Freddie P's Blog

January 30, 2009 @ 08:50

Dear Mr. Patterson,

Wayne Rockel
IT/ Intermediate teacher
Billy Green School, HWDSB
Stoney Creek, ON

Hey Wayne,

Go for it. I'm honoured.

Freddie P.

Category: Stuff

January 30, 2009 @ 08:16

Later today I'll be talking to Neil Morrison on The Fox in Vancouver, and part of the conversation will deal with the dismal failure that Mats Sundin has been with the Canucks so far.

His idea, not mine.

Meanwhile, tomorrow night, the Toronto Maple Leafs will honour arguably the greatest captain in their history - an argument that does not include Sundin.

If you're a Leaf fan, I don't have to tell you what this guy meant to the franchise in the early 90's even before he became captain.

Category: Sports

January 30, 2009 @ 08:15

Fred...what I would love to see from you and I think it is deserving in this case....is an acknowledgement of Ignatieff as a Rational Man. Give credit where it is due. He did the right thing.

Stu

Hey Stu, glad you asked because I've been thinking about this since Ignatieff became leader of the Liberals.

This may come as a shock to a lot of you, but I've made this comment many times before, I'm not partisan. I don't care what the party is if their policies make sense.

Problem is, there was so much corruption and deceit through the Chretien years I was literally pushed towards the Conservatives because any "rational man" could never give himself to the NDP.

So disenchanted with the Liberals I supported the Conservatives and became even more committed to this party by the unfounded and often silly criticism of Stephen Harper.

He was hated mostly because he was Conservative and that never sat well with me.

Then along came Stephane Dion and there was absolutely no reason for me to change my position. This odd little man with his goofy ideas served to do nothing but reinforce by support of Stephen Harper who, crazy as it seems, given his mandate, continued to act in the best interests of the country.

Now the landscape has changed a bit.

I've got to admit that what I've seen of Michael Ignatieff so far has impressed me.

In the wake of the coalition crap he came along and brought some sense to it all. He took the pulse of Canadians and put an end to it. He considered the budget and declared it reasonable, but more than anything else, he realized that another election at this time was not in the best interest of the country.

Unlike Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe he has put Canada first.

I'm not naive, I realize part of Ignatieff's plan is to let the Conservatives flap in the wind and take the heat for the economy which will only strengthen the Liberal position going into the next election, but that's OK.

That's politics. It's rational above board politics, something we didn't get from Chretien and something we'd definately never get from Layton.

Nope, I can't deny it, So far so good with this Ignatieff guy.

Category: Politics

January 29, 2009 @ 08:26

Jack and Gilles went up the Hill
To fetch a bucket of power,
Jack struck out and went into a pout
And Gilles came slimily after.

If any good can come from what this country has been through over the past couple of months, its this.

Tens of thousands of Canadians can find a nice long mirror and have a look at themselves from head to to head and rethink their committment to Canada.

If you were one of the people who supported a coaltion in this country, one that involved seperatists and socialists, you should be ashamed of yourself and question your patriotism.

Yes, the formation of a coaltion is within the rules, its in our constitution, but that doesn't mean anything goes. The option of a colation is there if its good for the country and it makes sense given the situation.

This situation did not call for it and Canadians, genuine Canadians let it be known loud and clear that they had no toleraance for it. The idea of a coaltion got pounded in every poll.

And the reasoning was simple. It involved Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe, and anyone in this country who were willing to overlook that fact should give themselves a long hard shake.

If there any doubt in your mind, all you had to do was witness the behavious of Jack Layton over the past 24 hours. This is a power hungry politcally selfish man who cares about only one thing and one thing only - Jack Layton.

He was committed to rejecting the budget before it was even revealed and as quickly as Michael Ignatieff accepted it, Layton turned on him.

Jack Layton is bad for Canada and it's totally unneccessary to explain why Gillies Duceppe is bad for Canada.

But I will say this. Also bad for Canada is anyone who even entertained the idea of a coaltion.

Shame on you!

And before the usual crew writes back, I realize the Conservatives made noises about a similar coaltion in 2006, but number one, it didn't happen because they didn't come close to signing anything, and number two, I would have felt the same way.

I would have rejected it immediately because I put Canada first.

Category: Politics

January 28, 2009 @ 08:50

The budget and thugs.

Category: Radio

January 27, 2009 @ 19:30

I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago, but on the heels of the federal budget I have to say it again.

I wonder if we're in the final chapter of the little big man.

Or should I say the big little man, or the guy who dreams of being big but is nothing more than a little dot on the Canadian political landscape.

Jack Layton will get to play politics over the next couple of days and personally it's enough to make me physically sick.

We have a great political system in Canada, but every so often its flaws are exposed, and that's where we are right now with a coaltion hanging over our heads.

Even before the budget was delivered yesterday, Layton vowed he would not support it, and once it was handed down yesterday, he didn't disappoint. He quickly ran for the television lights and started to spew his socialist nonsense.

