I find many of Ann Coulter's writings offensive. Despite my Conservative leanings I don't like many of the things that she says. She is a little too "way out there." I find Michael Moore offensive for similar reasons. I think that they are flip sides of the same coin in that most Conservatives and Liberals will agree that both of these individuals are offensive and play fast and loose with the truth too often.
That being said, the cancellation of Ann Coulter's speech at the U of Ottawa has inspired editorials denouncing the intimidation tactics used against her. She has received more publicity than her hostile rantings deserve. The milquetoast Globe and Mail wrote a strongly worded opinion piece in support of her right to speak.
Usually i cringe at her writings. Have a look at her latest post titled "O'Canada":
http://www.anncoulter.com/
I cringed at this one because i agreed with so much of what she said (for a change).
She gained more notoriety and a greater platform for her views. That is the ultimate result of the University of Ottawa's attempts to silence her. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Chris Chelios
Any fan of hockey knows who Chris Chelios is. I was still in my teens when he broke into the NHL in 1984. I thought he was a dirty player who took a lot of cheap shots.
Flyer fans will never forgive him for his hit on Brian Propp that knocked him out with a concussion. He was not an easy player to like and i most certainly did not like him. He always played on teams i cheered against and his style of play was infuriating to the opposition.
However today, he is an inspiration to me. After being cut by the Detroit Red Wings in the off season, he could not land another NHL job. He did what any true hockey player would do......he found a team where he could play.
It was a minor league team but that didn't matter. Chris Chelios would rather do anything than not play hockey.
Today he was called up by the Atlanta Thrashers and will play in the NHL once again......this time at age 48!!
That Chris Chelios is still good enough to play with kids less than half his age in the most competitive hockey league in the world is inspiring. I don't think he'll last long enough to break Gordie Howe's record age of 52.....but i won't bet the farm that he won't make it.
Flyer fans will never forgive him for his hit on Brian Propp that knocked him out with a concussion. He was not an easy player to like and i most certainly did not like him. He always played on teams i cheered against and his style of play was infuriating to the opposition.
However today, he is an inspiration to me. After being cut by the Detroit Red Wings in the off season, he could not land another NHL job. He did what any true hockey player would do......he found a team where he could play.
It was a minor league team but that didn't matter. Chris Chelios would rather do anything than not play hockey.
Today he was called up by the Atlanta Thrashers and will play in the NHL once again......this time at age 48!!
That Chris Chelios is still good enough to play with kids less than half his age in the most competitive hockey league in the world is inspiring. I don't think he'll last long enough to break Gordie Howe's record age of 52.....but i won't bet the farm that he won't make it.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Honourable Rahim Jaffer
Rahim Jaffer was first elected to the House of Commons as a 25 year old Reform party member. He was considered a rising star by a Reform party eager to appeal to minority constitutents.
Mr Jaffer was different than most Reform/Canadian Alliance/Conservative MP's. He was an immigrant, dark skinned and muslim. It was good that a person of such a background could feel comfortable in those parties. It would have been better if he had been more of a grownup.....but that may be a bit much to ask of a 25 year old.
He is no longer a Member of Parliament, having been voted out in 2008. However he is very much in the news due to his arrest and subsequent events. He was charged with speeding, exceeding the blood alcohol limit and cocaine possession. The plea bargain resulted in a $500 dollar fine along with a guilty plea of careless driving. The other charges were dropped.
The presiding judge acknowledged in his comments that Mr Jaffer had caught a "break".
As a private citizen, Mr Jaffer's obligations are different. He doesn't need to speak publicly about what happened. Nonetheless, some Canadians have some understandable questions.
1) Did he receive special treatment as a former Parliamentarion? It was a provincial judge appointed by Ontario's Attorney General Jim Flaherty. Mr Flaherty is now Finance Minister.
2) What happened to the cocaine possession charge. Why was this dropped?
Mr Jaffer may not have to answer publicly but the people are understandably concerned. If the cocaine possession evidence was suppressed due to police misconduct, then there is a public interest in knowing.
Some members of the Ontario Government should be speaking up now. This does smell and looks like a privileged person getting special treatment. It would be in the pubic interest to disabuse the public of such an impression......if indeed the facts support that view.
Mr Jaffer was different than most Reform/Canadian Alliance/Conservative MP's. He was an immigrant, dark skinned and muslim. It was good that a person of such a background could feel comfortable in those parties. It would have been better if he had been more of a grownup.....but that may be a bit much to ask of a 25 year old.
