  
"...[Kinsella is] a modern-day Machiavelli, the mastermind who ran war rooms for Jean Chretien and Dalton McGuinty... He's the ultimate political insider... [The War Room] has plenty of fascinating insights and is a must-read for political junkies." - The Toronto Sun
- The National Post
- Tom Flanagan, The Literary Review of Canada
- The Hill Times
- The Winnipeg Free Press - John Moore, CFRB
- John Oakley, AM640
- John Wright, Ipsos, CFRB
- Charles Adler, Adler Online
- Tommy Schnurmacher, CJAD
- Ken Rockburn, CPAC   When is a goon not a goon? To be a goon, or not a goon? That is the question.
All will be told in Ottawa in mid-September, come Hell or High Dudgeon. But not in this book. ...a great, great town.
I will be at the Manitoba Legislature tomorrow morning, although not necessarily to see my friend Hugh, who is a Tory for whom I would happily campaign. He's a great guy and he will be a great Premier one day. Man. Tory leader wants shorter Question Period to improve quality of debate (Mba-Legislature-Refor) Source: The Canadian Press May 12, 2008 23:06 By Mary Agnes Welch Winnipeg Free Press THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG _ Manitoba's Tory leader says much of the legislature's internal workings are stacked against the opposition and are in need of reform. Hugh McFadyen says committees should be given more power to call outside witnesses and question civil servants, much like parliamentary committees do. McFadyen also wants to move question period to earlier in the day, and have it shortened so questions and answers are more concise. Justice Minister Dave Chomiak, the house leader, says he's already floated the idea of a shorter question period. But Chomiak rejects the idea of allowing committees to call outside witnesses, saying it could create a chill among bureaucrats if they're forced to testify. Even though it accounts for a fraction of what elected members do, question period is the central event of the legislature's day. It's what the media covers and it's where any percolating public issues tend to coalesce. McFadyen wants it to start 11 a.m. rather than 1:30 p.m. He also wants it shortened to 30 minutes from 40 and wants strict time limits on questions and answers so party leaders have to get to the point. ``My sense is that the legislature just isn't working, that the primary function of the elected legislature to hold the government to account has been eroded,'' McFadyen said. Chomiak, however, says question period is by nature the opposition's forum, and they dictate the tone and content. University of Manitoba political scientist Paul Thomas said that even though question period has traditionally been central to democratic accountability, it has lost relevance because the bad behaviour turns people off. Thomas said the partisan questions, yelling and the non answers reinforce the cynical attitude that many people harbour about politicians. ``It's probably not been as bad as it is today, in this era of spin where ministers work out beforehand what they'll say and how they'll say it,'' said Thomas. (Winnipeg Free Press) INDEX: POLITICS © 2008 The Canadian Press Heading to the 'Peg, and just read his column of today. Amazing.
So too this part: On Dec. 10, 1948, Winston Churchill, then leader of the opposition, took to the floor of the House of Commons to chastise the Labour government for its continuing refusal to recognize the state of Israel. In his remarks, Churchill commented: "Whether the Right Honourable Gentleman likes it or not, and whether we like it or not, the coming into being of a Jewish state in Palestine is an event in world history to be viewed in the perspective, not of a generation or a century, but in the perspective of a thousand, two thousand or even three thousand years. This is a standard of temporal values or time values which seems very much out of accord with the perpetual click-clack of our rapidly-changing moods and of the age in which we live." My spouse was upset, this morning, by the photograph on the Globe's front. It is a large photo, and it depicts bodies floating in brackish water in Burma.
She felt that it is too graphic, and exploitative - and that it would confuse and frighten little kids like ours. I felt that it was a case of the Globe's editors doing what good editors sometimes do - using jarring words or images to wake up people (ie., us) who need waking up. What do you think? Did they go over the line?  I am a flyer nut. Generally speaking, I am more interested in flyers than I am in many daily newspapers. I suspect I am not alone in that.
