Harper infers that Chuck Cadman's widow is lying

In 2005 when it looked as though Canadians would be heading to the polls the decision hinged on a confidence vote in Parliament. With the prospect of a tight vote and a lot at stake, the way independent MP, Chuck Cadman, chose to vote became a matter of crucial importance to the Conservatives.

As it turned out, Cadman voted with the ruling minority Liberals, and this put an end to speculations about a summer election.

It now appears the Conservatives attempted to bribe Cadman in an effort to get him on-side.

Chuck Cadman had cancer at the time and subsequently died. His widow, Dona Cadman, the Conservative candidate for Surrey North in British Columbia, is adamant that the Tories attempted to bribe her husband. She says an insurance policy for a million dollars was offered by representatives of the federal Conservative party in an effort to buy Cadman's vote.

Dona Cadman's claim is supported by her daughter, Jodi. In an interview with CBC, she said that her late father confided in her about the offer of the insurance policy. It upset the daughter because she believed the offer placed her father, a man dealing with serious health issues, in a difficult position.

That Harper is being less than transparent about this affair, becomes evident when you listen to an audio recording acquired by the CBC in which Harper is clearly heard confirming that a financial arrangement was offered to Cadman. The recording was made by Vancouver journalist, Tom Zytaruk, in preparation for his book Like a Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story.

In the audio segments that have been published, when asked by Zytaruk about the million dollar insurance policy, Harper didn't deny it, or even attempt to set Zytaruk straight on the "million dollar policy" remark. He said, "I don't know the details. I know that there were discussions." Harper then went on to say that the offer was "only to replace financial considerations he might lose due to an election." He also added that the offer was made by people who were "legitimately representing the party."

In the soon-to-be-published book, there are more specifics. Zytaruk states that Chuck Cadman received a visit from two Conservative party representatives two days before the vote in the house. The MP was presented with a list of enticements, including the million dollar insurance offer, if he agreed to side with the party.

An offer of this sort is illegal. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is illegal for anyone to try and influence a member of Parliament by offering financial incentives.

My take on it is that Cadman voted not only in line with his conscience, but also to protect his interests. MP's after all enjoy standard benefits, and if Chuck Cadman's vote had helped to force an election there was always the possibility that he might not have been re-elected. He stood to lose the security that he already enjoyed. I think the Conservatives were attempting to cover the losses that Cadman would have sustained if he had lost the government securities that came with his MP status.

Cadman certainly could have carried his publicly funded life insurance into the private sector in the event of a defeat, however he would have seen an increase in the premium along with a drop in benefits. Liberal House Leader, Ralph Goodale, has floated the theory that the Tories might have offered to make up the difference.

Chuck Cadman is dead. Stephen Harper is Prime Minister of Canada. I have no doubt that the government will offer explanations in an effort to downplay Tory complicity in this affair. In the meantime there is a strong case for this to be brought before the ethics committee. Earlier this week, New Democrat MP Pat Martin, put a motion before the committee calling for an investigation of the allegations

Tags: Stephen Harper, Chuck Cadman, Dona Cadman, Tom Zytaruk, bribery, insurance policy, CBC, Canadian government

One small favor

Tags: Chuck Cadman affair, Conservative Party

Professor and Lady Black reporting

Conrad Black is going to jail. Word is he hopes to cop an "elite" job teaching other inmates. Definitely beats mopping floors or doing the toilets.

Black's request to stay out of jail pending the outcome of his appeal has been rejected. The US Seventh Court of Appeals has ruled that he has to report to prison by March 3 to begin his 6 1/2 year sentence for fraud and obstruction.

The panel wrote : "Defendant Black must report to prison on or before March 3, as required by the district court's order."

In a surprise twist, Black's co-defendants, Atkinson and Boultbee, have been allowed to remain free on bond while appealing their sentences.

Black's request to remain free pending the outcome of his appeal, was a long shot at best. His long time friend, former lieutenant governor of Ontario, Henry Jackman, predicted a sticky end. I include some of Jackman's observations in a recent post that also discusses the New York Sun column in which Black called Kissinger and the late William F. Buckley Jr to task - here.

Black, who was once accused by internal auditors of operating a "corporate kleptocracy", will likely serve his sentence at the low-security prison in Coleman, Florida. He will be sharing a small cell with another inmate. No fine dining either, just your basic canteen fare.

