Yesterday I wrote a wee snip about the increased spring water flow, and said, "more on that later, kiddies."
Then my man-servant, Bartley Kives of the Free Press, did all the work for me. He even put the piece in the paper (thanks, man). Spelling was perfect, researched real good, and presented nicely. Bartley, I think I'll keep you.
(He's not really my man-servant, ok?)
Read Bartley's very well formed article here:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/the-drain-on-the-plain-128518808.html
Then, like, start doing the math (hmm... 1000 hectares drained per year.... 12 years of NDP rule.... 12000 hectares drained.... two years of which alone is worth the Hoop and Holler cut... what's 12 years worth... oh....)
Thanks also to Ducks Unlimited. Big, big thanks.
Ok, sooo... who keeps saying Sellinger Inc. did such a great job with the flood? The flood they could have mostly prevented, that flood?
So tired of this NDP Government.
Sorry Jack, its the truth.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Hugh McFayden Blasts Political Pigs in Manitoba (or lack thereof...)
Hugh has emerged in fine form, and he has come out fighting for the unborn political pig in Rural Manitoba.
(Of course I will explain, just wait for it.)
I think I just heard Hugh say we should control the populations of Saskatchewan and North Dakota. But I'm not really sure. Maybe you can advise me?
I'm pretty darned sure I just heard him say he would lift the moratorium on pig farming expansions right about the time pig's fly, though. So read on, intrepid blog-and-bacon lovers!
At a meeting on the 24th in Morden (one great town, btw) Hugh went on camera to tackle the hog farm expansion moratorium issue. When asked what he would do about the moratorium by a certain Mr. Seimens, Hugh said he would base it on science, and not politics.
In other words (my words and my understanding, of course) Hugh would not be dealing with political pigs in this way any longer. Only scientific pigs. Of course.
And no-one got up to cheer, which was odd to me.
See, Hugh believes that Manitoba pigs have gotten a raw deal from NDP politicians. They (the pigs) are being blamed for the green sludge in the lake (that's what the new PC ad calls, green sludge, right?), and for this their numbers have been held down by the NDP Political reproduction police.
Now, darn it if this doesn't conjure up the image of Hugh McFayden rescuing political prisoners after the Manitoba Election of 2011. Serious, doesn't it? That is a sweet piece of politics, right there. You got me, Hugh. I cannot understand why they don't want you out on the town more, btw. I'm 100% for you showing up everywhere, all the time. A 24-hour Hugh.tv internet channel. Serious. I'll help you produce it.
Anyhow, this political pig talk goes over really well in the deep south. Rural Manitoba's interests in hog farming were previously a matter of economics, and power to them. Now, post-Hugh's speech, they may also become a matter of ethics. Free the political pig. Catchy. Darned catchy. I smell the Blue Rod's influence in there somewhere.
Hugh points out, so very scientifically, that many other factors contribute to the green sludge issue. Ever the pragmatist, he details a better solution for saving the lake based on spreading the blame around and holding them all responsible. Stop raw sewage from Winnipeg (really?), and phosphate-free soaps (whoops! nope, that was Dr. Gerrard), and....
...those pesky neighbors to the West and the South and the East. Scientifically, they hold a lot of green sludge responsibility. We must look to control those sources to un-green the lake, Hugh says.
(Ok, are you catching up to my 'heeeyyy... is he talking about babies in Sask. and N.D....?")
Moving on.
The rascal Kings and Queens of the Leg and their Political reproduction police might get smoked on this one by the voters if Hugh can get the message out in time. All the NDP do is blame livestock producers (and then its snip! snip! snip!, you know?) Hugh knows that's bad science. His many presentations in caucus tell him so.
He has an enormous (seriously, he said enormous) number of presentations to back all kinds of other approaches to controlling the green sludge. An enormous number of scientists (umm... presentations from scientists, right Hugh?) really enlightened him to the need to address all sources at once. Tackle phosphate sources across the board, then bring the pigs back a'breeding in Rural MB and wipe out the green sludge, too. Phosphate nirvana, and more bacon. Vote PC, right?
He didn't actually say what he would do if he couldn't get phosphate nirvana, mind, but... he must have just forgotten.
Check it out:
http://www.siemenssays.com/blog/5906.html
(Mr. Seimens, you devil, did you set Hugh up? Already heard the scary lake sludge commercial? You are one smooth operator, I'd say. And I had no idea you were Leaning Liberal! Whoo-hoo!)
Ok, the NDP are too damned slow moving on the lake (12 years in power, right?) And they clearly deal with political pigs, I'll agree with Hugh 100% there. Under their sweet management of our water systems, we have 35% increased water flow rates to the lake (another day, kiddies, another day.) A truly terrible record, and I write that with all humor off. It is not funny how bad a job they have done.
The NDP, too damned slow on the Lake. And I don't even have a cabin up there. Likely never will....
But hey, you ask... if Hugh will only lift the moratorium on hog expansion after the master plan is complete (watch the video, folks), might that not take a long time...?
Sure it will. Better start throwing the piglets off the barn roof, see which one of them can fly. Round about there kinda long time. Its how we country folk say never going to happen as stated by Hugh.
Sorry, Manitoba Farmers. To fight Hugh's fight against the political pigs, there must be casualties. He should have made that plain going in. Not nice to forget to inform the troops, I'd say. Oh well, the country folk will never support the Liberals anyways, right? (although historically that is where the Party has its roots....)