The man is power hungry. Yes, all politicians tend to be that way, but this guy is something else.

He's the leader of a dormant, irrelevant party that hasn't gained an inch since he became leader, but he looks at the current situation as an opportunity to grab power that he could never get through a ballot box.

Over the next couple of days Jack Layton will move from insulting the Conservatives, to insulting the Liberals if they decide to support yesterday's budget.

This guy is desperate for a coalition because he knows if the Liberals support the budget, not only will he never have a shot at power, he'll probably lose the confidence of his party and be forced to go away.

And if that happens, it will be good for everyone.

Jack Layton is doing nothing for the NDP let alone for the rest of us. He's offered nothing but a steady stream of bullroar with nothing to back it up. Even as he dreams of a coalition he offers nothing in the way of alternatives.

He criticizes every aspect of yesterday's budget, while pretending to hold the "real" answers close to his chest.

He's full of it.

Jack has no answers because Jack doesn't deal in reality. He deals in the world of socialism which has an approval rating in this country of about 12 percent.

Can you imagine this man was given any degree of power in this country? Can you imagine if he had a say in our lives? I shudder at the thought.

Jack Layton is bad for Canada and the sooner he goes away the better.

I found it interesting yesterday while watching coverage of the budge on CTV Newsnet.

There on the screen was Toronto Mayor David Miller, a staunch NDPer. They were asking his opinion on the budget and of course he didn't like it because it didn't do enough for Toronto.

I had to chuckle because the immediate question that came to my mind was this.

"What have you done for the city of Toronto Mr. Miller?"

He's done absolutely nothing; in fact he's caused it irreparable damage.

Exactly what Layton would do to the country.

Category: Politics

January 27, 2009 @ 19:29

As for the budget, I don't know what to say.

The Conservatives were forced into by the whack job threat of a coalition, so they were forced to do some things probably didn't want to do.

But that's politics.

We should kiss the ground that Stephen Harper walks on because his compromise has probably saved us from a coalition that features separatists and socialists.

I fully expect Michael Ignatieff to support the budget because he it's really the only thing to do.

Ignatieff has probably spent lots of time considering the consequences of sharing power with Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe and being of sound mind and body has decided to side with the rational man.

Not only that, but I'm sure he likes the idea of letting the Conservatives govern during a deep recession.

He can blame it all on them.

Category: Politics

January 27, 2009 @ 08:50

Sports and more sports.

Category: Radio

January 26, 2009 @ 17:05

Toronto slogan and the All-star game.

Category: Radio

January 25, 2009 @ 16:05

Last night I was over at Neighbour John's watching the NHL Skills Competition and there was still some Bud Lite left in my bottle when it ended.

So we sat there long enough for the beginning of George Stroumboulopoulos' Montreal Canadiens Special, 100 Years, 100 Stars.

Leave it to George, it was fabulous.

I'll be honest, I don't have a lot of time for stuff about the Habs because I've had it stuffed down my throat too much over the past four decades.

I'm well aware of how many stars they've developed and how many Stanley Cups they've won.

Usually when a Hab fan starts to spout off about the Canadiens, I like to leave the room.

But last night was different. Strombo did a great job of mixing history with pop culture and presenting a unique one hour special.

It wasn't your typical sports history show with tons of archived crap they've we've seen a million times before. Instead it was a mixture of interviews with Canadiens past and present and interviews with such stars such as Dan Aykroyd, Sam Roberts and Jason Priestly.

Strombo brought hockey, music, culture and language together in a superb piece of television.

He made the point a few times during the show that even if you were a die hard Hab hater, you still have to respect their history.

He's right.

Hopefully the CBC will be showing it again.

Category: Sports

January 23, 2009 @ 18:27

Thugs, lotteries and the All-star game..

Category: Radio

January 23, 2009 @ 08:50

I'm sure you pulled that gun for a valid reason yesterday but I'd like you to stop down for a few minutes and consider the other side.

I realize I'm stepping over the line here, but I really want you to appreciate the impact your actions could have had yesterday.

Believe me, I can imagine it's a drag when somebody disrespects you with a look or a gesture, or when somebody comes up a little short when you want to sell them a bag of something, or if somebody wants to borrow your woman, but come on, a gun on a crowded subway platform?

Again, let me apologize for being so bold because I know Canadian society has been unfair to you by not providing all the things necessary to thrive in this country.

We make sure you've got a roof over your head, money in your pockets and medicine in the cupboard if you need it, but obviously that's not enough.

You need more. You must need more because the same things keep happening time and time again and way more often than not, it seems to involve people with your profile.

You come from a certain part of the city, your family structure is somewhat flimsy and despite your apparent poverty, you wear the best of clothes, hats and shoes.

We'd like to give you more, but we're not really sure what it is you need.