Visits are restricted to three weekend or nine weekday visits per month. No doubt Babara Amiel Black will be doing duty, although her choice of wardrobe will be curtailed. Coleman has strict rules about visitors' attire. Low-cut dresses, backless tops, hats, headscarves and spandex pants - among others - are banned.

Amiel was born in Watford, England, in 1940. Her family moved to Canada in 1952. Her notoriety as a right-wing columnist has only been rivaled by her reputation as a gold digger. Amiel's late adolescent obsession with her needs and wants are discussed in detail in Tom Bower's excellent biography - Conrad and Lady Black: Dancing on the Edge.

A few pundits argue that Amiel's role was a major contributing factor in the decline of Black's fortunes, and it's a view I share.

Amiel still writes her big-paragraph-aggregator aka column for Macleans magazine. The picture that appears above her column titles needs to be updated by a few years. Her pretentious 'aristocratic' prose is extremely entertaining. A recent column - "I lie in bed, the photo of 'Jonas' taped to my door" is well worth the read.

"One has to be practical. Leopards are tricky, chimps messy and pink piglets become large pigs. Should my husband go away, I'll want to live close to him and that requires staying in Palm Beach. A woman of 67 living by herself in a community where it is not comme il faut to drop by for coffee has to plan."

His Lordship can look forward to visits from Lady Black in Coleman Correctional. That's if she stays the course. There has been some speculation that she might find the whole thing too tedious and jump ship ... after all 6 1/2 years is a long time for a nubile 67 year old.

At least Black will have the consolation of earning 12 cents an hour helping other inmates to earn their High School diplomas. The Irish columnist, Ruth Dudley Edwards, managed to get the following comment:

“The place I have been assigned to is relatively good and if I do go there, they will ask me to teach. I almost always hated teachers, but I guess it’s an elite occupation in a prison. We are very confident of winning at least part of the appeal, and of sharply reducing time served. My book about this outrage is almost ready, so if I must go, I will not be going quietly. It’s like back to boarding school, without, one dares to assume, the tedium and indignity of corporal punishment.”

No word if Ethics is on the curriculum.


Tags: Conrad Black, Barbara Amiel Black, Coleman Correctional, Macleans, US Seventh Court of Appeals

Ways and Means 101

Surgeon in the US accused of hastening organ donor's death

Every day roughly 18 people in the US die while sitting on a waiting list for an organ transplant. It's a waiting game for many in the states, in part because tight regulatory controls govern organ harvesting procedures.

A surgeon in the US, Dr Hootan Roozrokh, has been accused of artificially hastening a patient's death in order to retrieve the organs. The circumstances that led to Roozrokh being charged, took place in San Luis Obispo, California, in 2006.

A patient named Ruben Navarro, who suffered from a neurological disorder was admitted to an area hospital after suffering cardiac and respiratory arrest. Navarro was just about to turn 26. His mother had planned a birthday party to celebrate. Ruben was her only child.

In the days following his admission, Navarro was judged to be near death. His mother was informed that her son was beyond help and that instructions had been given to remove his life support system. The mother agreed to donate his organs.

Roozrokh was part of a transplant team at the hospital at the time. He allegedly broke hospital protocol by remaining in Navarro's room after the patient's ventilator was removed. Transplant team members are not allowed into a donor's room until the donor is declared dead.

Roozrokh is alleged to have ordered large doses of morphine and Ativan, an anti-anxiety medication. Most damaging was the accusation that he essentially poisoned Navarro by introducing a topical antiseptic named Betadine into the patient's system.

A nurse who was present claims that Roozrokh asked another nurse to get more "candy" drugs, with the apparent intention of hastening Navarro's death.

Navarro died some 8 hours following the administration of the Betadine. The cause of death was ruled as 'natural causes', but given the lapse of time, Navarro's organs had deteriorated too much to be transplanted.

The case has set off alarm bells in the American medical community. It has also been a concern for donation advocacy groups who are afraid the negative publicity might frighten donors away.

Roozrokh faces three felony counts relating to the treatment of Ruben Navarro as a donor. He has pleaded not guilty.

If convicted he could be facing up to 8 years in jail and a fine.

Tags: organ donors, Dr Hootan Roozrokh, Ruben Navarro, Betadine, medical crime

Barack Obama : Bridging the Divides

As anyone who follows politics knows, you become accustomed to the endless fronting and smokescreens that seem to have become part and parcel of the political game in the modern era. The person is too often secondary to the image, the presentation, the hype. Given the hype surrounding the Obama campaign, I expected more of the same from the candidate, but unlike most political acts he possesses unaffected grace and a personal style that is entirely genuine.

