Buckdog

One year ago today, Buckdog carried a story concerning an Associated Press Poll which found that “One in four respondents, a full 25 percent, anticipates the second coming of Jesus Christ in 2007”

Well, Jesus didn't come back on a cloud in 2007 as 25% of the American public believed ... which only proves that 1 in every 4 citizens is mentally deranged and are too stupid to even comprehend WTF is going on! Yet they get to vote ... which largely explains why we have morons like George Bush as President of the most powerful nation on the planet!

But what's this .... (?) ... ever optimistic ... these fundamentalist christianist retards have now moved their projections slightly ... and are maintaining ..... that Jesus will come again in 2008!!

Because if they are .... we ALL know what that is going to lead to eventually!!

...... it is actually all a vast left wing conspiracy!

In spite of retarded statements made by Canada's Conservative Defence Minister about 'Iranian weapons in Afghanistan', the Pentagon Inspector General has determined that over $1 Billion in US weapons are missing in Iraq and may have moved into the black market.

"Tractor trailers, tank recovery vehicles, crates of machine guns and rocket propelled grenades are just a sampling of more than $1 billion in unaccounted for military equipment and services provided to the Iraqi security forces, according to a new report issued today by the Pentagon Inspector General.
[...]
The report details a massive failure in government procurement revealing little accountability for the billions of dollars spent purchasing military hardware for the Iraqi security forces. For example, according to the report, the military could not account for 12,712 out of 13,508 weapons, including pistols, assault rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers and machine guns."

-CBS News

The last seconds before her death .... and another series of still photos of the moments before Bhutto was assassinated. Commentary is by the photographer, John Moore.

UPDATE: This Newest footage shows Bhutto slumping as the shots are fired ....

The lies about the Canadian health care system come at us almost daily from the Conservative Party, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Medical Association and a myriad of other vested right wing activists who want to kill our publically funded system. Well, they should all be kicked in the pants for their dishonesty:

OTTAWA - Canadians are getting more bang for their health-care bucks than official federal government estimates suggest, says a third-party report to be released on Thursday. The report by the Centre for the Study of Living Standards says Statistics Canada needs to do a better job in measuring what Canadians get out of their health-care system for what they put into it.
Eric Beauchesne
CanWest News Service
December 26, 2007

Canada.com

Priests from different Christian denominations attacked each other with brooms and stones inside the Church of the Nativity today as long-standing rivalries erupted in violence during holiday cleaning.

The basilica, built over the grotto in Bethlehem where Christians believe Jesus was born, is administered jointly by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic authorities.

Merry Christmas!

Priests brawl at Church of the Nativity

Benazir Bhutto arriving at rally in Rawalpindi just prior to her assassination.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide bombing that also killed at least 20 others at a campaign rally, a party aide and a military official said.

"At 6:16 p.m. she expired," said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Bhutto's party who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital where she was taken after the attack.

A senior military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, confirmed that Bhutto had died.

A Reuters witness at the scene said he heard two shots moments before the blast.

"As party leaders, including Bhutto, started coming out a man tried to go close to them and then he fired some shots and blew himself up," said Yaseen, a police officer, at the scene.

Police said about 15 people had been killed in the blast.

-Bangladesh Independent
-CBC
-BBC

Also ... a very good Pakistani political blogsite: Pakistani Spectator

Hot on the heels of a very coordinated attack on the CBC by the Conservatives and their blogging minions, the Tories are now appealing to their members with a fundraising letter.

OTTAWA -- The Conservative Party of Canada has slammed the country's public broadcaster in a fundraising letter to party members.
The Canadian Press

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A man in a Santa hat was arrested Sunday night for investigation of drunken driving after he was spotted outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood wearing a wig, a red lace camisole and a purple G-string, police said.

"We are pretty sure this is not 'the' Santa Claus," Deputy Chief Ken Garner said.

The suspect was booked into jail after his blood-alcohol level measured just above the state's legal limit of .08, police said. He was later released on $5,000 bail.

The man, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 280 pounds, also wore black leg warmers and black shoes. His car was towed to an impound yard, police said.