He is no longer a Member of Parliament, having been voted out in 2008. However he is very much in the news due to his arrest and subsequent events. He was charged with speeding, exceeding the blood alcohol limit and cocaine possession. The plea bargain resulted in a $500 dollar fine along with a guilty plea of careless driving. The other charges were dropped.
The presiding judge acknowledged in his comments that Mr Jaffer had caught a "break".
As a private citizen, Mr Jaffer's obligations are different. He doesn't need to speak publicly about what happened. Nonetheless, some Canadians have some understandable questions.
1) Did he receive special treatment as a former Parliamentarion? It was a provincial judge appointed by Ontario's Attorney General Jim Flaherty. Mr Flaherty is now Finance Minister.
2) What happened to the cocaine possession charge. Why was this dropped?
Mr Jaffer may not have to answer publicly but the people are understandably concerned. If the cocaine possession evidence was suppressed due to police misconduct, then there is a public interest in knowing.
Some members of the Ontario Government should be speaking up now. This does smell and looks like a privileged person getting special treatment. It would be in the pubic interest to disabuse the public of such an impression......if indeed the facts support that view.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Bailout Folly
The runaway freight train of Government bailouts is nearing its logical conclusion. Unfortunately, it will climax before returning to a point of sanity.
Over the last couple of years we witnessed the spectacle of taxpayer funds being used to prop up car companies building cars that the consumer did not want to buy.....or certainly not in sufficient numbers to keep the automakers in the black.
Equally obscene was the bailout of banks who were seemingly incapable of managing money.
Isn't a bank supposed to be good at managing money above all else? Shouldn't the world's largest car company know how to build a car and make a profit at the same time?
The 'moral hazard' is coming home to roost in a most spectacular fashion as several entire countries are now on the verge of needing bailouts. In the European Union, the so called PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain) are said to be in dire straits and will soon need bailouts. Greece is in the worst shape and could default in a matter of weeks if they are not bailed out.
Now here is where the bailouts go from bad policy to downright offensive. Greece has a mandatory retirement age of 63. Any bailout of Greece would have to be spearheaded by Germany....mandatory retirement age of 67. The German people are rightly asking why they are being asked to work to 67 in order to finance retirement for Greeks beginning at age 63. The argument may oversimplify but is valid.
Some may have forgotten but the bailouts of the banks and GM/Chrysler have a similar problem. The average assembly line worker at GM earns more and has better health care coverage than the average American by a significant margin. Bank employees....nuff said.
So the question is this: If you are a single working mom earning something close to the national average, how do you feel about some of your taxes going to safeguard the jobs of bankers and autoworkers who earn a lot more than you? If that doesn't make you angry enough, then consider that since the bailouts were funded with deficit financing, so that your son/daughter will be paying for these bailouts in the future.
Over the last couple of years we witnessed the spectacle of taxpayer funds being used to prop up car companies building cars that the consumer did not want to buy.....or certainly not in sufficient numbers to keep the automakers in the black.
Equally obscene was the bailout of banks who were seemingly incapable of managing money.
Isn't a bank supposed to be good at managing money above all else? Shouldn't the world's largest car company know how to build a car and make a profit at the same time?
The 'moral hazard' is coming home to roost in a most spectacular fashion as several entire countries are now on the verge of needing bailouts. In the European Union, the so called PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain) are said to be in dire straits and will soon need bailouts. Greece is in the worst shape and could default in a matter of weeks if they are not bailed out.
Now here is where the bailouts go from bad policy to downright offensive. Greece has a mandatory retirement age of 63. Any bailout of Greece would have to be spearheaded by Germany....mandatory retirement age of 67. The German people are rightly asking why they are being asked to work to 67 in order to finance retirement for Greeks beginning at age 63. The argument may oversimplify but is valid.
Some may have forgotten but the bailouts of the banks and GM/Chrysler have a similar problem. The average assembly line worker at GM earns more and has better health care coverage than the average American by a significant margin. Bank employees....nuff said.
So the question is this: If you are a single working mom earning something close to the national average, how do you feel about some of your taxes going to safeguard the jobs of bankers and autoworkers who earn a lot more than you? If that doesn't make you angry enough, then consider that since the bailouts were funded with deficit financing, so that your son/daughter will be paying for these bailouts in the future.
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