The Left’s Wickedness: It’s Depressing
I grew up in a family that was a mixed bag politically. My father has always been a staunch conservative while my mother, and most of her family, might as well have voted NDP.
My maternal grandfather voted for Dave Barrett and when announcing this in our house, my father, who was a long-time friend and strong supporter of the Bennetts couldn’t have been more appalled.
Former Attorney-General Alex McDonald was a frequent patron at my father’s restaurants and became a friend to him, although in their old age, they’ve lost touch. Alex (what a great name!) was always a terrific guy.
Gary Lauk, the youngest Cabinet Minister in BC history (31 years old), who I thankfully met during the collapse of my first marriage in the early 90s (I couldn’t have relied on a better friend through some very trying times), is a storied NDP force, but one of the sharpest intellects and drop-down-on-the-floor funniest men you could ever meet. We spent one remarkably memorable twelve hour epic lunch at Hy’s Encore together and when the astronomical bill came at just past midnight, we simply looked at each other and went into the kind of maniacal hysterical laughter, inclusive of streaming tears, that became so infectious, neighbouring tables, through their own laughter thought we’d won the lottery or simply gone completely, stark raving mad. I haven’t seen Gary in a couple of years (since both of us are now so, ahem, well-behaved) but I miss those days, if only because we survived them with such harmless, joyful abandon. And his kindness extends beyond the bounds of normal humanity.
Bill Tieleman was a very good friend of mine before my anger at him screwed that up. But if you ever read the very personal reply I received when I, some time ago, sent him condolences for the loss of his absolutely wonderful mother, you’d not keep a dry eye. Apart from being a bit of an occasionally intractable blowhard (um, pot meet kettle…) he’s a very good man.
Marjorie Nichols was one of my favourite journalists, despite her doctrinaire place on the far left. When cancer took her from us, I mourned no less than any of her ideologically supportive readers.
I don’t agree much with most Tyee columnists (and their comments section is the WORST receptacle of innuendo and drive-by smear jobs by cowards with no couth), but I appreciate the fine journalism they practice and I think the world of David Beers, although his paper has gone decidedly far left.
I’ve made many a friend of NDPers and left wingers–primarily because I don’t care about the politics on your sleeve, but rather the goodness in your heart. I think John Horgan or Mike Farnworth would make fantastic premiers. I like Adrain Dix very much on a personal level and hope when he becomes our next premier that he will curtail the tendency of the far left wing nuts backing him of having the province run by rabid union fiat.
Margaret Mitchell remains one of the best MPs we’ve ever had. Mind, in those years, it wasn’t too tough to raise the level of the NDP game far above the insufferable ilk of Svend Robinson, though Margaret was a tireless servant of the people.
And Carole James, honestly, every time I think of what could have been, I almost feel a tear coming on. The single kindest soul to ever grace the legislature of this province, who would have transformed, for the better, not only the NDP but the province itself, she is the embodiment of the word wonderful. So great is James’ kindness, that in her retirement as leader of the BC NDP, she has added to her family and taken a young gal under her wing, whose life is now worlds better. Absolutely amazing.
Kindness and goodness extends to both left and right, I suppose, but evil, well that’s a different matter altogether.
I’m not a huge fan of Ann Coulter, a right winger if there ever was one, but when she goes overboard (like unnecessarily attacking 9/11 widows), it reminds me of how when left wing Whoopi Goldberg does it (in defending director Roman Polanski’s drugging and sodomizing of a twelve year old as “not really rape-rape”) no one seems to want to talk about it.
There is a major double standard, particularly when the mostly left wing press start to complain that the media is really, politically on the right. Nonsense. Maybe Gordon Campbell had friends with old CanWest, yes, but most members of the press in this province are on the left, let me assure you. It’s just mostly the prominent ones who are shills for Ms. Clark and her not-so-merry band of Fiberals in BC.
However, there are those, primarily in this province, that are simply put–left wing bastards–regardless of being in the media, politics or specifically, on the Internet. They number in the few but their unkindness is stunning.
The Dianne Watts piece I did the other day put this into perspective for me and made me recall how, for many on the left, nothing is sacred. Nothing, not a goddamn thing.
