Thursday, September 07, 2006

Wacky Warren

Warren Kinsella has a column in today's National Post titled "Lessons from the Election that Was". Unfortunately it is hidden behind the subscribers' firewall, but I'm sure he will have it available on his site at some point.

The article is actually a discussion about an upcoming book, "The Canadian Election of 2006", and the contribution made by Carleton journalism professors Christopher Waddell and Christopher Dornan in the chapter titled "The Media and the Campaign".

Kinsella opens his piece by stating that after every election, the losers complain about the way they were treated by MSM. "It is as inevitable as sunset."

He goes on to give examples, such as the fact that the Liberals didn't like the way CTV covered the income-trust investigation, and that the NDP boycotted an editorial board meeting because of the way the Globe covered a particular poll.

Now this is the part that bothers me, and I am only quoting this one small excerpt because I've heard that Mr. Kinsella is protective when it comes to copyright infringement:

And the Conservatives? Learning from errors past, the Tories didn't bash the CBC directly -- but they certainly didn't prevent the well-organized "Blogging Tories" network from doing so, either.


So, he is blaming the Blogging Tories for bashing the CBC, and that somehow the CPC is responsible for that? Last time I heard, Freedom of Speech was still in the Charter.

Also, BT has no formal affiliation with the CPC. They do not receive any
money from them and they're not part of the organization. (I have that on good authority).

I agree that partisan blogs have to be mindful of what they write because it may cast a negative shadow on the very party that they are trying to support, but the party itself can in no way be held responsible for what is on the blogs. It is simply the passionate outpouring of a number of people who happen to support a particular party, but may have huge differences in opinion on policy. It is very different from what comes out of, for example, a particular riding association's draft policy proposal, which represents the thoughts of actual party members.

That is my opinion. Yours may be different. That's why we have blogs and discussions. And BTW, the CBC deserved it!


Update: More from Political Staples - "Well-organized?"

Somehow Greg has a link to the whole article. Check it out!

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Blogging Tories really have no reason to complain. After all the CBC's usual extreme anti-Conservative bias was toned down to a moderate anti-Conservative bias. Fair is fair.

Sara said...

damn right!

Sara said...

I am no a Conservative, Liberal or NDP I am a MOM. No one shuts me up on my blog, I use my own judgment on how I feel about current events.

http://choiceforchildcare.blogspot.com
I sent this to Kinsella and the Post...

Red Tory said...

It’s no secret that most Conservatives have a deep and abiding hatred of the CBC. If they had their way, the entire network would be abolished completely. I’m not certain where this irrational loathing comes from, but it’s one that’s shared by Republicans south of the border relative to PBS (even though only a small percentage of its funding actually comes from taxpayers). Likewise the CBC budget is comparatively modest in the light of the broad array of services that its various TV and radio networks provide in English, French and aboriginal languages and yet it is routinely demonized by Conservative commentators as being hopelessly biased and a scandalous waste of money.

Anyway, this doesn’t really address the putative thrust of your post which is somewhat difficult to ascertain given the Kinsella article in question is inaccessible to many of us. If you are maintaining that there is a separation between the CPC and the Blogging Tories, you would be technically correct, however I would suggest that many contributors to BT are card-carrying members of the party, some with access and lines of communications to the CPC spin machine. If you think that memes aren’t regularly funneled into the BT echo chamber by the party then you are awfully naïve.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

No one shuts me up on my blog,

And just look out if they try...

You go girl. Warren better take cover.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

many contributors to BT are card-carrying members of the party

Some, but not all. See Sara's post above.

Anonymous said...

I thought the Blogging Tories were the "outer party", while the CPC is the "inner party"

Red Tory said...

Some, but not all.

Yeah, that's why I intentionally said "many"...

Anonymous said...

I never thought I'd see "card carrying member" and "Conservative party" in the same sentence, Comrade Joanne (TB).

But then, the "five priorities" (the phrase, not the actual items) sounded a lot like something coming out of the Central Committee...

Jeff said...

sara, your tragic portrayal of yourself as a victim of motherhood grows soooooooooo tiresome. furthermore, if you aren't "no" conservative, liberal or ndp, why do you offer your support to the bloggingtories by displaying their blogroll.psssst, sara, the wind-bags listed with the bloggingtories are conservatives (in the worst sense of the word). that makes you guilty by association.
if kinsella can even make through paragraph 1 of your babble, he's a more patient man than me.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I never thought I'd see "card carrying member" and "Conservative party" in the same sentence, Comrade Joanne (TB).