-CNN

Merry Christmas!
Best Wishes For a Healthy and Happy 2008
from .... Buckdog!!

Prime Minister Harper has given a cushy spot at the public trough to the former leader of the right wing Saskatchewan Party. The Conservative government has appointed Elwin Hermanson to head the Canadian Grain Commission.

Mr. Hermanson served as leader of the Saskatchewan Party from 1998 to 2004. Prior to his term with the Saskatchewan Party, he served as a Saskatchewan Reform Member of Parliament with Stephen Harper.

Hermanson is appointed to a five-year term, and, according to the cabinet order, his salary will be between $204,300 and $240,400.

The Saskatchewan Party is made up of the remnants of the old Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan and some breakaway right wing Liberals. The Sask Party goes to great length to deny any connection to Harper Conservatives. Appointments to the gravy train such as this make it difficult for them to deny any connections.

-CBC

Everyone knows that when you see a child playing with a sharp knife, you should take it away from them before they hurt themselves. The same should be true for ubber right winger, Ezra Levant, whose concept of politics, social justice and governement are beyond childish.

Mr. Levant has now broken with the Western Standard blog and this morning unveiled his new site, Ezra Levant.

Ezra is known for hurting himself in intelligent company with statements such as this:
“The global warming debate is a scam to begin with. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN's official group of climate change scientists, states that even if every country in the world followed the Kyoto Protocol to a 'T' for 100 years, the world would not cool off at all. So while global warming hypocrisy is fun to point out, it really doesn't matter, since mankind's impact on climate is negligible."
Ezra Levant
July 30, 2007

I hope that Progressive Bloggers everywhere will join with me to monitor Mr. Levant's mindfarts and call him on it when required!

The extremely primitive Japanese practice of hunting intelligent humpback whales in the Antarctic for sushi has been temporarily abandoned, after massive international outrage. Earlier this week, Australia send a patrol ship to monitor the Japanese whaling fleet off the coast of Antarctica as they tried to find and kill Humpback Whales. The Japanese have indicated that while they will leave the Humpbacks alone, they still intend on killing over 1000 whales of other species.

The Japanese deserve the world's contempt for allowing such massive whale hunts! Their concept of what constitutes food must be underdeveloped, if they believe it is permissible to kill and consume some of the planets most intelligent species.

-BBC

-Australia monitors Japanese whaling fleet

Sunrise over Stonehenge - December 21st - Winter Solstice.

Stonehenge Winter Solstice 2006 pictures


tag solstice

These are some quotes made in 2007 that have stuck with me throughout the year 2007:

1) "Don't Tase Me, Bro,"
Andrew Meyer - September 17th

2) "I want to get out, help me find the way...Police! Police! Can't you help me?"
Robert Dziekanski
(seconds before he was
killed by members of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police)

3) "In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Columbia University - October

4) "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history."
Former President Jimmy Carter
(in an interview in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper)

5) "I don't recall."
Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales'
[repeated over and over and over and over ....]

6)“The global warming debate is a scam to begin with. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN's official group of climate change scientists, states that even if every country in the world followed the Kyoto Protocol to a 'T' for 100 years, the world would not cool off at all. So while global warming hypocrisy is fun to point out, it really doesn't matter, since mankind's impact on climate is negligible."
Ezra Levant
July 30, 2007

7) "I think Canadians believe in this mission. Canadians believe Canada is in Afghanistan for a good cause, and I believe they support our soldiers in doing it."
General Rick Hillier
(Responding to a Decima poll that shows 59 per cent of Canadians agreed with the statement that Canadian soldiers "are dying for a cause we cannot win.")

8. "I have a wide stance when going to the bathroom."
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig (Rep)
(explaining why his foot touched that of an undercover policeman in a men's room.

9. "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man."
Senator Joe Biden (Dem)
(describing rival Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama)

10. "That is what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament, but ours is more like Federal Express. You have to obey laws. We know we're all sinners — that is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews."
Ann Coulter

We are watching the emergence of another war in the former Yugoslavia. Here is how totally inflexible positions lead, inevitably, to armed conflict simply because there is no will to temper hatred:

"Serbia will declare all unilateral acts of Albanian separatists null and void - Kosovo would remain an integral and inalienable part of Serbia forever."
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica

"We therefore endorse the view of the European Union and US negotiators that the potential for a negotiated solution is now exhausted."
United Nations Security Council


-BBC
... BUCKDOG: One Last Yugoslav War Is Looming ....

