Mouseland by Trapper John Sun May 23rd, 2004 at 03:19:30 EDT Well, this is a site dedicated to politics and elections. No rule that the elections discussed have to be American . . . Tomorrow morning, Canadian PM Paul Martin will ask the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament and will call a June 28 general election. And it's gonna be a fun ride. Polling shows that this is on track to be the first election with any real drama in a decade -- after over ten years of blandly effective Liberal government, the gradual erosion of Medicare and scores of small scandals are driving Canadians to look beyond the party that they have entrusted with supermajorities since the early '90s. The "new" Conservative Party, which arose just a few months ago from the merged ashes of the tired old Progressive Conservatives and the Texas-style crazy rightists of the Reform/CRAP/Canadian Alliance, appears to finally be presenting something of a coherent right-wing alternative to the Grits' third-way triangulation. The Bloc Quebecois has righted course after a couple of rudderless years, and leads in Quebec polling. And Jack Layton, the new leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), has pulled Canada's social democratic/labour party out of a death spiral and seems poised to return the party to its proud position as a vital, fighting voice on the left -- one that actually has enough seats in Parliament to make a difference. I'll be blogging more about the ebb and flow of the campaign in the weeks to come, but my main goal in writing this post was to talk a little about the NDP. I'm a partisan Democrat, one who was very much angry with Nader in 2000, and one who is pretty wary of Green Party efforts. It's not because I'm not on the left -- it's because I can't see a successful left party being created in this country without essentially handing the GOP the keys to government for the duration. But man, if there was a way to have a social democratic party without guaranteeing theocracy, I'd be all for it, because, well . . . let's face it -- the Democratic Party has not always been a real force for social justice. It's the best thing we've got, but that's all it is. And that's why I love living vicariously through the NDP. The NDP isn't perfect -- there are a number of positions it's taken that seem a bit fluffy-headed to me. And God knows that they've often been far less than astute in a political sense, especially while in government. (The Bob Rae government in Ontario during the early '90s wrote the book on how to make your party look completely incompetent.) But the fact is that they're a party truly dedicated to social justice that has a base of around 10% of Canadians, and they always have a voice in Parliament. Sometimes they actually win provincial elections. We have nothing like them in the US, and we probably never will. (Why? That's a question for a whole series of long posts written by political scientists far more savvy than I.) What I'm trying to say, I guess, is this: growing up in Buffalo, following Canadian politics, the idea that a really leftist party could be a player in politics was inspiring. And I'll be rooting for the NDP over the next couple months. Because how can a lefty not love a party founded by Tommy Douglas -- a prairie populist who loved to tell a parable called "Mouseland" -- a parable that for me, really sums up what politics is all about: It's the story of a place called Mouseland. Mouseland was a place where all the little mice lived and played, were born and died. And they lived much the same as you and I do. They even had a parliament. And every four years they had an election. Used to walk to the polls and cast their ballots. Some of them even got a ride to the polls. And got a ride for the next four years afterwards too. Just like you and me. And every time on election day all the little mice used to go to the ballot box and they used to elect a government. A government made up of big, fat, black cats. Now if you think it strange that mice should elect a government made up of cats, you just look at the history of Canada for the last 90 years and maybe you'll see that they weren't any stupider then we are. Now I'm not saying anything against the cats. They were nice fellows. They conducted their government with dignity. They passed good laws -- that is, laws that were good for cats. But the laws that were good for cats weren't very good for mice. One of the laws said that mouse holes had to be big enough so a cat could get his paw in. Another law said that mice could only travel at certain speeds -- so that a cat could get his breakfast without too much effort. All the laws were good laws. For cats. But, oh, they were hard on the mice. And life was getting harder and harder. And when the mice couldn't put up with it any more, they decided that something had to be done about it. So they went en masse to the polls. They voted the black cats out. They put in the white cats. Now the white cats had put up a terrific campaign. They said: "All that's Mouseland needs is more vision." They said: "The trouble with Mouseland is those round mouse holes we got. If you put us in we'll establish square mouse holes." And they did. And the square mouse holes were twice as big as the round mouse holes, and now the cat could get both paws in. And life was tougher then ever. And when they couldn't take that anymore, they voted the white cats out and put the black one's in again. Then they went back to the white cats. Then to the black cats. They even tried half black and half white cats. And they called that coalition. They even got one government made up of cats with spots on them: they were cats that tried to make a noise like a mouse but ate like a cat. You see, my friends, the trouble wasn't with the colour of the cat. The trouble was that they were cats. And because they were cats, they naturally looked after cats instead of mice. Presently there came along one little mouse who had an idea. My friends, watch out for the little fellow with an idea. And he said to the other mice, "Look fellows, why do we keep electing a government made up of cats? Why don't we elect a government made up of mice?" "OH," they said, "he's a Bolshevik. Lock him up!" So they put him in jail. But I want to remind you: That you can lock up a mouse or a man but you can't lock up an idea. Go get 'em, mice. General 2004 :: Link & Discuss (31 comments)

Clintonizing Chalabi by Stirling Newberry Sun May 23rd, 2004 at 01:11:10 EDT (This diary entry is long, but it's got most of everything you've ever wanted to know about Chalabi -- kos) The recent raid and statements from the DIA indicate that Chalabi is about to be "Clintonized", that is, his failures and spying will be blamed on Clinton. Note the construction "for years" in reference to his passing information to the government of Iran. Here's some of what you need to know... Diaries :: Stirling Newberry's diary :: There's more... (27 comments, 3163 words in story)