There are jobs if you want to prove you deserve them. You might argue that people of your profile can't get jobs but that goes out the window every time I walk into a business and see hard working kids who under the clothes, look just like you.

They can get jobs, why can't you?

Education? It's there if you want it, but that's the problem, you've got to want it.

Excuses? We can't give you any more of those because they've all been exhausted. I'm sure over the next few days we'll hear the same old excuses in your defense, and once again you'll try to hide behind them, but for most people, that's become tiresome.

What we'd really like to give you is a little more guidance, but the very people who should provide that guidance don't seem to want to provide it.

You don't want the establishment to tell you how to live or act, apparently you'd prefer it to come from within your own community, but for some reason, as the months and years go by, there's nobody in your community willing to step forward and accept that role.

It's interesting that yesterday's shooting took place just a couple of days after Barack Obama became President of the United States. A large part of his platform was the insistence that "people" become accountable for their own lives. Take responsibility for your actions, with the children you father at the top of the list.

But hey, that's the States, and this is Canada, maybe you're right and the rules should be different and when you get right down to it, you'd rather Obama provide more excuses not solutions.

That damn Obama. How dare he prove that any man is capable of any thing.

In Canada you should be able to run wild and do whatever you want and then blame the consequences on somebody else and that leads me back to the point of this posting.

If you must pull your gun on a crowded subway platform again think of the people around you.

I know it's hard, because most of them represent everything you hate about our society, they're hard working, decent people who on their way to somewhere so they can look after their "families" - you know, taking responsibility for the people they've brought into the world.

But really, the next time you want to shoot somebody who's dissed you in a crowded place, please look around and appreciate that one of your stray bullets could kill somebody I love.

You bastard.

Category: Stuff

January 22, 2009 @ 17:19

'Obama Fried Chicken' turns NAACP's stomach

Category: Stuff

January 21, 2009 @ 20:42

What a drag. Now Pat Burns has lung cancer.

I like Pat Burns, I really like Pat Burns. Here's how much I like Pat Burns - I liked Pat Burns when he was coach of the Montreal Canadiens.

I don't like Guy Carbonneau. He's too Habbish.

Pat Burns was a different kind of guy, and when he came to Toronto he gave Leaf fans the ride of their lives.

*note to hab fans who are reading this. I realize your team has won 26 stanley cups, and the thought of leaf fans basking in the glory of a wild ride that didn't result in a Stanley cup makes you laugh and guffaw and roll your eyes at our low standards, but this posting isn't for you, so piss off.

The Pat Burns runs in 1993 and 1994 were something that most Leaf fans will never forget.

Cliff Fletcher pulled the trigger on that big trade with Calgary, and all of a sudden Pat Burns was blessed with the big balls of Dougie Gilmour and the rest was history.

*another note to hab fans. Yes, I realize that history to leaf fans pales in comparison to your history, but I don't really care, because I really don't care about your team that hasn't won a Stanley cup in 16 years.

The Leafs of 93 and 94, under the direction of Burns were wonderful teams that played well above their heads and gave Toronto a sense of pride that we hadn't experienced in decades.

*yet another note to habs fans. Yea, we felt pride in Toronto, which I'm sure comes as no surprise to tens of thousands of hab fans who moved from Montreal to Toronto during the 90's for political reasons.

But there was more to Pat Burns than hockey. He was a cool guy. He carried a confidence and attitude behind the bench that the Leafs hadn't experienced since the days of Punch Imlach and the fans gobbled it up.

Pat Burns was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004 and then developed liver cancer in 2005. Now he has lung cancer.

Cancer is a prick.

Category: Sports

January 21, 2009 @ 20:41

I'm not a big concert guy, never have been. Being in the radio business over the years gave me access to many a show, and if I told you the shows I could have gone to, but declined, you'd probably be pissed off at me.

It takes a lot to get me out of the house, onto the road, and into a stadium to see a show so it's really got to spin my propeller.

I've left the house to see Barenaked Ladies, U2, Blue Rodeo, UB 40, The Tragically Hip, Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones to name a few, but the most worthwhile trip I've made to see a musical act was several years ago at the Skydome.

I can't even tell you what year it was, but it doesn't matter because it's going to happen again and I plan to be there.

Elton John and Billy Joel bring their Face2Face tour to the ACC on May 26th, and if you have the chance to get tickets, grab them. It's worth it.

You don't even have to be a big fan of either guy, but seeing them together, with their pianos pushed up against each other, singing each others songs is something I've never forgotten and I definitely want to see again.

I'm working my contacts which include the EZ Morning Show with Humble, Kim, Colleen, Rick, Lucas, Bart and Patricia which is giving away tickets.

Maybe Howie can give me the EZ hot line number and then pretend I'm a contestant and let me win a pair. I'd do it for him.

Category: Show Biz

January 21, 2009 @ 20:40

Speaking of shows, sometime ago my mother recommended I watch the sitcom "Two and a Half Men." with Charlie Sheen.