I wrote the piece to illustrate how the smears and falsehoods against Dianne, an infrequent and very light drinker, were being constructed with intent, and how she is an extremely caring individual. Somewhere in the first half I also mentioned that I was depressed back then after almost losing my youngest daughter (this is not permitted, read on) and how Dianne (along with many other friends) was extremely supportive at a moment I needed that.
This is criminal in the wingnut world of the Van Rassels, Robbins, Yuiles, Goughs, et al.
Because today, on another blog, one my own commenters, who openly identifies as an NDPer, attacked me for drinking heavily when I was depressed years ago (like I was alone in that predicament). She mocked me (wait til she wants to come back here…just wait). Oh, don’t think for a minute I mind that much, it’s part of the job, but imagine someone being so miserably insensitive.
But this isn’t an isolated incident.
I’ve written several times about how the younger generations of native aboriginals suffering from addiction and education issues in this province (and across the country) are being marginalized by their own limo-riding elders, so one chap–as ‘thanks’ for my care of their own, hid behind the name ‘Eddy’ (although he identified himself as a Squamish Nation, NDP supporter) and claimed to be university educated (as if this matters in the context of such a discussion) and then insisted I “watch” my back. “Because one day when you’re going home with your kids…you never know…”
Lovely man.
I have relentlessly hammered Vision Vancouver’s scurrilous desecration of our streets with unnecessary and useless bike lanes in this beautiful-before-they-ruined-it-city. My reward? One very well-known left wing, cycling fascist from Port Moody (who works in downtown Vancouver) attacked me (and my eldest daughter!), because I mentioned little Gina in the story (I repeated that she asked about why bike lanes in Vancouver were always empty). And he weighed in heavily: “I hope she doesn’t end up a rightwing pig like her father. Perhaps social services will do your daughter a favour and pick her up.Or maybe you should send her my way in a few years you fat-ass prick, if she’s pretty. Hehe…”
Well, he should see my diminishing ass now.
And for the record, Gina is eight.
My quiet rage reminded me of when former prime minister Brian Mulroney said, in an infamous interview, that he almost wanted to visit ‘Frank’ magazine with a gun, after they speculated on what a gang-deflowering of Caroline Mulroney would be like. His approval numbers spiked after he said that.
Apparently, daughters are special to Canadians. That’s a good thing.
When I recently outed the despicable left wing Vision weasels on Vancouver city council for attacking Canadian tourism industry titan Peter Armstrong’s Rocky Mountaineer Railtours’ lockout of an unreasonable union–an attack, for no other reason than RMR is owned by Peter (the Chair of the NPA campaign), the whining and attacks from the left were endless. But one attack from an NDP supporter of Libby Davies’ (so self-identified on ‘TWITter’) struck me as remarkable: “You and your St. George’s fuckhead friend can’t spend your daddy’s money fast enough to save yourselves cuz we are gonna take you out big time fuckers.” Word for word.
For the record, my semi-retired father has never invested in Peter’s business and is summarily uneasy on trains.
A recent post I did on my utter disgust that the mass murder in Norway was being CONSISTENTLY labeled by the press as having been accomplished by “a Christian”, drew the fire of a local far left loon gadfly, who operates his pathetic blog and visits others’, all while he’s punched in at the Vancouver Public Library in some obscure department (how ya feelin’ about your tax buck, now my darlings?) He goes by the moniker ‘Spartikus’ (those of you who also read Frances Bula’s worthwhile blog will know of his howling from the outback there). In my post, you’ll recall how I posited that the murders of innocent soldiers in Ft. Hood, Texas were done by an extremist, left wing Muslim, but this was hardly mentioned by the press, specifically the New York Times. Well, ‘Spartikus’ also known as James Gemmill, took my comments out of context and went on to show a few references, which wasn’t my point–and he was terribly ornery about it. When I contacted him through his blog, he posted a meandering reply, but as with most extremists, the pertinent questions I asked and the points I made were ignored.
Do you see a pattern? The left only care about laws as they affect others, not them. They lie, mind, so do many on the right–but not anywhere as pervasively. They manipulate your comments all for the cause. Everything left is right and all right is wrong.
