David Warren: Belinda Stronach

The Ottawa Citizen ^ | May 18, 2005 | David Warren

[ElkGroveDan]

which will radically advance the cause of separatism in Quebec, and spread it irretrievably to Western Canada;

Thanks for the heads up. We need to start sending our settlers into Alberta ASAP.

[OldFriend]

No surprise that this bimbo is Bubba's 'special' friend.

[Cecily]

"In personal terms, Mr. MacKay learned too late what kind of woman she is."


Isn't she one of Bubba's many, many rich floozies?

[Alberta's Child]

Alberta has already separated from Canada, for all intents and purposes. Most folks I know up there think of themselves as Albertans, not Canadians.

The biggest obstacle to a unified Canadian nation has been its sparse population, not its English and French cultures. The harsh reality up there is that the country has so few people spread out over such a large land mass that it is basically ungovernable. As a result, the strongest ties that are maintained in Canada are actually north-south, not east-west.

This means that every geographic region in Canada has a cultural "sister" down here in the U.S. Vancouver and Seattle have their own urban Marxist attitudes, Toronto and New York have their big-city decadence in common, Ottawa and Washington have their useless government "industries," etc.

[FlipWilson]

What is happening in Canada right now is proof that when Socialism fails it can only continue through the usurpation of democracy.

[lysie]

ping.

[ElkGroveDan]

Great analysis. I used to watch Alberta TV on cable when I was going to school in Bozeman. I got the impression that Lethbridge was more like Havre, MT than any place in Canada.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

You nailed it. Where I live in Montana, we have much more in common with the folks in Cranbrook than with the cretins in D.C. You listen to CBC when you're up there and just shake your head.

[Iowa Granny]

thanks for the ping.

Goofy stuff going on up there.

[bubman]

My country no more! I talked to people about this and incredulously they are indifferent about what just happened or shrugg it off as if "what can you do?"

This can only happen in this day and age for one simple reason: M-E-D-I-A. That is big Liberal media that have a vested interest in supporting this gov't through hell or high water as long as they offer the idiological goodies that they hold so dear. The media does not take to task the implications of these going ons. Maybe just maybe Lucien Bouchard and the separatists were right after all.

Canada cannot be saved as a Parliamentary incarnation since the moral character of those in power is lacking. New ideas are discarded or worse discouraged. Traditional Canadian ideals like rugged individualism and free spirited thinkers have given way to Status quo statism and worse, has been branded of all things anti canadian and idiological.

I never thought it would come to this.

[Alberta's Child]

Ironically, this is also the one big reason why Alberta would never become a U.S. state. They're smart enough to realize that living under a corrupt central government in Washington D.C. would be no different than living under a corrupt central government in Ottawa.

When asked to choose between Washington and Ottawa, most Albertans I know would select "Calgary" instead!

[okie01]

When asked to choose between Washington and Ottawa, most Albertans I know would select "Calgary" instead!

Isn't Edmonton the capitol?

[BooBoo1000]

You went to school in Bozo, I don't suppose you ever hung out in the Rocking R/??

[Alberta's Child]

One of my lasting impressions of Alberta dates back to the John Schneeberger case in 2001. He was the doctor who was convicted of sexually assaulting some of his patients, and while he was imprisoned in Saskatchewan he successfully petitioned the Canadian courts for visitation rights with his two young children. The court ordered his transfer to the Bowden facility north of Calgary, which was the prison that was closest to the place where his estranged wife had moved the family after his conviction. Prison officials actually went so far as to seize the two little girls for a forced visit with their father -- in prison.

There was quite a chaotic scene outside the prison gates that morning, as a crowd of people from the rural towns surrounding Bowden blocked the road and threatened to rescue the kids, overturn the prison vehicle and set it on fire. Order was restored when the mother pleaded with the protesters not to engage in any kind of violent behavior, but Schneeberger didn't get to see his children that day.

The following morning he filed a surprise motion with the prison officials, withdrawing his visitation request and asking the Canadian court to vacate its original decision. He showed up at a hearing bruised and beaten, looking like he had been run over by a dump truck. To this day nobody knows if he "fell down" at the hands of his fellow prisoners, or the Bowden guards.

Gotta love those rural Albertans. The Parliament riding (that's sort of like a Congressional district) that includes the Bowden area is also famous for its total lack of compliance with Canada's mandatory gun registration law. I believe this is the area represented by the Alberta legislator who refuses to register any of his guns, and carries a pistol into the provincial capital every day just to make his point.

[sergeantdave]

How will this affect walleye fishing and the Moosehead manufacturer?

[Alberta's Child]

Yes, but "Redmonton" is a liberal city and is really no better than Ottawa or Washington. The problem with that city is that it is a center of government as well as the home of the provincial university -- which means the culture up there is sort of a cross between the political climate of D.C. and the academic climate of Ithaca, New York.

[okie01]

The problem with that city is that it is a center of government as well as the home of the provincial university --

In other words, Edmonton equals Austin.

Which, given the other similarities between Alberta and Texas, is fitting and appropriate.

[July 4th]

Sounds good! Would you care to be the Nation of Alberta or North Montana?

[ElkGroveDan]

You went to school in Bozo, I don't suppose you ever hung out in the Rocking R/??

Heck yes. I think I still have one of the bright yellow T-shirts. In my day (82-86) they had $.25 beers from 5-7 on Fridays. You would go and order 20 and carry around a cafeteria tray full of beer in paper cups in a tiny storefront bar crowded elbow-to-elbow with other students carrying trays full of paper cups. No room to do anything other than stare at each other and drink.