Seriously, Gerrard is so far out in front of the lake issue, it isn't funny. And we all know that. Partisan?? Moi? Nope. Just have 20/20 vision. Bet you do too.
(Mr. Blue Rod.... Hugh.tv, right? Call me, lunch.)
(Of course I will explain, just wait for it.)
I think I just heard Hugh say we should control the populations of Saskatchewan and North Dakota. But I'm not really sure. Maybe you can advise me?
I'm pretty darned sure I just heard him say he would lift the moratorium on pig farming expansions right about the time pig's fly, though. So read on, intrepid blog-and-bacon lovers!
At a meeting on the 24th in Morden (one great town, btw) Hugh went on camera to tackle the hog farm expansion moratorium issue. When asked what he would do about the moratorium by a certain Mr. Seimens, Hugh said he would base it on science, and not politics.
In other words (my words and my understanding, of course) Hugh would not be dealing with political pigs in this way any longer. Only scientific pigs. Of course.
And no-one got up to cheer, which was odd to me.
See, Hugh believes that Manitoba pigs have gotten a raw deal from NDP politicians. They (the pigs) are being blamed for the green sludge in the lake (that's what the new PC ad calls, green sludge, right?), and for this their numbers have been held down by the NDP Political reproduction police.
Now, darn it if this doesn't conjure up the image of Hugh McFayden rescuing political prisoners after the Manitoba Election of 2011. Serious, doesn't it? That is a sweet piece of politics, right there. You got me, Hugh. I cannot understand why they don't want you out on the town more, btw. I'm 100% for you showing up everywhere, all the time. A 24-hour Hugh.tv internet channel. Serious. I'll help you produce it.
Anyhow, this political pig talk goes over really well in the deep south. Rural Manitoba's interests in hog farming were previously a matter of economics, and power to them. Now, post-Hugh's speech, they may also become a matter of ethics. Free the political pig. Catchy. Darned catchy. I smell the Blue Rod's influence in there somewhere.
Hugh points out, so very scientifically, that many other factors contribute to the green sludge issue. Ever the pragmatist, he details a better solution for saving the lake based on spreading the blame around and holding them all responsible. Stop raw sewage from Winnipeg (really?), and phosphate-free soaps (whoops! nope, that was Dr. Gerrard), and....
...those pesky neighbors to the West and the South and the East. Scientifically, they hold a lot of green sludge responsibility. We must look to control those sources to un-green the lake, Hugh says.
(Ok, are you catching up to my 'heeeyyy... is he talking about babies in Sask. and N.D....?")
Moving on.
The rascal Kings and Queens of the Leg and their Political reproduction police might get smoked on this one by the voters if Hugh can get the message out in time. All the NDP do is blame livestock producers (and then its snip! snip! snip!, you know?) Hugh knows that's bad science. His many presentations in caucus tell him so.
He has an enormous (seriously, he said enormous) number of presentations to back all kinds of other approaches to controlling the green sludge. An enormous number of scientists (umm... presentations from scientists, right Hugh?) really enlightened him to the need to address all sources at once. Tackle phosphate sources across the board, then bring the pigs back a'breeding in Rural MB and wipe out the green sludge, too. Phosphate nirvana, and more bacon. Vote PC, right?
He didn't actually say what he would do if he couldn't get phosphate nirvana, mind, but... he must have just forgotten.
Check it out:
http://www.siemenssays.com/blog/5906.html
(Mr. Seimens, you devil, did you set Hugh up? Already heard the scary lake sludge commercial? You are one smooth operator, I'd say. And I had no idea you were Leaning Liberal! Whoo-hoo!)
Ok, the NDP are too damned slow moving on the lake (12 years in power, right?) And they clearly deal with political pigs, I'll agree with Hugh 100% there. Under their sweet management of our water systems, we have 35% increased water flow rates to the lake (another day, kiddies, another day.) A truly terrible record, and I write that with all humor off. It is not funny how bad a job they have done.
The NDP, too damned slow on the Lake. And I don't even have a cabin up there. Likely never will....
But hey, you ask... if Hugh will only lift the moratorium on hog expansion after the master plan is complete (watch the video, folks), might that not take a long time...?
Sure it will. Better start throwing the piglets off the barn roof, see which one of them can fly. Round about there kinda long time. Its how we country folk say never going to happen as stated by Hugh.
Sorry, Manitoba Farmers. To fight Hugh's fight against the political pigs, there must be casualties. He should have made that plain going in. Not nice to forget to inform the troops, I'd say. Oh well, the country folk will never support the Liberals anyways, right? (although historically that is where the Party has its roots....)
Seriously, Gerrard is so far out in front of the lake issue, it isn't funny. And we all know that. Partisan?? Moi? Nope. Just have 20/20 vision. Bet you do too.
(Mr. Blue Rod.... Hugh.tv, right? Call me, lunch.)
Friday, 19 August 2011
How about down the middle?
No other issue I know speaks to the difference between the three main parties (yes three, not two) better than the great East / West / Center of the Lake debate.
Center of the Lake...? A third option? Who threw that out there?
Oh, yeah. The third Party.