Although, when Jack Layton looked as if he was dying I, a dreaded conservative, did a post wishing him well–notwithstanding my loathing of his unsupportive comments about our soldiers on the plains of hell.
When Christopher Hitchens’ cancer was getting the best of him, one of his former left wing colleagues lamented that he wasn’t already gone (because the Hitch is seen as a sell-out for supporting the Bush Administration on many foreign policies and writing against Islamofascism; by definition, giving its evil a deserved beating).
The left will attack anything and everything: You, your family, your business, your religion, your appearance, your life–even if you’re dying. Even if you’re child’s life is in peril–as long as you’re on the right. It doesn’t matter to them. They want you to hurt. Despite idiots like those pumping for the Westboro Baptist Church on the right; it’s hardly a saw off.
It’s depressing, is what it really is.
Then again, there will always be the right on the left: Carole James and Tieleman and others.
Like my wonderful NDP readers, many of whom write me daily about spending more time with them.
Which makes me think I should have lunch with my mother soon.
I’ve been on the receiving end of some of Spartikus’s attacks…it is not pleasant.
He is comfortable knowing his union will protect him…
VPL and City computers…wow, what a cheeky, cowardly little man…
Sorry that this is the type of abuse you’ve been taking Alex…
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He’s a jerk who needed to be outed. He should either blog or work for the public. Such PUBLIC opinions are offensive to those of us who delight in the VPL’s success, but don’t feel a TAX-PAID employ has the right to be such an miserable asshole. Simple stuff.
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Miserable is his problem…the fact that he is doing it from a taxpayer
paid computer, during work hours, that we pay for, is what offends me.
Herein lies the difference… misuse of public monies…
You Alex, own your site, take no advertising, use your own name..and
we are guests…
I now have a healthy mistrust of my local Library.. sad
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That he has the stones to pretend anything he spews is insane enough, but for Gemmill to be twittering posts and acknowledging his position with the VPL is just appalling. That’s my tax buck and I want my tax buck unmolested by extremist opinions that I don’t agree with. When you work for the public, you give up the eight to such public comment. Otherwise, go get a real job without the security and warm blanket I help provide.
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Good lord.
Alex, stick to research. These personal opinion pieces reveal too much of who you really are.
And it’s not pretty.
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What precisely did you find ugly? That I’m brutally honest, even about my own frailties, past and present. Or that I value varied opinions but that the hurt comes overwhelmingly from the left?
Go on, I’m listening.
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Hmm…ugly is not a word I would have used…’not pretty’ is so much more gentle.
I only know how I feel after reading your posts. When I read your research posts, I feel impressed. I am in awe of your ability to piece together words so full of insight, and so concisely. I have a feeling of listening to a favorite professor.
When I read your posts like this one, I feel disappointed and sorry about the time and energy consumed to produce this when I know the other exists. One is inspiring and, well, pretty. The other is not so pretty…and maybe…not interesting to me…could it be that I just don’t care about your frailties or your ranting? I guess that could be it. So perhaps I am being selfish and wishing this all-consuming (for you) side business could be over and done with so you could get focussed on the interesting (to me) stuff again…how rude of me, eh?
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You said it, not me.
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Wow…you edit out what I say?
(Edited Again: AGT)
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Perhaps you missed my previous post on commenting here. You broke two of those rules.
You cannot make mindless insults the very basis of your comment and just offer nothing else. Your threat not to come back is your problem. I couldn’t care less. I get three times the readership of everyone else.
The less balanced I won’t miss much, believe me.
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Darby, old boy, why should not Alex talk about his personal emotions, etc.?
By doing so he reveals his frailties and his vulnerabilities. True, this makes him somewhat a target for the more judgmental among us. By discussing his family he shows that he has a familial caring that is becoming more and more foreign to some modern families. By talking about business reversals he shows his inadequacies in that field, though there appear not to be too many! His failure in matrimonial bliss, his determination to keep trying (the triumph of hope over experience) and his looks may be said to be: Classical, Greek. His weight more likely called “avoirdupois”, giving him gravitas and intellectual “weight”. We like our leaders to be humble, above all else, and to be seen as human, all too human, because as they say: To err is human, to forgive Divine. Let us all try harder to be divine.