When you compare the speaking style of Hillary Clinton with Obama, it is like night and day. Clinton is heavily masked, all the way from her make-up, hairdo and outfits, to her rehearsed gestures and tone of voice. Her campaign is sometimes referred to as the "Clinton machine", and indeed there is a machinelike quality to her delivery.

Hillary speaks at a programmed pace, with calculated shifts of tone and emphasis. You feel that it isn't the woman herself speaking, so much as the-woman-she-believes-she-needs-to-project. There is a disconnect between the person and the performer.

In the case of Obama, the words mirror his emotions. He has a genuine quality that simply cannot be faked. He makes effective use of that important rhetorical device, the pause. He understands the power of silence - a silence that invites the listener in. The inclusiveness of Obama's appeal is part of the magic that bridges the divides.

Cynics who view populist enthusiasms with elitist disdain, are missing the point if they dismiss the Obama phenomenon as another example of media driven hype. While the Obama campaign has certainly been successful at promoting the candidate, the success of the man himself can't simply be put down to the arts of political image making alone. His humanity shines through, and it is this personal quality in addition to his policy positions, that is convincing voters right across the demographic spectrum.

Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, American election

John McCain and George Bush : A Lot in Common

The famous picture of the Bush-McCain hug is about as symbolic as it gets when it comes to visual synergy. The picture looks almost amorous. You would think McCain had foreplay on his mind.

The appearance of bonding is true in more ways than one. The president and the senator have a good deal in common when it comes to their policy positions, which make McCain as "the anti-Bush" an odd concept.

No wonder independents are leery of McCain. When it comes to the Iraq war, the Bush/McCain positions are very similar. McCain backed the surge and claims he can see an American military presence in Iraq for 50 more years. He keeps trumpeting that "we're succeeding in Iraq" - a rosy assessment based on choreographed walkabout trips in Baghdad and what he is being fed by sources who share the same blinkered view as himself.

Iraq is a society in flux, deeply scarred and divided. The progress McCain refers to doesn't flow from the will of the Iraqi people. Chaos is being held in check by implementing measures to get the Sunnis on-side. What it boils down to, is that the US has resorted to dollar incentives and other inducements in order to secure order.

Sunni militants who were responsible for the deadly bombing campaign against American forces have essentially been bribed into compliance and now make up the bulk of the Iraqi Security Volunteers (ISV's).

The ISV's are made up of some 80,000 Sunnis, and operate beyond the control of the central government. According to an American intelligence officer quoted in "The Myth of the Surge", the only reason the arrangement is working is because "we give them money". General Petraeus refers to it as "balancing competing armed interest groups."

Chas Freeman, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia puts it this way ... "We are essentially supporting a quasi-feudal devolution of authority to armed enclaves, which exist at the expense of central government authority."

When it comes to the economy there isn't a lot to choose from between McCain's position and the president's. McCain flip-flopped on the Bush tax cuts, and now wants them made permanent. He has also said he will lower the corporate rate to 25% from the present 35%. They both believe that the way to fix social security is private accounts. McCain and Bush are on the same page when it comes to privatizing and outsourcing.

They take a similar line on health care also, looking to lower insurance via market related strategies such as health savings accounts.

McCain has even modified his position on torture to pander to the right. This is a particularly hypocritical move when you consider that in his role of "maverick", he was outspoken in his opposition to torture:

"What we are is a nation that upholds values and standards of behavior and treatment of all people, no matter how evil or bad they are. And I think this will help us enormously in winning the war for the hearts and minds of people throughout the world in the war on terror."

Words are cheap. His recent decision to vote against a bill banning waterboarding and other harsh interrogation measures, is vintage McCain in action. Expediency trumps principle in the McCain playbook, especially now that he needs the approval of those Republicans who have been reluctant to support his candidacy.

There are some who believe that in supporting McCain they will be unshackling the US from the Bush legacy. I wouldn't bet on it.

Simmer down cowboy

Catholic cardinal in the UK seeks to impose ethics code on hospital

Vatican enforcer, cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, has been throwing his weight around again in the UK.

Not long ago he put partisan pressure on Catholic MP's in the UK to get them to vote no on the Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill. O'Connor refuses to go along with positive options the bill offers, such as access by lesbian couples to fertility technology.

