daveberta.ca - Alberta Politics and Elections

As of late, in an attempt to broaden my ‘perspective of the world’, I have found myself taking a “stand back and look from across the street” view of Canadian Politics. Lately, I am pretty disappointed in many of our politicians for their inability to get past petty partisan politics (or simply the inability not to look stupid).

If you’ve picked up any major Canadian newspaper in the past few weeks you would have seen a splatering of threats of same-sex elections (Paul Martin), billions of billions of eyeballs and mad-cow dinners (Ralph Klein), political threats to take down the Gomery Inquiry (Jean Chretien’s Lawyer) and threats to protect it (Stephen Harper). I do not wish to downplay these issues, but it all seems pretty pointless.

So what have I learned from these stories?

1) Same-sex marriage is not going to destroy humanity. It’s also probably one of the most devisive issues that you could run a campaign on (Note to PM: It was a pretty thin layered bluff).

2) Letting Ralph Klein open his mouth in public is bad for us all (especially cattle ranchers!).

3) Jean Chretien is never going to leave us, he loves us too much! He’ll be around for ever! As for Stephen Harper, well…

Back to the perspective thing… the international group Human Rights Watch has released a startling report from the new free and democractic Republic of Iraq.

Iraq: Torture Continues at Hands of New Government

Police Systematically Abusing Detainees

(Baghdad, January 25, 2005) — Iraqi security forces are committing systematic torture and other abuses against people in detention, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.

So, as the “leaders” of our great country continue to fight amoungst themselves for control of the sandbox, the attrocities going on in the world faze very few of us, and even fewer of our politicians.

So, is it perspective that I am looking for in a leader? Couldn’t hurt.

Bon Soir.

D

Some interesting news stories this and last week…

1) NDP and scandal….deja vu?? Saskatchewan’s NDP government says it didn’t know a woman at the centre of a missing money controversy was once convicted of a $600,000 bank fraud…read the rest of this juicy story….

2) Hey! You! Get behind my shield! U.S. President George W. Bush tried to bully Canadian officials on missile defence during his visit last month…want to read more?

3) This is why we have the Geneva Convention… Attendees at the Independence Ball, one of nine officially sanctioned galas celebrating President George W. Bush’s second inauguration Thursday, will be treated to a viewing of a caged Saddam Hussein…read the rest.

4) Just doesn’t know when to quit… Former DPM John Manley publically admits that he is keeping his formerly aborted Liberal Leadership Team alive in prepartation for the next go around…clicky here

Enjoy.

D

I watched M. Night Shyamalan’s movie “The Village” this weekend, and have decided that not only is it my choice for the worst movie of 2004, but that it was soooo awful, it will probably also be my worst movie choice for 2005 as well!! That twist ending was pretty lame. No…the whole movie was pretty lame.

Anyway, it was an interesting weekend. Friday night, Lewis Lapam, the editor of Harper’s Magazine was in E-town for the U of A Students’ Union Revolutionary Speakers Series. It was an interesting night. He gave the crowd quite a bit of insight into the current political climate in the US (from the viewpoint of an intellectual of the left). I would say that there were at least 600 people there.

I also attended the Annual General Meeting of the Alberta Liberals in the good city of Red Deer. Over 170 people from across Alberta came to this meeting to elect a new party executive, meet the 17 newly elected Alberta Liberal MLA’s, and hear Leader Kevin Taft speak. It seems to be a very exciting time of growth for the Official Opposition in Alberta.

I had an interesting discussion this weekend with some familiy of mine about Alberta Politics. It has always been a frustrating topic for me, I’m a provincial Liberal (big and small-L) here in Conservative dominated Alberta. I realize that the Liberals have a huge mountain to climb before they can legitimatly form a government (the PC Party has been in power since 1971). I do tend to believe that the first-part-the-post electoral system, the stagnation and lopsidedness of political debate along with the dominance of the PC Party has led many Albertans to believe that a change in government will never come. It’s frustrating and I think it may be how the Federal Reform/Alliance/Conservative Parties have felt about the federal Liberal dominance in Ontario.

But, nethertheless, it is very uplifting and re-energizing to see the the Alberta Liberals have a Leader like Kevin Taft to lead the charge against the “natural governing party of Alberta.”

Adieu and good night.

D

Happy Friday!

Good News! Family Guy, probably the only good thing about the FOX Corporation, is coming back to TV! After being cancelled by its right-wing Fox overlords, the extremly popular and controversial cartoon is coming back to air on Sunday May 1, 2005!! From the Fox website:

“Monday January 17, 2005

Premiere Date ConfirmedThe premiere date for the new season of Family Guy has finally been confirmed. No more “FOX 2005” for us. Oh no, we have a date AND a time. The season premiere of Family Guy season 4 will take place on Sunday, May 1st 9/8c on FOX. Mark your calendars and buckle up… only 104 days to go!

# posted by THE BARON @ 9:01 a.m.”

So, this is probably the only time I will say this, but “Good Work Fox!” (ouch, that hurt)



Have a good weekend!



D

Well I’ve finally decided to get on the great wave of bloging sweeping the land. So, here I am. Woah, what a rush…



Not sure what the overall theme of this blog is going to be, still trying to figure out the main details of how this thing actually works…



Listening CBC Radio One’s “As it Happens” program. For those of you who don’t know, As it Happens is a CBC nightly current affairs show. I’m not going to hide my bias, I think the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is probably the best news network in Canada (a purely personal opinion). It may be a little left-leaning, but it is a refreshing breath of fresh air in the world of Global, CNN, and Fox (barf!).



Back top AIH- Right now Mary Lou Finley is talking to the BC Foresty Minister about some issue regarding trees or something.



Well, that’s it for now.



Cheers.



D

Hello,

Welcome to my blog.

Dave