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I was meaning to write to say I really enjoyed your Watts column because it showed a human side to her that I didn’t know about. Just didn’t get to do that.
Couple of points.
1. I don’t think the vile vindictiveness that you write about the left is a hallmark only of the left. My sense people on all spectrums have this emptiness in their souls, for which they barely know anything about. It just strikes them to strike out at anyone who puts their head up. Mean spirited inside their souls, combined with the anonymity they think they have sitting at their computers, it makes them spew out venom. A hallmark of modern society in which maybe people believe they should be happy all the time. When they aren’t they strike out at people such as yourself. PS, I don’t agree with everything you say but I agree with your right to say it. Plus, your work ethic is pretty damn good.
2. I generally don’t read comments on blogs or websites because they’re generally poorly written or don’t add anything worthwhile. So, good on you for moderating much more closely. Maybe you could something like the NY Times does – for comments they have readers recommendations and editors recommendations so that others could go with the more substantive comments. Once, my comment went to like #10 of 500 on the Times readers recommendations. Quite an achievement. For folks who are reading this, I found that funny lines in your comment are the best way to win votes.
In any event, I read your stuff always. If, over time, the comments improve in quality, I may start reading those too. I guess it’s like the letters to the editor in the Vancouver Sun or any paper. If you let the writers run amok, you end up running off your real readers. In closing, everybody needs a great editor – especially your commenters!!
When in doubt, hack and slash. I’d rather see 5 great comments than 5 interspersed among 40 average or poor. Why not make it an achievement to be published on your comments? That would make people work harder to write something substantive.
Keep up the good work.
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Thanks Msrk.
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Mark – You read the NYT and would have us emulate it!
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“Left” ? “Right” ? No sir. I repeat: “The entitled”.
j
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Alex,
Great piece.
In your last post about rules for posting to your blog NewF took offense to my comments about left wing extremists. My response to NewF is if you don’t like what’s happening do something besides slandering other people. Get out and vote, raise money for people you support who you think will do a better job, canvas on their behalf or run for office, etc. Look at what Bill did with the HST. Rather than just complaining and name calling he got off his duff and did something about it. But then that takes courage, time, sacrifice and real commitment none of which these drive by zealots have.
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If Adrian Dix becomes Premier, as you suggest, the Peace River Block, both north and south, will be devastated as under Glennochio, when over-taxed oil exploration companies pull up their bits and move out of province. He won’t care as he gets no support in that section that is more beholden to Alberta geographically and philosophically, but the rest of the province will suffer from the loss of tax revenue.
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Well, then you’d better get your articulate, intelligent, knowledgeable ass over to Mr. Cummins’ bailiwick.
The next election may very well be a minority govt, with the BC Conservatives holding the balance of power.
And don’t think for a minute that Cummins and Co will go with the Fiberals in such a scenario. The NDP will be watering their wine, significantly. Then you might see another election about a year later where the NDP and Liberals will be wiped clean. Just watch, Ms. Clark’s party is about to have a rather large implosion.
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Verrrry interesting!
“The water has drowned the Matterhorn as deep as a Mendip mine,
But I don’t care where the water goes if it doesn’t get into the wine.”
G.K.C.
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Alex … this a bit of a rant … if you don’t like what people send you, don’t read it or print it … you are the editor as well as the journalist.
While older left-wingers are prone to all human frailties, there are many young idealists.
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Alex, I’m one of your ndp readers and I love it when you write like this. It gives us an honest look at the man who has us glued to our screens everyday. I hate to admit it but you are so right about my fellow ndp supporters. On the net they can be so mean and nasty and in person they are worse. When you came to the ndp leadership convention there were some very surprised people but pleasantly surprised.
You don’t favor anyone, except Carole James. I think you have a crush on her.
I can’t wait for your bc rail posts. Keep up the great work Alex.
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You’re too kind to me. Hey you support the dissolving of the long gun registry! Doesn’t that make you a Tory?!
Just kidding…LMAO.
