In a sea of change, some things stay the same

I watched and listened to the US election last night.  I couldn't be more enthusiastic for the decisions taken by a majority of Americans.  They listened to their hearts rather than to the pundits and press and they voted for change.

But in the midst of all this change the rabid right wing in the media just continues along spewing their invective as if nothing is happening around them.  On CFRA last night, Rob Snow and John Counsell, those bastions of enlightenment that they think they are, pontificated that the talk show hosts like Limbaugh were going to have a field day with the Obama win.  The truth is that Limbaugh doesn't care if Republicans win or lose, he is a simple showman not a studied analyst.  The same goes for Snow and, to a lesser extent, Counsell.

The rabid right doesn't care about facts - if they need facts - and none exist - they just invent them.

Take for example a headline on Fox News today.  "Obama Victory Resounding, But a Landslide?"  Obama's electoral college totals were 349 versus 144 for McCain.  This result, they assert, does not qualify as a landslide compared to some past election.  One election they cite as comparison was the landslide win of Roosevelt over Parker in 1904.  The electoral count then?  336 - 140.  That was a landslide but the 2008 results were not?  Give it up, Fox News.

I was at the hockey game last night when results were pouring.  Twice during the evening a message went up to let the crowd know what was happening in the election.  The cheers for the lead of Obama drowned out the cheers when they flashed that Toronto was losing to Carolina.  The people of Ottawa spoke.  One exception was that guy standing behind when I went for water.  I overheard his buddy ask him who he liked in the US election.  His answer, I fear, almost made me swallow my dentures.  "The choice is clear," he stated.  "You can vote for a true war hero or for a guy who hates Canada."  Seems this guy listens too much to CFRA and Fox News.

Change is good.  Embrace change.  Change brings new idea.  New ideas bring change.  (That's enough of the Chi.)

That's a good message to remember during the next municipal election, when change is needed.

Harper is a bit right and a bit wrong

PM Harper says that the opposition will not play ball with his on his fall agenda (which is?) and, in the case of Layton and Duceppe he is right.   The NDP and the BQ have made it their mantra over the past two years that whatever the government proposes, they oppose.  They have left it to the Liberals, and the Liberals only, to keep this government alive.  Layton and Duceppe can't back down now and they can't blame this on Dion.  You make your own bed and lie down on it.

Harper, however, has to be blamed for a large portion of this mess.  His autocratic style; his decision to blame everyone else for his failings; his lack of policy for the future; and his complete disregard for the majority of Canada - who are not his constituents, have all come home to roost with the country not interested in another election.

Canadians do not care about this government or any new Canadian government.  They want change.  They want clarity.  They want ideas.  What do they get?  Same old, same old.

When defending the In and Out Scandal, the Cons say, "Everybody does it!"  If they are trying to represent change, they (the Cons) should not be doing what everyone else does.

Dion needs to represent change, but proposing change is only valuable if people understand the changes you propose.  He needs to make his plan simple and his message clear.  Can he do it?  I am not sure.