More recently O'Connor has come under fire from the British Medical Association for pushing through a Catholic-friendly code of ethics at the St John and St Elizabeth hospital. O'Connor ordered the board to resign in a dispute over the advice being offered to patients on abortion and contraception.

The statutory code of ethics provided by the General Medical Council in the UK is balanced and fair. It specifically states that doctors must not allow their beliefs to interfere with the care of patients. As spokesperson Vivienne Nathanson of the BMA has pointed out, the tactics of O'Connor at the hospital put medical personnel into a difficult predicament as it is virtually impossible to abide by two codes of ethics.

The code introduced by O'Connor threatens the well being of patients, because it involves withholding services. If for example tests reveal that a pregnant woman has a foetus with severe abnormalities, she should have the right to be told what her options are - including abortion. O'Connor, who seems keen to put the stamp of Catholic morality on everything within his jurisdiction, has difficulty with these and other provisions.

In 2006, O'Connor ordered the hospital to draw up a code of practice that reflects Catholic teachings on abortion, contraception and gender reassignment surgery. The code was opposed by the hospital's Medical Advisory Committee, and its introduction triggered the resignation of four directors.

The O'Connor code bans doctors from offering services that conflict with Catholic teaching on the value of human life and sexual ethics - this includes a thumbs down to sex-change surgery, IVF treatment, abortion referrals and contraception.

Dr Martin Scurr, one of the directors who resigned, accused the hospital of placing Catholic values above patient care:

" ...as I have said repeatedly we are now in an era where the Catholic Church must withdraw from involvement in frontline healthcare here in the UK, as it appears to be unable to reach the degree of tolerance that has been reached elsewhere in the world."

Dr Scurr also pointed out that some of the more reactionary members on the board are also members of the Knights of Malta, and he characterized them as being a closed group with a separate agenda.

The Catholic Church cannot stand in the way of the democratic will when it comes to the use of medical technology in meeting the needs of patients. Catholic values don't exist in a vacuum separate from the society at large. In opposing medical services that are crucial to the well being of those requiring them, the Catholic Church is signaling that it is opposed to progress.

Hillary goes negative

People who are losing tend to cry foul and shout louder. Hillary Clinton has been doing both in what appears to be a desperate last stand.

Her campaign clearly believes that it's time to bring out the knives. Hillary stuck Obama with the Bush comparison, which is absurd. Bush is a scion of the 'House of Bush', and no agent of change that anyone recognizes as progress. The comparison wasn't really intended to hold up under scrutiny, it was delivered for effect, with the punchline ... "and the American people got shafted."

She also got heated about what she claims is Obama's misrepresentation of her position on NAFTA and health care. Waving Obama campaign mailers that criticized her health plan, she said the tactics were "right out of Karl Rove's playbook."

Hillary supported NAFTA, irrespective of the spin she puts on it. She is on record praising it. There is little in Obama's health care mailer that he hasn't been candid about in the course of the debates. Her shows of indignation were staged for effect.

Clinton has some nerve to accuse Obama of dirty tricks. She was okay with underhanded mailings in New Hampshire that falsely smeared Obama's pro-choice record. She was okay with digging up Obama's kindergarten essay to demonstrate infant ambition, intended to profile Obama as deceitful. She is the candidate who has dealt in negative profiling throughout the campaign, aided and abetted by comrade Bill.

When people go negative and focus their energies on profiling others, it usually means they are losers or about-to-be-losers. Positive people, winners, don't need to profile other people negatively. If Hillary had the magic going on, she wouldn't have to resort to these tactics because the support would come to her.

It hasn't - it has gone to Obama. When you listen to her, it's not hard to understand why.

Tags: Hillary Clinton, NAFTA, health care, Barack Obama, Karl Rove, sour grapes

Hillary's Rhode Island meltdown

Beth Morgan : Sex for planning permission in Wollongong

A public inquiry into alleged corruption in Wollongong, a coastal city near Sydney, has been a big item in the Australian media lately.

The story stars town planner, Beth Morgan, who had a thing for aging property developers. In order to get her approval for various projects, such as illegal high-rise buildings, the clients were encouraged to put out. Developers were pursued and in most cases bedded by alpha-planner Morgan.

In addition to erotic attentions, the clients expressed appreciation for Ms Morgan in more tangible ways. She was showered with gifts. These included a vacation in China, a digital camera, perfume, cash and designer handbags.