Open Thread by kos Sat May 22nd, 2004 at 22:31:47 EDT Since we don't talk to neighbors over the fence anymore. Open Threads :: Link & Discuss (110 comments)

SD-Sen: Thune broke law by kos Sat May 22nd, 2004 at 22:30:13 EDT Daschle opponent John Thune is a lawbreaker. Former congressman John Thune, who is seeking to unseat the Senate Democratic leader in one of the year's most hotly contested Senate races, reported lobbying his former colleagues on Medicare last year, behavior that would have violated laws restricting the activities of former members of Congress. Thune campaign manager Dick Wadhams denied that the South Dakota Republican lobbied the House in 2003 and said the forms that Thune's firm filed were misleading. But the 2003 report that Thune's lobbying firm filed with Congress clearly lists Thune as one of eight lobbyists who contacted the House, Senate, and Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of Laserscope Inc., a medical laser systems supplier, last year. Departing members of Congress are subject to a one-year "cooling off" period, meaning that Thune would not have been allowed to lobby Congress last year. Given recent polling in the race, Daschle is easily the most endangered sitting Democratic incumbent in the Senate. In fact, he's likely the only endangered Democratic incumbent. Senate Elections 2004 :: Link & Discuss (28 comments)

PLAME AFFAIR: NYT reports subpoenas by Marisacat Sat May 22nd, 2004 at 22:21:48 EDT The New York Times is reporting that subpoenas have been by a federal grand jury to "at least" two journalists. Named in the Times piece, online tonight and in the print edition tomorrow, are Tim Russert of NBC and Matthew Cooper of TIME. A federal grand jury has subpoenaed at least two journalists, Tim Russert of NBC's "Meet the Press" and Matthew Cooper of Time magazine, to testify about whether the Bush White House leaked the identity of an undercover C.I.A. officer to the news media. Lawyers for NBC and Time said they would fight the subpoenas. NBC said its subpoena could have a "chilling effect" on its ability to report the news. ... Subpoenas to the news media are rare, and many courts have acknowledged significant legal protections for the press. But the leading Supreme Court case, decided in 1972, rejected the argument that the First Amendment protected reporters from grand jury subpoenas seeking information about crimes they have witnessed. In the Plame investigation, the journalists could be in a similar position. Not all leaks are crimes, but there is a law that specifically prohibits the disclosure of the identities of undercover intelligence operatives. ... Devereux Chatillon, an expert in First Amendment law at Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, a New York law firm, said the subpoenas in the Plame matter were surprising and troubling. "Subpoenas to the press at all, much less for confidential sources, are extremely unusual, certainly from the federal government," Ms. Chatillon said. "Without protection for confidential sources, the press cannot report effectively on things like the Abu Ghraib scandal," she said, in reference to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers. Along the way in the article it mentions that the DoJ dislclosed in '01 that it had issuef 88 subpoenas to the press in the previous decade. Long hot summer coming.... If we can just escape the Rapture Up! effect. Diaries :: Marisacat's diary :: Link & Discuss (45 comments)

Frist's son a drunk driver by kos Sat May 22nd, 2004 at 22:04:38 EDT The Frist family history is titled "Good People Beget Good People". (No joke.) Well, something apparently broke down with the youngest generation. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's 21-year-old son was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Princeton, New Jersey, police said on Thursday. William Harrison Frist, Jr., a Princeton University sophomore, was stopped early on Wednesday for passing a vehicle improperly and was found to be impaired after he failed a test for balance, Lt. Dennis McManimon of the Princeton borough police said. Why can't Republicans teach family values to their children? (And what about kitten murdering? Does that make one a "good person"?) Republicans :: Link & Discuss (50 comments)

Bush Takes Off Training Wheels by theoria Sat May 22nd, 2004 at 17:43:58 EDT Bush recently said that Iraq would soon be ready to "take off the training wheels" when it came to self-government. Fox news is now reporting that the president actually took his own training wheels off today, and wiped out while riding his mountain bike at his Crawford Ranch. Details are coming along now... abrasions etc on nose and other body parts. Add your Kerry comparisons and West Wing notes below. Fox is reporting (nothing online yet) that Bush was riding on his ranch with his personal doctor and the secret service when he ate dirt. I hope it didn't hurt. Maybe he should think about spending a little time in DC, no? Is he ever there? Update [2004-5-22 17:56:46 by theoria]:Fox has the story... Bush Administration :: Link & Discuss (176 comments)

Bush admin coddles terrorists by kos Sat May 22nd, 2004 at 15:46:04 EDT Hmmm, back in the days of Peace and Prosperity, the Republicans were apoplectic over Gore "selling out" to the Chinese. (All hot air and no substance, of course.) Now we have an administration that coddles the nation that gave us the 9-11 hijackers, Saudi Arabia, and let Bin Laden's family and other Saudis leave the country while all other planes were grounded post attack. And if that wasn't bad enough, Bush also invited an Iranian agent (Chalabi) to the State of the Union address and paid him some $30+ million to boot. For those who may have forgotten (yeah, I'm looking at you Republicans), Iran is one of the "Axis of Evil". Bush Administration :: Link & Discuss (167 comments)

OPEN THREAD, part II by theoria Sat May 22nd, 2004 at 15:29:27 EDT Man, that one is getting long. Jabberwocky. Misc :: Link & Discuss (75 comments)

OPEN THREAD by Meteor Blades Fri May 21st, 2004 at 20:51:39 EDT It's your turf. The poll template isn't big enough to provide a proper list for you to check off who you think is the best (or worst) columnist and broadcast pundit. So just tell us who you most like or detest. And why. Take the poll. Open Threads :: Link & Discuss (374 comments)

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