Saskatchewan Liberal Party Leader, David Karwacki is expected to step down from his position later today. Karwacki attempted to win a seat in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly on three ocassions but was unsuccessful.

Having seen the Liberals shut out in both the 2003 and 2007 general provincial elections, there was no doubt that Karwacki would have to stand down.

-Sean in Saskatchewan has more .....
... so does the CBC
-The Jurist weighs in .....
-Star Phoenix
-davidkarwacki.ca
-Karwacki bio ...

I read Mark Abley's Does Baird know what he's saying? in today's Toronto Star and hope that you read it as well.

"Poor John Baird. I know it's getting close to Christmas, when we should all show charity, but perhaps the federal environment minister needs to spend the festive season in a secure psychiatric institution.

I say this because of the radical disconnect between what Baird appears to see and what the rest of the world sees. That kind of disconnect gives psychiatrists a major part of their income.

[...]

"Canada is committed to action," said Baird. True, if stalling and polluting can be defined as action. Or perhaps Baird meant that Canada is committed to sabotage. That was the verdict of Hans Verolme, global climate-change director of the World Wide Fund for Nature. "The U.S. government," Verolme stated, "aided by a small group of nations including Canada and Japan, has ... thrown up several roadblocks in the negotiations."

Of course, it's also possible that Baird isn't mentally ill at all. It's possible the minister was lying through his teeth. But that wouldn't be a charitable thing to say at Christmastime, would it?"

Mark Abley
Toronto Star

After a massive public outcry, the new Brad Wall government has backtracked on their move to abandon the iconic wheatsheaf as a symbol of the Province and government of Saskatchewan.



Government of Saskatchewan News Release
.... CBC has more ...

When the former Yugoslavia collapsed it degenerated into a series of wars during the years 1991-1999.

The ethnic cleansing that occurred in Kosovo sparked NATO intervention and led eventually to the collapse of the Slobodan Milosevic government.

Kosovo is about to declare unilateral independence from Serbia and if that occurs, all bets are off for a peaceful resolution to what will be yet another armed conflict between the two.

Serbian nationalism is still a strong force and Kosovo is considered a critical portion of the traditional Serb homeland.

European Union officials have tried to entice the Serbs to disavow violence by promising them a fast track into EU membership.

Keep your eye on this story. It has far ranging implications.


-EU proposal lays out steps on Kosovo independence
-Kosovo's Move Toward Independence Stirs Fears of Violence
-Kosovo situation has reached crisis point
-When it comes to Kosovo, Canada’s in odd company

tag kosovo

Adil Hassan Hamad was held in the US's Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba for five years. He was interrogeted, tortured and held in solitary confinement. Without charges ever being laid, or even knowing why he was taken and held, he has now been released and returned to his home in the Sudan.

Amnesty International, the UK-based human rights group, has called Guantanamo "a symbol of injustice and abuse" and called on the US government to close the down the prison "in a transparent manner which fully respects the human rights of those detained and brings to fair trial all those who are accused of recognisable crimes".

Al Jazeera

"It was minus 11, with a wind chill of minus 15, but that didn't deter the volunteers who showed up at 6 a.m. local time to strip down to their boots and scarves for the Saturday shoot.
"It was a little chilly, but liberating," said psychology student Chrissy Vincent, 24, who bared it all. "[It was] not as cold as I thought it would be."

Walsh, the Newfoundland performer who starred in Hatching, Matching and Dispatching, is using shots of the bare backs and bottoms as part of her signoff for a new show she calls Nudity, Sexuality, Violence and Coarse Language.

Walsh was hoping for 500 nude bodies but said she's happy anyways."

-CBC has the story ...
... -just a bit more CBC ...
... as well as Buckdog's earlier coverage ...

