Sometimes, Leaders lead by being just like you and me

Normally, I don't really love Paul Wells - but Kudos to him for reporting on this non-story.

Just one of the guys

From a colleague at our Maclean’s Toronto headquarters:
“[Another colleague] just called from her place in the flu line at Metro Hall. Eight
over from her is Dalton McGuinty. Also waiting.
“No press, no aides, just one guy who looks like security.
“She thought someone ought to know.”

When compared to the other people we call leaders, I am constantly astounded by this man. So simple. So effective.

I have had time to truly consider this and,

It is true, the New York Yankees are truly awesome.

That is all.

Free agency is a political problem for them - but, I would recommend that they try to keep the team intact with bonus laden contracts. Both sides have to capitulate - the owners have money, and the players are already all millionaires.

If they want to get richer, they give up the chance at another ring.

Their decision.

Well, that made sense

To not have Michael Iggy ask a question about torture in the House of Commons.

401

I think it is fitting to dedicate my 401st post to Canada's worst freakin' highway.

I have been up it, down it, flipped over a car on it - and the traffic continues to grow.

And speed.

So, I think there are two key points I would like to make:

1) I really don't like the type of traffic on the 401. It is my personal view that the truck traffic is very dangerous and leads to extremely poor road conditions - winter and summer. Big truck going over paved road equals destruction of said road.

The simple truth is that we have a railway infrastructure, and we should use it - and if it needs to be overhauled - sign me up. These same truckers can now work driving stuff to/from the train station instead of down the 401.

2) Speed Kills. Every time I drive down the highway, I am passed at least once by a maniac who is going 150 plus. He/she deserves to lose their license. Not that I care if Darwin takes this doofus out, but I am afraid of who else will go out with them.

While it is true that most fatalities in Ontario are single car collisions - usually an idiot who is out of control on the 401 is not only going to kill themselves.

at 100 (or even 120) today's vehicles are very easy to control and are very safe. I don't even want to make the environmental point because - to be fair - it is a stupid one. BUT, a car travelling at the speed limit is going to consume less gas than the person who is speeding. Congrats, you have driven so fast as to reach Toronto in time to sit in traffic there. Duh.

Finally - the roads are build to handle a certain speed. This isn't just a contractor laying endless tracks on concrete/pavement. They are designed to handle traffic at a certain speed - engineered that way to make them safe.

Personally, I take the 7 to Toronto because it is just as fast (if you follow the speed limit), a nicer driver and I safe $20 in fuel by driving 90. Plus, I get to stop for actual food as opposed to fast food. Everybody wins!

Stupak Shakur

YAY 400 posts!

YAY universal health care in the US - at least on paper for one of the two bodies of the US congressional system.

There is no doubt about TWO things:

1) Canada gave life to universal health care in a very different way (start in one province, radiate outwards), and

2) The compromise is worth the result.

Yes, the Stupak amendment would ensure that any abortion is not treated as an elective medial procedure, and yes, this sucks. The whole point of Roe (and several successors) was to guarantee privacy and certain access - which this amendment would specifically avoid (because 'po' people may have to resort to other means).

Yes, the bill has NO chance of getting past the US Senate in its current form.

BUT - it doesn't matter - this is an incremental victory- and it is important that people in America see this as a stepping stone for full health care.

So, does it water down abortion rights? Hellz no.

1) Even before the Stupak amendment, women had to pay for abortions. Why? they didn't have universal health care silly and medicare didn't cover it before.

2) There is NOTHING in the new bill that otherwise prevents a woman from getting an abortion - it just says she can't have government funding to do it.

That does not mean that the procedure will be ushered into back alleys. In fact, I would suspect the opposite is the case. While there will be guaranteed funds in other areas, the simple truth is that this bill will simply invest more capital into all kinds of areas (including other reproductive health issues) by encouraging more access to medical benefits.

My view on this issue has always been the same - to people on both sides of the fence. Criminalizing the procedure will create more problems, but having liberalized abortion laws is not the same as liberalized abortions. There are lots of things that are legal that people do not do.

Convincing them not to do it is a far more laudable method to achieve your goal. In the meantime, we can have a quasi-rational debate on the speech issues surrounding abortion like what you are/not allowed to do to convince someone to not have one.

They stole my idea!!!

They stole my idea!

Samuel L. Jackson - LEFT MOTHER F*CKER! LEEEEEFT.

Democracy in Paradise

Gold Jerry, Boyle, that is

I don't even want to know how many of this kids own classmates didn't vote for him, or family members.

The result, however, is awesome. What a great law. If the decision is a tie, we will draw a name out of a hat.

Which would lead me to the best election system everywhere - EVERYONE in the city should run for mayor, and vote for themselves - meaning, literally, every one's name would be in the ballot box for a draw.

27!!!

Oh, glorious victory

So, what do you want to talk about now?

Is tonight the night?

God, I hope so.

Go Yankees!

Great minds think alike

See

http://www.newsweek.com/id/219001

I would sue if I had standing.