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News & ArtsThursday, December 4, 2008
Politics Off With His Head, Eh?
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Meanwhile in Canada:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has extended the life of his minority Conservative government until the new year after Governor General Michaelle Jean today granted his request to suspend Parliament.Jean made the unprecedented decision after a lengthy meeting with Harper this morning at Rideau Hall. Her consent to prorogue Parliament means the work of the Commons has been discontinued, allowing Harper's Conservatives to escape a confidence vote next week that would have meant the defeat of his government.
It's a dramatic turn in a political crisis that has gripped the nation's capital.
2
I'm surprised that Jean granted the request, actually. It sets a bad precedent. But Harper is probably only buying time.
4
Well, it's only fair, seeing as how this Jean character was elected to rule the entire country and all. What the fuck is Parliament compared to the awesomeness of the Crown?
5
Fnarf, the only thing more repugnant than your colossal ignorance is your insistence on displaying it at every possible opportunity.
6
I think Harper would be much more entertaining with some Charles I facial hair to go with his actions.
7
There's a good run-down of the whole Canadian political situation here: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
It's a knitting blog, of all things, but she took a break from the fibery stuff to explain to us poor confused Americans what the Canucks are up to.
It's a knitting blog, of all things, but she took a break from the fibery stuff to explain to us poor confused Americans what the Canucks are up to.
8
@3 here's a quick rundown:
In Canada our head of state is the Governor-General (Michaelle Jean). The position is primarily a ceremonial one, but in rare instances like today, they actually had a role to play.
As an appointed figurehead, the G-G generally does what the Prime Minister asks her to do and she did that today when Stephen Harper asked her to suspend Parliament.
This is an extraordinary event, because it is the first time Parliament has been suspended so that the Prime Minister can avoid a vote of confidence in the House of Commons (Parliament). Without the suspension Harper's goverment would have been thrown out on Monday, leading to either a coalition government of two of the minority parties, or another election (of which we just had one 7 weeks ago).
Now Harper has some time to propagandize his people and try to dissaude coalition members from toppling his goverment. Harper has said Parliament will resume Jan. 26.
In Canada our head of state is the Governor-General (Michaelle Jean). The position is primarily a ceremonial one, but in rare instances like today, they actually had a role to play.
As an appointed figurehead, the G-G generally does what the Prime Minister asks her to do and she did that today when Stephen Harper asked her to suspend Parliament.
This is an extraordinary event, because it is the first time Parliament has been suspended so that the Prime Minister can avoid a vote of confidence in the House of Commons (Parliament). Without the suspension Harper's goverment would have been thrown out on Monday, leading to either a coalition government of two of the minority parties, or another election (of which we just had one 7 weeks ago).
Now Harper has some time to propagandize his people and try to dissaude coalition members from toppling his goverment. Harper has said Parliament will resume Jan. 26.
10
Pam, maybe you'd like to explain where my ignorance lies. I think Cam's post @8 is a pretty good rundown, and I also think it accords pretty well with my own view that the Governor-General should go fuck herself, and that permitting a ceremonial head of state to rim your disgusting Prime Minister, who received a whopping 38.545 votes in the recent election, and just shut down your entire Parliament just because he asked her to, is pretty goddamn embarrassing.
11
This really is getting blown out of proportion - the government would've been suspended anyways as of next week until January 26th (or so) for the Christmas break. Parliament was suspended a few days early, that's all.
Unfortunately, this was the right call by the GG, it gives the government a chance to at least try to put a proposal together. If that doesn't work, then the coalition gets a chance.
As much as I hate Harper and want him out for social policy reasons, the parliamentary process is actually working here.
Unfortunately, this was the right call by the GG, it gives the government a chance to at least try to put a proposal together. If that doesn't work, then the coalition gets a chance.
As much as I hate Harper and want him out for social policy reasons, the parliamentary process is actually working here.
12
@7 & 8: Thanks that helps. Also, that fuckin sucks for Canada. Guess I'm glad I didn't have to move there. Good luck Canucks!