The once internationally renowed Royal Canadian Mounted Police have fallen onto bad times - at many levels. From the upper ranks where problems with pension plan irregularities have occurred to the lower ranks where infants have been pepper sprayed and seniors tasered, Canada's national police force has fallen on bad times.

So - something has to be done to reel in this entity and to reforge them into something that Canadians can once again respect and not fear. Hopefully it is not too late.

Here is a sampling of what these characters have been up to lately:

Mountie disciplined for using Taser on senior. An RCMP officer in Kelowna, B.C., will be disciplined for using a Taser stun gun on a 68-year-old stroke victim over a parking violation.

Taser-wielding RCMP officer 'like kid with new toy,' woman says 'He couldn't wait to use it' wife claims of Mountie who shocked her husband, who is 68. Supt. Bill McKinnon said the incident grew out of a simple traffic stop that escalated.

Police Taser allegedly used for party fun
BRANDON -- Police pulled out a Taser weapon at a house party and zapped people who wanted to feel the jolt, officials have been told. The stun gun was reportedly brought by an on-duty officer to the party, where civilians were socializing with off-duty officers. Some partygoers asked to be Tasered, and allegedly they were.

RCMP Pepper Spray Infant!
Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police used pepper spray on an Aboriginal mother and her seven month old baby on a British Columbia Indian Reserve!

RCMP commissioner promises sweeping changes

This blog, Buckdog, has been selected as the Best Partisan Blog in the 2007 Blogging Dipper Awards! I'm pretty happy about that! I have been a member of the New Democrat Party for many, many years and I make no apologies to anyone!


The full list of winners in the 2007 Blogging Dipper Awards are:

-Accidental Deliberations, Best Overall Blog

-Politics'n'Poetry, Best Feminist Blog

-La Revue Gauche, Best Labour Blog

-Buckdog, Best Partisan Blog

-Paulitics, Best Radical Blog

I want to congratulate all of my fellow Blogging Dippers who have won recognition for their hard work!

2007 Unofficial Blogging Dipper Awards!

Hospitals Warned; Drug-resistant bacterium coming from Afghanistan

"Federal authorities are warning hospitals across the country to beware a highly drug-resistant bacterium that wounded troops are bringing back from Afghanistan -- and which could inadvertently be spread to civilian patients."
Tom Blackwell
National Post
December 13, 2007

National Post

Saskatchewan's new right wing government has announced that they want to abandon the traditional logo of the province and are now seeking something new that better reflects Saskatchewan in the 21st Century. A new logo will be found by some unknown process in 2008.

Buckdog would love to offer a suggestion that best suits the mindset of our new Saskatchewan Party government!

-Regina Leader Post
... CBC has more ...

Prime Minister Gordon Brown: 'It's time to talk to the Taliban'

"Six years after British troops were first deployed to oust the Taliban regime, the Prime Minister believes the time has come to open a dialogue in the hope of moving from military action to consensus-building among the tribal leaders. Since 1 January, more than 6,200 people have been killed in violence related to the insurgency, including 40 British soldiers. In total, 86 British troops have died. The latest casualty was Sergeant Lee Johnson, whose vehicle hit a mine before the fall of Taliban-held town of Musa Qala."
Colin Brown
Deputy Political Editor
Independent.co.uk Online Edition
Published: 12 December 2007

So once again I want to kick the butts of right wingers (both Conservatives and certain notorious right wing Liberals) who attacked Jack Layton for saying the same thing a year ago!

Independent.co.uk

The NDP won election in Saskatchewan in 1991. They were re-elected in 1995 - 1999 and 2003. The people of Saskatchewan gave them the privilege of 16 years in government.

By any political standard, the Saskatchewan NDP had a ‘pretty good run’ and can hold their heads high after the most recent election. Some pundits had predicted that the NDP would be completely wiped out or would have seats in the single digits. Not so! The people of Saskatchewan created a strong Official Opposition by giving New Democrats 20 seats out of 58.

The New Democrats now have a unique opportunity for renewal, refreshment and rebuilding. It is time to get out the brooms and to begin the process of cleaning some of the cobwebs out of the Caucus and the party establishment.

This should be seen as an exciting time for all New Democrats but as is normal in human affairs, there will be a small group of entrenched party members who will want no part of any necessary house cleaning.

