Wonderful to see some good, old-fashioned investigative work again – the subject-matter being massive, bald-faced auto insurance fraud. Links here and here. Crazy stuff. Congrats, CTV (and Aviva, the company that caught it first).

Shot on the fly, so I forgot I was in that irritating “portrait” mode.  Sorry. Anyone know how to get in “landscape” mode? (See? I’m up on all the new tech lingo.)

Raptors, address all inquiries about signing to me, his agent.

SFH detest him too. 

So sing along. It might make you feel better. It did us. 

Is Donald Trump deliberately provoking violence to help his campaign? Probably. Are we falling into his trap? Maybe. 

Here’s what Maddow says:

Maddow pointed out that Trump’s rallies have included racially charged violence for months and said, “There have been instances in the past where he has at least encouraged or praised the idea of violent actions by his supporters. When he’s spoken wistfully about how great it would be to beat people up at his rallies or he has told people that he would pay their legal fees if they would beat up a protester on his behalf. 

“He has done that in the past. But this sort of blood lust. Right? This half tongue in cheek, mostly serious call for a tougher America where there are more beatings and where anti-Trump protesters fear for their lives.”

 Rachel Maddow date stamped a series of Trump comments to show that the escalation of the violence at his rallies is deliberate.

So, if she’s right, Chicago helps him. It doesn’t help those who oppose him. 

But here’s the thing: what happened in Dayton – when a guy came very, very close to getting him – doesn’t. I mean, Mr. Trump, what good is your provoke-violence strategy if you end up…well, you know. I don’t wish that on you, but I won’t be surprised if it happens now, either. After all, etc.

Like I always say: when you set a mean dog loose, he may bite someone else. 

But, eventually, he’ll bite you, too. 

Sent from Ireland by Daughter One.  I actually do/have all of these already.  You can never be too prepared.

P.S. If Rick and Co. can escape notice of a zombie horde wearing zombie guts, why don’t they wear zombie guts all the time?  Sorry, but that one has been keeping me up for several weeks.

As most of you know, some of us have been speaking out against the decision of Canada Post to take money to distribute the racist, homophobic, Holocaust-denying Hitlerite rag, Your Ward News.  I’ve written extensively about their content – here and here and here – and my brother Richard Warman is now going after them legally.  Me too.

Yesterday, Judy Foote – the minister responsible for Canada Post, and the minister who hasn’t stopped Holocaust denial from landing in tens of thousands of Toronto-area mailboxes – appeared before a Parliamentary committee.  She was asked about Your Ward News by former cabinet minister Steven Blaney.

Here’s Liz Thompson’s account in iPolitics:

During her testimony, Foote was also questioned on another thorny issue involving Canada Post and controversial mailings of a publication entitled “Your Ward News.” Critics of the publication have accused it of publishing material that promotes Holocaust denial, racism, homophobia and sexual assault.

Steven Blaney, Conservative MP and former Public Safety Minister, asked Foote why Canada Post is distributing the publication, which goes to homes in the Toronto area.

Foote said she shared Blaney’s concerns.

“I am aware of the situation and I too have issues with the information that is being distributed – so much so that we have asked for a legal opinion on the content to see if there is any criminal aspect to it. I am concerned about the content.”

“We have talked to Canada Post and my understanding is that there was an incident where they had where they had legal advice and there wasn’t an issue that would have them withdraw it. But now that there is another piece of literature that is being disseminated, there are concerns. I too have concerns with it and we have asked for a legal opinion”

She gave that answer yesterday afternoon.  I find that timing interesting.

Here’s why: at 9:26 a.m. yesterday, six hours before Foote appeared before the committee – and long enough for Canada Post to have briefed her, because Canada Post was on the agenda at committee – Canada Post’s “Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary” issued a letter in which he stated that Canada Post had rendered all of the “legal opinions” on Your Ward News they were going to render. And they had decided, yet again, to do nothing.

So, I’m curious: did Canada Post deliberately withhold that information from their own minister?  Or did Foote tell the committee something that was, put charitably, factually incorrect?

Confused? Me too:

• Foote says “another piece of literature” (it’s not literature, it’s hate propaganda, Judy) is still actively being reviewed by Canada Post’s crackerjack legal team – to wit, “we have asked for a legal opinion.”  She’s on the case!
• Canada Post’s crackerjack legal team, however, has said in a letter that it has reviewed all that it is going to review – to wit, “it is a matter for the Courts decide, not Canada Post.” That is, they’ve washed their hands of it.  They’re not reviewing anything.

So who is telling the truth?  A legal review is happening, or no one is reviewing anything, legally or otherwise?  Which is it?

This case gets curiouser and curiouser.

I can tell you one thing: Richard and me – and many others – are not going to let this go.  We don’t give a damn who the government is.

However much I would like to see the 22nd Amendment suspended, my guy Barack – who I have championed since 2006, unlike those dozens of young selfie-snapping PMO types who flew to D.C. yesterday! – is going to be gone soon. By this time next year, he will be giving speeches to Shriners for several gazillion dollars. Lame duck wasn’t on the menu, last night, but it may as well have been.

What matters is the next State Dinner (why do they always Capitalize That?). Who will it be with? Who will be there? And, more importantly, what will be on the menu?

Vote now, vote often!