PONDERABLES
What was the best thing before sliced bread?
How long does it take for an adage to become an old one?
THINGS I FIRMLY BELIEVE
There are few things as intimidating as a bureaucrat with a clipboard.
I can write as well as Rex Murphy, I just can’t think as well as Rex Murphy.
Any kind of advertising that has the tagline “paid for by the government of (whatever)” is utter nonsense. Those ads are all paid for by taxpayers.
JOHN TORY’S RESIGNATION
I know and like John Tory. There’ve been fifteen mayors during the time I’ve lived in Toronto and I firmly believe he’s been far and wide the best. There are three plausible reasons why he may not have had to resign over an extramarital affair with a co-worker. First, it’s been widely reported that he and his wife have essentially been living apart for quite some time. Second, if everyone who’s had an extramarital affair resigned their jobs, the country’s unemployment rate would spike. Third, this was not a President Clinton/Monica Lewinsky situation. It was a consensual relationship with a thirty-one-year-old woman who willingly entered into it. But in the unique and arcane world of politics, these reasons are more than offset by the likelihood that Tory’s effectiveness as a politician has been irrevocably compromised.
THE TORONTO STAR INVOLVEMENT
The criticism being levelled at The Toronto Star for breaking the story about Tory’s affair is completely unjustified. No self-respecting journalist, upon verifying its veracity, would not have run with this story.
TRUDEAU’S ETHICS SHORTCOMINGS
Retiring ethics commissioner, Mario Dion, noting “a succession of mistakes,” has called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to require all ministers and parliamentary secretaries to take ethics training. As usual, the inimitable Rex Murphy has put the matter in clear perspective by writing, “Conflict of interest, starting with the prime minister, is no longer a matter for resignation — it’s closer to a policy.”
When asked if he thought the prescribed fine of $500 was sufficient punishment, Dion replied that the shame of being found guilty was the main deterrent.What Dion failed to take into consideration was that Justin Trudeau’s ego is such that he’s impervious to shame.
AND THEN THERE’S TRUDEAU’S HYPERBOLE
Justin Trudeau has said he “ordered” NORAD to shoot down the mysterious balloon flying over Canadian airspace last week. Really, Justin? NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command) is located at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, under the command of General Glen VanHerck, who reports to the U.S. secretary of defense.That the general would take an “order” from Trudeau borders on laughable. What probably happened was that Trudeau asked President Biden to ask NORAD to act.