Meaning? That was Red's phrasing, not mine.

wilson said...

Bloggingtories may have the APPEARANCE of being organized, but only when compared to http://www.liblogs.freethought.ca/
where Liberals are doing a bang up job of tearing each other, and the leadership hopefulls apart.

I am very impressed, sometimes amazed at the strength and determination of the Conservative 'grass roots' bloggers.

Blog on....!

Sara said...

sara, your tragic portrayal of yourself as a victim of motherhood grows soooooooooo tiresome. furthermore, if you aren't "no" conservative, liberal or ndp, why do you offer your support to the bloggingtories by displaying their blogroll.psssst, sara, the wind-bags listed with the bloggingtories are conservatives (in the worst sense of the word). that makes you guilty by association.
if kinsella can even make through paragraph 1 of your babble, he's a more patient man than me.


I am no victim but I will fight for what is right. Don't be an idiot by thinking I am in this for my own pocket, this is done out of devotion for my children and yours. Equality for you seems one sided and if you want to believe that feel free to, and if you don't want to hear my rants feel free not to read my posts either...


as for the liblogs and ndp I have asked to join they say no. A mother that fights for rights of staying at home is not on their top priorities. I personally think it should be but hey some people have more important things to do like call our troops terrorists or pay daycare lobbyists millions to tell us what he have to have instead of what we need...

Sara said...

I am very impressed, sometimes amazed at the strength and determination of the Conservative 'grass roots' bloggers.


I think a lot of us are on the same page with few issues, we are not ripping each other apart because we are respecting that each other have different views.
I don't think the Liblogs have figured that out yet. RT, and Zac are too damn loveable to hate even for Joanne but they are Liberal, who cares they have a view just like us. We are trying to get things right, and we are doing it the right way. We are not at each others throats like most (well once in a while but that happens) and we still discuss issues the other are on the opposite sides of. So yah that is how things are supposed to work, its too bad the parties don't do the same thing!

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Tango, if I can paraphrase your comments, you're saying that the vast silent majority has finally been awakened, and is taking action. Is that right? And that the Left is scared out of their collective wits?

BTW, I'm luvving it too!

Anonymous said...

Oops! Joanne, I didn't see the italics on the card carrying comment. My jokes are dumb enough without starting from a misread of mine.

However, the thread is getting interesting. We're back to invoking the nazis (swastikas) again, and comparing our politics to free former Soviet republics. I suppose I started it, by joking about central committees and stuff, but it seems even teasing puts the paranoid on the attack.

And the usual comments about the "vast silent majority is on our side", while the left is scared, and squirming...

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Wilson, thanks. I think what Warren interpreted as organization, is more a manifestation of the emotional connections that a lot of Blogging Tories have made with each other.

Of course, there is a huge disparity in some issues, but still I see a great amount of respect among the BT members. I think we all try to address the argument and not attack the person as much as possible.

Red Tory said...

Sara -- I don’t believe that you were turned down by Liblogs. Jason has a number of “Tories” on the blogroll (myself included), non-partisan bloggers and even bloggers who sport both the Liblogs and BT banners. Might I suggest this is a LIE and another example of your boo-hooing.

==================================

Wilson61 -- You might view what goes on at Liblogs as tearing one another apart. We view it as healthy discourse and difference of opinion.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I think a lot of us are on the same page with few issues, we are not ripping each other apart because we are respecting that each other have different views.

See that? Sara and I are so connected that we both said essentially the same thing at the same moment in time!

Awesome.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

My jokes are dumb enough without starting from a misread of mine.

Not dumb; just misguided. ;)

Anonymous said...

JTB
paraphrease to your hearts content, when you're right, you're right!

Red Tory :
"It’s no secret that most Conservatives have a deep and abiding hatred of the CBC."

"I’m not certain where this irrational loathing comes from, but it’s one that’s shared by Republicans south of the border relative to PBS." Invocations of the alleged evil US link. Doesn't that nonsense fit right in there with calling down the name of the vile foe of yesteryear whose name one dare not, must not blog?

Huh? You work for the Mother Corp or something? That is pure horse-puckery of the most outrageous variety.