I didn't think much at the time because my television viewing consists mostly of sports, numerous news shows and some of those real estate shows on HGTV.

I don't watch dramas or comedies.

Anyway, a few weeks ago while sitting all alone in my Peterborough apartment I was flipping around and happened upon an episode of "Two and a Half Men" which was just beginning.

Since then, I've become hooked. This is quality shit, I'm telling you.

I know, I know... the show's been around since 2003 so you're probably wondering what took me so long to discover the bloody thing, but what can I say.

I ignored it until my mother kept badgering me to watch it. I did and now I like it.

And this way I don't have to wait and watch it once a week. There are six years of re-runs that I've barely begun to experience.

It stars Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper. Jon Cryer as his brother Alan and Angus T. Jones as Alan's son Jake.

They all live together and say lots of ignorant things.

Category: Show Biz

January 21, 2009 @ 20:39

The Ontario Coaltion Against Poverty, a radical group of malcontents, is now posting on CanadianThinker.com.

This is their response to my entry, CUPE 3903.

"The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty stands behind the striking CUPE 3903 works until the bitter end, just as you have supported us morally and financially for more than a decade.

And if the province were to force back to work legislation I hope CUPE 3903 would not follow such undemocratic laws."

Check out their whacky website, but be prepared to feel guilty for being successful.

Category: Stuff

January 21, 2009 @ 16:23

The speech.

Category: Politics | Stuff

January 21, 2009 @ 08:50

Obama and smokes.

Category: Radio

January 21, 2009 @ 08:30

Presidents of the United States of America

Category: Fun Stuff

January 21, 2009 @ 07:59

Can you imagine anyone rejecting a 9.25 percent wage increase in these stormy economic times?

It happened at York University last night. Not only were these CUPE members offered almost ten percent over three years, they were also offered improved benefits packaged and better job security.

But they said no. Overwhelmingly. In January of 2009, when people are being thrown onto the street like bags of garbage, the part -time CUPE members at York University think they're special.

For some reason, they don't think the current economic climate should affect them, and the fact that thousands of York University students could lose their year, has little or no affect on these people.

There are thousands of students who paid their tuition in good faith expecting to go to school this year, but they've been literally robbed by CUPE 3903.

Sorry, but that's the way I look at it.

There are all kinds of labour disputes and they all have to be considered differently, and to my mind, the members of CUPE 3903 should have their asses ordered back to work yesterday.

If you're in a union that doesn't directly affect the lives of others then go crazy, enjoy your sit ins, strikes and barrel bonfires, but when you're unrealistic greed means somebody's kid can't go to school, then it's time for action.

It's time for the Premier of this Province to stop sitting on the fence, recall the legislature and restore this essential service.

Yes, essential service.

University tuitions are staggering and time is crucial for the students who registered at York fully expecting to get their year. Rents were paid, food has been bought and the expenses are piling up while a union jumps for joy over holding out even longer.

I know firsthand the stress that what's going on at York is causing the students who have been pushed to the sidelines. Even if the strike was to end now, many students would be forced to continue school through the summer, meaning crucial summer jobs would be sacrificed.

And that would mean larger loans.

I honestly can't believe that these "teachers" who continuously claim to put their profession and students first, can sit back and watch the students flap in the wind.

CUPE 3903 needs a reality check. Despite the offer, they're demanding more money and more benefits and more job security.

Who the hell in 2009 gets guaranteed job security?

It's a whole new frontier and its time the Premier pointed that out.

Category: Stuff

January 20, 2009 @ 08:59

Obama and The Superbowl.

Category: Radio

January 20, 2009 @ 08:20

A couple of weeks ago I was watching the Fox News channel and they interviewed several black people in New Orleans and the question was simple.

What does an Obama Presidency mean to you?

The answers were frightening. For tens of thousands in New Orleans, where life still isn't back to normal for poor people after the floods, Obama offers hope, but it's a false hope.

There are those in New Orleans, and apparently millions across the rest of the USA who think this man is going to perform miracles.

Based on the run up to his election, and the unrealistic expectations placed upon him, there are people in the United States who feel their lives are going to change dramatically starting today.

Some of the responses in New Orleans were mind numbing. Some feel having Obama as President will mean jobs and homes and prosperity almost instantly.

The African American President will be expected to change the lives of African American citizens simply because he's African American.

Unfortunately, the poor and uneducated in the United States, which by the way includes all races, expect the most of the new President but they don't seem to know how the system really works.

They've either been shutout of the process or they gave up on it long ago.

But now that some of that hope as returned it means punishing pressure for Obama. Even if he was able to accomplish half of what's expected of the man, he would still come up terribly short in the eyes of those who are going to depend on him the most.

It's not Obama's fault.

As someone running for President, he's got to deliver a message of hope and change, but it applies to all Americans in general. The problem is, it's been received by America's most vulnerable in a twisted way.