Embarrassing emails have also surfaced, containing steamy confessions. In an email to businessman, Frank Vellar, Morgan writes - "you have driven me insane with thoughts of you." Vellar offers a cryptic response - "I am not your normal guy. I am complicated. Ciao Franco."

Another developer named Michael Kollaras is described as "a gorgeous Greek". In an email to Kollaras , Morgan explains why she had a strange look on her face during an earlier get together - "the funny look I had last night at the boat trip suggestion . . . was more about your Turkish wife finding out than the other."

Four of the men she was seeing are known to be big time players. They regularly met up for meetings dubbed "the table of knowledge", held in a local kebab shop.

Former colleagues of Morgan aren't terribly sympathetic. One describes her as "rude, arrogant and ruthless", and claims she was always "sucking up" to the bosses. Repeated complaints were made about her relationships with developers, including the sexual liaisons, but nothing was done.

The developers Morgan was dealing with were high profile with connections to government. The scandal is proving embarrassing for the New South Wales state government. Five ministers have been linked directly or indirectly with the affair.

When it became apparent that the cat was out of the bag, Morgan and Vellar hired two men who were posing as anti-corruption officials. They paid the imposters $150,000 believing that the 'officials' could get rid of incriminating evidence. Vellar is alleged to have offered a bonus. He told one of them that Ms Morgan would also be available for sex.

Morgan was fired by Wollongong city council for "serious misconduct" and was recently the star attraction at the Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry. She has been appearing at the inquiry wearing large dark glasses.

Tags: Beth Morgan, Frank Vellar, Wollongong, New South Wales, sex, town planning, developers

John McCain : Maverick with an image problem

John McCain is a man who has made his reputation as a maverick and a reformer. When he appears on MSM and answers questions in that righteous sounding monotone of his, he manages to convince a lot of people.

So it seems reasonable to ask why he has so many lobbyists. After all this is the same Senator who said: “Too often the special interest lobbyists with the fattest wallets and best access carry the day when issues of public policy are being decided.”

Nice thought, but the new campaign manager McCain just hired, Rick Davis, is a big time lobbyist. Davis' former clients include shady Argentine politician Alberto Pierri and Nigerian dictator, General Sani Abacha. Davis was also in on the Reform Institute scandal. The institute was founded in order to push for cleaner elections and campaigns. It drew donations from industries seeking legislative favors. Donors included communications industry players who had been dealing with the Commerce Committee, which McCain chaired at the time.

McCain isn't opposed to a bit of pandering if it looks as though it might pay off. When his fortunes were less promising he tried to play up his questionable Baptist credentials in hopes of luring a few votes more. He even went cap-in-hand to curry favor with the late Jerry Falwell, whom he once branded an 'agent of intolerance'.

Most recently, McCain aides have been incensed by the story that appeared in the NY Times dealing with the relationship between McCain and lobbyist, Vicki Iseman. Suggestions of impropriety have been dismissed by his campaign people as gutter talk.

I think the Times might be pushing the envelope with the story, but you have to wonder if there is something behind it. The danger with airing an anonymously sourced piece in the absence of any solid evidence, is that it could backfire. If anything the story seems to have generated some sympathy for McCain in quarters where he might not otherwise expect it.

The more interesting angle involves McCain's reliance on lobbyists and his many corporate connections. Democratic Party Chairman, Howard Dean, doesn't pull any punches. He calls McCain part of the Washington "culture of corruption" :

"(McCain) is talking all the time about being a reformer and a maverick, and in fact, he has taken thousands of dollars from corporations, ridden on their corporate jets, and then turned around and tried to do favors for them and get projects approved. He has tons of lobbyists on his staff."

A large reason McCain is vulnerable to attacks of this sort is because after the fall-out from the Keating five scandal, he presented himself as a chastened man - a reborn champion of reform.

The Times story is really just an opener in what is shaping up to be a rough ride ahead for the Senator from Arizona.

Don't Fight It John

Tags: John McCain, Rick Davis, addiction

Mehdi Kazemi : Human rights abuses in Iran

The EU has become increasingly concerned at what it describes as the "growing repression" within Iran. The crackdown by the authorities not only extends to the public enforcement of Islamic dress codes, but is also aimed at minorities, journalists and human rights activists.

