A good line from a bad movie (Throw Momma from the train). Not that I consider myself a writer but I understand the sentiment behind the statement.
I had a great Easter Weekend during which time I took a break from this blogging thing. Last night I was thinking about something to write about and I found that I didn't have much to say. Over (and before) the weekend there was some talk about the Senate Appointments but to be honest it didn't charge me up very much.
I did find Hacks and Wonks post on (now) Senator Romeo Dallaire interesting. I am not sure I agree with him but I found it to be thought provoking. My biggest concern was watching (click on the video from Thursday evening) Senator Dallaire speaking about the UN and their attempted reform. He mentioned that the biggest barrier to such reform is the United States (so that is how you get a Senate appointment). If my history is correct, Kofi Annan was the bureaucrat in charge of the UN's response to the situation in Rwanda. Then General Dallaire asked Kofi Annan for more troops to stop the Genocide, none were forthcoming and ...you know the rest. Senator Dallaire figures that
he can help the people in Darfur from the inside of the machine (and in theory this is true) but it is pretty much the same gang who failed the first time. I fear to the same results.
In other news, I disagree with Robert Fife's assessment of the odds of a spring election (click on Jane Taber's Who's Hot and Not video). It looks pretty clear that the Conservative's are going to vote against the budget implementation plan since the Liberals have snuck in a carbon tax. Mr. Fife's assumption is that the BQ and NDP are in favour of Kyoto so they will not bring the Government down over this. This only makes sense if you can vote for a piece of the budget and then later vote against the rest of it. Adamantly my understanding of the Parliamentary process is weak when it comes to this but I don't that being the way. The BQ and NDP both voted against the budget so they would have to flip-flop on this issue to save the Government. Furthermore, the change to CEPA is not a plan for Kyoto and I think either the BQ or NDP (or both) will call the Liberal bluff on this. Finally, I think the BQ is itching for an election. But to be fair, Robert Fife is a professional and I am a crank in my basement. You decide who is correct.
