That's a Joseph Heller if I ever saw one

You can't win with some people.

First, Mark C. agrees with Ezra Levant that a PM candidate, like Stephane Dion would be if a general election is ever called, should only hold one citizenship:

"Unlike the GG, M. Dion did not actively apply for French nationality...Nonetheless, he should renounce French citizenship "

I can accept that statement if that's what he expects of any leader of Her Majesty's opposition or Prime Minister or a Governors General.

But then Mark C. turns around and mocks the renunciation of French citizenship from Stephane Dion because that's what people like Mark C. expected of him:

"So, Citoyen Dion, you have family feelings that are so important to your identity. But if it becomes a question of power, tant pis pour maman. Eiskalt.

The pragmatic egoist. The tears, count 'em."

Sir, I say sir, that's dishonest.

You can, however, win with other people.

Free! It's all FREE!

Via Declan AND Kung Fu Monkey,

A guide to free software that allows you to replace most standard productivity software that you would have to sell an arm for, like Microsoft Office, Photoshop, iTunes (well, this one's already free, but if you want to be free from the clutches of the big and scary Apple Corp. too...), etc.

Everyone likes Free.

Apparently, third place is where you want to be.

On a strange saturday night, two candidates came from third place to win their respective leaderships.

First, Ed Stelmach came from behind to defeat Jim Dinning and Ted Morton to become the premier-designate of Alberta and the leader of the provincial Progressive Conservatives.

I've read very little of Stelmach, so I'll have to start learning more into Alberta politics if I end up working in Calgary. I probably won't agree with many of his positions, but if I can respect his principles and he's less reactionary than Ralph Klein, then I can live with that.

Second, Stephane Dion came from behind to beat the two frontrunners of the Federal Liberal Party, Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff, respectively, and become the Leader of the Opposition.

As for Dion, he's pledged his platform around the concept of Sustainable Development, except he actually seems to know what he's talking about when he uses the three pillars: economic, social and environmental sustainability. If he can actually form a coherent platform from this, using help from the likes of Gerard Kennedy and Martha Hall Findlay, it might actually make me consider voting for the Liberals in future elections.

He has two weaknesses that I care about: his failure to do accomplish anything with Kyoto when he was in government. And his lack of a sound foreign policy strategy. I hope he can correct these two flaws (well, the former really requires an admittance of failure while the latter will be a bit tougher...)

Either way, the surge in support for the Green Party in the London by-election and the election of Dion has sparked a small flame of optimism in me about the possible future direction in Canadian politics.

One step forward, two steps back

CBC to revive hour-long local/regional newscasts for 6pm.