Sun News twice today

This morning I went on Krista Erickson’s show to talk about Ontario MPP severance packages. I pointed out that MPPs haven’t received pensions since 1996 and rules guiding severance packages were brought in my former conservative Premier Mike Harris.

Tonight Brian Lilley and I talked about polls and the state of the federal Liberal party. We did not talk about Justin Trudeau’s goatee.

Newt Gingrich defends Mourdock, says women need to “get over it”

Again, it never ceases to amaze me how much men like to talk about abortion, and limiting – or, eliminating – women’s access to it. And there’s no shortage of them.

First, Todd Akin, a congressman running for the U.S Senate, who said rape survivors don’t need abortions because “if it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Then, an Iowa congressman seeking re-election said that he hasn’t “heard of that being a circumstance that’s been brought to me in any personal way,” when asked about whether a 12-year-old rape victim should have access to an abortion.

Joe Walsh, an Illinois incumbent, preached “you can’t find one instance” where abortion is necessary to protect a woman’s life or health. He continued to say that “there is no such exception as life of the mother.”

And then there’s Richard Mourdock, a GOP Senate nominee who declared that “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”

Hear that ladies? The GOP is effectively telling you that you don’t matter. They care more about your uterus and your ability to procreate than they care about you. You are an incubator, nothing more. These men aren’t just Republican fringe candidates, either. They are influential men within the party. Even Romney’s Veep choice, Paul Ryan, has an anti-abortion record and has tried to limit women’s access to abortion, or eliminate it altogether. Ryan doesn’t even allow for exceptions for incest or rape.

Here’s Newt Gingrich defending Mourdock over the weekend:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDOMmf63y2s&feature=player_embedded]

Shame on all of them.

Salt Lake City Tribune endorses Obama

That’s right, Obama. Utah, home of America’s largest Mormon community – of which Mitt Romney is one – endorses the non-Mormon Democrat, President Barack Obama. Here’s what the Salt Lake City Tribune had to say:

The Republican nominee’s political and religious pedigrees, his adeptly bipartisan governorship of a Democratic state, and his head for business and the bottom line all inspire admiration and hope in our largely Mormon, Republican, business-friendly state.

Wait, this doesn’t sound good…

But it was Romney’s singular role in rescuing Utah’s organization of the 2002 Olympics from a cesspool of scandal, and his oversight of the most successful Winter Games on record, that make him the Beehive State’s favorite adopted son.

Still looks bad for Obama. Hmm…

In short, this is the Mitt Romney we knew, or thought we knew, as one of us.

Okay, it’s coming. Whew.

Sadly, it is not the only Romney, as his campaign for the White House has made abundantly clear, first in his servile courtship of the tea party in order to win the nomination, and now as the party’s shape-shifting nominee. From his embrace of the party’s radical right wing, to subsequent portrayals of himself as a moderate champion of the middle class, Romney has raised the most frequently asked question of the campaign: “Who is this guy, really, and what in the world does he truly believe?”

And the Tribune swings keep coming:

Romney…is shameless, lavishing vastly diverse audiences with words, any words, they would trade their votes to hear.

If this portrait of a Romney willing to say anything to get elected seems harsh, we need only revisit his branding of 47 percent of Americans as freeloaders who pay no taxes, yet feel victimized and entitled to government assistance. His job, he told a group of wealthy donors, “is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”

Not only does the Tribune attack Romney, which, put simply, is easy, but they praise the President:

In the first months of his presidency, Obama acted decisively to stimulate the economy. His leadership was essential to passage of the badly needed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The president also acted wisely to bail out the auto industry, which has since come roaring back.

Obama’s foreign policy record is perhaps his strongest suit….

And then, they go in for the kill:

[W]e have watched [Romney] morph into a friend of the far right, then tack toward the center with breathtaking aplomb. Through a pair of presidential debates, Romney’s domestic agenda remains bereft of detail and worthy of mistrust.

Therefore, our endorsement must go to the incumbent, a competent leader who, against tough odds, has guided the country through catastrophe and set a course that, while rocky, is pointing toward a brighter day. The president has earned a second term. Romney, in whatever guise, does not deserve a first.