Anyway. The new Canadian Tire one is just awesome. Awesome. Rona is okay, and Best Buy and Futureshop always have the same stuff. But Canadian Tire? Better than the New York Times, most days. Word. A book about world-leader studs, as reported in this week's Hill Times:
Martin latest former prime minister to write memoirs Paul Martin is the latest former prime minister to write his memoirs. In a new book, Hell of High Water: My Life In and Out of Politics, to be published by McClelland & Stewart this October, Mr. Martin writes about his early life in Windsor, Ont., his time as the CEO of Canada Steamship Lines and, of course, his two decades in public life. “Great events and world figures stud this book, which is firm but polite as it sets the record straight, and is full of wry humour and self-deprecating stories,” declares the M&S blurb. Mr. Martin served as the finance minister under Jean Chrétien from 1993 until 2002. A rift between the two former leadership rivals started in 2000 when media reported that Mr. Martin’s supporters secretly met to find different ways they could try to push Mr. Chrétien into retirement. According to Mr. Chrétien’s memoirs, My Years as Prime Minister, released last year, he was “annoyed” with Mr. Martin’s “self-serving goons” and thought about firing him but his advisers Jean Pelletier and Eddie Goldenberg talked him out of it. “Both were to regret their advice and I soon regretted my decision to keep him,” Mr. Chrétien wrote. Mr. Martin left Cabinet in June 2002, but it wasn’t clear if he was fired or if he resigned. In his book, Mr. Chrétien says Mr. Martin resigned. At 416 pages, Hell or High Water promises Mr. Martin’s “account of the revolt against Chrétien.” And the rivalry lives on. Obama overtakes Clinton in count of superdelegates for first time ( URGENT-Obama-Endorsement)
Source: The Canadian Press May 10, 2008 15:53 WASHINGTON - Barack Obama has overtaken Hillary Rodham Clinton in superdelegate endorsements for the first time. Obama picked up four superdelegate endorsements, including two from the Virgin Islands who had previously endorsed Clinton. The additions erased Clinton's once-imposing lead among the party and elected officials who will automatically attend the party's national convention this summer. The milestone is important because these are the Democrats who will decide the nomination for president, and Clinton would need their support by a wide margin to win. Obama has a big lead among delegates won in primaries and caucuses, but neither candidate can win the nomination without support from the superdelegates. (The Associated Press) INDEX: INTERNATIONAL POLITICS Heading East on the 401, and folks have lined up on the overpasses again to greet a returning hero. Firetrucks, citizens, flags, all facing East.
You have to see this, as I have a few times now, to understand its emotional impact. It is very, very powerful. It is so sad, but it makes you proud of them, too. My one-person focus group is my gal; she's smarter and more intuitive than me, even if she was a Tory, long ago. She laughed out loud when I read her this line from the Prime Minister. I was laughing, too.
"Mr. Dion and Mr. Duceppe are quite a group of gossipy old busy-bodies." Sorry, fed Lib pals, but that was a killer line. Game, set, match. Let it go, move on. A million years ago, when I was a young fella - when I thought I would be dead before I hit 20, say, and then when I hit 20, highly unlikely to ever reach 30 - I got in fights. My mug, and my hands, still bear little mementos of various youthful stupidities. Between my mouth and my nose, for example, I've still got a nasty-looking scar from the time in Calgary I tangled with a mountain-sized army reservist. (We ended up shaking hands and having a pint together, I dimly recall.)
Anyway. All of this is to say that - when me and my gang were still scrappin' - we scrapped with our fists. I'm not saying we weren't stupid - we were - but we generally weren't out to kill each other. These days, as all of us are reminded on a daily basis, kids don't seem to fight so much with their fists anymore. Every once in a while, they actually use guns. And, with much more frequency, they carry and use knives. I don't know about you, but I think that when a kid is apparently stabbed over a cell phone - in his school, where he is supposed to be safe - I think it's time to acknowledge that there has been quite enough chit-chat about this insanity. And if one solution has to be metal detectors at schools, so be it. (The need for a handgun ban, meanwhile, is so self-evident, anyone who debates against it is clinically insane.) Kids and fights go together, unfortunately. It happens. When it happens, however, I will continue to vote for the guy or gal who want to ensure knives are no longer within arm's reach. My pal Joey Shithead and the legendary DOA are in town Saturday night - and our youngest's favourite threesome, Tiger Army, are here tonight. I'm heading up to the cabin, so I'll miss both. As a consolation - and as an incentive for all of you to go see these two great bands - here is a double YouTube sampler.
I'm heading to a celebration of Israel's 60th year, and who do I see in a blue van right behind me? John Tory.
