How does that Kool Aid taste?

The other day on my beloved Facebook, I posted a link to this graph:

I added as my own caption, “Of course, this is of no concern to you … unless you happen to live a country that is completely tied into the American economy.”

Which, of course, is true.

One comment I received went as follows:

This is like me renting an apartment for 7 years, having a huge party the night that I move out that trashes the place and then a week later complain about how the new tennants are spending so much on repairs and can’t keep their place clean. Dude, I thought you were intelligent?

You see, if you don’t believe what I believe, then it’s me who must be unintelligent, right?

Right?

My response:

Using that specious analogy, the new tenant asks the landlord to clean up the mess, but then calls him out publicly and stiffs his payment. At the same time, the new tenant hires a bunch of unlicensed contractors to renovate the apartment by knocking down some load-bearing walls and adding a granny suite to the perilously hanging fire escape ladder, and then gets your grandkids to pay for it — while yukking it up on The Tonight Show.

Yeah, it’s clunky, but the premise holds.

His response:

I hope you are kidding.

My retort:

I wish I was.

Remember the talking points, people: If there is a problem with anything during the next four years, it’s Bush’s fault.

Lousy economy? Bush.

Terrorists hate us? Bush.

You get a sunburn? Bush.

You see, Obama is brilliant, as evidenced by his glowing, ephemeral speeches. And his two autobiographies written before he became president. And, well, because he isn’t Bush.

So when a leader of a country decides to solve the deficit crisis by doubling said deficit, when he tries to instill faith in the economic system by denouncing those who work in said system, when he attempts to bring “fairness” to the tax code by appointing an admitted tax cheat as Treasury secretary, it’s because he operates on a higher plane than poor li’l ol’ you or me.

And if anyone dares to question this man’s tact, it is the questioner who must have it all wrong.

Who lacks intelligence.

Blow it out your ass, man. If you want to hang on to the dream, fine by me. Just don’t drag me down there with you.

Customer service on the rails

To say that Canadian railway operators are reluctant to accept realities of modern life is an understatement:

With plans for the 25th Street extension now approved, the major question turns to if or when the railways will abandon some of their downtown lines for new routes on the periphery of the city.

But Canadian Pacific Railway dug in its heels Tuesday, saying it has no plans to leave downtown. Doing so would significantly disrupt its business in the city, a spokesperson said.

“We have no desire or intention to relocate,” Breanne Feigel said in an interview.

As usual with anything worth noting that’s published in the StarPhoenix, here my requisite letter to the editor:

Re: Railway reluctant to leave downtown, March 18

The national railway companies must think of Saskatoon residents as a cackle of ignorant prairie rubes. Otherwise, why else would they be so dismissive of plans to develop and reinvigorate the city’s north downtown on the grounds that it would “disrupt its business in the city.” Know what else disrupts business in this city? A freight train that crawls through major transportation corridors during rush hour.

Time has come for the rail companies to recognize Saskatoon as the province’s major urban hub and centre of economic activity. Moving the tracks outside the city core is not a matter of “if” but of “when”. The sooner the rail companies can agree with this sentiment, the sooner Sasktoon’s economic and transporation strategies can enter the 21st century.

Damn, I’m witty.

But come on: why the hell haven’t the major rail companies — who obviously are waiting for the re-emergence of passenger rail as a viable transportation alternative — done anything to divert or mitigate disruption of traffic during, you know, the past century? And where was the city or federal government on this?

It’s tough to take a city seriously when you’re waiting at the train tracks every couple of weeks. Boo-urns.

Gearing up for Bush

(Disclaimer: The title of this post may not live up to your expectations.)

Former President George Walker Bush will descend on Calgary’s Stephen Avenue next Wednesday for his first private speaking engagement since leaving office in January. Unfortunately for him, he won’t be lucky enough to avoid the semi-professional, semi-sane moonbat parade during his visit on St Patrick’s Day, as this Herald article points out:

A series of events aimed at protesting the impending visit of former United States president George W. Bush to Calgary launched Thursday afternoon with a short-lived demonstration on downtown’s Stephen Avenue.

Usually protesters wait, you know, until the protestee actually arrives before they begin protesting. It sure has been a long two months for these poor souls.

Hanging two banners — one black to reflect the events that unfolded while the United States was helmed by Bush and one white bearing messages looking toward the future — peace activists tried to engage passers-by.

Black = bad? White = good? Racists!

According to Toby Pollet, a former peacekeeper who served in Croatia and Yugoslavia, Bush should be facing war crimes charges under the Canadian Criminal Code.

“Now we’re inviting him here for a chat. It’s ridiculous,” he said as he helped hang the black banner.

Somehow I don’t believe that Peacekeeper Toby invited anyone to chat anywhere.

Or vice versa.

Fellow activist Tavis Ford said he was shocked to learn not only that Bush was coming to Calgary, but that the Chamber of Commerce was welcoming him on behalf of Calgarians.

“What are we doing?” he asked.

Good question.

Besides the banner event, the People vs. Bush group has planned a fake trial of the former leader–complete with actors and a script — for his alleged crimes.

The correct legal terminology in Canada would be Rex v. Bush, Roundhead.

Ford said it doesn’t matter that Bush is no longer the leader of the United States.

“If we let Bush go, what do we tell future leaders?” he said.

Perhaps that Canada doesn’t jail former leaders of our allies on the whim of a small but embarrassing mob?

Bush is set to talk on March 17 at the Telus Convention Centre.During the private event, called A conversation with George W. Bush, the former president is expected to talk about his eight years as the head of the United States and what challenges the world now faces.

Event organizers would not say how ticket sales for the event are progressing. Previously, they said they expected about 1,500 people to attend.

A friend is one of the organizers. He tells me that this is one of the most popular events they have ever had.

Mount Royal College political scientist Keith Brownsey called the strong dislike of Bush “profound,” but said it is “in many ways” deserved for leading the United States into a war in which thousands have lost their lives.

… and in which two brutal dictatorships were disposed and when Saddam Hussein was captured and tried and where liberal democracy in the Middle East has grabbed a foot-hold …

“The hopes that were dashed with George W. Bush, the policies he pursued, have put the United States in a profoundly difficult position, both domestically and worldwide,” he said. But he added he is interested in hearing what the former leader has to say.

Come now, Brownsey. What hopes did you ever have of George Bush, and whence were they dashed?

The activists’ arguments echo those from a group of lawyers who have asked the RCMP to bar the former president from entering the country, saying there is “overwhelming evidence that he has committed, outside Canada, torture and other offences.”

The group, called the Lawyers Against War, wrote a letter to the national police service’s war crimes section, copying Prime Minister Stephen Harper, other federal ministers and opposition MPs and has asked for a reply prior to Bush’s arrival in Canada.

I’m going to write a letter asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper to declare a War Against Lawyers.

Thursday’s event lasted less than an hour as bylaw officers indicated the group could face fines or court appearances for hanging their banners on trees and lampposts, and the signs were subsequently taken down by the group. One of the officers confirmed they had received a call about the protest.

They’re flouting the law! Arrest them! Arrest them all!

As an aside, am I the only one in thinking that these nut-bags would secretly endorse a change to the American Constitution that would have enabled President Bush to hold office indefinitely — if only to provide meaning to their pathetic lives?