rodcros

rodcros

91p

36 comments posted · 0 followers · following 0

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - The Commons: Rise up · 0 replies · +31 points

Wherry's a clever writer, and on this one he outdid himself. He's always a pleasure to read.

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - The Commons: Take your... · 3 replies · +4 points

What was Harper on?

Watching Stephen Harper in the debate last night I kept thinking of a conversation with a young physician some years ago about how nervous medical students sometimes used beta blockers to get through their oral exams. Beta blockers are risky, but reduce visible signs of stress. I wonder if Mr. Harper had similar chemical help last night? The lifeless eyes, monotone, tunnel vision and general lack of affect speak to a heavy load of chemicals. What amazes me is how most journalists described this as a fine performance in a debate.

I’ll tell you, if a kid turned up in my classroom in the state Harper was in last night, a lot of alarm bells would go off.

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Ontarians fear, respec... · 2 replies · +3 points

Ignatieff's not so bad. He's trying to bring Canadians together, not split them apart. That's a good start.

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Ontarians fear, respec... · 0 replies · -5 points

Sorry, my bifocals confused PROCANADA with PROPAGANDA.

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Ontarians fear, respec... · 5 replies · +12 points

Remember the early speculation about the ballot question? The defacto title of this campaign has become

Stopping Stephen Harper

.

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Harper's game · 1 reply · +5 points

The problem with Harper is his base made up of people who have a deep emotional need for an authoritarian leader. They want a king, divinely ordained and infallible, so that they can exult in his power when he and his minions break his own laws, and they can become swords of the lord when ordered to exact vengeance in his name. Take the attack ads. Harper brought back Orwell's 2 minutes of hate. Normally hatred is forbidden in our culture, but King Stephen has told us that it's not only allowed, it is required that we gather around our televisions and revile the scapegoat, the lowly Ignatieff. What's more, there will be lots of prisoners to torment, not to mention refugees to incarcerate and banish. Can unwed mothers be far away? It's emotionally fulfilling to be a Harper supporter. We will get all those guilt-free pleasures hating target groups!

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Harper's game · 0 replies · 0 points

About scaring timid Canadian followers, there's some theory to back that up. I reviewed "The Authoritarians" for a column recently.
http://rodcroskery.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/the-a...

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Harper's game · 0 replies · +5 points

Aw, come on! Welles is no Conservative. He has a good sense of humour.

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Harper's game · 0 replies · +4 points

I can definitely consider electing Michael Ignatieff as my leader precisely because he is not endowed with the low cunning which has become the currency in Ottawa of late. A leader brings a culture to the job, and I like what Ignatieff has to offer much better than Harper's stuff. In an election we get to choose. My hope for Canada is that we will act collectively in large numbers to put away the bottom feeders and allow a man Aristotle would probably consider a fit ruler to create a better, more just Canada.

12 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Harper's game · 1 reply · +8 points

Let me get this straight. Harper claims there are two possible outcomes for this election, but how about a third? Harper lacks the seats for a majority so he enlists the support of the Bloc. Remember the Bloc largely came from the Quebec wing of Mulroney's Conservatives. All that lies between us and a Conservative/Bloc coalition is Duceppe's integrity, because Harper would spin such a deal in some way that his base would eat it up like ice cream.