I know this because, if his guy had been tailgating anymore, we would have been doing a little piggyback dance. Crazy old town, is Toronto. ...and therefore shows that she is a classy person. And human, like the rest of us who have messed up (and still regret it very much).
Here. "...The Public Policy Forum (PPF) is holding a symposium entitled: “Revisiting Canada’s Human Rights Commissions: A Public Symposium.” This half-day event will take place in Ottawa on the morning of Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008. I am writing to determine if you are available and interesting in being a speaker in a panel discussion. If you are available, an official invitation will follow. In the meantime, a draft copy of the agenda and proposal is attached...
As you know, there has recently been a great deal of public discussion concerning the mandate and effectiveness of human rights commissions (HRCs) in Canada. The PPF believes that the current public focus offers an excellent opportunity to examine the public policy role HRCs play in upholding human rights and reducing discrimination in Canadian society. The Public Policy Forum has gained a reputation as a trusted, neutral facilitator capable of bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss and develop policy. This symposium will feature a spirited and timely discussion about freedom of speech and the role of the state. As important as the free speech debate is, the PPF would also like to address the effectiveness of HRCs in helping to push Canadian society in the direction of greater respect for individual and group human rights. Doing so will require frank and honest debate about their mandates, resources, and relationships to legislative bodies. It will also require consideration of the views from both rights groups and the private sector. We welcome feedback on our attached proposal, including ideas about speakers and any other topics that need to be examined. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have regarding this symposium. Thank you for considering this invitation. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience..." That's the letter the Public Policy Forum sent to Mark Steyn, inviting him to debate Yours Truly. Twice. Two other respected free speech types have declined, politely. Impolitely, I think, Mark Steyn hasn't responded at all. However, Steyn is - by all accounts - still alive. My readers tell me the great man is still out there in ether, doing what he does best - you know, cheerfully defaming Muslims (whom he calls rapists), Chinese people (whom he calls Chinks), Japanese people (who he calls Japs), Indian people (whom he calls Wogs), and so on. John Daly heard him on the radio this morning, on the Breakingridge Islamophobic Hour. Here's what John wrote in the comments section, herein: "...I listened, this morning, to His Steyness interviewed on the Brekenridge (sic) show. I was almost shocked at his response when the host informed him you were willing to debate him...the very mention of your name reduced him to a pissed of seven year old. He basically said you are a dirty bum and he sees no point in spending one more moment in your company. He's SCARED Warren! Not sure, exactly, what the basis for the fear, but damn sure he is scared. So do not let him off the hook." I won't. Neither will the Public Policy Forum, I am told, until they get an answer. Stay tuned. In the meantime, we can safely regard Mark Steyn as a chickenshit. Because he is. UPDATE: Ezra wants in on the fun. He's got a big post up about me. In it, he goes on and on about how I was named by my good pal Judge Gomery in his report, which Stephen Harper and others have disowned. True, dat. Not mentioned: the time Ezra came to my office at McMillan Binch and offered me House of Commons property in exchange for a political donation (for him). Ez desperately wants to debate, which is understandable - the poor fella has been unemployed for months. I'll debate you right after that little Alberta Law Society matter is cleared up, okay? You know the one. Promise. • Memo To Tim Horton’s Communications Staff: (a) jump off a very tall building, because sometimes that is all that communications advisors can do (b) before leaping, explore ways to sell Tim’s back to Canadians.
• The Atomic Hug: That’s what the eight-year-old calls what he delivers to me when I leave in the morning, and come home at night. Does a running start, jumps at me for the big squeeze. The he heads off to play what we call the GNDS (cf. Goddamn Nintendo Double Screen). • Paying a lot for gas? We want you to pay more! That, it seems, is the shiny new Liberal Party of Canada platform. Make sense to you? Me neither. • Chicken-stein Update: The Public Policy Forum and I want Mark Steyn to come to a debate about human rights and speech. Some of his winged monkeys, rarely capable of independent thought, even think it would be fun. So what are you afraid of, O Pompous Windbag-o? Surely not me! You'd make short work of me, wouldn't you? • So, um, where was David? He’s got a not-bad op ed, here. Makes some good points. But where was he when we at the OBA – which represents him, and of which he is arguably a member – was making submissions on Bill 107? Hmmm. |
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