My vote is something I think about from time to time and for the most part in my lfe I've voted to the left of the general scheme of things - Green and NDP and even Independent Liberal once. These, however, are interesting times for a rightist blog reading light leftie like me.
- First, Stephen Taylor, hen mother and unofficial leader without power of the Blogging Tories, has been doing an excellent job stirring the pot by discussing a set of draft NDP policies he has "come across" - by which I mean I suspect he has been fed by the party. Fair enough to be a pipeline and I have a lot of respect for the quality of ST's writing and dedication to fact and primary inquiry (a rare trait in blogging) so he's helped me consider my vote from another perspective.
- Next, and not so useful but somewhat back-of-the-mind-ly irritating nonetheless, is the Globe and Mail's continuing determination to make the opinions of Bloggering Tories the subject matter of the news. Even though the sorts of writing they discuss are run of the mill rumour mongering of the most entertaining sort, it is not entirely satisfactory stuff and odd that the paper should look where they do for the bloggy perspective.
- Third has been the particular attention paid by the rightlings to the NDP's position on Afghanistan. Darcey brought my attention to it but ex-Blogging Tory, Andrew at Bound By Gravity, wrote an excellent piece on it last Monday that is another great example of what blogs could be but are not 99.9% of the time. His conclusion on the NDP five point plan on Afghanistan is well considered:
I agree with everything Mr. Layton says there - indeed, I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately the actions that the NDP proposes to accomplish these noble goals are so wrong-headed and so grounded in a misunderstanding of what peace-keeping is today that they will do more harm than good.
Rick Mercer is less kind.
Comments
Robert McClelland - September 7, 2006 11:52 AM
<i>has been doing an excellent job stirring the pot by discussing a set of draft NDP policies</i>
You have a strange belief about what constitutes discussion. Taylor hasn't been discussing jack shit. All he and the rest of the Blogging Whories have been doind is pointing to some of the proposals and then shrieking like hysterical ninnies that they'd suggest such a thing.
Alan - September 7, 2006 12:26 PM
Who the hell are you to suggest that I have a strange idea about discussion? Your reputation preceeds you and your presence is not particularlly welcome - in addition to the fact you are utterly wrong. Taylor has raised points that are being discussed in many places. You - like I - may not agree with him but to suggest that is not discussion is a joke.
Please do not take up my site as another place for your hobby, either. You'll just be deleted. Sensible discussion is always invited, however.
Andrew - September 7, 2006 2:10 PM
"Andrew at Bound By Gravity, wrote an excellent piece on it last Monday that is another great example of what blogs could be but are not 99.9% of the time."
Thanks for the kind words. I know the reason I don't write more articles like that is the time involved.... the particular article you cited took me two hours to research, draft, proof read, and finally post.
David Janes - September 7, 2006 2:22 PM
Jeez, it takes me 20 minutes to put together a "duh, look at this page" post!
Alan - September 7, 2006 2:47 PM
I just link to the work of others now. Google ads pay the same - such as it is - whether I am clever or a ripper-offer.
Una - September 8, 2006 5:43 PM
Ok, I admit to being a bit thick (or very thick I suppose), but I don't understand your last sentence...you've stopped leaning toward the NDP, greens, liberals and have decided to join one of the above or you have stopped leaning and are now totally unsure of your political views? I'm not trying to be pedantic here, I see what you think of people who police spelling, just curious.
Stephen Harper - September 8, 2006 8:55 PM
Join me Al and we can rule the galaxy as Father and Son!
<p>
<img src="http://www.davidjanes.com/images/stephen_harper.jpg">
Alan - September 8, 2006 11:23 PM
You're alright, Una. I mean I am all a flutter, not now knowing what I would do in a ballot box.
I have a first cousin once removed who I have never met called Una, by the way. Good Scots name.
Budd Campbell - October 2, 2006 1:15 PM
I don't know if Alan is aware of this or not, but an Afgan parliamentarian named Milalia Joya addressed the NDP Convention in Quebec City. She warned Canada against supporting the Northern Alliance, a group of untrustworthy and aggressive thugs who have threatened to murder her. Some of these threats have been made in the parliamentary chamber. Pres Karzai is closely linked to these people, who on a any civilized person's one to ten scale would rate no better than the Taliban.
Alan - October 2, 2006 1:23 PM
Did Jack review this with Karzai when they met?
Budd Campbell - October 2, 2006 5:07 PM
I wasn't present during that meeting, but I am sure Karzai was made aware that the NDP had hosted Joya, and that he is familiar with her views.
Budd Campbell - October 2, 2006 5:11 PM
My apologies, I forgot to include this link:
http://www.malalaijoya.com