(Hey Green's, no disrespect, but I think of you as the fourth Party right now. And that's just for now, so keep up the hard work ok? Oh, and uh... check your policies over a bit, please? I read them, think about the impact on the economy if implemented all at once, and shudder one of those deep, down-to-your-bowels shudders. But that's just my gut reaction, and who am I after all, right? But do me a solid, and run some economic modeling based on those directives, ok?)
So, about this third option.
Fishies and algae don't launch lawsuits. Apparently they would have no need anyhow, because the environmental impact of the watery option is so darned low, the judge would likely just throw out the suit as frivolous.
Run an underwater cable and send power down it? Who does that, I can hear you say...
Right. Who does that, indeed.
I'm not a confirmed expert on underwater cables, and I won't try to convince you that I am. I do have the sense to listen to such experts, though, and they say this is do-able. Including the experts at Hydro, yes? Yes.
Now, imagine if Ian Rabb were to put up a billboard (just saying...) promoting Manitoba as a world leader in Hydro power lines (now that's using your powers for good.) Imagine this tag line:
'Manitoba: World Leader in Underwater Power Transmission Technology'
Mmm... I like that. Sounds good, and I'll bet Ian would have a great image to go along with it. Seriously, I'll bet he would. There is a lot going on in underwater cable, and it just might be a trend that gains momentum. Remember the railway boom back in the day? Read 'Devil Take the Hindmost', and tell me what you think of underwater cable's potential. Its a great book.
So let's jump over to an alternate Universe... maybe the NDP's Earth II... and imagine their poster. Something like this:
'Manitoba: Spirited-Energy-Running-Down-Other-People's-Property-Management-Experts'
Well... ok, I guess there is some export potential there. Its a crazy world, right? Someone must need these skills, somewhere.
Now, zooming off to Planet PC:
'Manitoba: Doing a Great Job Setting Up Public Utilities For Privatization, Without All Those Nasty Lawsuits From Indigenous Peoples Looming Over Your Head'
Now we know there is an export market for that. Tempting... but what sort of international company do we want to keep in our export diversification efforts? And how many right-wing governments could we sell this to, anyhow... ummm... ok, maybe there is some serious potential there. Kinda stinky, but it all spends the same, right?
This Left / Center / Right of the lake debate bears scrutiny for its utility in describing the general state of the difference between the PC's, NDP, and Liberals. We are talking about three very different Manitobas. On one extreme side, seems we have a mess, but we know that going in, so we manage. On the other extreme is another mess, just with different implications and different.... stakeholders. Once again, we manage.
But down the middle, honest to goodness, it seems like things will work out fine.
I know, you'll say, 'but hey Rod Rouge, who could possibly pull off such an effort? What kind of Premiere would we need to pull off an innovation involving crazy distances and complexity and cable...?'
Bone up a bit on your history, kids. Then answer this question: Which of the three candidates to be your next Premier has hands-on Ministerial experience with huge distances and innovative cabling.
Double bonus points if you answer both questions at once.
PC's, NDP'ers, lets do something crazy, ok? Let's pretend for a moment that we have to choose the best option for Manitoba, and not just for anyone's own stakeholders and strategic aims. In this alternate universe where all of Manitoba comes first, tell me which poster you will be putting up, please?
(... if you want, we can do it secretly, so no-one knows what you really think.)
In the middle, the NDP gets to keep their beautiful parklands (Love it!) The PC business minds could get to work leveraging our newly acquired skill set on the world market (folks, them thar' are potential mega-contracts!!) And the rest of us can get out of this stupid debate.
I'm not going up on a stump to beat the Manitoba Liberal drum. I don't have to. Dr. Gerrard is doing fine by representing all Manitobans, and not just a select few.
Golly, what would happen if all Manitobans represented him this October?
Well, ok, not all, but enough.
I'm thinking... the worst we would face in that case would be frivolous lawsuits from fish. Even still, they'd likely look up and say, 'hey, whoa, that's Gerrard... he's been going to bat for us, let's give the guy a break' and just swim away, fairly happy.
Blue Rod, have no fear. You are included in 'all Manitobans' under a Liberal government, natch.
(...but don't tell anyone at those fundraisers, eh?)
Center of the Lake...? A third option? Who threw that out there?
Oh, yeah. The third Party.
(Hey Green's, no disrespect, but I think of you as the fourth Party right now. And that's just for now, so keep up the hard work ok? Oh, and uh... check your policies over a bit, please? I read them, think about the impact on the economy if implemented all at once, and shudder one of those deep, down-to-your-bowels shudders. But that's just my gut reaction, and who am I after all, right? But do me a solid, and run some economic modeling based on those directives, ok?)
So, about this third option.
Fishies and algae don't launch lawsuits. Apparently they would have no need anyhow, because the environmental impact of the watery option is so darned low, the judge would likely just throw out the suit as frivolous.
Run an underwater cable and send power down it? Who does that, I can hear you say...
Right. Who does that, indeed.
I'm not a confirmed expert on underwater cables, and I won't try to convince you that I am. I do have the sense to listen to such experts, though, and they say this is do-able. Including the experts at Hydro, yes? Yes.
