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Radwanski's Ramblings... Damned if he does... Remember how I wrote last week that Harper had reached the point where he’d be criticized no matter what he did? I rest my case. I mean, honestly, do you think anyone this side of the Western Standard would be rushing to pat him on the back if he’d steamrolled moderates this past weekend and driven the party further to the right? I am not, by any stretch, a Harper fan. But like I said in the column, I occasionally can’t help but feel sorry for him. >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiTuesday March 22, 2005 Worshipping at the altar of Belinda Well, I can’t say yesterday’s column didn’t get a reaction. Nasty e-mails from readers…confused e-mails from people to whom I’ve previously expressed a certain disdain for Belinda… The Terrible Wrath of Norman Spector. (“Idiocy of the day,” in case he’s changed it by the time you get there. Sadly, no blog wars to follow. Sorry to disappoint.) Here’s the thing, though: This column wasn’t about Stronach, who I happen to think is only marginally more impressive than she was during least year's leadership (which is to say, not very). It was about a party that’s about halfway through smoothing its rough edges…and why it’ll probably be the next (Red Tory) leader, rather than the current one, who achieves it. That I happen to think there’s a fair chance that next (Red Tory) leader will be Belinda is somewhat beside the point. >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiCritical information for your Saturday night Since there are still tickets available, I gave The Soundtrack of Our Lives’ Saturday gig at the Guvernment a plug in the Post’s Toronto calendar yesterday. It was billed as a “critic’s pick,” which you may find funny. Or not. Probably depends which section of the paper you usually read. Anyway, here’s what I wrote, in case it encourages you to overlook their somewhat mediocre new disc and buy a ticket: Their latest album, Origin Vol. 1, doesn't quite live up to the standard set by 2001's standout Behind the Music. But the Swedish rockers, who range between psychedelia and something approximating classic British rock, have always been better on the stage than in the studio - and they remain one of the best live bands in the business. Full-figured frontman Ebbot Lundberg - scraggly beard, tunic and all - cuts an imposing figure, but a healthy sense of humour and a welcome commitment to spontaneity have earned him a considerable cult following. And his prettier (if somewhat blander) bandmates have their rock 'n' roll gestures so down pat that they could win over an arena, let alone a mid-sized club. Tickets still available for TSOOL's March 26 gig at the Guvernment; take note of the show's early start time (6:30 p.m.), especially if you want to catch up-and-coming Haligonian Matt Mays' opening set. >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiMonday March 21, 2005 Look who hasn't sold his soul... Good on Ujjal Dosanjh for this. Keep it up. If $100-million in shady government spending deserves an inquiry, I’d say the completely botched investigation of the murder of 330 people – and the possibility that their deaths could have been prevented if our police and intelligence had done their jobs properly – merits one, too. Wouldn’t you? >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiAt least we know who throws the better parties I keep being asked what happens if/when Harper loses the next election and both halves of the Tories’ power couple want to replace him. Does Peter run? Belinda? Both? My guess is that there’s a pretty simple answer: Whichever one has the blessing of a certain former prime minister. For the record, my money’s on Belinda. >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiNot as crazy as you think The Conservatives have a reputation for being hypersensitive toward media criticism – or any criticism, for that matter. And it’s true that I got a few nasty e-mails for Friday’s column (to be posted here later today or tomorrow), and that there were a few hotheads on display in Montreal. You can ask Stephen LeDrew about that one, since the former Liberal Party president (and current Global panelist) was subjected to an attempt at some sort of citizen’s arrest by a Conservative delegate who tried to forcibly remove him from the hall despite his observer status. Nevertheless, I was impressed – just as I was at the Liberal convention two weeks earlier – by the friendly reception I got. Even though I wrote a fairly negative column heading into both, the vast majority of Grits and Conservatives I spoke with were friendly, polite…even sociable. I only say this because, if you spend enough time in the blogosphere, you might get the impression that civility has gone out the window in Canadian politics. It’s refreshing to know that it hasn’t just yet. >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiSaturday March 19, 2005 With friends like these... The Western Standard has officially taken the bait. In response to the Young Liberals' "It's the Charter, Stupid" buttons, it's handing out buttons of its own to Conservative delegates, which many of them are now wearing. The line? "It's the stupid Charter." I probably don't need to tell you how eagerly a PMO staffer grabbed one, then quickly ran off gto celebrate. I probably also don't need to tell you how sorely I'd be tempted to kick Ezra Levant's ass if I worked for Stephen Harper. >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiDamage Control 101 Someday, someone will teach Harper how to stop making his own life so difficult. See, when your deputy leader is freaking out about a proposed constitutional amendment, and said amendment would indeed screw him and his fellow former Tories over pretty badly, you don't have your handlers tell media that you're staying out of it. And no, that doesn't mean you have to trample all over the grassroots. All you say is, "It's up to our members to make up their own minds on this. But I can tell you that my vote would be against it." I don't claim to have all the answers. But this one was kinda obvious, no? >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiBelinda kicks it old-school I'm now pretty well convinced that these guys need to elect Belinda Stronach as their leader sooner than later. Not that I'm totally sold on her skills. But on last night's evidence, the parties would be s-w-e-e-t. No sweaty hotel suite for Belinda. Just the entire lower level of a posh boutique hotel, complete with DJ, flowing drinks, upscale hors d'oeurves (mini-burgers!) quasi-celebrities (okay, very quasi...we're talking the Mulroney kids), a random acoustic set by a Can-rock icon (okay, we're talking Tom Cochrane...but he's still an icon), and a crowd about as young and hip as the Tories are ever going to achieve. And she had maple candy. Delicious maple candy. Word is she dropped $50,000 on this thing. I'm thinking it was more. Wretched excess, say some. Bring it on, I say. Belinda is to the common touch what Stephen Harper is to warm and fuzzy - and she knows it. So we might as well have some fun on her tab. >> Send your comments to Adam RadwanskiRadwanski's Ramblings from March 11-17, 2005 Radwanski's Ramblings from February 25-March 10, 2005 Radwanski's Ramblings from February 11-24, 2005 Radwanski's Ramblings from January 28-February 10, 2005 Radwanski's Ramblings from January 14-27, 2005 Radwanski's Ramblings from December 31, 2004-January 13, 2005 Radwanski's Ramblings from December 17-30, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from December 3-16, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from November 19-December 2, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from November 5-18, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from October 22-November 4, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from October 8-21, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from September 24-October 7, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from September 17-23, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from September 3-16, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from August 20-September 2, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from August 6-19, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from July 23-August 5, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from July 16-22, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from July 9-15, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from June 25-July 8, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from June 18-24, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from June 11-17, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from June 4-10, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from May 28-June 3, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from May 21-27, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from May 14-20, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from May 7-13, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from April 23-May 6, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from April 16-22, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from April 9-15, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from April 2-8, 2004 Radwanski's Ramblings from March 26-April 1, 2004 All rights reserved. |