The EU released this statement :

'The EU remains deeply concerned at the growing repression against all groups which exercise their right to freely express their opinions, and at the escalation of restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of expression in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The EU condemns the closure of newspapers, magazines and of the Iranian Labour News Agency, as well as the arrest and persecution of journalists, web bloggers, and human rights defenders for exercising their right to freedom of expression."

The persecution of the LGBT community in Iran is an under-reported crime that often flies under the radar. Gays Without Borders is a site that does an excellent job reporting on stories that involve human rights violations in Iran and other countries.

The most recent report concerns a 19 year old man named Mehdi Kazemi. In 2004, Mehdi was granted a student visa to pursue his studies in the UK. Some time later he received news that the authorities in Iran had arrested a male friend of his. The friend revealed that he had been in a relationship with Mehdi.

Mehdi's appeal for asylum in the UK was refused by the Home Office. Fearing deportation to Iran, where he might well face execution for the 'crime' of being gay, Mehdi fled to the Netherlands. He is presently being held by police in Rotterdam, and is reported to be under a suicide watch.

He is scheduled to be returned to the UK next week and could face deportation to Iran.

Recently when Iranian president Ahmadinejad was in the USA, he declared that there were no gays in Iran. This bare faced lie is typical of official denial and the climate of repression that exists within the country. Often gay people are sentenced under sodomy laws that avoid dealing openly with the subject of a gay lifestyle, and the reality that gay men can be involved in a loving and committed relationship - a reality that Ahmadinejad prefers to ignore.

You can relay your concern about human rights violations in Iran directly by messaging the Iranian Ministry of Justice at either one of the following email addresses :

irjpr@iranjudiciary.com

info@dadgostary-tehran.ir

Please consider signing a petition in support of Mehdi here :

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/UKMADHI/

Obama takes Wisconsin, Hawaii, despite cynical Clinton attacks

Barack Obama has won 10 states in a row - Wisconsin earlier in the evening, and then Hawaii.

It was a stunning victory in Wisconsin. He cut deep into traditional Clinton support, dividing the female vote equally with Hillary. He also did well among white working class voters.

Hillary Clinton's attempts to undercut Obama's position by belittling his oratory as "just words", is hurting her more than it hurts her opponent.

Obama has managed to do something extraordinary in this campaign. He has seized the imagination of America. He has seized the imagination of Europe also, where he is very popular. This is a candidate who dares to dream - a candidate who dares to follow his heart and his convictions.

By contrast Hillary comes across as a calculating strategist, checking the polls and opinion, then tweaking her policy positions to cynically court approval. The one word that describes the tactics of both Clintons throughout this campaign is "cynicism".

In South Carolina, comments by the former president helped to guarantee Obama's victory, even though Hillary had been polling well earlier in that race.

Obama very clearly isn't a Jesse Jackson. His appeal and his policies are much broader. Yet Bill Clinton engaged in race coded remarks in a crass attempt to box Obama as 'the black candidate'. It appeared to be aimed at eroding Obama's growing appeal with white voters. It was a dangerous and foolhardy move on Clinton's part and it backfired badly.

The string of defeats in caucus states followed and there are some Democrats who feel that some of it was fall-out from S. Carolina. A superdelegate who at one time served in Bill Clinton's administration said this :

"(Bill Clinton) has screwed this thing up for her big-time. They need to send him out of the country for a long, long time. I am angry at Bill Clinton and I think there are other Hillary people who are angry at Bill ..."

America needs inspirational leadership capable of transcending entrenched positions. It needs leadership ready and willing to reach out to the rest of world with new spirit, new hope. The candidate who is most capable of bringing about that change is Barack Obama.

Tags: Barack Obama, Wisconsin, Hillary Clinton, Democratic race, Bill Clinton

Same old, same old

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama

"Eat, Pray, Love" : Try not to gag

Elizabeth Gilbert's cloyingly saccharine book - "Eat, Pray, Love", has generated a bit of a backlash.

It's yet another tale of an affluent white woman (Gilbert) heading East on a voyage of self-discovery. Predictably exotic locations and a guru figure feature in the book along with self-conscious musings intended to come off as clever and insightful.

Gilbert is a poster girl for self-absorbed spiritual narcissists everywhere. Presumption of higher knowledge is expressed in casual certitudes along the lines of : “Simply put, I got pulled through the wormhole of the Absolute, and in that rush I suddenly understood the workings of the universe completely" - an 'insight' that comes off as naive or possibly idiotic, depending on your point of view.