14
Harper has convinced the Governor General to suspend Parliament before offering a budget, which is not how this process is supposed to work, it should be after a budget is put forth. So in Canada we are drifting along without any economic plan. Harper just likes being Prime Minister the needs of the Country always seem to be secondary to him.
Upon watching the Governor General being asked questions regarding the situation I came away with a gut feeling that she did not quite know what to do. So when faced with that uncertainty it seems the best thing to do is buy yourself some time and close everything down until January.
This tactic means this whole problem will be overshadowed by Obamas inauguration and introduction of a new economic plan which Harper can hopefully jump on the train and seem like he is offering up a great economic plan at the same time as the new US president in January.
So he can't be bold enough to do it now he has to ride on the shirt tales of another President to try and look competent.
He will do anything to stay Prime Minister. It might seem annoying to many Canadians to have this coalition upsetting everything but Harper is not doing anything at all at a time when he should be. He has just suspended Parliament when we need answers the most and some economic direction. That is not leadership.
Upon watching the Governor General being asked questions regarding the situation I came away with a gut feeling that she did not quite know what to do. So when faced with that uncertainty it seems the best thing to do is buy yourself some time and close everything down until January.
This tactic means this whole problem will be overshadowed by Obamas inauguration and introduction of a new economic plan which Harper can hopefully jump on the train and seem like he is offering up a great economic plan at the same time as the new US president in January.
So he can't be bold enough to do it now he has to ride on the shirt tales of another President to try and look competent.
He will do anything to stay Prime Minister. It might seem annoying to many Canadians to have this coalition upsetting everything but Harper is not doing anything at all at a time when he should be. He has just suspended Parliament when we need answers the most and some economic direction. That is not leadership.
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@11 I am totally with you! People scream and shout, but in reality Parliament is due for a break anyway. And this time is the first time ever I am happy we actually have monarchy. The is at least come control and final word for the power hungry lunatics (like Dion, who has to resign in May because his own party doesn't want him anymore).
17
So, question for Canadians:
What, if anything, would prevent Parliament from just saying "fuck you"/"baisez-vous" to the Governor General and Prime Minister, and continuing to meet until the scheduled recess anyway?
What, if anything, would prevent Parliament from just saying "fuck you"/"baisez-vous" to the Governor General and Prime Minister, and continuing to meet until the scheduled recess anyway?
18
Canadians are so cute when they're miffed. I just want to pinch their little red cheeks and hug them.
19
Fnarf,
You ignorant boob.
"...seeing as how this Jean character was elected to rule the entire country and all..."
This "Jean character" was not elected by anyone, she was appointed by Elizabeth II Queen of The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda and Head of the Commonwealth, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Duke of Normandy, Lord of Mann, and Paramount Chief of Fiji (among other things).
What this "Jean character" did was to use the authority vested in her as the Queen's Governor-General to do as requested by the Prime Minister (who is elected). This is completely in keeping with the Queen's usual policy of rarely intervening in political matters, which she leaves to politicians.
The remarkable thing would have been if the Queen's representative had refused the valid request of the elected official...
You ignorant boob.
"...seeing as how this Jean character was elected to rule the entire country and all..."
This "Jean character" was not elected by anyone, she was appointed by Elizabeth II Queen of The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda and Head of the Commonwealth, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Duke of Normandy, Lord of Mann, and Paramount Chief of Fiji (among other things).
What this "Jean character" did was to use the authority vested in her as the Queen's Governor-General to do as requested by the Prime Minister (who is elected). This is completely in keeping with the Queen's usual policy of rarely intervening in political matters, which she leaves to politicians.
The remarkable thing would have been if the Queen's representative had refused the valid request of the elected official...
21
Sarcasm is lost on you, YGTBKM. I know the GG isn't elected. I think that allowing a non-elected person, representing another country altogether, to dissolve your elected Parliament is insane.
Oh, and fuck the Queen. Shoot her and feed her to the corgis.
Oh, and fuck the Queen. Shoot her and feed her to the corgis.
23
Ugh. Canada FAIL.
Up yours, Harper. You suck like a 13 year old at a rainbow party. At least if you had Champlain hair you'd look less like the smirk little robot fuck that you are.