This is a unique time for New Democrats. For youth in the Party it should be an exciting time. But for those whose greatest living political moment was the defeat of the Grant Devine government in 1991, there will be resistance to change.

This will be a very interesting and exciting time in the Party. It is time for renewal. It is time for a new generation of party members and MLA’s to rise to the top.

Some very competent new MLA’s were elected in November and first off the mark was Prince Albert NDP MLA, Darcy Furber, who shone in the very first Question Period of the new legislature by taking the Saskatchewan Party government to task for ripping up a deal to re-open the P. A. Pulp Mill.

There is new blood in the Caucus and there is new blood in the party. The problem for renewal is the aging Baby Boom demographic who tend to think that at 58 years of age they are still pretty hip, slick and cool!

It is time for renewal. The New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan has a duty to the province, to commence the renewal of policy and personnel.

Normally you allow someone who is new in a job a bit of time to get trained and familiarized with their new duties. In some cases, the time available for 'learning the ropes' is, by necessity, far too short. Such is the case for Saskatchewan's new Official Opposition.

Premier Brad Wall's new government delivered their first speech from the Throne yesterday and it was full of code words that should have Saskatchewan progressives extremely concerned. For starts, Wall proposes to 'oversee a major review of the province’s health care system'. That should scare the bejesus out of anyone who values publically funded universal health care.

Wall also has indicated that we may see one or more nuclear power reactors constructed in Saskatchewan to utilize our available uranium resource.

Finally, Wall is planning to 'balance' exixting labour legislation and that is where the fight is going to occur against this right wing crew.

So .... what of our new Official Opposition? I make no apologies when I say that the Saskatchewan Party has made a smoother transition into government than the New Democrats have made into opposition. There is NO time for error and there is NO time for learning curves to be indulged. Saskatchewan's new Official Opposition has to hit the pavement running ... and to date there is not much evidence that this is what is happening.

The first Question Period of the fall session occurs today, and here's hoping that the Saskatchewan NDP Caucus can do their job and hold Brad Wall's feet to the fire on these key proposed legislative changes.

Dear Babs;
I know it is going to be difficult now that they are going to throw Lord Black into the slammer and that he is now going to have to consort with fellows named Spike and Buba, but Babs ... remember the sage wisdom of Tammy Wynette ... and please, please ... Stand by your man!

Buckdog

As an observer of Canadian politics, a question that comes to mind when I watch Question Period is this ...... What is Minister John Baird SO ANGRY about! There is a venom in his speeches that goes far beyond normal political partisan competition. It is a raging, fuming behaviour that needs to be explained. So here goes .... 'John, what the hell are you so angry at'?

There are decisive steps we can take to bring anger back under our control. The next time you feel your are rising you can take action to deal with it in a healthy way.

1. Take a deep breath. Believe it or not, pausing to take a deep breath when you're upset really does help. When you're angry your body releases adrenalin that increases your heart-rate and blood pressure, preparing you to run or to fight. Taking a deep breath helps to bring your heart-rate back down and sends a signal to your brain that the adrenalin isn't needed.

2. Remove yourself from the situation. If you feel your anger mounting, walk away from the situation for a moment to give yourself the opportunity to regain control. Tell the other person that you need a minute and will be back. Take some deep breaths, splash water on your face, jump up and down. When you can think clearly return to the situation and deal with it.

3. Communicate your frustration clearly. General statements using "you always" or "I never" rarely reflect the facts and don't solve arguments. Give specific examples of what has happened and how you are feeling. This gives the other person the opportunity to make amends if they are in the wrong, and helps to clear up confusion.

4. Use a journal. If you find that you are often angry, a journal can be a safe place to scream out your frustrations. Let your anger come out through your pen. Write down exactly who you're mad at and why. If you want to tear it up afterwards, go right ahead. Just getting your thoughts down on paper can be cathartic, and this way no one gets hurt.