They feel because of Obama's race and the nonstop comparison to Martin Luther King, the message of hope and change is directed at them in particular.

Barack Obama inherits a country that's in woeful debt because it's currently fighting two wars in a world that's experiencing a severe economic downturn.

People are losing jobs and homes and assets at an alarming rate and that has to be his first priority.

Last night while watching CNN there was a panel of prominent black Americans that including Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, it also included a black activist University Professor whose name I honestly didn't catch.

They were talking about what the Obama Presidency will mean to African Americans and the Professor's response was startling,

Not only does he expect Obama to put the welfare of African Americans at the top of his list, he claims all the "brothers and sisters" will hold him accountable.

In other words, black America could be the first segment to actually turn on Obama.

Changing the plight of black America to the extent so many black Americans expect him to, is totally unrealistic.

After all, a President can only serve two terms.

Category: Politics

January 20, 2009 @ 08:19

Meanwhile, as the United States looks toward s hope and change and prosperity, no matter how superficial, here in Canada we have the likes of Jack Layton.

Is there anyone more pathetic in Canadian politics than this man?

Despite having failed to move his broken down party one inch forward during his leadership, Layton continues to mouth off about next week's Conservative budget while attempting keep alive his desire for a coalition.

Layton said yesterday that the NDP will not support next week's budget under any circumstances, even though he hasn't seen it or heard it.

Layton continues to hold on to the position that Stephen Harper can't be trusted and the only way for Canada to break out of the world wild economic slump is for the NDP / Liberal coalition to take over.

He fails to mention the Bloq, even though the Bloq was the original deal maker.

Meanwhile, Michael Ignatieff, to his credit, remains non-committal. Being a man of character and pride, he'd prefer not to enter into a coalition. He'd prefer to take power the honourable way, through an election.

You see, that's the difference. Jack Layton with his 12 percent approval rating knows he'll never be able to win power the conventional way, and given his failure as leader of the NDP, he sees this as his only window of opportunity. A coalition is his only passage to glory and actually having an official say in government.

Snake like.

Meanwhile, Ignatieff realizes if it doesn't happen for him through a coalition, his opportunity will come down the road. He can sit back, direct a good opposition and then pounce during the next election.

The honourable way.

Layton meanwhile, the conniving whack job, can't take the honourable route because he doesn't stand a chance

So he takes the slimy way.

Hopefully we're in the final chapter of this man's abhorrent political career.

Category: Politics

January 19, 2009 @ 09:50

Over the top with Barack Obama.

Category: Radio

January 16, 2009 @ 18:45

The cold, Sundin and Canada geese..

Category: Radio

January 16, 2009 @ 09:04

It hasn't been revealed "officially" what kinds of birds were sucked into the engine of US Airways flight 1549 yesterday, but you can bet your ass they were Canada Geese.

These bastards are becoming a huge problem, not only in Southern Ontario, but pretty well everywhere between here and the Florida panhandle.

Their population is out of control and to appreciate that, all you have to do is take a walk along the beaches of Lake Ontario in the summer, or visit any goddamn golf course in the province or spend a few minutes on the front lawn of my tin palace.

They can't walk a step without dropping a load.

Something has to be done about Canada Geese, and now that they almost killed 155 people in New York City yesterday, there is no time to spare.

They are filthy disgusting beasts that have become fat and lazy over the past decade.

They used to migrate, but thanks to the warm water that flows out of our nuclear generating plants, they've become conditioned to colder weather and more and more they choose to adjust their travel plans, and thanks to conservationist or their classification as a national bird or whatever the hell they are, their population has spun out of control.

They never used to inhabit the lake that my trailer sits on, but now they control it. They never used to be an issue in the GTA, nothing more than a pleasant site from time to time, but now they own the bloody province.

And they're quickly becoming a problem in the northern states.

I was listening to some talk radio out of New York last night on WABC and the hosts there are convinced it was Canada Geese that caused the problem. The population around New York City has exploded and a flock of the big fat bastards got in the way of that plane yesterday.

They're huge, and apparently just one of them sucked into an engine can cause problems.

It's time for a culling. It should be open season on Canada Geese. We should be able to eliminate them like we do mice or rats because they're on the same level. At the very least the all levels of government should step up a spraying program that prevents eggs from hatching.

But if you really want to get creative we should be able to shoot the buggers willy-nilly then take them to a government run slaughter-house where they're prepared for eating and then delivered to homeless shelters.

Enough is enough.

Category: Stuff

January 15, 2009 @ 08:53

The beginning of the end for crazy Jack - we can only hope!

Flogging the coalition dead horse.

Category: Politics

January 15, 2009 @ 08:33

Hey Freddie,

Neighbour John

Category: Neighbour John

January 14, 2009 @ 19:48

The sorrow of Amandeep

It's hard to believe that Canada can leave itself open to "Neanderthal Marriage."

What blows me away, is that in 2009 there is still anyone on the face of this earth that doesn't think an arranged marriage is anything but disgusting, immoral and oppressive.