Up yours, Harper. You suck like a 13 year old at a rainbow party. At least if you had Champlain hair you'd look less like the smirk little robot fuck that you are.
24
@21 Fnarf, "...and fuck the Queen..." that's why you are an American and we are Canadians. And it's also why we have gay marriage and never had slavery. So sorry Fnarf it goes both ways.
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@24, Canada would have had slavery if you'd been able to grow sugarcane or cotton there. It's certainly not because of your attachment to the Royal Skanks, who, lest we forget, are the ones who imported slavery into the American colonies. Be that as it may, whatever admirable progressive policies Canada has adopted, and whatever other charms it has -- and don't get me wrong, I love Canada -- it is still a ridiculous way to throw out your elected Parliament. I didn't say "Canada sucks", I said the GG sucks, and you should get rid of her, or restrict her power even further. Let her wear a sash or a boutonniere, and cut ribbons on bridges or whatever, but don't let her close your elected government.
26
I won't take bets on the following happening but...
Harper basically made a Roll Saving Throw For Douchebag.
Now Harper has a month to "undo"/"compromise" the party-funding-cut motion that brought him into this mess, and retain his minority government. It may not work, but he did effectively block a bullet.
Harper will be liked less overall by the time Parliament returns, no matter what, but there's far less chance there will be call for another election, unless Harper is REALLY dumb or stubborn, then he'll get Le Boot.
And given what he was about to do to himself just now -- that's very much within the realm of possibility.
Harper basically made a Roll Saving Throw For Douchebag.
Now Harper has a month to "undo"/"compromise" the party-funding-cut motion that brought him into this mess, and retain his minority government. It may not work, but he did effectively block a bullet.
Harper will be liked less overall by the time Parliament returns, no matter what, but there's far less chance there will be call for another election, unless Harper is REALLY dumb or stubborn, then he'll get Le Boot.
And given what he was about to do to himself just now -- that's very much within the realm of possibility.
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@25- Please fnarf, please stop. We like our parliamentary system.
I really wanted Jean to refuse Harpers' request, but as others have said, I would have been really surprised if she had. It would have seemed partisan.
But, my hate-on for the Governor General is alive and well, ever since a cold Vancouver day when Adrian Clarkson's thugs stopped me and my parents, crammed into the front seat of a busted up 1964 land rover with no roof, all of us wearing cowichan sweaters and fringe jackets, to allow her majesty to cross the street without the discomfort of having to wait in her mink coat. I stood up, shook my fist and yelled, "Who the hell do you think you are?". The question still stands.
I really wanted Jean to refuse Harpers' request, but as others have said, I would have been really surprised if she had. It would have seemed partisan.
But, my hate-on for the Governor General is alive and well, ever since a cold Vancouver day when Adrian Clarkson's thugs stopped me and my parents, crammed into the front seat of a busted up 1964 land rover with no roof, all of us wearing cowichan sweaters and fringe jackets, to allow her majesty to cross the street without the discomfort of having to wait in her mink coat. I stood up, shook my fist and yelled, "Who the hell do you think you are?". The question still stands.
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@ 25 again, we've been through that that's why you are there and we are here. Being Canadian in part means being tolerant of monarchy, but being tolerant of monarchy comes with great perks, such as, not having a "melting pot" not having to hung a flag out of your window and not being called anti-Canadian when you critic your own country. Oh and not having to start each sentence with "Canada is a great country..." Do you realize that even tho' you claim to have a freedom of speech you must add the mantra "America is a great country..." each time you want to pass an critical opinion on something. So I'll take monarchy any day if I can have all of the above with it.
29
I have a feeling most of this douchery will be done by mid-2009, once Dion is out as Lib head, and there is a veritable force against the Conservatives, perhaps without having to form a coalition. I can always hope.
30
@28, well as a matter of degrees, yes, but you can't be claiming that there's no such thing as disingenuous Canadian patriotism for political gain, right?