5. Learn your triggers. Pay special attention to what it is that triggers your anger and then take action when you find yourself in those situations. If you know that you are more susceptible to anger when you're tired for example, don't have major discussions with your partner late in the evening. Give yourself permission to say, "This really isn't a good time for me to discuss this. Can we talk about it _____" and set a specific time to discuss it. Setting a time and sticking to it shows the other person that you are not trying to avoid the topic but are genuinely seeking to find a solution.

If anger is becoming a major part of your life get in touch with a counselor. A licensed counselor can help you find the root of your anger and give you specific strategies for dealing with it.

The Sentencing of Conrad Black
Federal Court
9 a.m. - December 10, 2007
Courtroom 1241
Everett Dirksen Building
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.

-Canada.com
-Ottawa Sun

As the title says ... I am scratching my head over allegations made against the New Democratic Party by a blogger ... Liberal I think ... who has decided to throw his net a bit too far with statements such as this:

"How is it possible for the NDP, a party of such zealous political self-righteousness, to engage so fervently in so sordid a campaign of character assassination?"

"... was also forced to apologise for her party's false allegations"

Someone needs to remind Mr Maharaj that certain INDIVIDUALS made the statements that he is objecting to ... NOT the NDP!.

Are you accusing the entire New Democratic Party, federal and provincial wings, each and every member, the executive and various caucuses of officially conducting 'character assassination'?

Here is the full text of Maharaj's ridiculous rant! (You will note that readers can't post any response to Mr. Marahaj's pronouncements ... hence it is a pretty one sided affair) ....

"How did you get your news 27 years ago, on Dec. 8, 1980, the date John Lennon was gunned down in New York City? I've been pondering that question this morning, the culmination of my week-long quest to somehow tie that infamous event into the world of computers, electronics and IT, about which I'm supposed to blog. So here goes. The most salient difference between that Monday evening and today is the manner in which news is disseminated."
Posted by Alexander Wolfe,
Dec 8, 2007 09:16 AM
on Wolfe's Den

"Everyone recognizes that Metis people were swindled out of their land. The question is who's responsible for that swindling,"
Karen Busby
Law Professor
University of Manitoba

In 1870, Metis residents -- nervous about the Dominion of Canada's plan to acquire the territory and establish the province of Manitoba -- agreed to the Manitoba Act. The Act promised that 1.4 million acres of land be set aside for Metis children and that occupied land along the rivers was left alone.

The lawsuit was based on claims that the province of Manitoba facilitated land transfers between the Metis and prospectors between 1877 and 1885. The Manitoba Metis Federation estimated that 85 per cent of the promised land was never received, annexed or bought out by prospectors.
From CTV News
... and from CBC News

"We're inviting people to be part of a high-def shoot where we have 500 naked people looking this way," Walsh told CBC News, indicating the back view.

"So it's 500 bums and backs of head, so there are no dangly bits available to anyone."

Surely to God there are a few bloggers who want to get in on this bit of film history, don't ya think?

You can register or get more info at Mary's facebook page ....

CBC

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

UPDATE - DECEMBER 15th ... the day of the photo shoot - CBC Coverage!
"It was minus 11, with a wind chill of minus 15, but that didn't deter the volunteers who showed up at 6 a.m. local time to strip down to their boots and scarves for the Saturday shoot.
"It was a little chilly, but liberating," said psychology student Chrissy Vincent, 24, who bared it all. "[It was] not as cold as I thought it would be."

Walsh, the Newfoundland performer who starred in Hatching, Matching and Dispatching, is using shots of the bare backs and bottoms as part of her signoff for a new show she calls Nudity, Sexuality, Violence and Coarse Language.

Walsh was hoping for 500 nude bodies but said she's happy anyways."



Photo of Mary Walsh courtesy of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation .....

"The prospect of a new Balkans conflict came closer last night after Serbia made threats of “war” with the breakaway province of Kosovo. After a four-month peace initiative failed to resolve the fate of the disputed territory, European diplomats, and even the Pope, made fresh appeals for Serbs and Albanians to avoid violence. Nato foreign ministers will meet in Brussels today to discuss contingency measures should violence flare. Concerns grew after Aleksandar Simic, adviser to Vojislav Kostunica, the Serbian Prime Minister, said that his country would defend its sovereignty “using all means” at its disposal."
Times Online

After the disastrous wars that occurred in the Balkans when the former Yugoslavia imploded, you would think that the Serbians would realize that war and violence is not going to fix their national aspirations ....