Having posted this RT, it is no longer a secret that you like to practice verbal mumbo-jumbo. What in the name of all that's holy on this little green acre of paradise, is your fact-backed and documented

Lib supp.:

Enough falsehoods, canards, and red herrings.

No invocation of anything other than the memories of McGill campus circa WWII, with a 1940's-era p.e.t., wearing the insignia the vile foe of yesteryear whose name one dare not, must not blog.

As for "comparing our politics to free former Soviet 'republics'(?)" Republics, my aunt fanny's astrology note-books. No comparison made, non intended. The comments dealt merely with process and application of current technology. Can't complain about the ineffective 1920's 'whisper campaign' failing in the light of the slavic version of the '32 lead soldiers,' of moveable type, versus the modern cel-phone with photo-transmission capabilities and the internet.

AX~E~OM: The more progressive the Liberal claims, the more regressive, underhanded and repressive their reality.

AX~E~OM: Liberal internecine feuds, of course, are always a demonstration of open democracy in action whereas the same upheavals within Conservative ranks are nothing short of The Bloody St Valentine's Day Massacre, proving they should never be considered for anyhting above the elected post of 'dog-catcher' in a one-kitten hamlet.

Yeah. Right.

YOUR turn to wear the dunce caps kiddies.


still lovin' this, uh-HUH, uh-HUH!!!

Anonymous said...

R T : the missing in transmission piece right here:

"...Having posted this, RT, it is no longer a secret that you like to practice verbal mumbo-jumbo.

Where in the name of all that's holy on this little green acre of paradise, is your fact-backed and documented corroboration for such an outlandish piece of fictionalized pap??"

Blow it out you # 2torpedo tube, matey!

lovin' this even more

Anonymous said...

More and more Canadians are that all the people fleeing tyranny and oppression in leaky overloaded unseaworthy boats in the Florida Straights are going NORTH.

Red Tory said...

TangoJuliette -- I have no idea what kind of pharmaceuticals YOU are on, but I should introduce you to “Farmer John” who posts over at my place from time to time. The pair of you would be a match made in heaven.

Attacks on the CBC from right-wing websites are as routine and predictable as the sun rising and setting. I don’t need any “fact based documentation” for that. You can Google away to your heart’s content to confirm it if you don’t believe me. Why, I bet if you search Joanne’s own blog you’ll discover a fair degree of CBC-bashing.

The reference to Republicans distaste for PBS is not without relevance. First of all, it’s true and seems to be driven by the same motivation as that of our own home-grown conservatives relative to their dislike for the CBC. In both instances, they decry the “liberal bias” demonstrated and resent taxpayer dollars going to fund such nefarious propaganda.

Verbal mumbo jumbo, huh? Well agree or disagree, at least I attempt to make sense in a coherent sort of fashion which is more than I can say for you.

Sara said...

Sara -- I don’t believe that you were turned down by Liblogs. Jason has a number of “Tories” on the blogroll (myself included), non-partisan bloggers and even bloggers who sport both the Liblogs and BT banners. Might I suggest this is a LIE and another example of your boo-hooing.


There is one thing you can learn quick about me RT is I do not lie. Ask him if I've applied, I have twice now and I will keep trying.
Do me a favor and don't call me a liar, I'll tell you the truth even if it hurts!

Anonymous said...

Red Tory, Red Tory, if indeed you are a Tory:

"...It’s no secret that most Conservatives have a deep and abiding hatred of the CBC..."

"no secret," "most Conservatives," "deep and abiding hatred," all sound like very subjective interpretations of one particular bias or ideology. Nothing objective there at all.

"attacks from right-wing websites" hardly qualifies you to declare that MOST Conservatives do anything at all, one way or another.

The verification of the right or left bias of any site on the web is pure conjecture, the site's stance nothing more than auto-declarative, straight-up or implied, and certainly not necessarily accurate, in the slightest.

That's as bizarre as someone saying that: based on Gomery's report, MOST Liberals are thieves, and mob-connected thugs, dealing in brown envelopes stuffed full of tax money, while the Liberal operatives deport themselves badly in dark Italian restos in Montreal.

If you choose to make the patently erroneous bald-faced statements you've made today, based on some unverified bit of electronic tomfoolery, it is certainly understandable that, when challenged, you'd have very little recourse in your attempting to save face, but to attack me with insinuations and innuendoes about some darkly hinted at pharmacological intransigence.