32
@27, where did I say anything about not liking the parliamentary system? There's nothing cast in stone that says parliamentary systems have to have Governors-General. Just get rid of the stupid bitch, that's all I'm saying, and force the parliamentary system to work like a, you know, parliamentary system.
It's almost like Canadians just can't imagine that the way they do things could possibly be even the slightest bit different (is that why Liberals and NDP can't get together?) All it takes is one bullet for the GG, and a letter to the Queen saying "been nice knowing you, we'll still show up at the Commonwealth Games if that's all right, but get the fuck out of our country".
It's almost like Canadians just can't imagine that the way they do things could possibly be even the slightest bit different (is that why Liberals and NDP can't get together?) All it takes is one bullet for the GG, and a letter to the Queen saying "been nice knowing you, we'll still show up at the Commonwealth Games if that's all right, but get the fuck out of our country".
34
Hey great thread.
Odd disparity: we are all on board at the GG's bad move which keeps a govt. without majority support in office what, two months extra?
Yet in the USA the pres. can be at 25% approval and stay in office for 3 more years and fuck up our nation, economy, and the world.
Very unaccountable system we have here.
unity y'all--
Odd disparity: we are all on board at the GG's bad move which keeps a govt. without majority support in office what, two months extra?
Yet in the USA the pres. can be at 25% approval and stay in office for 3 more years and fuck up our nation, economy, and the world.
Very unaccountable system we have here.
unity y'all--
35
@ 30 - I don't know, I guess there is, but it's nothing compared to most expressions of patriotism in many countries. Out of all the countries I lived in (and I lived in many) Canada is the least patriotic. Not that we don't like our country, we are just very cool about liking our country. I love it! and if monarchy comes with it, not a problem... it's worth it. Sweden has monarchy and I love Sweden too.
@32 Just give it up, would you... the Canadians that imagined it are now Americans....
@32 Just give it up, would you... the Canadians that imagined it are now Americans....
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@35, but Sweden's monarch is Swedish. If Sweden still had a Danish queen, don't you think that would be a little odd? Besides, Betty isn't even really English; she and her whole family are bloody Germans.
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Fnarf, I stop taking you seriously when you resort to "GG can go fuck herself" and "shoot the bitch" etc... I'm sure you have very valid points but they get lost when you sound like a 10 year old
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@24: Wait, wait, the reason America doesn't have gay marriage yet is because we kicked the monarchy out?
41
Politeness? God, I love ya, but sometimes you Canadians can be really insufferable. This is Slog, not the tea room of the Empress Hotel. Politeness can yank my wee-wee.
That won't stop me from wishing you a lovely party when your monarchy passes from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg sometime in the next few years, when Chuck takes over from his mom. I can see why you folks'd be excited about that.
That won't stop me from wishing you a lovely party when your monarchy passes from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg sometime in the next few years, when Chuck takes over from his mom. I can see why you folks'd be excited about that.
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@40: yes. Until we restore the monarchy, poutine will be difficult to find, and our hockey team will continue to suck.
43
If Canada didn't have the Governor General to symbolically represent the Queen as head of state, they'd need to have a domestic head of state. Because they have no domestic aristocracy to select a direct monarch from, the alternative would be a non-monarchical head of state.
In most non-monarchical parliamentary systems, the head of state is a president. The duties and powers of that president range all over the place, but the minimal version would be a president that performs ceremonial functions and whose only actual power is the same one the GG has now--to resolve parliamentary crises like the current one.
Changing to an elected ceremonial president gains them what exactly? So they get to elect the person who dissolves their parliament once in a blue moon? I suppose it's a marginal improvement, but even as a dedicated little-r republican I don't blame them for not wanting to go through the bother.
In most non-monarchical parliamentary systems, the head of state is a president. The duties and powers of that president range all over the place, but the minimal version would be a president that performs ceremonial functions and whose only actual power is the same one the GG has now--to resolve parliamentary crises like the current one.
Changing to an elected ceremonial president gains them what exactly? So they get to elect the person who dissolves their parliament once in a blue moon? I suppose it's a marginal improvement, but even as a dedicated little-r republican I don't blame them for not wanting to go through the bother.
