[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Barrister]

It's true that a match and a star both emit light. It's true that a Chihuaha and a Great Dane are both canines.

Let's set a little wager, you and I.

If Pierre Poilievre becomes Prime Minister in 2025, I think "Fuck Poilievre" (or even more likely "Fuck PP") will be widespread.

The fact that a "Fuck Harper" sign attracted attention in 2015, while "Fuck Trudeau" is almost common-place, has to do with changes in our overall culture, not some virtuousness on the left / vulgarity on the right.

(By the way - while I can't find any flags, "Fuck Trump" merch is easy to find on the web)

Sure I'll take that bet. I visit Vancouver and Montreal often. I'm quite confident that I'll see very few Fuck PP in Vancouver and zero in Montreal, because we're not children trying to "own the libs".

:shakeshand:

We shall see.

(That being said even in Alberta I see very little "Fuck Trudeau"-type merch, but admit it exists)

[viper37]

Sure I'll take that bet. I visit Vancouver and Montreal often. I'm quite confident that I'll see very few Fuck PP in Vancouver and zero in Montreal, because we're not children trying to "own the libs".

I'm tempted to hold that bet.

What are the stakes?

There will be "FUCK POILIÈVRE" signs and T-shirts for sure.

There will be funding cuts to many, many public programs and likely provincial transfers too.

It's inevitable the left will rally and someone will make a stung, as usual, on Tout Le Monde En Parle or some other popular tv show.

[crazy canuck]

I am hoping for PP toilet paper

[HVC]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEVV4UyRjel

[Grey Fox]

I want a Bloc Majoritaire flag. I'm sure there is going to be some on Quebec.

[Barrister]

Couple otherwise unrelated points:


https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-trum-elizabeth-may-1.7422629

Elizabeth May says Canada should not be going into an election with Donald Trump coming into power.  From the article:

"What happens with an election is that there is then only a caretaker role for whatever government is in place during the time the Trump White House is forming," May told a press conference Friday morning.

"Do we function best as a country in dealing with a newly-inaugurated [president-elect] Trump if we're in the midst of an election? Probably not."

So on the one hand she has a point.  What would Canada do if Trump slaps us with 25% tariffs and we're in the midst of an election campaign?

But she ignores the other side.  If we don't have an election, that means Trump is negotiating with a lame-duck Trudeau government, seemingly with only months left to live.  Trump can read the polls as well as anybody else.  How does that put us in a better position?

I really never cease to be unimpressed by Elizabeth May's political acumen.


Second, Poilievre gives a lengthy interview to none other than Jordan Peterson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dck8eZCpglc

I haven't watched it - because it's 1 hr 40 minutes long.  But I can't recall Poilievre ever sitting down for an interview of that length before.  Say what you will of Peterson, but this seems like an important story.

The thing is though - I can't find hardly a single news story about it.  All I can find is this short article from the right-wing Wester Standard:

https://www.westernstandard.news/canadian/jordan-peterson-and-pierre-poilievre-discuss-canadas-economy-immigration-housing/60861

It summarizes that Poilievre mostly talks about economics, and the lagging standard of living between US and Canada.

The interview seems like it came out around midnight last night, so lots of time to be digested - yet nothing in the media.  Curious.  There were several stories coming from Trudeau's interview on 22 Minutes, for example (including calling him out for cancelling other interviews).

Was Jordan Peterson's youtube channel a friendly location?  Certainly.  But does that mean it should be ignored?  It already has 800k views.

[Grey Fox]

He should be ignored because Peterson is a fascist. PP is once again showing his hand.

[Zoupa]

It came out less than 12 hours ago, calm your tits.

Plus it's Peterson. I'm not sure why the "media" needs to report on a podcast funded by russia. It'll reach its intended audience and press all the right buttons to make you snowflakes tick.

[HVC]

It came out less than 12 hours ago, calm your tits.

Plus it's Peterson. I'm not sure why the "media" needs to report on a podcast funded by russia. It'll reach its intended audience and press all the right buttons to make you snowflakes tick.

Peterson is Russia funded? I thought he was just regular ol' standard wackadoo right.

[Zoupa]

That Venn diagram is almost a perfect circle.

[Barrister]

It came out less than 12 hours ago, calm your tits.

Plus it's Peterson. I'm not sure why the "media" needs to report on a podcast funded by russia. It'll reach its intended audience and press all the right buttons to make you snowflakes tick.

So well it came out 22 hours ago if you want to get specific.

But here's the thing - if it is "a podcast funded by russia" that by itself is newsworthy, no?

I'm not saying the media has to fawn over Poilievre's every word.  I'm as much surprised they didn't go after Poilievre for appearing on Peterson's podcast.  It's the complete radio silence that baffles me.

And I don't think I've ever watched more than 30 seconds of a Jordan Peterson podcast (and I say that just to protecxt myself - I don't remember ever watching one of his podcasts).  I used to defend Peterson because I thought the social media attacks on him over 12 Rules for Life seemed unhinged.  But after his carnivore diet, and his coma therapy in Russia, he does seem pretty much like a kook.

[Barrister]

That Venn diagram is almost a perfect circle.

It really isn't.

This isn't meant as a defence of the "standard wackadoo right"!  But while the "standard wackadoo right" may well be influenced by Russian propoganda, there is no reason to think that a large amount of it is actually Russian funded.  Rather, they were radicalized all by themselves.

[Josephus]

Probably not interesting enough... I mean you didn't watch it even.

[Barrister]

Probably not interesting enough... I mean you didn't watch it even.

Well I am at work...

I'm not in the habit of watching 100 minute podcast interviews.  I was looking for a summary and was surprised there basically weren't any.

[Josephus]

Probably not interesting enough... I mean you didn't watch it even.

Well I am at work...

I'm not in the habit of watching 100 minute podcast interviews.  I was looking for a summary and was surprised there basically weren't any.

So just got a phone alert that the Toronto Star posted an article titled: 5 things we learned from Jordan Peterson's two hour interview with Pierre Poilievre.

I didn't read it yet.