There you have it. The Salt Lake City Tribune, who considers Mitt Romney to be a favourite son, refuses to endorse him for president. Says a lot.

GOP “full of racists”

Colin Powell’s former chief of staff says the Republican party is “full of racists.”

Exactly no one is surprised.

Why does Trump hate Obama?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=g1C453KwDzY#!]

Tory MP Vellacott calls convicted criminals “heroines of humanity”

I guess this is what the ruling federal Conservative party thinks is tough on crime.

You see, there’s this Reform Canadian Alliance Tory MP, Maurice Vellacott, who, quite frankly, is an abomination. He’s been in all sorts of trouble over the years (here and here). He’s also a hardcore pro-lifer, which brings us to this post.

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary, each MP was allowed to nominate deserving Canadians for the occasion’s medal. Vellacott decided to nominate a jailed anti-abortion activist named Mary Wagner, who’s been held since August. Another pro-lifer, who’s faced similar charges, was also nominated.  Shockingly, both these women are now recipients of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Vellacott compares these women to civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

Like I said, abomination.

UPDATE: Vellacott writes in a statement:

“Unlike the justice minister, Vellacott was unable to award these medals to the victims of crime, because these baby victims are dead, so instead the award to those ‘heroines of humanity’ Mary Wagner and Linda Gibbons who are trying to protect defenceless, voiceless human beings in the womb from butchery and death, and trying to let vulnerable women know that there are other options and support and adoption possibilities,” Vellacott said in his statement. “It’s what you would expect in a caring compassionate society.”

Yes, you read that right. Convicted criminals have been awarded medals in an effort to show appreciation for their crimes.

Do you make what Mitt Romney makes?

Didn’t think so.

Obama bombshell?

So says Donald Trump. You know, the guy who’s convinced Obama’s not American.
I always knew Trump was an asshole.

Today on Sun News: By-elections and past records

With lots going on politically, there was no shortage of topics today. By-elections, leadership and the Ontario New Democrats’ past history on prorogation (they’ve prorogued more times than they’ve formed government).

On the by-elections: Durham could be interesting if voters want to punish the Conservative Party for Bev Oda’s excesses; the Victoria riding will likely hold given the BC Liberals unpopularity and the riding of Calgary Centre? Well, that’s why I’m laughing.

The near-two a.m. post

Around midnight tonight my kids discovered we had no hot water and, finally, around 2 am, I think I solved the problem. This, of course, involved me setting off the alarm system, having to clean out the storage room and studying YouTube videos to figure out all possible causes and solutions.

I couldn’t tell you what I did to make it work – I tried everything – but a few minutes ago the water, I swear to God, felt warmer. Fingers crossed.

Now, of course, I’m wide awake. Here are a few things I’ve learned on the Internet while trying to become sleepy:

1. If only women voted in the American election, President Obama would win, by a landslide.

2. The New York Times app makes you pay for some articles but those same stories can be accessed off its website, for free.

3. Like this one, on Romney’s language choices, like “gosh,” “smitten” and “H-E-double hockey sticks.” Seriously, who the fuck talks like that?

4. There’s no shortage of really odd people in the world. Like this one who breast feeds her dog.

5. That I really don’t give a shit about LiLo, Britney Spears or any of the Kardashians.

6. Spent some time now “hiding” or “unsubscribing” posts from some of my Facebook friends. I mean, really, how many inspirational quotes, “click like if you’re against (fill in the blank)” posts or photos of cute cats do I have to be subjected to? (And, yes, I’m aware that I post stuff too, but this isn’t about me).

I didn’t really learn anything by doing this but it sure felt good.

7. And, finally, politics is truly never boring. Currently there are three Grit leadership races, three by-elections, one prorogation and another one rumored to come soon.

There’s a court decision about to be handed down that is likely bad news for the federal Tories. Serious allegations being made against a former Liberal MP, another former NDP MP in Israeli custody and a current Conservative minister accused of overspending by Elections Canada.

Never. Boring.