Recent posts

#1

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 05:19:34 PM

Just received a letter notifying me that a neighbour is applying for planning permission.

Slightly concerned this may awaken something and in a few months time I'll be shouting "DO A BAT SURVEY!" at my bemused councillors

#2

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by mongers - Today at 05:12:50 PM

'The Wages of Fear' - 1953 original not the remake (if there was one loosely based on it).

Also the restored version I watched from the BFI is a very good looking version.

#3

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 05:12:38 PM

As long said about 5 minutes after the last federal election results; this Liberal government is pretty right of centre, in fact Carney is a conservative in a nice Liberal suit.

In the Trudeau era, we used to say it makes sense for the Liberals and NDP to merge; now it might make sense for the Conservatives and Liberals to form one large governing party.

Back in the time before time when the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals competed for the middle they were much more closely aligned.  There was a book called One Eyed Kings whose main thesis was that there was very little of substance that separated the two parties, and all the fighting was around the edges. 

Then came Reform, the destruction of the PCs, and the shift to the right of the party that eventually emerged as the Conservatives.  While you correctly identify Carney as being to the right of Trudeau (which is not saying much since Trudeau was to the left of Mulcair) it is a stretch to claim the Liberals and Conservatives are similar.

#4

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 05:04:49 PM

Is this some kind of weird abusive gaslighting? They constantly attack Europe over and over again and as soon as Europe starts getting pissed they whip out this little nugget? Anyway I have no idea what this shit means. What noble legacy did Athens and Rome have that we need to embrace to ensure we don't decline? Is he aware both Athens and Rome did, in fact, decline?

My read is that basically they'd like the "US a leaders of the West" relationship to continue, only Western values should be "white nationalism" instead of "freedom and democracy", and Europe should be paying more money to the US (or more to the point, to the US oligarchs who have captured the politics of the US).

Their white supremacy has a foundational myth of "the West" that originates in Europe, and they'd really like to reshape current Europe to conform to that myth.

Yes, and I think it goes deeper than that.  The fascination of the right with all things Greek and Roman and the notion that European nations are the direct cultural descendants of those ancient civilizations is deep rooted.  One need only look as far as DG's post to see it.

Not "direct", but there's certainly an... unbroken chain.

 

#5

Off the Record / Re: Quo Vadis, Democrats?

Last post by viper37 - Today at 04:39:31 PM

Jasmine Crocket seems moderate.  The other dude in Texas seems like a Republican in disguise.

AOC, she has weird ideas sometimes, but I can respect her intelligence.

Sanders was always a big no for his love of Chavez and Maduro, even though he finally recanted.  Giving love and support to dictators is a always a sign of radicalization.

At the last election, the Dems shifted their discourse to social issues, despite having solid economic policies.  People don't read, they watch tv.  That hurt them.

#6

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by viper37 - Today at 04:38:52 PM

I don't think the byelection will be competitive. Terrebonne is quite the BQ fortress and without the PP threat will the Liberal voters still feel mobilized?

LCN does not have a lot of leg to criticize the Liberal right now.  I'm sure they'll find something to rant all day long for the old people listening to QUB, but will it stick?

Carney has avoided major pitfalls so far and he's still walking on water as far as non Quebecor medias are concerned.

I believe the government effect will play in favour of the Libs.  Lots of people in this riding are young too and the Bloc's discourse has been tailored toward seniors and boomers.  Half the pop is below 54.  I think that will play in them disliking the Bloc's current positions on asking favors for retirees.

#7

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by HVC - Today at 04:19:03 PM

Maybe with the conservatives of 10 to 15 years ago, not their current iteration.

*edit* actually, not even then. In Closing the conservatives are shifting further to American right and all the really bad shit that entails.

#8

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Josephus - Today at 04:15:47 PM

As long said about 5 minutes after the last federal election results; this Liberal government is pretty right of centre, in fact Carney is a conservative in a nice Liberal suit.

In the Trudeau era, we used to say it makes sense for the Liberals and NDP to merge; now it might make sense for the Conservatives and Liberals to form one large governing party.

[noble legacy]

#9

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by viper37 - Today at 04:12:45 PM

What noble legacy did Athens and Rome have that we need to embrace to ensure we don't decline? 

Slavery.  In case that wasn't obvious. 

#10

Off the Record / Re: NHL Hockey thread

Last post by HVC - Today at 04:12:14 PM

I like the way it sounds kind of like a French canadian guy speaking Maori