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May 27, 2005
 Just a slam-dunk vindication
Watching the NBA playoffs, I felt I already knew one winner: the Harlem Globetrotters. Why? Because pro basketball in North America has become, along with whatever else it is, Showtime. The Globetrotters began as a normal team in “Negro” leagues in the 1920s. They gradually built in the goofing, entertainment component partly for similar reasons, I'd say, that jazz, blues and rock 'n' roll developed: as ways to stay sane and even somewhat happy in a psychotically racialized society. >by Rick Salutin >column
May 26, 2005
 It's time for Question Period
Since, mercifully, Parliament isn't sitting this week, I thought I should take the opportunity to pose a few questions to our politicians (current and former). Here's a sample: A question for Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper: When did you develop your outrage about party members crossing the floor to join another party? Was it before or after Hamilton-area MP John Bryden left the Liberal benches to join your party (only to lose the party nomination)? >by Scott Piatkowski >column
May 25, 2005
 US view: Not much interest in our lurid tale
The Earth-shaking steps that Belinda Stronach took across the Commons' floor last week were unheard south of the border. Any editor should have realized that the story met many of the requirements of great journalism: conflict, sex, betrayal, power, intrigue. But when I try explaining what a great story it is I have to present a short primer on the Canadian parliamentary system. That gives me 90 seconds before the typical American's eyes glaze over. >by Keith Gottschalk >column
May 25, 2005
 Harper: Making Martin look good
The leading role in last week's of high parliamentary drama was taken by Conservative leader, Stephen Harper. He demanded a vote of confidence, but failed to get a parliamentary majority against the government. Usually cast as Achilles sulking in his tent, Harper has been in the front lines calling for full scale combat. Nothing less than an immediate general election would satisfy him. >by Duncan Cameron >column
May 24, 2005
 Harper halted
For Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, the dramatic confidence vote in the Commons last Thursday was more than a defeat. It was a disaster. Harper has been focusing single-mindedly on bringing down the Liberals of Prime Minister Paul Martin and forcing an early election. But in the end all he managed to do was bruise his already fractured party further, while at the same time reminding voters why so many mistrust him. >by Thomas Walkom >column
May 23, 2005
 Budget survives attacks from outraged right
By crossing the floor, Belinda Stronach — hero or political whore, depending on your perspective — allowed the budget to survive. With the extra $4.6 billion in social spending insisted on by the NDP, this is the most progressive federal budget in 30 years. So this is a very good thing — even if it turns out that Stronach defected because she couldn't think of a gentler way to dump Peter MacKay. >by Linda McQuaig >column
May 22, 2005
 Why Conservatives should thank Chuck Cadman
For all the talk of a dysfunctional House of Commons, what has transpired over the past few weeks is precisely the opposite. Oh, to be sure, for Bay Street, newspaper editors, hysterical right wing pundits like Andrew Coyne of the National Post and the self-absorbed Rex Murphy of the CBC, it is dysfunctional because the dismantling of the country has been put on hold. >by Murray Dobbin >column
May 22, 2005
 Braveheart goes to Washington
The historian Simon Schama wrote about the difference between American and British elections. “After the messianic acclaim and the stifling sanctimoniousness of American politics, getting back to Britain was like coming up for air.” It's not that Brit politicians don't lie. But they get as good as they give. British politics is bloody and cruel. Truth speaks to power and tells it to piss off. Truth hasn't spoken to power in Washington since 2000. >by Heather Mallick >column
May 20, 2005
Stephen, the Belinda Crossing and paranoia
Belinda's dad, Frank, ran as a Liberal in the '88 free-trade election. He said free trade would be good for his company but bad for the country, so he opposed it; but if it passed, he'd make lots of money off it. Now she funds her campaigns with that money and has entered the Liberal cabinet. Maybe it's part of Paul Martin's plan to clean up his party. You only let millionaires into cabinet. Vote for us. We won't steal any more. We're already rich. >by Rick Salutin >column
May 19, 2005
P3s: Politicians pandering to profit
After the drubbing he took following last year's provincial budget, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty probably thinks he got away with something last week. But, by officially adopting the Harrisites' view on privatization — that the only thing wrong with public services is that no one is making a profit off them — McGuinty is reinforcing his status as a world record holder in the underappreciated sport of promise-breaking. >by Scott Piatkowski >column
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