PONDERABLES
Isn’t it interesting how many cliches are actually true?
Hasn’t “we take (whatever) very seriously” as a response to organizational bad news become trite?
Who first discovered that clams are happy?
Why do journalists let politicians get away with referring to spending as “investing?
Isn’t it amazing how many parcels, bags, etc. women shoppers can carry at the same time?
THINGS I FIRMLY BELIEVE
There are few experiences as exhilarating as having to think on your feet.
TSN’s James Duthie is the best sports anchor on television
Hockey is a much better sport now that the goons are gone.
REMEMBERING JOHN SCOTT
John Scott died of congestive heart failure last week at his home in suburban Detroit; he would have been eighty-four years old next month. Many of you, probably most, won’t recognize his name. But if you were a rock ‘n roll fan in the late 50s and early 60s you certainly heard his songs, and maybe even owned some of his singles. I was a huge John Scott fan and have often wondered why he slipped into obscurity after a truly extraordinary start to his career.
Born Giovanni Scafone in Windsor Ontario, John moved across the river to Detroit when he was ten years old. He began his career as a singer/songwriter in his late teens and quickly gained a following in both rock and country, but primarily rock.
During an incredible forty-one month stretch, from 1958 to 1961, Scott had nineteen singles on the Billboard 100 hit list. With this feat he joined a very exclusive music industry club; at the time the only other members were Elvis, The Beatles, Fats Domino, and Connie Francis. But then, even though he continued to perform, it was as if he disappeared. Back when I was heavily involved in the music industry I asked a number of people what happened to John Scott’s career. No one, including Chet Atkins, who knew John well and helped launch his career, seemed to know for sure. Speculation ranged from “his writing dried up” to “he just preferred it that way,” with the most common answer being “I don’t know.”
His biggest hits were: Burning Bridges; What In The World’s Come Over You; Goodbye Baby; and, My True Love. You might want to check him out on YouTube.
CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP RACE
My regular readers know that I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Conservative, and as such I fervently hope that the party-powers-that-be don’t screw up the coming leadership race like they did the last one. Any contest in which Rona Ambrose (who would have mopped the floor with Justin Trudeau in the election) wasn’t allowed to run, and in which it came down to a choice between Andrew Scheer and Maxime Bernier, was clearly a farce.
There is so much speculation right now about possible entrants that it’s virtually impossible to form an opinion about the outcome, but three things seem obvious to me. First, the party will have to make it more difficult to enter than last time around. In addition to the requirement of a minimum of 300 party signatures with representation from at least 30 ridings in seven or more provinces, the entrance fee should be raised to $250,000. Second, electing someone who isn’t sufficiently bilingual would be political suicide. And, third, Jean Charest entering the race would be an interesting and possibly monumental game-changer.
This parliament will last at least until late fall of 2021 (which is when many MP’s pensions vest) so the party has time to get it right.
BACK TO SCHEER
The hapless Andrew Scheer couldn’t even competently resign. He shouldn’t have insisted on remaining leader and instead should have stepped aside and allowed caucus to appoint an interim leader. And Justin Trudeau must be licking his lips over Scheer’s announcement that Liberal turncoat Leona Alleslev will be the Conservative lead during question period. I wonder how Michelle Remple and Candace Bergen, two extremely effective parliamentarians, feel about that; not to mention the party’s best question period weapon, Pierre Pollievre.
The Conservative caucus needs to show some backbone and common sense by appointing a different deputy leader and allowing all of their effective question period performers to do their thing. The sooner Scheer sinks into oblivion, the better of the party will be.