Screw culture and screw religion, the rights and well being of any young woman on this globe should trump it all.

Dowrys - give me a big freakin' colossal break.

Not only should the father-in-law be charged with murder, so should her parents.

Category: Stuff

January 14, 2009 @ 08:51

Nigerian internet scam and Obama.

Category: Radio

January 14, 2009 @ 08:50

This week's Harper Bash deals with an American company called Navistar.

Last week they gave 500 layoff notices to workers in Chatham, yet this week they announced they had signed a deal a 254 million dollar deal with the Canadian government to build a bunch of army trucks at their plant in Texas.

My goodness, how heartless can this Harper government be?

Can you imagine allowing Navistar to layoff a ton of people in Canada and then turn around and hand this company 254 million dollars to build military vehicles in the States.

It sounds so bloody ridiculous there's got to be an explanation. The point is, there is, but it depends on what side of the Harper Hater line you fall on whether you want to accept it.

If you hate the guy, regardless of what he does, you want to believe that Stephen Harper is a puppet of the Americans and is willing to sell us out at any cost. You want to believe he doesn't care about Canadian workers and its just another dumb decision along the way.

On the other hand, if you want to be rational, and accept the whole story based on the facts, you're willing to listen long enough to find out that the Chatham plant is not equipped to produce the trucks, and that as part of the deal the government carved with Navistar is to have a regional benefits clause that requires Navistar to match the $254 million contract with equal investment in Canada.

These little tidbits were lost on a lot of people. But you know what people - Harper Haters.

This is one of those stories that gets the juices flowing when you read the headlines, but it makes sense as read down the columns.

No doubt there are those within the CAW who are furious about this, but that's their job.
They're paid to make noise and overlook the fact that the Chatham plant would have to be totally retooled for this job.

On the other hand, I was talking with my boys Craig and Matt on The Rock in Windsor this morning and they said most of the feedback they got from listeners who work at Navistar in Chatham was level headed.

They were well aware that the military truck contract didn't make sense for their plant. It was almost a non issue.

But that's no good for Harper Haters. No way. They'd prefer to present the story like our Prime Minister is an out of control madman who'd prefer to give this contract to Americans over Canadians, just because he's stupid.

Let's get a grip. I'm sure as it stands it was hard for the government to make this announcement given the current economic climate, and I'm sure they knew the optics were all wrong.

But they went ahead with it because they had to, because our military needs trucks. So they cut the best deal they could, which again, involved a 254 million dollar investment coming back into Canada.

The Rational Man comes through again.

And one more note. Dean DelMastro is the MP for Peterborough. He's a Conservative and he made a great point on the Kruz Morning Show with Mike Melnik and John Badham this morning.

We shouldn't be so quick to get our knickers in a knot when we guy something off the Americans, because they buy a lot more off us, than we do them.

Funny thing though, Harper Haters don't like to mention that.

Category: Politics

January 13, 2009 @ 08:51

Obama, the cold and Vinny and Ricky.

Category: Radio

January 13, 2009 @ 08:50

Category: Fun Stuff | Video

January 12, 2009 @ 09:50

Obama/Harper and 2010 Olympics.

Category: Radio

January 11, 2009 @ 09:58

Yes, I'm sure this will come as discouraging news to Harper Haters. Barack Obama plans to make Canada the location of his first state visit after becoming President.

Damn! Why couldn't he have snubbed us? That way it could have given Harper Haters something to point to. They could have blamed the PM for all sorts of things and used them to explain why Obama wasn't coming to visit America's best friend first.

They could have used Harpers stature, his looks, his demeanor, his policies, his cardigans or his preference for hockey over football.

But now they can't because yesterday it was officially announced that Obama would come here first.

Apparently it was a no brainer for Obama. Coming to Canada for his first state visit was never in-question. He likes Canadians, he appreciates our friendship and he wants to get to know the Prime Minister.

Imagine that, Barack Obama wants to get to know the Prime Minister that so many loony left Canadians accused of being a bum boy for George W. Bush.

These are the same Canadians that earlier this week basking in the glory of Obama choosing Mexican President Felipe Calderon to be the first world leader he would meet in Washington. Actually, that's going to happen Monday, before he's Obama even takes office, but that didn't matter to the bird brains.

There were those who suggested this was a slight against Canada, against the Conservatives and against Harper for his apparent love and devotion of George W. and the screw-up during the American election when some NAFTA documents were released in Canada that embarrassed Obama, an issue that never really became an issue in the States.

Meanwhile, Harper Haters chose to ignore that it's a long standing tradition for the Mexican President meet with the U.S. President-elect before inauguration. It means absolutely nothing.

But that didn't stop the usual suspects from crawling out of their holes.

NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar - "I guess it shows what happens when you interfere in someone else's affairs."