Now, imagine if Ian Rabb were to put up a billboard (just saying...) promoting Manitoba as a world leader in Hydro power lines (now that's using your powers for good.) Imagine this tag line:
'Manitoba: World Leader in Underwater Power Transmission Technology'
Mmm... I like that. Sounds good, and I'll bet Ian would have a great image to go along with it. Seriously, I'll bet he would. There is a lot going on in underwater cable, and it just might be a trend that gains momentum. Remember the railway boom back in the day? Read 'Devil Take the Hindmost', and tell me what you think of underwater cable's potential. Its a great book.
So let's jump over to an alternate Universe... maybe the NDP's Earth II... and imagine their poster. Something like this:
'Manitoba: Spirited-Energy-Running-Down-Other-People's-Property-Management-Experts'
Well... ok, I guess there is some export potential there. Its a crazy world, right? Someone must need these skills, somewhere.
Now, zooming off to Planet PC:
'Manitoba: Doing a Great Job Setting Up Public Utilities For Privatization, Without All Those Nasty Lawsuits From Indigenous Peoples Looming Over Your Head'
Now we know there is an export market for that. Tempting... but what sort of international company do we want to keep in our export diversification efforts? And how many right-wing governments could we sell this to, anyhow... ummm... ok, maybe there is some serious potential there. Kinda stinky, but it all spends the same, right?
This Left / Center / Right of the lake debate bears scrutiny for its utility in describing the general state of the difference between the PC's, NDP, and Liberals. We are talking about three very different Manitobas. On one extreme side, seems we have a mess, but we know that going in, so we manage. On the other extreme is another mess, just with different implications and different.... stakeholders. Once again, we manage.
But down the middle, honest to goodness, it seems like things will work out fine.
I know, you'll say, 'but hey Rod Rouge, who could possibly pull off such an effort? What kind of Premiere would we need to pull off an innovation involving crazy distances and complexity and cable...?'
Bone up a bit on your history, kids. Then answer this question: Which of the three candidates to be your next Premier has hands-on Ministerial experience with huge distances and innovative cabling.
Double bonus points if you answer both questions at once.
PC's, NDP'ers, lets do something crazy, ok? Let's pretend for a moment that we have to choose the best option for Manitoba, and not just for anyone's own stakeholders and strategic aims. In this alternate universe where all of Manitoba comes first, tell me which poster you will be putting up, please?
(... if you want, we can do it secretly, so no-one knows what you really think.)
In the middle, the NDP gets to keep their beautiful parklands (Love it!) The PC business minds could get to work leveraging our newly acquired skill set on the world market (folks, them thar' are potential mega-contracts!!) And the rest of us can get out of this stupid debate.
I'm not going up on a stump to beat the Manitoba Liberal drum. I don't have to. Dr. Gerrard is doing fine by representing all Manitobans, and not just a select few.
Golly, what would happen if all Manitobans represented him this October?
Well, ok, not all, but enough.
I'm thinking... the worst we would face in that case would be frivolous lawsuits from fish. Even still, they'd likely look up and say, 'hey, whoa, that's Gerrard... he's been going to bat for us, let's give the guy a break' and just swim away, fairly happy.
Blue Rod, have no fear. You are included in 'all Manitobans' under a Liberal government, natch.
(...but don't tell anyone at those fundraisers, eh?)
How about down the middle?
No other issue I know speaks to the difference between the three main parties (yes three, not two) better than the great East / West / Center of the Lake debate.
Center of the Lake...? A third option? Who threw that out there?
Oh, yeah. The third Party.
(Hey Green's, no disrespect, but I think of you as the fourth Party right now. And that's just for now, so keep up the hard work ok? Oh, and uh... check your policies over a bit, please? I read them, think about the impact on the economy if implemented all at once, and shudder one of those deep, down-to-your-bowels shudders. But that's just my gut reaction, and who am I after all, right? But do me a solid, and run some economic modeling based on those directives, ok?)
So, about this third option.
Fishies and algae don't launch lawsuits. Apparently they would have no need anyhow, because the environmental impact of the watery option is so darned low, the judge would likely just throw out the suit as frivolous.
Run an underwater cable and send power down it? Who does that, I can hear you say...
Right. Who does that, indeed.
I'm not a confirmed expert on underwater cables, and I won't try to convince you that I am. I do have the sense to listen to such experts, though, and they say this is do-able. Including the experts at Hydro, yes? Yes.
Now, imagine if Ian Rabb were to put up a billboard (just saying...) promoting Manitoba as a world leader in Hydro power lines (now that's using your powers for good.) Imagine this tag line:
'Manitoba: World Leader in Underwater Power Transmission Technology'
Mmm... I like that. Sounds good, and I'll bet Ian would have a great image to go along with it. Seriously, I'll bet he would. There is a lot going on in underwater cable, and it just might be a trend that gains momentum. Remember the railway boom back in the day? Read 'Devil Take the Hindmost', and tell me what you think of underwater cable's potential. Its a great book.
So let's jump over to an alternate Universe... maybe the NDP's Earth II... and imagine their poster. Something like this:
'Manitoba: Spirited-Energy-Running-Down-Other-People's-Property-Management-Experts'
Well... ok, I guess there is some export potential there. Its a crazy world, right? Someone must need these skills, somewhere.