A scathing review of the book that appeared in the New York Post referred to "Western fetishization of Eastern thought and culture". Gilbert is a victim of that particular disease. She informs us that when you say the word "no" backwards it almost becomes "om" - presumably after starting from "a place where you hear your own internal voices.”

I'm not knocking the truth of inner experiences of the spiritual variety or the transformational potential of esoteric knowledge - I am knocking the cult-of-the-credulous that endows New Agey spirituality-lite with a value that far exceeds its worth.

Needless to say, a movie is in the works, starring none other than an actor who perfectly personifies Gilbert's version of white-woman-seeking ... Julia Roberts. Oh, and Gilbert is busily grafting away on a sequel as we blog.

Tags: Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love, Julia Roberts, Om

Pope Benedict : Exorcisms and paranoia

During the medieval witch burnings, exorcists were in demand. In later periods, exorcism fell out of favor, but it was always available to those who knew how to make the right connections. Pope Benedict is now helping to give new sanction to the Catholic exorcism ritual, that in its classic form hasn't changed much over the centuries.

In 1998, the Vatican published De Exorcismus et Supplicationibus Quibusdam (Concerning Exorcisms and Certain Supplications). This reflected the traditional Catholic conviction that Satan is alive and well, always looking for a way to snare new victims - a conviction shared by the present Pope.

There are estimated to be as many as 300 Roman Catholic exorcists operating in Italy. Chief among them is an 82 year old cleric named Gabriele Amorth. He is reputed to have conducted some 30,000 exorcisms. Amorth is a man with no discernible personal power or even charisma, who believes that waving a cross around and muttering from the script adds up to an exorcism. Nonetheless, with the weight of the Vatican behind him, he succeeds in fooling the impressionable.

Amorth got upset about the Harry Potter series. He described the Harry character as "king of darkness, the devil" and likened Lord Voldemort to Stalin and Hitler. This type of silly thinking passes muster in Vatican circles.

The odd thing about Catholic exorcism, is that many of the people requiring the service in the past were members of the Catholic Church. In the 17th century an entire convent of nuns in Loudon fell prey to a sort of possession pandemic. The outbreak was more related to the evils of celibacy and sexual repression than anything remotely Satanic in nature.

There is no guarantee that exorcism will produce the desired results. The behavior of the exorcists themselves can be even more bizarre than the behavior of the people who are supposedly 'possessed'. In Germany in 1976, a Bavarian woman died of starvation after two priests subjected her to some 60 exorcisms. In another German case in 2002, a Bishop was forced to resign after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her during an exorcism.

According to Rev. Wieslaw Jankowski, who works at the Institute for Studies on the Family in Warsaw, there has been an increase in the number of people requiring exorcism. He views those drawn to the occult and new age religions as most susceptible to the wiles of Satan ... but added that internet users and yoga practitioners are also at risk.

Despite the obvious absurdity behind this type of thinking, it shouldn't simply be laughed off. The training of exorcists is entirely in keeping with the anachronistic world view of a Pope who seems determined to resurrect the Church's questionable former 'glories'.

Ratzinger has close ties with ultra-conservative elements in the Church, for example Opus Dei, an organization with marked theocratic tendencies. He has a belief in the direct apostolic succession of the Catholic Church, which is not unlike imperialist thinking in religious guise. Ratzinger's version of apostolic succession is a self-serving concept. The fact is, the apostles at no point thought of their activities as paving the way for an ecclesiastical empire along the lines of the Church of Rome. They didn't even break in any complete sense from their links to Judaism.

Josef Ratzinger is a dangerous man. He is an enemy of secularism who wants to roll back hard won rights in civil society. As Pope he is attempting to resurrect the elitist credo of the "one true Church" and is prepared to do it by fiat if necessary. This is reactionary thinking in overdrive, and the nod given to exorcists is simply part of the larger picture.

Tags: Pope Benedict, exorcism, Satan, Harry Potter, Amorth, possession, Voldemort

Nice Work Your Holiness

Fashion apartheid : Are model agencies racist?

Why all the leggy white girls on fashion industry catwalks? Is it blatant racism on the part of the agencies?

Naomi Campbell has accused the industry of being racist, and claims the reason she has never been featured on the cover of British Vogue is because she is black. Campbell has a reputation for being a hell raiser, and people tend to brush off her criticisms as Naomi-being-Naomi. She's right though about discriminatory practices in the industry. If not outright prejudice, some agencies certainly exhibit a large preference for white models. Campbell puts it this way ... "Women of color are not a trend. That's the bottom line."