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Ah, Alex-people and life are like a box of chocolates-left or right, you never know what you’re going to get…
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The nuttier ones are on the left side of the box.
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But the sweetest ones are a little ways left-of-centre…
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I won’t disagree.
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“While older left-wingers are prone to all human frailties, there are many young idealists.”
Oddly enough, I found that quote in a fortune cookie last week.
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PS For a lawyer to include allegations of drinking, no matter how unfounded, is standard procedure in this sort of lawsuit. For a journalist to take the allegation seriously and try to turn it into anything more than what it is-legal fluffing-is a sad misallocation of human effort.
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Yes, quite right.
The accusations against Watts are absurd. She never drinks unless she’s at home and even then it’s a glass or two.
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The accusations against Watts are absurd. She never drinks unless she’s at home and even then it’s a glass or two
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Sort of reminiscent of “My roof only leaks when it rains”
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Henri, I usually enjoy your comments, but as with most left wingers, Watts is a target for you (because you misperceive her as being right wing), clearly, otherwise you wouldn’t make such an idiotic comment. It’s simple: The accusations against Watts allegedly drinking and driving (and causing an accident) are pure bunk–not to mention, fully backed by an RCMP report. The woman just doesn’t like drinking that much–period. Your attempt at providing a like analogy was pedestrian, if not completely inaccurate.
Try again.
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I would submit that items such as Watts are ones that create for more animosity than the value of the basic article.
I tore a strip off a civic/metro politician .
A prominent developer……. who Alex “knows” (aka S.H. …….)mildly scolded me for it….saying he felt the person I ripped was an honourable person. .
I rebutted that the person may be overall OK…..but in the CONTEXT of the given issue they were a miserable failure and in blatant dereliction of their fiduciary duty.
I then received a reply from S.H. that acknowledged my point..again within the apropos context
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Accidents?
My mother was involved in accident…she too was T boned.
However it ” may ” have been her fault…but there were issues about the other driver…Ironically, the accident was within 2 blocks of where Watts was hit.
The other driver apparently had a medical condition…….MS ……and strangely enough was a “victim” in another accident within a month.
My mother was “sued” by the other driver…and then ICBC lawyers became involved
Long Story short…as is predictable…the case was settled out of court at the 11 th hour.
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Alex, it’s the rancid political culture in BC that creates this poisonous atmosphere, albeit the political culture has at least moderated from 30 years ago.
IMHO, it’s not the centre-left, centre, or centre-right folk who perpetrate this wickedness and deceit but those who populate thre fringes of the spectrum. Hiding behind anonymous labels, they vent their nastiness at those who they perceive are the source of troubles in their miserable lives. LOL
Ever read online comments on various news sites in BC? Reading same can drive one literally insane. LOL I stay away from that stuff now.
For that matter, Alberta and Ontario don’t have either the same political culture or same ratio of loons ranting on the ‘net as BC has.
As for Dix, he’s the icon for the left-wing loons. Just look at loony left Mable Elmore et al who backed his leadership bid. And now an NDP candidate in Kamloops is also assisting in the attack against Rocky Mountaineer Railtours. Nothing good will ever come out of Dix. Too bad Farnworth didn’t bag the leadership.
And ahh yes, my maternal grandfather also thought Dave Barrett was the best thing since sliced bread!
While I don’t always agree with some of your analysis you are always “down-to-earth”. And that counts for alot.
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And you Brad are always welcome here. Your purpose and intelligence speaks volumes. Thank you.
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i used to be right sometimes im left but usually now i land in the middle , i try and use some common sense when looking at all politicians and find far too many lacking any of such themselves , that combined with a lack of any credible attempt to stand for whats right is almost disgusting no wonder we see riots look at out leadership .
so call me a fiscal conservative with a liberal conscience which leans ndp in BC because our liberals are right wingnutters bye and large good blog Alex i may not always agree with you but you are upfront and dead honest about what you think and will debate fairly keep it up.
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Thanks SB, and I, like you, sit very much in the middle on quite a few issues.
I very much appreciate your comments.