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@28, I don't know why I'm responding, since the very basis of your comment is non-sensical (that there's such a thing as "tolerance for monarchy" and that it's beneficial), but I have to take issue with your saying that Canada is not a melting pot. It is as much a melting pot as America is, for a lot of the same reasons. There's a lot of room there, and a lot of different peoples have migrated there. Let's take your city of Vancouver. The white population there has roots from many parts of Europe, and that alone means it's a melting pot, but 30% of the population is also from all over Asia. And more immigrants are coming, because it's easier to get into Canada than it is most other places. Melting pots are good, and "tolerance for monarchy" did not stop Canada from becoming one.
46
Fuck harper. He's basically just an aryan-cyborg with a perm. Fuck his stepford wife. And fuck his blonde village-of-the-damned children.
Fuck the queen. She is OBVIOUSLY one of the lizard people. She killed Mother Theresa and Princess Di.
vive la republique!
Fuck the queen. She is OBVIOUSLY one of the lizard people. She killed Mother Theresa and Princess Di.
vive la republique!
48
Michaellle Jean should not be shot, or pissed on. She's only the GG for a couple years anyway, and having a GG lets the wives or husbands of our prime ministers have a private life instead of all the crap your First Ladies have to deal with. The spouse of our prime minister has no ceremonial role, is what I'm saying. They just get on with their lives, albeit in Ottawa instead of wherever they were before.
Also, Ms Jean is nice, and since she's from Haiti and loves Canada, I'm guessing she's always going to go with the decision that makes Canada more stable. That's a good thing.
Also, Ms Jean is nice, and since she's from Haiti and loves Canada, I'm guessing she's always going to go with the decision that makes Canada more stable. That's a good thing.
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@45 Many Chinese here identify as Chinese and nobody gives a shit about it. Many immigrants here identify as whoever they want and nobody give's a shit. You don't have to identify as Canadian, you just have pay taxes. And no, melting pots are not good!
Also I didn't say that the benefits we have are the result of monarchy, it just comes together "Buy one get one free" kinda deal. You know, you buy shampoo and get a comb for free. You don't really need a comb but whatever, you don't mind having an extra comb... so our monarchy is just something extra we have, that we don't mind...
Also I didn't say that the benefits we have are the result of monarchy, it just comes together "Buy one get one free" kinda deal. You know, you buy shampoo and get a comb for free. You don't really need a comb but whatever, you don't mind having an extra comb... so our monarchy is just something extra we have, that we don't mind...
50
Goddamn, this post makes it look like Canadians don't have a sense of humour. Christ people, if we can't flip the bird at the queen et al., what's the fucking point?
@44- get your ass up here and go to "La Belle Provence" ou quelque chose comme ça. It's like Jesus came all over your fried potatoes.
@44- get your ass up here and go to "La Belle Provence" ou quelque chose comme ça. It's like Jesus came all over your fried potatoes.
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@50, 'cause it's like you're picking on our grandma. No one gets a free pass for picking on Grams.
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@49: Bullshit to "melting pots aren't good." No one should have citizenship in a country that isn't the source of their primary national identity.
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@52:
What do you mean by "No one should have citizenship in a country that isn't the source of their primary national identity."? I call bullshit on that.
Plenty of people have multiple citizenships for various reasons (parental birthright, sham / actual marriages etc...).
If people want to integrate into society, that's their perogative.
However, it is funny to watch people rant about "melting pots". They have been totally brainwashed by the Liberal multiculturalism-mosaic dogma. blegh.
What do you mean by "No one should have citizenship in a country that isn't the source of their primary national identity."? I call bullshit on that.
Plenty of people have multiple citizenships for various reasons (parental birthright, sham / actual marriages etc...).
If people want to integrate into society, that's their perogative.
However, it is funny to watch people rant about "melting pots". They have been totally brainwashed by the Liberal multiculturalism-mosaic dogma. blegh.
54
@51: I'm Canadian too, eh (note the spelling with 'u's and such). I make fun of all five of my grandmothers (work that one out, eh?). The assumption being that everyone has a sense of humour, even if it's latent. Should I say eh one more time?