"The Canadian government is "shirking" its responsibility to the Afghan people by dismissing reports of the Taliban's growing strength in the war-torn country."
Senlis Council

-Canada.com
-National Post
-Times Online

Regina Leader Post

When Right Wing Governments Get Their Hands On The Cheque Book - Part 2

It sure didn't take long for Premier Brad Wall and his Sask Party government to start throwing public money around - once again proving the point that Right Wingers are not 'fiscally conservative'. These guys LOVE to spend!

-Sask. MLAs getting $1,700 chairs

-Higher salary for top government executive

One of Canada's greatest artists has died - Norval Morrisseau was 75.


H/T to Peterborough Politics
H/T to Unrepentant Old Hippie




'Shaman with sacred corn' Courtesy steffich fine art

There is an old saying in politics ... 'Never let facts get in the way of a good rant.'

President George W. Bush has mastered that tenet. His ability to close his eyes to reality and react based on 'belief' comes from his fundamentalist religious mindset. This being the case, Bush does not care if Iran suspended nuclear development years ago. Bush wants to hit Iran militarily and 'by gawd' he is going to find some way to attack Iran!

Should I be surprised? Not really; this is the mindset that he has employed since 9/11. Bush has been operating on his own agenda since that day. The whole notion that American troops would be welcomed with garlands thrown by the Iraqi people was our first evidence that he had no idea of the reality that the U.S would face in Iraq.

The White House's complete lack of understanding about the history and demographics of Iraq set the stage for the disaster that continues daily in that nation.

What should we make of his policy concerning Iran? How far can he go with his saber rattling?

So now what ... hold on to your seats ... In his own mind and in fact, Bush is no lame duck president yet!

CBC

When Right Wing Governments Get Their Hands On The Cheque Book - Part 1

OTTAWA - Under Stephen Harper's Conservatives, the federal government spent more money on polling and focus groups last year than in any other since Ottawa began tracking the total costs of public opinion surveys. More than $31-million was spent sampling opinions in 2006-07, the first full fiscal year under a Tory government, according to a Public Works and Government Services Canada report. The Tories out-spent all the previous Liberal governments on public opinion research.

Last year's total marked a 17% bump in spending from 2005-06, a year when fewer polling contracts were conducted due to the January, 2006, federal election. But the Tories' public opinion spending still topped the 2004-05 figure, when the Paul Martin Liberal government issued survey contracts worth $29.1-million.
Glen McGregor, CanWest News Service

Buckdog is going to do a series of posts that busts the myth that Canadian Right Wing federal and provincial governments are fiscally 'conservative' - proof that there is NO such thing as a fiscal Conservative. These dudes go on massive spending sprees the minute they get signing authority over the public purse!

The 2007 Unofficial Blogging Dipper Awards are being voted on as we speak. This blog has been nominated in two categories:

Best Overall Dipper Blog
Accidental Deliberations
Buckdog
La Revue Gauche

Best Partisan Dipper
Accidental Deliberations
Buckdog
Northern BC Dipper

To ensure fair voting ... you cannot vote online BUT only need to send an email with your selections to:

politicaldiscord@hotmail.com

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has narrowly lost a referendum on controversial constitutional changes. The Venezuelan people rejected the reforms, which included allowing a president to stand indefinitely for re-election, by 51% of the vote to 49%, officials said.

-Reuters
-Telegraph
-ABC News
-BBC World

Sort of an 'Open Thread / Open House' today - You are welcome to drop in - take a look around and leave a message.

Buckdog has made lots of friends over the last while and we have probably ticked a few people off as well ... but ... ALL ARE WELCOME HERE TODAY!







So here are a few odds and ends if you're interested ........

-Putin's party expected to win Russian election

-Germany's case against Karlheinz Schreiber

-Manitobans Expected To Blow Whistle On Child Porn

-Saskatchewan Hospitals Had Lowest Mortality Rates Under NDP Government

Ladies and Gentlemen, we present The Senate Hall of Fame