Category Archives: Politics and Government

Top Ten Reasons Why Jim Prentice’s “Term Limited” Government is a Bad Idea

Posted on August 24, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Politicians are not tins of spork. The good ones don’t go bad just because they’ve been sitting around for a while. Of all of the things that PC party leadership candidate Jim Prentice could have done to restore Albertans’ trust … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Jim Prentice Fails the “Truthiness” Test (apologies to Stephen Colbert)

Posted on August 17, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

If Jim Prentice is going to wade into the murky waters of “truthiness” the least he could do is do it properly, otherwise the whole thing becomes a farce.        “Truthiness” is a term coined by political satirist/comic Stephen Colbert to … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

The Tory Airplane Scandal–Excuses, Excuses

Posted on August 10, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

“I am optimistic that your review will assist in securing Albertans’ continued confidence in their government and trust in their elected officials.”—Premier Redford’s letter to the Auditor General requesting a review of her compliance with the Travel and Expense policy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Alberta’s Rogue Politics and Politicians

Posted on August 3, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Is Alison Redford a rogue politician or does she belong to a rogue party? A rogue is a dishonest or unprincipled man (or woman), a scoundrel, villain, miscreant, reprobate, good-for-nothing, ne’re-do-well, wretch, louse, crook. The word “rogue” entered the lexicon … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Bread, Circuses and the Great Alberta Plate Debate

Posted on July 27, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Poor Premier Hancock. Remember him. He tried to pull off the “bread and circuses” gambit—and kicked over a hornet’s nest. The phrase “bread and circuses” was coined the Romans. It refers to the political strategy of distracting the population from … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Top Ten Reasons Why Jim Prentice is Nothing Like Peter Lougheed

Posted on July 20, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

“During a one-and-a-half hour editorial board meeting…with Progressive Conservative leadership candidate… Jim Prentice, I was struck by how often Lougheed’s legendary thoughtfulness, tone and command of all topics came to mind.”—Licia Corbella, Calgary Herald, July 11, 2014 It’s official. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 30 Comments

Alberta’s Climate Change Strategy Goes Up in Smoke

Posted on July 13, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Alberta’s Auditor General blew a gasket. He called the government’s performance on climate change strategy “troubling” and “disturbing”. Hey, he’s a mild mannered accountant; this is as in-your-face as he gets. Mr Saher kicked off the July 2014 audit report … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

A Gift from Chief Justice McLachlin: The Tsilhqot’in Decision on Aboriginal Rights*

Posted on June 29, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

On June 26, 2014, in a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin gave the First Nations (and the rest of Canada) a treasure map. It wasn’t a crumpled piece of paper covered with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Ric McIver Stumbles…the PC Party Falls

Posted on June 22, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

“Closed-mindedness or intolerance have no place in the PC [party].” —The PC party’s response to Ric McIver’s participation in the March for Jesus led by anti-gay pastor Artur Pawlowski. Instead of belabouring Ric McIver’s pathetic too-little, too-late apology for participating … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Desmond Tutu and the “Animals in War” Memorial

Posted on June 15, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Everywhere you turn in London there’s a statue or monument commemorating an epic battle or a long dead sovereign. While interesting, none is as compelling as the Animals in War memorial.  It reduced me to tears. The Animals in War … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 15 Comments