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Also, @52...
So much bullshit.
Go read a book on refugees, for a start. Or, hey, most immigrants. That was so ignorant it made my ears bleed. Srsly.
So much bullshit.
Go read a book on refugees, for a start. Or, hey, most immigrants. That was so ignorant it made my ears bleed. Srsly.
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@54 Let me try:
2 grandmas - family
1 - queen
1 - Governor General
1 - Lieutenant Governor
= 5
am I right?
2 grandmas - family
1 - queen
1 - Governor General
1 - Lieutenant Governor
= 5
am I right?
58
I wonder how many readers actually recognized the guy on the right of the picture. (At least a couple, based on comments...)
59
Fnarf, you're not impressing anyone. "Fuck Mother Teresa and Lady Di" -- ooh, how punk of you! How badass and subversive! Here's one: look in the mirror and repeat, "I'm not bourgeois, I'm NOT bourgeois!" There, does that help?
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@59, I am solidly bourgeois in every respect. Straight, white, married, middle-class male homeowner. I'm wearing a coat and tie as I type this.
Mother Teresa was one of the great con artists of our time, collecting hundreds of millions of dollars for her orphanages, which were run like slave camps and cost NOTHING to run. Where did the money go? To the Church. She also used her great influence to prevent the spread of contraception, which might have lightened the need for so many orphanages. Read Hitchens on the subject.
Lady Di was a breeding cow and a publicity whore, who would jump into journalists' cars at stoplights to complain to them how the press wouldn't leave her alone. Raised from birth for the sole purpose of excreting royal offspring, the only use she ever found for herself otherwise was to model dresses that cost more than most of her subjects earned in a year. Her "charity work" was undertaken in the spirit of image rehabilitation, and swanning around African AIDS wards while refusing to wear gloves or masks like the actual medical personnel actually put some of those people at risk. She was an airhead and a fraud, a psychotic hurricane of idiocy. Her cult is an embarrassment to thought, and says much more about the emotional desert inside her followers than her mostly bullshit life story.
Punk? Whatever, dude. I just know what I'm talking about, that's all that matters.
Mother Teresa was one of the great con artists of our time, collecting hundreds of millions of dollars for her orphanages, which were run like slave camps and cost NOTHING to run. Where did the money go? To the Church. She also used her great influence to prevent the spread of contraception, which might have lightened the need for so many orphanages. Read Hitchens on the subject.
Lady Di was a breeding cow and a publicity whore, who would jump into journalists' cars at stoplights to complain to them how the press wouldn't leave her alone. Raised from birth for the sole purpose of excreting royal offspring, the only use she ever found for herself otherwise was to model dresses that cost more than most of her subjects earned in a year. Her "charity work" was undertaken in the spirit of image rehabilitation, and swanning around African AIDS wards while refusing to wear gloves or masks like the actual medical personnel actually put some of those people at risk. She was an airhead and a fraud, a psychotic hurricane of idiocy. Her cult is an embarrassment to thought, and says much more about the emotional desert inside her followers than her mostly bullshit life story.
Punk? Whatever, dude. I just know what I'm talking about, that's all that matters.
61
"Punk? Whatever, dude. I just know what I'm talking about, that's all that matters."
LOL. That was a joke, yes?
LOL. That was a joke, yes?
62
References:
Hitchens on Teresa, http://www.slate.com/id/2090083/ and of course his book The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, Verso 1995.
On Diana Ian Jack, ed., Unbelievable: Unlikely Ends, Fateful Escapes, and the Fascism of Flowers, Granta 60, 1997; and Mandy Merck, ed., After Diana: Irreverent Elegies, Verso 1998.
Also have a look at this excerpt from Ray Broadus Brown and others, Ordinary Reactions to Extraordinary Events, Popular 2001:
http://books.google.com/books?id=GAMl4GE…
Hitchens on Teresa, http://www.slate.com/id/2090083/ and of course his book The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, Verso 1995.
