 for political advisors: when you fight back with facts make sure you've got your facts straight.

Except he's now breaking both of them.

He says here that "I had an email exchange with the Conservative Chinese Association about that. I asked their representative, Karen Sun, what her organization thought about Jason's plan to present a fake award..."

The problem is that Karen Sun is actually seems to be the Executive Director of the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter - a group that has nothing to do with the Conservative Party.

Warren. Please stop talking about this.

Perhaps Kinsella has simply had a rough month. Or maybe he's just not that good. Sure he won elections for Chretien but Chretien faced a divided right. Ignatieff better have a plan B in case Kinsella flames out totally.

UPDATE (Feb 4): Kinsella has corrected his post to correctly identify Karen Sun as being the Executive Director of the CCNC and not the CCA.

Some Thoughts on the Olympics

I've been thinking a lot lately about the Beijing Olympics, and I haven't quite yet made up my mind about them. As I write this, the Opening Ceremonies are being broadcast. While I do acknowledge the necessity for China to continue working to improve their human rights record, surely we also should commend them for the progress they have made on the issue. Conditions in China have improved; no they aren't perfect, but if we don't make use of positive encouragement, can we ever expect them to get there.

It is also important to distinguish between China's people and the Chinese government. The Chinese people have worked hard and want to show off their pride in their nation. They cannot and should not be faulted for the actions of the government. The Chinese people deserve a place on the world stage - while it would be preferential for them to do so in a true democracy, this is not the case. Do not punish the people for the actions of their government.

I guess that my position on the Olympics is to enjoy them but not pretend that the problems aren't there. I believe we can simultaneously enjoy the sports while remaining aware of and recognize the progress that has yet to be made.

How Many More Must Die?

In light of the recent attention paid to individuals dying in custody after being tasered by police, I would have thought that the sue of these weapons would have lessened. As the risks posed by tasers become more and more clear, would it not have been prudent to avoid and/or lessen their use? It seems to me that tasers are become more of a risk than using firearms to bring order to a situation.

Well, apparently not, seeing a s a 17 year old boy has died in Winnipeg after being tasered by police there. While I do concede that he was holding a knife, surely there could have been a better way to bring him under control that would not have seen him lose his life. If they had shot him in the foot or arm (while by no means ideal), he would have likely stopped struggling and would still be alive.

Tasers interfere with far too many biological functions from the heart to lungs, and beyond. Surely a better, less threatening and risky solution can be achieved. Too many people have died to continue with the status quo.

Bring on the Byelections!

According to several media outlets, Stephen Harper is poised to set dates for three upcoming byelections: Westmount-Ville Marie, St. Lambert, and Guelph. The first and third are currently liberal seats and the second was held by the Bloc Quebecois.

I, for one, am eager to see these byelections called. I can't wait for voters to have the chance to pass resounding judgment on the performance of Harper's government. It will also give us a chance to practice our messaging for selling the Green Shift to voters and disproving all of the factually incorrect rhetoric currently being circulated by the Tories.

This will be our first opportunity in months to re-energize and re-invigorate our grassroots. I'm excited to see the Liberals come out on top!

It's Not a Bad Thing to Change Your Mind Sometimes

Often, right-wing conservatives belittle anyone who dares to re-think and modify their positions on any issue, as though this indicates weakness. I disagree; it requires the highest caliber of character and strength to reconsider and improve one's position. Having the courage to admit that one might have been less apt in the past shows the benefit of experience and hindsight. I believe this ability is one of the greatest strengths of the Liberal Party, rather than a weakness.

For example, the Conservatives are quick to point out repeatedly and as loudly as they can that Stephane Dion used to oppose taxing carbon dioxide emissions. Rather than letting them get away with this empty rhetoric, we Liberals should confront and challenge them, arguing that Canada has a more promising future now that Dion has reconsidered and developed the Green Shift plan. This makes Canada stronger, not weaker.

