Nothing Funny About It: Canada's new prime minister is not laughing.

National Review ^ | January 12, 2004 | Rob Anders

[quidnunc]

Humor is one of Canada's most important exported cultural commodities: Canadians are proud of Mike Meyers, Leslie Nielsen, and, of course, the late, great John Candy. Recognizing humor, like hockey, is a Canadian value shared from coast to coast, it is strange to see the fury with which the federal Liberal party has descended on a previously unnoticed Paul Martin parody website.

Threatening to sue the creators just before Christmas, the Liberal-party lawyers claim this satirical website chronicling Paul Martin corruption has stolen the Liberal party's personal intellectual property.

Liberals should be aware that satire is one of the oldest forms of criticizing government policy. The nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" is actually coded criticism, when tyranny not freedom was the norm: "all the Kings horses and all the Kings men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again."

With the Paul Martin Liberals suing independent satire websites, Canadians can only now wonder who will be next. By pointing out Liberal corruption in a mocking sort of way, will Canada's popular comedic icon Marg Delahunty (alias "Marg the Warrior Princess") end up next on the Liberal party's chopping block?

One of the independent webmasters explained his "shock" that a Liberal staff member who initially contacted him had such a "natural grasp of intimidation tactics," using "subtle name-drops indicating the power of the Liberal party to crush us and not think twice."

-snip-

[Redbob]

The most interesting quote in this article is:

"Conservatives support smaller government, lower taxes, as well as freedom of speech..."

In which country is that true?
Surely not in the U.S.
</sarcasm>

[coydog]

Heh. Tell me something that SURPRISES ME? Paul Martin thin-skinned? Nyaaah, couldn't be (sarcasm)

[headsonpikes]

Paul Martin, always suave and self-possessed as Finance Minister, now bears an uncanny resemblance to Wile E. Coyote in the moment that he sees the train coming out of his self-painted tunnel. ;^)

[Prime Choice]

Recognizing humor, like hockey, is a Canadian value shared from coast to coast, it is strange to see the fury with which the federal Liberal party has descended on a previously unnoticed Paul Martin parody website.

Doesn't surprise me in the least. One of the first things the Soviets did during their reign was outlaw political satire. They referred to it as "tiny counter-revolutions."

The Left is doing what the Left always does: preserving rights for none save themselves.

[RightWingAtheist]

I grew up in the same Windsor house Paul Martin grew up in. No kidding.

[RightWingAtheist]

Humor is one of Canada's most important exported cultural commodities: Canadians are proud of Mike Meyers, Leslie Nielsen, and, of course, the late, great John Candy.

Funny how they didn't mention Tom Green.

[geedee]

Funny how they didn't mention Tom Green.

Or Petah Jennings.

[kever]

The Soviets?

[RightWingAtheist]

Or Terrence and Philip