Friday, January 23, 2009

Fun with telemarketers

Next time you get a call from a telemarketer, you might try this:

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Friday, January 16, 2009

Truth in advertising

Apparently the pro-life brand is now seen as toxic.  That seems to be the conclusion to be drawn from the recent name-change from BC Prolife to "The Signal Hill".  What's a movement supposed to do when its agenda becomes unpopular?  Hide it, apparently.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Separatists on parade, 10: another separatist in the Conservative Party

The new Western Business and Taxpayers Association (WBTA) is a new separatist organization dedicated to creating a separate state in western Canada, first surfacing in early December. It recently revealed its new policy chair, Rob Allen, who (as BCL points out) seems to have a degree from a diploma mill. (One wonders whether the WBTA foresees its new state having a policy against credential fraud. Perhaps the policy chair has a position on this.)

There is another noteworthy point in Mr. Allen's profile, here:

Mr. Allen claims to be a member of the federal Conservative Party.

It is odd how many separatists there are among the Conservatives, as we have pointed out before:
  • David Crutcher, the Executive Director of the group, blithely reports his membership in the Conservative Party in his profile (see here, which I discussed here);
  • Eric Gregson, who is chairing the group's founding convention, is a prominent Conservative (see here) who seems close to Harper (here);
  • a few years ago, Gordon Stamp was forced to resign as campaign manager for Conservative MP Peter Goldring after his separatist postings on the internet became known (see here);
  • Bert Brown, whom Harper subsequently appointed to the senate, attended the founding convention of the Alberta Independence Party in 2001 and is quoted as having wished that group 'every success' (reports here and here).
Now, it is perfectly understandable that western separatists (whose politics tend to be conservative) would have once belonged to the Reform, Alliance, and then Conservative Parties. But I can't be the only one who is struck at how matter-of-factly these people can identify themselves as separatists and claim membership in the CPC -- the CPC is (after all) a federalist party.

This all raises the question: what are these people doing in the Conservative Party of Canada? why does the CPC allow this?  and more importantly, why do they feel comfortable there?

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Fairness in media uncovers pro-weather conspiracy

The shocking truth about a conspiracy to subvert reporting about the weather:

    Weather Channel Accused of Pro-Weather Bias

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Sheldon Johnston rumours

Those who followed my posts on the new Alberta separatist group, the Western Business and Taxpayers Association, may be interested to hear the latest rumour: that Sheldon Johnston (whom I've discussed before) has resigned as policy chair. So, at least a rumour mentioned at Project Alberta (here), as reported by BCL (here)

Given that he has commented on this blog in the past, perhaps he will stop by to clarify.

Update. Sheldon Johnston has announced that he will not be policy chair in the comments to Leigh Patrick Sullivan's blog.

Update 2. Dan Doherty has now confirmed this. He sent me this email and asked me to publish it:
    Recently there has been some confusion in regards to Sheldon Johnson's resignation; I would like to take this opportunity to clear it up. Sheldon Johnson has now sent the WBTA correspondence resigning his position as policy chair.

    Given the circumstances, we regrettably accept his resignation. We expect Sheldon to return in the near future and we will keep you posted when this takes place.

    We wish Sheldon and his family the absolute best; our door will always be open for him.

    Warmest Regards
    Daniel W. Doherty
    Vice-President
    Western Business and Taxpayers Association