Key Current Issues

Obama in trouble .. probably a Canadian federal election this fall too?

Aug 4th, 2008 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

The “Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday [August 4] shows the race for the White House is tied with Barack Obama and John McCain each attracting 44% of the vote. However, when leaners’ are included, it’s McCain 47% and Obama 46%. … This is the first time McCain has enjoyed even a statistically […]



Big economic bump ahead .. bad couple of years, or bad decade?

Jul 16th, 2008 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

UPDATED JULY 19. Even if you are just remotely interested in economics, you probably ought to be somewhat alarmed by the economic headlines haunting English-language media around the global village lately. To take just a few small examples: “Australian business hits the skids, report shows“; “Markets spooked by grim warning of recession” ; “World stocks at 21-month low […]



It`s not easy being green ..

Jul 1st, 2008 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

According to a report in the June 27 Globe and Mail: “Anger at soaring gas prices has supplanted fear about global warming as the No. 1 issue Canadians say is facing their country …The environment, last year’s top issue, has been pushed to No. 3 … This shift could make it more difficult for Liberal […]



News from West Virginia

May 14th, 2008 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

Who of the ages Hillary Clinton most attracts can forget the intoxicating John Denver refrain: “Country roads, take me home / To the place I belong / West Virginia, mountain momma / Take me home, country roads”? On the evening of Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in any case, the vote soon enough came in. And […]



Bitter get it in your soul .. Obama, NHL playoffs, Mountie raiders, and NAFTA in New Orleans

Apr 17th, 2008 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

Maybe he did get a rough ride from Hillary in their (hopefully?) last debate. But Barack Obama is right when he says there are a lot of bitter souls in the USA today. And they have their reasons, no doubt. Meanwhile, back way up north for a moment it almost seemed that Calgary and not […]



Now Doris Lessing says Obama will just be assassinated if he wins .. but is it true?

Feb 12th, 2008 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

RICHMOND, VA. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2008. 12 NOON. According to the Washington Post: “Voters in Maryland, Virginia and the District [of Columbia] lined up early this morning to vote in the region’s much-anticipated Potomac Primary,’ eager to cast a ballot in one of the most closely contested and historic [US] presidential races ever.” According to […]



Ave atque vale Mr. Black

Dec 11th, 2007 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

TORONTO. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11. 12:30 PM. Now that the day of Conrad Black’s sentencing is over, and the endless TV coverage up here in Canada has ended, my own most prominent emotion is no emotion. I see that the Globe and Mail is still referring to “Lord Black,” with no apparent satire intended. And I […]



What’s happening to the Canadian economy .. does it point to US $ crisis ahead?

Nov 3rd, 2007 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2007 [UPDATED NOVEMBER 8]. The Canadian dollar touched somewhat more than $1.07 US in international money market trading yesterday – said to be its highest value since the late 19th century. (It has since gone as high as $1.10, and then back to the $1.07 range.) But that’s just the half of it. […]



Can Xavier Trudeau save Canada .. and/or the global village?

Oct 20th, 2007 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

Whatever else, the current generation of Montreal (and Vancouver?) Trudeaus have a keen sense of timing. (And timing, grandfather Pierre once pronounced, is everything in politics.) As the Edmonton Journal has explained: “Justin Trudeau became a father shortly after noon Thursday [October 18, 2007] when his wife Sophie Gregoire gave birth to … Xavier James […]



Six years later .. editors on Mediterranean retreat .. back for Ontario vote, October 10

Sep 11th, 2007 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

TORONTO, SEPTEMBER 11, 2007. “This year’s 9/11 video from Al Qaeda,” we learn from the New York Times, “seemed to be intended for the Americans the group attacked six years ago: it features English subtitles and an introduction by Osama bin Laden.” What we all know now that we didn’t quite know then is that […]