Back now 68 years later, it only takes a glance across the Falls and you are also peering into the United States, at our great neighbour who we spend so much time observing and this year is no different. There’s so much to see.
Canadian politicians have been watching, learning, and copying from their US counterparts for decades.
It hasn’t been unusual to see the two main parties bringing up US pols and strategists to their conventions to share their tips on what to do and how to do it. So, it wasn’t much of a surprise to suddenly see some Liberals using the “weird” word to describe some Conservatives, copying the Tim Walz trick that seems to be working for the Democrats campaigning against Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. Will it work here? So far, it has turned into a battle of weird versus weirder. The Canadian Press had a look:
Liberals borrow 'weird' tactic from Democrats in latest attack on Pierre Poilievre
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But there’s a wider way to look at this and I think that’s what the Democrats are doing, so far, successfully. They are combining “weird” with other descriptions and comparing them to the other side. Like this: “Normal, mainstream and happy,” versus “weird, extreme and angry.” With that they may have something, especially using the “happy” word. I mean when’s the last time you felt anyone pushing “happy” in US politics? Or any politics for that matter? Let’s see how long it takes Liberals to trot that one out.
Speaking of Liberals, I see Justin Trudeau is back from his summer travelling of the country.
Sort of. Paul Wells uses his Substack to tackle that angle:
"No public events scheduled"
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The Battle of the Bots is in full swing.
Should we be surprised? I don’t think so, but the political parties think we should be fully aware that someone or some party is trying to manipulate what we read on social media. No kidding, you say. Didn’t that start years ago?
Mia Rabson takes a look at the latest:
Tories reject allegation they are behind bot posts after Poilievre rally
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Remember 2016? Remember how the media bent the knee to Donald Trump covering every move he made, every word he said, every lie he uttered?
After the election, there was a collective apology of sorts and everyone swore they’d never get sucked in again. Welcome to 2024. And I need say no more than direct you to this:
The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell
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If you care about Indigenous rights and if you care about promises not kept, then you need to read this.
It starts with a quote from someone who I remember from my days as an airline worker in Churchill, Manitoba in the 1960’s.
Tagak Curley was a dynamic young Inuit leader who was often travelling in and out of Churchill to his home in the Central Arctic’s Keewatin region. I’d see him across the passenger counter at our Transair office and you could tell right then and there, this was a force to be reckoned with.
Today he’s a dynamic Inuit elder with an awesome history and someone who can sum up a cause in a few words:
Canada made a promise to the Inuit. Now it’s time to deliver
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Something happened this week that almost certainly will affect you.
It was about Google and the best way to explain it is through this piece from our friends at the CBC broadcast, About That.
How Google broke the law to keep its monopoly | About That
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We all know and revere Bob Woodward, he of Watergate fame.
I’ve interviewed him more than a few times and every time it’s been fascinating. He’s a prolific author who still in his eighties, sends shivers down the spine of those he’s profiling in his next book. Well, we are at the “next book” stage. It’ll be out this fall and it’s called ‘War.’ Here’s what we know about it so far:
Bob Woodward’s next book, ‘War,’ will focus on conflict abroad and politics at home
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If this were a movie you’d call “bull****”.
The stars in the movie get sent into space for eight days but then are told they have to stay a few extra days, then a few extra weeks, then a few extra months, and now almost a year? You might say, “Get some new writers.” But no, this is no movie, it’s a true story:
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft may not be able to fly astronauts back to Earth
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Time for our latest climate change story.
None of these stories we keep reading are encouraging because the threat is real. So, sit back and take this one in:
Major Earth Systems on Track for Collapse, Scientists Find
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Okay let’s close out by being futuristic, but in a constructive way.
And I mean literally constructive. Like a three-thousand-foot-high-rise tower, that would be by far the tallest in the world, but also one that will operate in a responsible way. Really? Really:
The next world’s tallest building could be a 3,000-feet-high battery
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How would you like the Penthouse suite in that one?