Green Party leader Elizabeth May - "Mr. Harper's people tried and did interfere with the Democratic nomination race in a way that was damaging to Mr. Obama's campaign, so I think the prime minister of Canada is going to fall to the bottom of a fairly long list of priority meetings."

Wrong and wrong.

Sorry to disappoint you, and if Stephen Harper and Barack Obama actually hit it off, I'm sure there will be professional councilling available for anyone who needs it.

Category: Politics

January 11, 2009 @ 09:18

We're less than three weeks away from the resumption of Parliament and still the Prime Minister has heard nothing from the opposition regarding ideas or suggestions for the upcoming budget.

Remember back to November when the three hacks tried to take control of the government through the back door? They claimed to have lots of ideas then, but where are they now?

Big Man Jack is always the first the step forward with all the answers when he knows they'll never be used. Where are his ideas and policies now that they could be used to save us all from hell?

Same with Michael Ignatieff, he's offered a lot of posturing and superficial comments, but as far as concrete solutions go... nothing.

After parliament was perogued the Prime Minister said he was open to suggestions, and the offer was readily accepted.

I guess we can assume one of two things.

They're holding their cards close to their chest so they can save us all with a Bloq backed co-alition, or, they have no idea what the hell to do.

I suspect the latter and that's why I think the Conservative government will survive.

There are no clear cut answers at this point and the opposition parties will step back and hope the Conservatives drown in a world wide dilemma not of their making.

That's politics for ya.

Category: Politics

January 10, 2009 @ 10:31

I've received several e-mails this week from readers requesting my take on what's taking place in Gaza right now.

The same thing keeps coming to mind whenever I think about what's apparently going on over there and the spin its getting in the media.

I say apparently, because between the news black out enforced by the Israeli's, and the propaganda that's coming through Hamas, it's hard to know exactly what's going on.

What keeps coming to mind is and old saying. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

I think explains a lot of the anti-Israeli sentiment that you see in the main-stream media.

It's actually anti-American. The Americans are the number one ally of the Israeli's, so its convenient business to beat up on Israel and hope it somehow sticks to Americans.

It may sound like a stretch, but sorry, that's the way I perceive it. For some, looking for new reasons to hate the USA is a full time job. Life is so simple.

In so much of what you read it's amazing how a couple of facts are continuously overlooked.

First of all, long before Israel launched this "defense", Hamas was systematically launching crude missiles into border towns in Israel. But for some reason, this didn't matter to a lot of the bleeding hearts who are now screaming bloody murder.

Secondly, it's conveniently forgotten that Hamas, although elected, is a terrorist organization that puts the eventual elimination of Israel far ahead of looking after its citizens.

If Hamas cared anything about the people of Gaza, they wouldn't launch "offensives" from school yards and public buildings, something that has been proven.

They're actually inviting retaliation so "innocents" die, because it helps the propaganda machine that so many Western news agencies buy into.

Again, none of us knows exactly what's going on over there so you have to take it for face value.

Israel is constantly under threat by organizations and governments that don't hesitate to publicly call for its annihilation with religion being the underlying issue.

Therefore, shit happens.

Category: Stuff

January 10, 2009 @ 10:30

Lecture for a union.

Category:

January 10, 2009 @ 09:58

I've always been against Toronto hosting the Olympics games because I'm convinced in Southern Ontario it would be a recipe for disaster.

Cost over-runs are pretty well guaranteed, but when you couple that with a socialist city council that's become entrenched in Toronto, a city council that's proved they can't run a lemonade stand let alone hold the Olympics, having the games come to this part of the country would be downright punishing.

It doesn't matter how they're presented, the Olympics always carry baggage that remains long after the games have been held, the medals have been awarded and organizers have patted themselves on the back.

Unfortunately, most of the baggage isn't revealed until commitments have been made, contracts have been signed and the games approach.

Vancouver is a prime example.

The people of that great city were slapped upside the head this week when they were told taxpayers are now on the hook for an Olympic Village that originally was estimated to cost 750 million dollars, but will now cost 875 million dollars.

And you can bet your sweet ass that's only the beginning. Already there are rumblings that it will eventually balloon to over a billion.

It's the result of a financing plan gone wrong.

I hope nobody in Vancouver in surprised by this. It's part of the game when you host the Olympics and its only going to get worse, and to go back to the top of this fascinating piece, the extent of the damage won't be known until long after everybody's gone home.

Between now and the people of Vancouver can expect to keep hearing about cost overruns and other problems that weren't anticipated, and from there will become not only their problem, but our problem as well because somewhere along the line the federal government will be expected to help out.

Meanwhile, like most other deals of this type, there are a select few on the inside who will get rich.... or richer.

Olympics? No thanks.

Category: Stuff

January 9, 2009 @ 18:22

Poligamy and Sundin..

Category: Radio

January 7, 2009 @ 08:57

World Junior and 2009 dead pool.