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Alex you’ve done it again , another thought provoking article. Although I’ve voted ndp more often than not ( I don’t believe in trickle down economics ) but realize that ONLY a healthy robust private sector can sustain a place where we all want to reside , I’ve found the loony left far uglier in their attacks on the right than vice versa..
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Thanks. I, too, have a little issue with the ‘trickle down’ theory. It rarely works.
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Wait ’til you get my age boys, you’ll know what trickle down is! I read once of a suicide note from the 1800′s, obviously before the invention of the zipper fly, that read in part: ” …. all this buttoning and unbuttoning!”
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One of the funniest comments ever. Well done.
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“…I don’t care about the politics on your sleeve, but rather the goodness in your heart.”
Thanks for putting to words as to what most of us apathatic would-be voters feel.
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You’re most welcome. I meant it.
With the calibre of public servant on all sides, it’s easy to be apathetic. I hear you!
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The mind is an intriguing thing.
Seems to me that many seem to think that owning a website, and/or having the ability to communicate online, somehow makes them special, powerful and/or even above the law.
I think the ‘net gives many people a false sense of power and security.
Millions have websites, millions (billions?) communicate online and “everyone” has an “opinion”.
Believing having a website or the ability to communicate online somehow makes you special, powerful and/or above the law, to me paradoxes thinking, “Wow, I own salt and pepper shakers, aren’t I someone special and important. Think I’ll go bonk people in the head with them seeing as I am the great and untouchable owner of salt and pepper shakers!”
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Yes, or if you’re a crazed optician like Jim Van Rassel….or “pollster” (honestly, it is to laugh) like Glen Pee Robbins.
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I would like to see this Darby guy produce a blog full of honest unbiased exclusives and breaking news stories…. There is nobody else out there that can provide content found on this blog which is why I read here only…. Keep up the hard work….
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Thanks Jay. Yeah, I take great pride in my work and try awfully hard to bring you news that matters and opinion pieces that will make you think.
Many thanks again.
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Funny how many lefties like you when you rightly expose Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark for what they are, but vilify you when you dare say something they do not agree with…Harvey Oberfeld appears to share the same experience you do!
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EXACTLY! Someone gets it!!!!
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One man + one party + seven words = the great undoing of this Country:
Pierre Trudeau
Liberal Party of Canada
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
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The Thought of The Day
“My grandfather’s words exactly!”
A WWII Veteran. POW survivor in a Soviet concentration camp. We talked a lot about the wickedness of the so called ‘cold war’, the West versus the Communist/ Socialist con artists, etc.
In those days… it was about a superior, more equitable society. Today… it is about a cleaner, greener society.
Different times, same modus operandi, and if it goes like this, unchallenged, I can say it with a great deal of certainty that we may be a few years away from being picked up from our front lawns for BO over-polluting. Or incarcerated for an undetermined amount of time for being caught with an over the limit carbon footprint. Water, gas, perspiration meters are only a good start… Go figure.
Oh, and these were my grandfather’s words (‘commies’ instead of ‘the left’ though):
“The left will attack you and everything: You, your family, your business, your religion, your appearance, your life–even if you’re dying. Even if you’re child’s life is in peril–as long as you’re on the right. It doesn’t matter to them. They want you to hurt.”
Preaching to the choir! Thanks for sharing Alex.
For it’s a good reminder for some…
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
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I should just have a rubber stamp made for every time you comment that says: You’re incredible.
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And a second stamp that says absurd and or bullshit !!
And incidentally Alexander I’m not a leftist , lets get that understood.
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So then how on earth did you get so confused over the Watts story?
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The Thought Of The Evening
“My grandfather also said to me that one day…I may have to defend my beliefs, and I’ll have to be prepared, for the commies… will always say that my words are ‘absurd and/or bullshit”! ”
So, Henri… you just proved my point.
In all fairness, my grandfather actually said to me that when/ and if dealing with the commies I have to be very careful ,as they could and will, force you to forfeit your future.
My middle name is Omicron and I am from Persei, and I came in peace.
How about you, Henri? is Mars treating you well?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v–IqqusnNQ&ob=av2e
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
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In regard to Watts and her accident, I just don’t understand why she doesn’t have her breathalyzer or roadside results released and clear up any doubt of conspiracy as I believe that test is SOP for police at any major accident. That would shut them up.