Similarly, I read an article in today's Toronto Star where Bob Rae discusses his past role as the NDP premier of Ontario. While Conservatives like to constantly bring this up and mock him, I prefer that we applaud him for rethinking his political affiliations and joining the Liberal Party.

Changing your position isn't flip-flopping; it's proof of one's ability to think and adapt. Instead of accepting criticism from Conservatives on this issue, it's time we push back and call them out on their lack of flexibility and freedom of thought.

Green Shift Persuasion Suggestions

Over the coming weeks and months, both Liberal MPs and grassroots Liberals will need to work to persuade Canadians of the justness, necessity, and benefits of the green shift plan. Here are some suggestions that we ought to keep in mind while working to raise the Liberal profile and our environmental plan.

1. We need to know the plan thoroughly prior to promoting it. It is important that all Liberals possess a solid grasp prior to promoting it. This is not a simple plan and we will look like fools if we don't understand it properly or are unable to adequately answer questions on it.

2. Don't waste time debating the issue with Conservatives - they will never come round to the green shift and every minute we spend railing against their ignorance is a minute we should have focused on persuading someone who had not had a prior opinion on the subject.

3. Remember that people are selfish. Although many of us are willing to do our part for the environment because it is the good thing to do, it is a sad reality that many people prefer their luxuries than thinking about the air quality that will be inflicted upon their great-grand kids. WE must emphasize the financial benefits of our plan and not focus solely on the environmental arguments.

4. We must not look like hypocrites on the issue and that means that we must not promote the green shift in anyway that requires the production of a large quantity of greenhouse gas emissions. We will present much more credibly if we personally adopt green shift techniques prior to promoting it.

5. Never give up hope. If we despair or give credence to our opponents' attacks, we will never win. If we turn on one another, we will lose. If we don't try, the environment will have no champions left. The stakes are too important for us not to succeed.

What other suggestions do you have that we could use to sell our plan to Canadians and, especially, voters?

Not Just a Green Shift, We Need an Attitude Shift as Well

Ever since the Liberals introduced our revolutionary Green Shift program, I've noticed that most of the criticism represents an unhealthy attitude and mentality. These opponents believe that they have already either done enough for the environment, or they just don't feel like doing anything at all. This selfishness needs to stop for the good of the planet and the environment.

For example, this Toronto Sun article argues that saving money on an individual level is more important than helping the environment. The columnist has no shame in describing the gas-guzzling, but cheap, truck she recently bought. How selfish and deplorable!

Many Canadians clearly need an attitude shift and a new set of priorities. No, saving the environment is neither cheap nor easy to do, but that doesn't mean we just give up. Give up some of the necessary luxuries instead, people! Buy the more energy-efficient vehicle, even if it is significantly more expensive. It's time we looked beyond our own selfish wants and look toward the environment's needs.

Canada's Failure to Set a Good Environmental Standard Allows Emitting Countries to Follow our Bad Example

Instead of standing up on the world stage and working to limit the harm inflicted by the Alberta oil sands as we ought to do, it seems to me that our support for them is setting a very bad example for developing nations. According to a Reuters news story, India's government is promoting investment in the Albertan oil sands.

Developing countries like China and India need to see positive examples of investment in green and renewable energy resources, not encouragement to invest in dirty and destructive energy sources. Unless we set a positive example by denouncing and reducing the oil sands, what hope will we have that other countries will follow suit?

PMO Hostility Likely to Increase Rather than Lessen with New Chief of Staff

Today is the beginning of Guy Giorno's tenure as Chief of Staff in the Prime Minster's Office. Although I had been pleased to hear that Ian Brodie was leaving the post, I had hoped that his replacement would be a break from his style of hostility and division. This was an excellent opportunity for Stephen Harper to pick someone who would respect the opposition parties, the media, and the Canadian public.

Instead, he picked Mike Harris's former Chief of Staff. Far too many individuals involved with that government are already in prominent positions in Harper's cabinet and staff, such as Jim Flaherty, John Baird, and Tony Clement. Parliament desperately needs less partisanship and rhetoric, not more hard line right-wingers.