Category: Radio

January 7, 2009 @ 08:56

If you've got eyes in your head and you have the opportunity to read the Toronto Star on a regular basis, you know the paper is on a mission.

Over the past month, the Toronto Star has kept a negative tone to their economic reporting and I'm convinced I know why.

It's aimed directly Stephen Harper and his upcoming budget and subsequent vote of confidence.

It's amazing how you can look at the Sun, the Post and even the Globe and there's an air of optimism in what they write. Not all of it, at least they attempt to look for a bright side.

Not in the Star. It's a steady stream of doom and gloom spiced with a good measure of anti-Conservative pleasure.

The Toronto Star doesn't want the economy to get better because they don't want Stephen Harper to remain in office, and by maintaining a tone of negativity in their economic reporting they're hoping it sticks to the Prime Minister even though he's got relatively nothing to do with it.

Today is another blatant example. Yesterday the TSX had its sixth consecutive day of positive growth but there headline is this. "TSX rising, but bear lurking."

Through the month of December the Toronto Star provided a steady stream of bad news that is some cases was literally over the top. All it served to do was freak out people who had no reason to be freaked out.

But that's the Toronto Star for you and you can expect more of it right up until the end of the month because this paper is on a mission.

A mission to remove the Prime Minister.

Category: Politics

January 7, 2009 @ 08:55

When the Ottawa Senators acquired Jarkko Ruutu this past summer I thought it was the perfect fit.

A repulsive player joins arguably the most repulsive team in the NHL.

To begin with the Senators were stockpiled with gutless underachievers, so it was fitting they added a dirty rat to the lineup.

Earlier this year he was suspended two games for delivering a vicious and dirty elbow to the head of Montreal's Maxim Lapierre.

Last night, he scraped the bottom of the barrel. He bit the hand of Buffalo's Andrew Peters.

Ruttu denies it, but that's what rats do, but it's plain to see on the video below and it'll be interesting to see what the league does about it.

Granted, Ruutu, despite being a professional creep and the perfect Ottawa Senator, doesn't have a long history of suspensions.

But he's got a reputation.

A disgusting one - and that's a lot worse.

Category: Sports

January 6, 2009 @ 08:50

The World Juniors.

Category: Radio

January 6, 2009 @ 08:49

It was the most joyous of Christmas's thanks to my kids.

Every year they become mildly annoyed when Christmas approaches and I don't give them any ideas about what I want for Christmas.

I usually come up with the usual dad thing and say "nothing, save your money for something important."

This year was a little bit different, while driving back and forth between Brampton and Peterborough I kept hearing a Bay-Bloor Radio commercial on the Edge talking about "internet radios'.

I found this intriguing and I wanted one and I let it be known.

I spend a lot of time checking our radio stations on line from all over the world. I think it's so cool to be able to call up any station anywhere, and within seconds be listening to it.

The problem is, or was, that do this you have to be by a PC or have your laptop open. Even the mobility of a laptop made listening to internet stations a bit of a chore because you have to find the station, then click on the listen live feature and then stream the player.

With an internet radio, there's none of that.

It sits on your night table and remains ready for action either manually or with a remote.

For it to work, you have to have wireless capability in your house, but that's the extent of it.

You simply configure the radio like you would your laptop. You lock onto your network, punch in your WEP and the radio is ready to go, and when I say ready to go, I mean ready to go.

You can choose a country by scrolling through literally every country on earth, and then you can choose a genre. Thousands of radio stations are at your disposal without having to use a computer.

Somehow this wonderful little box by-passes everything and takes your directly to any radio stations streaming system. It buffers like it does on a computer but in makes cases it takes mere seconds and offers eight pre-sets which allows you to move quickly and freely between your favourite stations.

I love the bloody thing.

Since Christmas I've listened to live talk radio out of Jerusalem, following the on-going conflict over there.

Saturday night I found a sports radio station out of San Diego that was celebrating the Chargers victory over Indianapolis.

I enjoy listening to talk radio out of New York on WABC, the Fox Radio Network and hundreds of other stations spread across this earth.

It's also handy for my work situation. While in Brampton I can listen to The Wolf and The Kruz, and while in Peterborough I can listen to Toronto radio stations. Every stinkin' one of them.

When I opened this wonderful package on Christmas morning I was "tickled pink" to begin with, but since then my love for this contraption has increased tenfold, and sometimes I just look at it and stroke it without even turning it on.

And sometimes I wonder where the saying "tickled pink" came from.

Anyway, if you're a radio junkie like I am, and you love to surf the radio net, this is the thing for you, and from what I understand, Bay-Bloor Radio is about the only place you can get them right now.

Mine is a Sanyo.

Thanks Mel, thanks Dan - you made Christmas the most joyous occasion.

Who uses the word "joyous" anymore?

Category: Family | Radio | Stuff

January 5, 2009 @ 09:55

Fighting in hockey.

Category: Radio

January 2, 2009 @ 19:27

Year end review..

Category: Radio