PONDERABLES
Does Donald Trump like tweeting so much because he’s a birdbrain?
Has there ever been a more misleading term than “defund the police?”
Why have journalists replaced the word “many” with “multiple” when the former is only one of many synonyms for the latter?
Why do so many people, including journalists who should know better, incorrectly substitute “myself” for “me?”
THINGS I FIRMLY BELIEVE
The economy is going to be much more efficient after the pandemic is over.
PUN INTENDED
In the frenzy to tear down Confederate monuments in the US, the state of Tennessee has decided to replace one of theirs with a likeness of singer/songwriter Dolly Parton. If they do, they’ll need a crew of four, two abreast.
TRUDEAU’S DOUBLE STANDARDS
In an earlier Musings I wondered about who was responsible for the lengthy cover-up of Liberal MP Marwan Tabbara’s arrest on allegations of assault, break-and-entering, and harassment. When asked about it last week PM Justin Trudeau insisted he didn’t know about it until journalists broke the story. Then, citing privacy considerations, he, as is his wont, completely evaded the question.
But according to the CBC, what he definitely did know, but did nothing about, was that during the 2015 election campaign complaints were made against Tabbara for “inappropriate touching and unwelcome remarks.” Trudeau clearly covered up that, but at the same time had no hesitation in ruining the political careers of two other MPs, Scott Andrew and Massimo Pacetti, by banishing them for some unspecified sexual misconduct, citing his “zero tolerance” for any such behaviour. Andrew and Pacetti got turfed, Tabbara didn’t, and was allowed to run again in 2019. In 2015 Trudeau paid no attention to privacy considerations when publicly punishing Andrew and Pacetti.
But his most egregious double standard is insisting that Justice Minister David Lametti can’t interfere in the Meng Wanzhou case, conveniently forgetting that he fired former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould for refusing to bend to his insistence that she interfere in a court case involving SNL Lavalin. Furthermore, many experts in extradition law have said that the justice minister has every right to end the extradition hearing at any time.
MORE IDIOCY FROM THE CANADA PAROLE BOARD
Last Sunday night there were a number of 911 calls originating from just south of Barrie, Ontario, reporting an erratic driver on highway 400 who nearly caused a number of crashes. The police pulled over and arrested for drunk driving a 27-year old woman named Darya Selinevich, who tested over two times the legal limit. Turns out she was on parole from a seven-year prison sentence imposed in 2017 after she pled guilty to killing a 44-year old male cyclist while she was driving drunk. And what’s more, she had previously been convicted of drunk driving only a month before she killed the cyclist.
Yet, with less than a third of her sentence served, the Canada Parole Board granted her day parole in January 2018, and full parole in October 2018. The Board’s stated reasons for its leniency was that she showed remorse and promised that she would never again touch liquor. It was pure dumb luck that she didn’t kill again last Sunday.
What’s wrong with these people? And what due diligence do senior bureaucrats and cabinet ministers carry out before appointing them? Whatever the answers to these questions, changes are sorely needed.
PUT THE BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS
The problem with police racism, brutality, and other despicable behaviour does not lie with supervisors, chiefs, police boards, or the general police population. It lies with police unions that make it almost impossible to fire miscreants. The pitiful excuse that union leaders hide behind is that it’s their inviolable mandate to protect the jobs of all members, regardless of the reason for them being fired. That just doesn’t cut it. Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis cop responsible for George Floyd’s death, had seventeen prior complaints filed against him but still retained his job. It's the union culture that has to change, not the culture of police in general, the overwhelming majority of whom are good, upright, humane, hard-working men and women.
A FINE IDEA
The Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons has come up with a fine idea, that the NHL rename the Norris Trophy (best defenceman) the Bobby Orr trophy, and the Conn Smythe trophy (playoff MVP) the Jean Beliveau trophy. Bobby Orr was the best defenceman ever (and probably always will be). Beliveau was, throughout his long career, a consistent playoff superstar.