Now, zooming off to Planet PC:
'Manitoba: Doing a Great Job Setting Up Public Utilities For Privatization, Without All Those Nasty Lawsuits From Indigenous Peoples Looming Over Your Head'
Now we know there is an export market for that. Tempting... but what sort of international company do we want to keep in our export diversification efforts? And how many right-wing governments could we sell this to, anyhow... ummm... ok, maybe there is some serious potential there. Kinda stinky, but it all spends the same, right?
This Left / Center / Right of the lake debate bears scrutiny for its utility in describing the general state of the difference between the PC's, NDP, and Liberals. We are talking about three very different Manitobas. On one extreme side, seems we have a mess, but we know that going in, so we manage. On the other extreme is another mess, just with different implications and different.... stakeholders. Once again, we manage.
But down the middle, honest to goodness, it seems like things will work out fine.
I know, you'll say, 'but hey Rod Rouge, who could possibly pull off such an effort? What kind of Premiere would we need to pull off an innovation involving crazy distances and complexity and cable...?'
Bone up a bit on your history, kids. Then answer this question: Which of the three candidates to be your next Premier has hands-on Ministerial experience with huge distances and innovative cabling.
Double bonus points if you answer both questions at once.
PC's, NDP'ers, lets do something crazy, ok? Let's pretend for a moment that we have to choose the best option for Manitoba, and not just for anyone's own stakeholders and strategic aims. In this alternate universe where all of Manitoba comes first, tell me which poster you will be putting up, please?
(... if you want, we can do it secretly, so no-one knows what you really think.)
In the middle, the NDP gets to keep their beautiful parklands (Love it!) The PC business minds could get to work leveraging our newly acquired skill set on the world market (folks, them thar' are potential mega-contracts!!) And the rest of us can get out of this stupid debate.
I'm not going up on a stump to beat the Manitoba Liberal drum. I don't have to. Dr. Gerrard is doing fine by representing all Manitobans, and not just a select few.
Golly, what would happen if all Manitobans represented him this October?
Well, ok, not all, but enough.
I'm thinking... the worst we would face in that case would be frivolous lawsuits from fish. Even still, they'd likely look up and say, 'hey, whoa, that's Gerrard... he's been going to bat for us, let's give the guy a break' and just swim away, fairly happy.
Blue Rod, have no fear. You are included in 'all Manitobans' under a Liberal government, natch.
(...but don't tell anyone at those fundraisers, eh?)
Center of the Lake...? A third option? Who threw that out there?
Oh, yeah. The third Party.
(Hey Green's, no disrespect, but I think of you as the fourth Party right now. And that's just for now, so keep up the hard work ok? Oh, and uh... check your policies over a bit, please? I read them, think about the impact on the economy if implemented all at once, and shudder one of those deep, down-to-your-bowels shudders. But that's just my gut reaction, and who am I after all, right? But do me a solid, and run some economic modeling based on those directives, ok?)
So, about this third option.
Fishies and algae don't launch lawsuits. Apparently they would have no need anyhow, because the environmental impact of the watery option is so darned low, the judge would likely just throw out the suit as frivolous.
Run an underwater cable and send power down it? Who does that, I can hear you say...
Right. Who does that, indeed.
I'm not a confirmed expert on underwater cables, and I won't try to convince you that I am. I do have the sense to listen to such experts, though, and they say this is do-able. Including the experts at Hydro, yes? Yes.
Now, imagine if Ian Rabb were to put up a billboard (just saying...) promoting Manitoba as a world leader in Hydro power lines (now that's using your powers for good.) Imagine this tag line:
'Manitoba: World Leader in Underwater Power Transmission Technology'
Mmm... I like that. Sounds good, and I'll bet Ian would have a great image to go along with it. Seriously, I'll bet he would. There is a lot going on in underwater cable, and it just might be a trend that gains momentum. Remember the railway boom back in the day? Read 'Devil Take the Hindmost', and tell me what you think of underwater cable's potential. Its a great book.
So let's jump over to an alternate Universe... maybe the NDP's Earth II... and imagine their poster. Something like this:
'Manitoba: Spirited-Energy-Running-Down-Other-People's-Property-Management-Experts'
Well... ok, I guess there is some export potential there. Its a crazy world, right? Someone must need these skills, somewhere.
Now, zooming off to Planet PC:
'Manitoba: Doing a Great Job Setting Up Public Utilities For Privatization, Without All Those Nasty Lawsuits From Indigenous Peoples Looming Over Your Head'
Now we know there is an export market for that. Tempting... but what sort of international company do we want to keep in our export diversification efforts? And how many right-wing governments could we sell this to, anyhow... ummm... ok, maybe there is some serious potential there. Kinda stinky, but it all spends the same, right?
This Left / Center / Right of the lake debate bears scrutiny for its utility in describing the general state of the difference between the PC's, NDP, and Liberals. We are talking about three very different Manitobas. On one extreme side, seems we have a mess, but we know that going in, so we manage. On the other extreme is another mess, just with different implications and different.... stakeholders. Once again, we manage.
But down the middle, honest to goodness, it seems like things will work out fine.
I know, you'll say, 'but hey Rod Rouge, who could possibly pull off such an effort? What kind of Premiere would we need to pull off an innovation involving crazy distances and complexity and cable...?'
Bone up a bit on your history, kids. Then answer this question: Which of the three candidates to be your next Premier has hands-on Ministerial experience with huge distances and innovative cabling.
Double bonus points if you answer both questions at once.