On Diana Ian Jack, ed., Unbelievable: Unlikely Ends, Fateful Escapes, and the Fascism of Flowers, Granta 60, 1997; and Mandy Merck, ed., After Diana: Irreverent Elegies, Verso 1998.
Also have a look at this excerpt from Ray Broadus Brown and others, Ordinary Reactions to Extraordinary Events, Popular 2001:
http://books.google.com/books?id=GAMl4GE…
63
I was talking about most of what I've seen in your posts over the past two days in general... and unfortunately there just aren't references for a lot of the stuff you've said... unless of course you edit a Wikipedia article and then quote it as a reference I guess.
64
Your answer to me providing references is to say that I don't provide references? Wikipedia? What are you talking about? Where did I quote Wikipedia?
66
@64 You're a moron. Re-read the post and keep repeating until you finally begin to understand what was actually said.
67
@60 well, I for one am quite surprised to find out that Fnarf is not still living in his parents basement. Although perhaps I'm just making assumptions.
68
Canadians have a great sense of humour, but we're talking about our politics, and this is not a funny situation. For all the voter apathy at the last election, I'm surprised, and delighted to see such passion aroused by recent events.
The GG did what she had to. As her husband is a known separatist, there was no chance that she would side with the Coalition, as everyone would cry conflict of interest, and that is too bad. She's given Harper a stay of execution for the holidays, but even if the Coalition doesn't take power, Stephen's days are numbered. I dare say he will not be the Conservative leader much longer.
Personally, I hope the Coalition goes forward. I feel that technically more of us voted for them than Harper anyway, and I'm thrilled to see Bob Rae jumping on the bus to whip up support. I'd like to see him take the leadership of the Liberal party. He'd be great.
And, I'm very proud to be a Canadian, and have the Queen on all my money. At least she hasn't started any wars or toppled any global economies lately.
The GG did what she had to. As her husband is a known separatist, there was no chance that she would side with the Coalition, as everyone would cry conflict of interest, and that is too bad. She's given Harper a stay of execution for the holidays, but even if the Coalition doesn't take power, Stephen's days are numbered. I dare say he will not be the Conservative leader much longer.
Personally, I hope the Coalition goes forward. I feel that technically more of us voted for them than Harper anyway, and I'm thrilled to see Bob Rae jumping on the bus to whip up support. I'd like to see him take the leadership of the Liberal party. He'd be great.
And, I'm very proud to be a Canadian, and have the Queen on all my money. At least she hasn't started any wars or toppled any global economies lately.
69
As an American ex-pat living in Canada I've used this instance to restart my endless argument with all my Canadian buddies that Canada is still ruled by vestiges of the monarchy and needs to formally become a republic.
This is a perfect example of how the GG is supposed to have a ceremonial role but in reality makes critical decisions. She could have rationalized either allowing it or not, because it's unclear whether her mandate is to listen to the PM or to the majority of parliament in the case of this minority government.
Fuck the Queen. She's probably a lizard person anyways.
This is a perfect example of how the GG is supposed to have a ceremonial role but in reality makes critical decisions. She could have rationalized either allowing it or not, because it's unclear whether her mandate is to listen to the PM or to the majority of parliament in the case of this minority government.
Fuck the Queen. She's probably a lizard person anyways.
70
Well if you read the papers today all the polls indicate that majority of Canadians oppose coalition supported by BQ, and also that if election were held today Harper would take majority. So basically, the fact that the parliament went home is a blessing to all liberal Canadians. Dion fucked up big time! He should have threatened with the coalition to get his way, but not actually put Harper in the corner. I hope that after the break they will negotiate and pass the budget. Other wise will have our own fucking Bush in power and he'll be free to do as he pleases as he will have majority.
71
@ 24, we had slavery like USA and Britain. It's just that slavery wasn't an absolutely essential part of building our nation. Although expropriating land from indigenous peoples was. And so was exploitation of Chinese labour to connect us from "sea to shining sea". Our history is just as dark; we just have little power to show for it.
72
@42. There is awesome poutine at Hattie's Hat in Ballard. Not exactly the same as the kind you find in Canada but it is soooooo good anyway.
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