DON’T BE SO QUICK
Governments, institutions, organizations, and individuals shouldn’t be so quick to tear down statues and rename streets and buildings solely on the basis of one aspect of historical figures’ pasts. Their redeeming virtues, which in practically every case far outweigh a single negative characteristic, should be taken into account. Also, in the overwhelming majority of cases whatever has upset current politically correct fanatics was perfectly acceptable practise at the time. Also, the lives of the fanatics should be carefully scrutinized and publicized before succumbing to their whining.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP DEBATE
Although with the numerous attacks on Justin Trudeau, it sometimes appeared more like an election leaders’ debate, some fine-tuning definitely took place during Thursday’s televised Conservative leadership debate. Here are my observations.
There was a new and improved Peter MacKay, he made the most telling points during the debate, such as highlighting his considerable political, and especially his cabinet, experience during the Harper years, which seemed to flummox Erin O’Toole. Overall, MacKay clearly came out on top. Then there was the post-debate press conference during which MacKay actually sparkled. He was calm, confident, and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, which leaves me with a political conundrum. I’d like to see Erin O’Toole win, but Peter McKay has a much better chance of beating Justin Trudeau, which has to be the major consideration for all Conservatives, social and fiscal.
Given the method of voting, and the fact that MacKay and O’Toole are the only contenders with a chance of winning, another answer people were looking for was who will be the kingmaker, Derek Sloan or Leslyn Lewis. It will be Lewis. She earned some major political credibility and will be a future force in the party. Sloan is simply an outlier.
As I’ve written here before, references that the candidates made to the possibility of a fall election are ridiculous. There will be no federal election until at least late October 2021 because that’s when the many MPs first elected in the October 19, 2015, election see their pensions vest.
THE MLB IDIOTS SEEM TO BECOMING AROUND
Also on Thursday, a glimmer of hope that we may yet have some baseball emerged when the commissioner’s office let it be known that an agreement with the players’ association was getting close. It may be hard for some people to choose between squabbling millionaires and billionaires, but I’m on the players’ side. The average career of an MLB player is around five-and-a-half years, whereas the owners can enjoy the value of their franchises rising exponentially throughout their lifetimes. According to Forbes, the three lowest valued franchises. the Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, and Kansas City Royals, are all worth almost a billion dollars.
MORE GOOD NEWS FOR SPORTS FANS
The federal government has made a move to help three Canadian markets become what’s become known as a “hub” city for the National Hockey League's resumption of play. The government has issued an order-in -council, which is now awaiting the Governor General’s signature, declaring that it’s in the public’s interest to have NHL hockey in Canada, even during the pandemic. Apparently public health authorities in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto all gave the go-ahead for players to enter Canada and observe the 14-day quarantine as a “cohort” when play resumes, which is to say that all of the regular quarantine requirements would not apply.
As I’ve written before, I think Edmonton may have best chance of being a hub with Toronto a close second. It’s a question of whether the league wants the most virus-free venue or the one with the largest marketing potential.
MORE TRUMP IDIOCY
Donald Trump’s twittering insults levelled at his former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and his legal effort to prevent the publication of Bolton’s scathing book, will guarantee that Bolton will reap millions in royalties.
TRUDEAU’S DWINDLING CREDIBIITY
Justin Trudeau’s credibility took another blow this week when Canada finished last in the voting for a two-year UN Security Council seat. The millions of taxpayer dollars that Trudeau wasted, as well as the colossal cost of the time he, cabinet colleagues, and bureaucrats spent lobbying internationally for this basically useless honorific (China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA all have veto powers) is yet another indication that Trudeau is simply out of touch with the rest of the thirty-eight million Canadians he’s supposed to be leading. This is borne out by the fact that every poll I’ve seen on whether Canadians are disappointed in the failure to gain the seat indicates that over ninety percent say they aren’t.