PC's, NDP'ers, lets do something crazy, ok? Let's pretend for a moment that we have to choose the best option for Manitoba, and not just for anyone's own stakeholders and strategic aims. In this alternate universe where all of Manitoba comes first, tell me which poster you will be putting up, please?
(... if you want, we can do it secretly, so no-one knows what you really think.)
In the middle, the NDP gets to keep their beautiful parklands (Love it!) The PC business minds could get to work leveraging our newly acquired skill set on the world market (folks, them thar' are potential mega-contracts!!) And the rest of us can get out of this stupid debate.
I'm not going up on a stump to beat the Manitoba Liberal drum. I don't have to. Dr. Gerrard is doing fine by representing all Manitobans, and not just a select few.
Golly, what would happen if all Manitobans represented him this October?
Well, ok, not all, but enough.
I'm thinking... the worst we would face in that case would be frivolous lawsuits from fish. Even still, they'd likely look up and say, 'hey, whoa, that's Gerrard... he's been going to bat for us, let's give the guy a break' and just swim away, fairly happy.
Blue Rod, have no fear. You are included in 'all Manitobans' under a Liberal government, natch.
(...but don't tell anyone at those fundraisers, eh?)
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Ian Rabb's Vision for Safe and Comfortable Apartment Rental
I am sooo thankful that we live under the rule of law. I am sure you are, too, especially if you came to Canada from some place that is ruled in some other way.
But with the law comes the lawyers, right? Hey, it is the price we pay (and to be fair, I actually like some lawyers, which spoils most of the jokes for me.)
Now, with his masterstroke of marketing receiving a great deal of attention (even Gord Sinclair noticed!) you'd think Ian Rabb would be a great lawyer looking to become your shiney new public servant in the Leg. I mean, he totally read the laws on election campaign signs to mean 'you can put your image anywhere, in any way, as long as it is not directly referring to your election campaign.'
What eyesite! What vision! He sees with such clarity, has tremendous perceptive powers, he...
Oh, wait. No bloody wonder. He's a Doctor of Optometry. Click! All makes sense now, right?
Its all about the number of impressions on the backs of the eyeballs, right Ian?
See:
PC Election signs with Ian's bright, shining face: maybe some 4000 direct impressions per day.
Massive 'business' signs on this sides of prominent buildings: maybe 20,000 direct impressions per day.
(Even Gord Sinclair has Ian's face burnt into his eyeballs! Touche (repeatedly...)!)
Masterful! Elections loophole makes massive impressions!
I am absolutely sure that if you ask people that know Ian (I mean, really know him) they will say he is a good guy trying to do good things. I will not think to disparage the man.
But the party, well, now that is a completely different matter.
Hey, PC party. A good government in waiting looks to exploit the laws fully, but for the betterment of society, ok? We aren't really interested in letting people through the power door that so clearly portray themselves as the exploiters of our election laws.
Did you think we wouldn't notice? Do you think we need our eyes checked, or our brains?
Sigh. Blue Rod, seriously. Edit your boys.
But with the law comes the lawyers, right? Hey, it is the price we pay (and to be fair, I actually like some lawyers, which spoils most of the jokes for me.)
Now, with his masterstroke of marketing receiving a great deal of attention (even Gord Sinclair noticed!) you'd think Ian Rabb would be a great lawyer looking to become your shiney new public servant in the Leg. I mean, he totally read the laws on election campaign signs to mean 'you can put your image anywhere, in any way, as long as it is not directly referring to your election campaign.'
What eyesite! What vision! He sees with such clarity, has tremendous perceptive powers, he...
Oh, wait. No bloody wonder. He's a Doctor of Optometry. Click! All makes sense now, right?
Its all about the number of impressions on the backs of the eyeballs, right Ian?
See:
PC Election signs with Ian's bright, shining face: maybe some 4000 direct impressions per day.
Massive 'business' signs on this sides of prominent buildings: maybe 20,000 direct impressions per day.
(Even Gord Sinclair has Ian's face burnt into his eyeballs! Touche (repeatedly...)!)
Masterful! Elections loophole makes massive impressions!
I am absolutely sure that if you ask people that know Ian (I mean, really know him) they will say he is a good guy trying to do good things. I will not think to disparage the man.
But the party, well, now that is a completely different matter.
Hey, PC party. A good government in waiting looks to exploit the laws fully, but for the betterment of society, ok? We aren't really interested in letting people through the power door that so clearly portray themselves as the exploiters of our election laws.
Did you think we wouldn't notice? Do you think we need our eyes checked, or our brains?
Sigh. Blue Rod, seriously. Edit your boys.
Friday, 12 August 2011
Oh, Marty, you sneaky devil...
Now, its just not fair of us to call Marty to task (see last post) for an article he took off his Web site, is it?
Or is it?
Guess we'll just have to use the one that Google nicely kept cached for us (see below, and if you google it, click the cached version.)
Now, to be fair, its only the Liberal position that all votes should be counted that Marty objects to. Our X-ray vision read between the lines to discern the underlying resistance to improving the electoral process.
Hey, you read it, and tell us what you think.
Ummm... Marty, why did you take it down, dude?
(oh, I wonder if the Blue Rod flexed his muscle? A little late, sir, but appreciate the effort.)
Or is it?