Another sure-fire sign of a weak mind, recycling insults, insinuations and inane party lines, yet pretending to have the nerve of a Dick Tracy, in daring call one's intellectually-shabby offerings an "...attempt to make sense in a coherent sort of fashion..." by resorting to half-truths, conjecture and, dare I say it again, verbal mumbo-jumbo? 'cause I think that Joanne TB would frown on me referring to your feeble-minded attempts as verbal masturbation or keyboard diarrhea.

RED dawg, you are the flim-flam man. I'd like to stick around and intellectually spar a mental round or two with you, but I promised my dying pacifist Gran' that I would never fight an unarmed man.

Besides, got a date with a masked man holding a knife in his gloved hand...catch you on the comeback


but I am STILL LOVIN' this!!!

Red Tory said...

Sara -- Fine. I retract the accusation and apologize for making it. I just find it a bit odd, that's all. I would however be most interested to see the replies you received when you applied. I'm presuming you saved them. Those are nuggets I would certainly have held onto for future reference.

Sara said...

yah I will and yes I have, I will send them over to you after I get the monsters down later.

Thanks for the apology and no I was not upset because you only know a bit about me yet you still wuv me too!

Anonymous said...

Nobody who reads Red Tory is surprised that he is listed as a Liberal blogger and nobody who reads sara is surprised she is not.

Red Tory said...

Tangojulliette -- Nothing objective there at all.

What, do you want me to write like a robot? Of course I'm going to add expressions like that to make my point.

"attacks from right-wing websites" hardly qualifies you to declare that MOST Conservatives do anything at all, one way or another.

Okay, fair enough. DISCLAIMER: Despite all of my anecdotal experience and the opinions expressed by countless conservative websites and the editorial opinions of conservative pundits to the contrary, um, I really can’t say that this is representative of “most” conservatives.

The verification of the right or left bias of any site on the web is pure conjecture…

Yes, it’s “auto-declarative” and representative of nothing. In fact anything said on an ostensibly conservative blog means nothing whatsoever and does not in any way reflect the views, opinions, or generally held perspectives of anybody or anything other than the individual him or herself who exists in splendid isolation, perhaps encased in a hermetically sealed jar or bubble safe from any kind of outside influence whatsoever. Yep, that’s the ticket.

That's as bizarre as someone saying that: based on Gomery's report, MOST Liberals are thieves, and mob-connected thugs, dealing in brown envelopes stuffed full of tax money, while the Liberal operatives deport themselves badly in dark Italian restos in Montreal.

Well, there’s a fantastic leap of logic. But, uh-oh! In fact, one that was used over and over and over again by conservative bloggers during the last election. I guess they must have had some kind of mysterious psychic connection -- you know, bubble to bubble -- that keyed them into this baseless accusation. Yes, ALL of us Liberals (never mind “most”) were crooked, corrupt, venal, despicable people because of a few miscreants within the party.

If you choose to make the patently erroneous bald-faced statements you've made today, based on some unverified bit of electronic tomfoolery… attack me with insinuations and innuendoes about some darkly hinted at pharmacological intransigence.

Go look up the word “intransigence” using a bit of “electronic tomfoolery” known as www.webster.com. The word does not mean what you appear to think it does. Oh, and it's "bald-faced" not "bold faced" by the way.

Another sure-fire sign of a weak mind, recycling insults, insinuations and inane party lines, yet pretending to have the nerve of a Dick Tracy, in daring call one's intellectually-shabby offerings an "...attempt to make sense in a coherent sort of fashion..." by resorting to half-truths, conjecture and, dare I say it again, verbal mumbo-jumbo? 'cause I think that Joanne TB would frown on me referring to your feeble-minded attempts as verbal masturbation or keyboard diarrhea.

Well, aren’t you an absolute charmer? That was quite the rhetorical broadside, I must say. So I’m a weak minded, intellectually shabby peddler of inane half-truths and conjecture, not to mention a mentally unarmed dispenser of verbal mumbo-jumbo in addition to being a pretentious dawg and flim-flammer. Hey, I thought Conservatives weren’t awful “name-callers” -- you know, quite unlike their liberal counterparts. Whatever happened to that laughable conceit? I think you’ve certainly put that canard out of its misery here. It did make me laugh, if that brings any joy to you. Have fun with your kinky masked man. I hope Gran will be proud.