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Oh for Christ’s sake, how many times do we have to repeat police procedure???????
If there is no probable cause/reasonable suspicion, they don’t pull out the breathalyzer, did you miss that? You missed that. The same rules apply to you during a roadblock. There was no hint of alcohol on the breath of Watts or Redekopp. So neither was administered sobriety tests. The test is NOT standard operating procedure at every accident. I’ve been in three major accidents in my life, two were in the wee hours of the morning and no such thing ever happened.
Thanks.
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Sir:
I’ve always considered myself a “lefty”. I support unions and was a shop steward for a public sector union in a former career. I believe that government intervention is necessary to alleviate the worst excesses of the free market and create more equal access to opportunity. (Of course, as I age, become more successful, and pay an ever larger chunk of tax, I find myself drifting right. Maybe “lefty” is a relative term.)
But I’ve become a faithful reader of your blog. Frankly, it’s good stuff. And I share your dismay at some of the hateful garbage that spews from those on the left. And the right, for that matter. Growing up, most of my family were hard-working, self-made folks who faithfully supported the Socreds and hated the NDP. But they were all good people who would give you the shirts off their backs. And that’s what counted.
The blind, hateful trash that politicians, left and right, and their hack supporters employ now to motivate their bases is just so bloody depressing.
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Superb comment. Bless you and your family. Good stock, clearly.
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Alex,
I’m sure that if you were to magically change your political alignment overnight, you’d find that the evil/nastiness/hatefulness knows no political boundaries. Dave Naylor’s tweet (now apologised for) about Jack Layton’s passing is a case in point.
It’s sad that now we can hide behind the anonymity of our keyboards, our civility to each other is diminished.
A.
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Sorry, but I can’t stomach the absurd nature of your last line: I don’t hide. My words are most public.
And Naylor is a fool. A complete one-off.
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Alex,
Sorry if I caused offense – I wasn’t calling you out on anonymity at all. It just seems to me to be a general trend in the public comments section of just about every blogger – people spouting off in a manner that they wouldn’t dream of if they were face-to-face It speaks to a general loss of civility in our society..
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No offense my brother. You could not offend me. We spent the best years of our lives in the same class.
The older I get. The more this matters to me. When I’m over sinner on me. And we’ll get Matt and Dougal to come along as well. Cheers!
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The indescribably awful climate of hostility and violence that takes place whenever someone speaks there mind is an atrocious attack on an individual’s right to speak openly about ideas and differences of opinion.
While not personally ascribing to left-right dichotomous politics (being a Green who is both socially open and fiscally conservative) it pains me when someone must endure personal vilification along with threats against themselves and their families. It is in a word disgusting and I am sorry that it happened to you Alex.
I admire your tenacity and bravery, despite any personal political differences your have with any of your readers, in continuing to provide a forum for discussion. I believe it helps to encourage people such as yourself to continue to do what you are doing.
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Ryan, this is very good of you and I, too, admire reasonable greens like you. It’s a pleasure having you around.
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Alex you wrote:
Because today, on another blog, one my own commenters, who openly identifies as an NDPer, attacked me for drinking heavily when I was depressed years ago (like I was alone in that predicament). She mocked me (wait til she wants to come back here…just wait). Oh, don’t think for a minute I mind that much, it’s part of the job, but imagine someone being so miserably insensitive.
Your lament on someone being so ‘miserably insensitive’ towards you takes me back to your unkind attack on Constance Barnes during a vulnerable time in her life. An episode in the past when you did not rise to your higher level.
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Perhaps if you were a regular reader here you would have noticed that I publicly apologized to Constance Barnes at the BC NDP leadership convention and repeated that in a follow up post. Even though the story was a good one, her earth should have outweighed the scoop.
And I’m not an addict, she is.
But don’t let me wake you Loretta. I know you’re busy trying to straddle every issue with self-serving strategies that screw the public every time–all while adopting pathetic political posturing instead of doing some real work.
This must be tiring. Back to bed….With your signed copy of Castro’s memoires on the nightstand.
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