Guess we'll just have to use the one that Google nicely kept cached for us (see below, and if you google it, click the cached version.)
Now, to be fair, its only the Liberal position that all votes should be counted that Marty objects to. Our X-ray vision read between the lines to discern the underlying resistance to improving the electoral process.
Hey, you read it, and tell us what you think.
Ummm... Marty, why did you take it down, dude?
(oh, I wonder if the Blue Rod flexed his muscle? A little late, sir, but appreciate the effort.)
Tired Manitoba Liberal Party wants to make voting Mandatory
February 3, 2011
Jon Gerrard, the only Liberal MLA in Manitoba and leader of the tired Liberal Party of Manitoba has blogged in favor of a law that would force Manitobans to vote. (see http://manitobaliberals.blogspot.com/2005_10_02_archive.html).
Although voting is compulsory in some countries, this position goes against the most fundamental of Canadian rights, that is; the freedom to exercise or not exercise ones' franchise.Voting is not a civic duty but rather a civic right. Forcing people to vote under penalty is an infringement upon the rights of people who would choose not to vote because they do not favor or support any candidate or political party. It would also infringe upon the rights of those citizens who do not vote for religious reasons ( for example Jehovahs Witnesses) whose religion discourages participation in political events.
The reality is, in order to increase voter turnout we need to do do a better job educating our young people about our political system. Further our politicians must also do a better job getting people engaged and interested in politics. People should feel empowered by the understanding that their vote can make a difference.
It is in the market place of ideas that the battle for greater voter turnout should be fought, and not by the will of the state telling people that they must vote under threat of penalty.
Perhaps, given the Manitoba Liberal's historical inability to attract votes, Dr. Gerrard thinks that forcing you to vote might help his Party.
Although voting is compulsory in some countries, this position goes against the most fundamental of Canadian rights, that is; the freedom to exercise or not exercise ones' franchise.Voting is not a civic duty but rather a civic right. Forcing people to vote under penalty is an infringement upon the rights of people who would choose not to vote because they do not favor or support any candidate or political party. It would also infringe upon the rights of those citizens who do not vote for religious reasons ( for example Jehovahs Witnesses) whose religion discourages participation in political events.
The reality is, in order to increase voter turnout we need to do do a better job educating our young people about our political system. Further our politicians must also do a better job getting people engaged and interested in politics. People should feel empowered by the understanding that their vote can make a difference.
It is in the market place of ideas that the battle for greater voter turnout should be fought, and not by the will of the state telling people that they must vote under threat of penalty.
Perhaps, given the Manitoba Liberal's historical inability to attract votes, Dr. Gerrard thinks that forcing you to vote might help his Party.
Hey, Marty, how’s your beloved election system treating you now?
Isn’t a multi-party reality in an anachronistic two-party maybe-you-vote-maybe-you-don’t-who-bloody-cares electoral system grand?
Don’t you thrill from the perversity of ‘democratically elected’ majorities springing from a minority of the vote? (I’m talking provincially now, Blue Rod. Don’t get too excited with your post-federal election results….)
On his website, Marty Morantz, that feisty tough-on-crime rookie PC candidate in River Heights, attacked the Liberal policy on electoral process reforms. Marty stops just short of writing ‘electoral reform is for loooosers, nah nah!’ Just short, I mean it, Google and go read it yourself. He’s totally eloquent in that poke-you-in-the-eye and give-you-a-wedgey way some PC’s have chosen to write in lately. A must-read.
So Marty… with less than a month before the writ is dropped, how’s that sexy old electoral system working out for ya’? (go ahead, Blue Rod, imagine Sara Palin saying that line, you dog…)
Ok… let’s take a peek at some predictions. (I just can’t wait ‘till October, and yes I shake my presents the night before.)
Good old Three Hundred and Eight (http://threehundredeight.blogspot.com/) serves up the freshest analysis this Manitoba Joe Public (aka the Red and White Rod) can find. Pie charts portry what many of our guts told us a long time back (oh and bloody heck, 308, don’t be so hard on yourself about the Federal Election. Just keep workin’ man, you do great things.)
Vote / Seat Projection for 2011 Manitoba Provincial Election (as of July 27th)
PC: 44% / 22 seats (Official Opposition)
NDP: 40% / 33 seats (Majority Government)
Liberals: 11.5% / 2 seats (No Party Status)
Green: 4% / 0 seats (No Party Status)
Wow! The people of Manitoba have spoken (into the phone, informally, with a =/- rating run through 308’s wizzy prediction machine and all…) and the winner is…
A Loser by a landslide!
16 years in power here we come, eh Orange Rod! You beautiful, beautiful loser.
Lordy, but that is a sweet piece of perverse democracy. I’m getting chills… this is what its all about, eh Marty? The irony, the unfairness, the absurdity… better than most movies, almost better than good Cable TV (and free!)
In a stupid reformed system (that’s what you’d call it, yes Marty? Stoopid?), maybe with some crazy ‘representation by percentage of vote’ mechanism thrown in there, the results could have looked like this:
Vote / Seat Projection for 2011 Manitoba Provincial Election (as of July 27th)
PC: 44% / 25 seats
NDP: 40% / 23 seats
Liberals: 11.5% / 7 seats
Green: 4% / 2 seats
Golly, can you imagine a result like that? Its… it looks somehow wrong, eh Marty? I don’t know, just looking at it, I’m getting… irked. I feel let down. I know… its like a ‘what will we gripe about down at the coffee shop now’ feeling. Conversational deflation, or something like that.