Red Tory said...

Sara -- I'll look forward to it. You can get my e-mail via my Blogger profile.

Red Tory said...

Oh, lookie... What do we learn here, but Craig Smith, a Conservative Party activist is one of the founders of The Blogging Tories. Yes, there's no connection between the CPC and the BT at all.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

a Conservative Party activist is one of the founders of The Blogging Tories.

How would you define an "activist"? It would be pretty dumb for a Liberal to found the BT.

OMMAG said...

Oooh! Conspiracy.....shush now!
Don't let the cat out of the bag!

Wht do Conservatives hate the CBC?
Because we have enough sense to know when we are being used and abused through bastions of taxpayer funded priviledge like the CBC.

I would not give a crap if the organization was as populated by right wing sympathizers as it truly is wiht left ...I would still want to see it go.
As for Kinsella's assertion that the BT group organized a CBC bash is ludicrous...however there were a number of issues that the CBC was not covering that bloggers persistently challenged them and other MSM outlets on. And the failure to investigate or report on the Income trust ruling boondogle was just one of those.

CTV was a day late and dollars short on that story...CBC tried to ignore it.

Anonymous said...

Red: Never claimed not to be a name caller. In fact, I call 'em as I see 'em. You can call it name-calling if it so suits. But you, a self-styled tory practice that which you accuse me of.

I'll stick with "los intransigentes"

I had it as "bald" not "bold", you even copied and posted it as "bald."

As for being representative? Do you represent the Red side of things? The Tory side? The Red Tory side? Or a you just a Liberal, too ashamed to come out of the closet? I know that I'm ashamed admitting to the fact that I once supported Pierre. AND Paul Hellyer.

So. Just exactly what sort of Pahrmaceuticals are YOU on Red? Obviously nothing from the Sodium Pentethol family, if truth were the yardstick. BTW: Gran's chukling in her crypt, as we speak, buck-o.

As for the masked man, you might want to meet him, yourself, like, after that bold/bald/balls-up of yours. He's an Opthalmologist, and I'm sure he could restore your vision too. Especially if he seems convinced that he can improve mine.

Why is tht you thug types get soooo outta whack when the victims finally rise up and fight back? Is it the vestiges of your school-yard bully phase, and you still can't grow accustomed to being knocked on your keesters, today, by those you consider to be your inferiors?

ADVICE WORTH HEEDING: To avoid serious brain injury, get a helmet. Oh! And do get a cushion for your butt, as well, for you'll find yourself sittng down very abruptly, very often -- 'cause there's a whole lot more of that there blow-back stuff coming, in your immediate future.

Not just you, though. It's also in your grifting grit pals' futures also.


I'm REALLY going to be lovin' this, so much more, from here on in.

Red Tory said...

Tangojulliette -- I hope you get that anger-management problem under control. And yes, I did screw up and yes, my eyesight is failing.

Anonymous said...

Red:

Finally -- the " anger " shibboleth to water down the admission of error? How predicatable. Couldn't you have at least linked it somehow to George W. th add some razzle to it?

Np anger here. That Chuck Guite 12 step program proved invaluable. You too might want to consider enrolling. Right now I'm in a postion where I can even sell you a franchise or two. Just send along a nice. big, fat cash-stuffed brown manilla envelope.

We're just sitting here, just like W Kinsella said. We're all conspiring to bring democracy back to Canada. We e-mail. we blog, we participate, we hold gigantic rallies, with flags and banners and bands, bugles, parade and dancing bears, we invoke the name of Gee Dubya, and dance naked in the strrets to honour his evil design on the poor, innocent[:) Liberals. uh-HUH uh_HUH. Boy, if Caroline Parrish hadn't of ticked off ol' Georgie Boy, he might not have sent those forest fires into Canada, to screew us up.
Enough about me and mine, how about you?

So now, what are you? RED? TORY? CHAMELEON TORY? ASHAMED LIBERAL? DISGUSTED NIPDIPPER?

The surgery went far better than expected. Can almst see the keyboard and the monitor.

so, hey, YEAH! I really lovin' this . . .

e.& o.e.

Red Tory said...

Tangojulliette -- You're quite barking mad. I rather like it. Drop by my place some time and pay a visit. I'm sure you'll find something to pick a fight over.