In reality, the Liberal prescription for electoral change Marty pooh-pooh’s is a little more sophisticated than just a Prop. Rep. Revamp. But I’ll write about that another day. Let’s keep it simple for now and just leave’er as is above, being:
A fairly accurate reflection of the will of the people, with the PC’s clearly relevant and having responsibilities, the Liberal’s having Party Status and serious influence in Government, the Greens finally at the table, and the NDP maybe in Government, maybe not, but waiting in case the PC’s screw it up…
Actually, that’s pretty cool. A lot better than the silly mess you find yourself in now, eh Marty? Well, ok, you can borrow this for a while if you want… just give it back, ok?
If we can’t fix the baloney that goes on in the Leg with above result and the resultant political dynamic, replacing the ‘one bunch of super-friends or the other takes and holds absolute power’ with forced accountability and multi-party reason, then we are truly doomed, my Keystone Brethren.
(We are not doomed. It would be very, very good for Manitoba.)
Marty, my friend, maybe… maybe next time you sit down to tell us what you think on your web site, why not wait a while before pressing ‘send’ until the conditions are right. I’m thinking, like maybe… after you picked up a book or two, read some Journal publications, talked with some pundits and experts, studied life in better formed democratic systems. Maybe after taking a good hard look at the results of your cherished, broken, foolish two-party first-past-the-post-gee-who-cares-if-people-vote system.
You know… or not. Your choice.
Blue Rod, seriously… you have brighter minds over there. I know some, I like some, I’d even work gladly with some. Pull some strings, man. Edit your guy.
Seriously, this is just too easy for us.
Oh yeah, and by the way, we’re the Rod Rouge…
While it was cool to see a Red Rod blog go up… it was hard to watch it languish with little more impact that providing our friend Mr. Blue Rod with materials for giggle tracks.
Now, if you read our friend Mr. Blue Rod’s blog, you already know he don’t need more material. He’s got the Orange Rod to play with, and an unending supply of Provincial NDP shenanigans to lampoon.
Hey, Red Rod, no biggy. Stuff happens, life gets complicated. We have your back on this one.
So a bit about us.
Likes:
Good government with sound fiscal management and strong social policy.
(Yeah, I know, sounds like Liberal core values for good government. What a coincidence.)
Dislikes:
Bad Government.
(...and we'll be discussing that topic at length, esp. with your kind assistance.)
C’est nous.
Pretty simple, right?
Now lets get to work.
Rex Non Potest Peccare
English translation: The King can do no wrong
What a wonderful way to clean up corruption at the highest levels of state (if you are the state…) Simply make it impossible for the public to have any legal recourse against a Minister or high-up official of a department. No matter what they do while in office or in the employ of the public, the public can never form a legal complaint against them.
Corruption? Malfeasance of Public Office? Gross Negligence or violations of the Public Administration Act?
Not any more, according to a legal system recognizing Rex non potest peccare. If it ain’t proven in court, it ain’t real yet, right? Corruption problem solved, chalk one up to the Government, good job everyone, high five.
Now you say, hey, Rod Rouge (and I love the name, btw…), Canada did away with Rex non potest peccare a long time ago. You, or I, or we together can file claims in court naming Ministers and high level public servants (if we have the resources to do so…). We expect the full protection of the law, and this is old, old news.
Well, let me tell you of rumors about the new news, Manitoba. And listen carefully, ok?
We hear that the Governing party in office for 12 years with a majority (like kings and queens in terms of power in Provincial terms) might like to bring back Rex non potest peccare. They may have tried, on numerous occasions since 2005, to introduce legislation with clauses that would, in effect, put the Kings and Queens of Manitoba above the bothersome legal recourse afforded to us wee keystone peons.
That’s what we hear out there in chit-chat land.
We’ll be digging further into this, of course. We will see if bona fide draft text of legislation is available to prove not just one, but apparent multiple attempts to draft legislation with such kingly privileges exist. We’ll be looking through Hansard, yadda yadda. You know the routine.
We’ll also be seeing about the rumors that the Liberals insisted on the removal of such tripe, again and again, keeping us at least somewhat safer from the shenanigans of the ruling party. No mean feat if they did, given that they don’t even have a research staff budget with which to keep us a little bit safer a night.
Suppose we’ll also see if the PC’s, with their big research budget and hell-bent-for-justice swagger, did anything to help. Ever. Of course, if they did, we shall duly report it as such.
‘Oh, but Rod Rouge, that was maybe a few years ago? How can that matter now?'
You are kidding, right?
Hey, Blue Rod (yes, big guy, I’m talking to you), any info. available on this topic? Did you folks get all tough on crime at the top? Did you keep us safe from the kings and queens in the orange suits?
(Or were ya’ll too busy rubbing your hands together and group-thinking about when you take absolute power, how cool would that clause be…. Umm… sorry, I shouldn’t make personal predictions like that, should I. Let’s see what the records say, and start off on the right foot. Sorry, Blue Rod. My bad. I’ll do better.)
Comment away, folks. Hit us with facts on the subject.
This ain’t no one-rod act at Rod Rouge, and many hands make lighter work.
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