In the 80's and 90's the industry was more open to ethnic diversity but it has regressed to the point where insiders claim that casting briefs sometimes include the advisory 'no ethnics'. The dated view that black models are only suited for exotic wear or urban clothing seems to still hold true in some circles.

Dee Doocey, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson in the UK, was at one time managing director of an international fashion company. She claims agencies only sent her white models. She believes the industry has an 'inherent prejudice' and has called for more to be done to examine the lack of ethnic diversity in the fashion world.

The disparity is pretty obvious - most shows feature white models predominantly, with a few Asian and maybe one or two black models added to the mix, or maybe not. When you take a look at the racial diversity in cities like Toronto, London and New York, it makes the industry seem chronically out-of-touch.

Maya Schulz, managing director of Acclaim models, has difficulty placing black models. She claims she even receives complaints when she does send out black models. According to Schulz, the prejudice also extends to designers. She quotes one as saying 'black people don't suit my clothes.'

Naomi Campbell at the peak of her career was hyped as 'the black supermodel'. A powerful presence like Campbell may have created the illusion that black models were getting a fair shake in the industry, but a look at the figures makes it clear that this is very far from the case. In fact it is a limited number of big name black models such as Ethiopian, Liya Kebede, and Alek Wek, a Sudanese model, who tend to be profiled in shows and magazines.

A young black model from the UK, Jourdan Dunn, is being touted as the next Naomi Campbell. Dunn was spotted by a scout from Storm model agency when she was trying on a pair of sunglasses in a Primark store. She doesn't mince her words when it comes to the perception that the industry practices discrimination:

"London is not a white city, so why should our catwalks be so white? I go to castings and see several black and Asian girls, then I get to the show and look around and there is just me and maybe one other colored face. They just don't get picked. I hope it's because the designer just did not think they were good enough as a model, but I don't know."

Fabuloso Darlink!

Edison Chen, Gillian Chung : Sex Scandal Rocks Hong Kong

When Canadian born actor and singer, Edison Chen, took his Pink MacBook to a Hong Kong repair shop named eLiTe Multimedia, he got a lot more than he bargained for. An employee copied the memory and the contents have turned out to be the equivalent of digital dynamite. The laptop was loaded with sexy photos featuring Edison and some of Asia's top actresses and singers.

The images wound up on the net and have triggered a major scandal. The photos show Chen in bed with at least six different women. One of the women featured in the photos is Gillian Chung, a best-selling singer who has a large fan base consisting mainly of young teen girls.

The discovery that Chung was a participant has generated some criticism. Around the time she was starring in Chen's bedroom scenes, Chung had been doing the rounds as an advocate of upstanding morality - making speeches condemning premarital sex.

The first batch of pictures appeared on the net about two weeks ago. Since then some unknown operator has been uploading fresh photos on a daily basis, further compromising the women involved.

Edison Chen has apologized and made an appeal for people to destroy the images, which is a bit like asking the little Dutch boy to stick his finger in the dike when half of Holland is under water.

Everyone from the Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong to bloggers have been weighing in on the debate. The Bishop made a plea for decency and called upon people not to post or circulate the pictures.

The cops are threatening to prosecute people who are caught image sharing. This has led to a backlash, with bloggers objecting to what they view as unequal treatment. At a protest rally some of the participants complained that Hong Kong's anti-pornography laws are too vague. They argued that while a lot of pornography is overlooked by the police, they only decided to clamp down in the Chen case because celebrities were involved.

Sexy pictures may be the least of Edison Chen's problems. The entertainment industry in Hong Kong has many connections with organized crime, and the tabloids have been running stories about gangsters who want to teach Chen a lesson. There are even reports of threats on his life.

At present he's at some undisclosed location outside the territory, which sounds like a good plan. There are reports that he will be returning to Hong Kong on the weekend to hold a news conference.

Tags: Edison Chen, Gillian Chung, Hong Kong, sex scandal, Edison Chen sex scandal, Edison Chen internet photos, Edison Chen scandal, Edison Chen internet scandal, Vancouver

Creationist Museum founder links Darwinian theory with racism and genocide

A new book, Darwin's Plantation : Evolution's Racist Roots, attempts to connect Darwinian theory with Nazi racial beliefs and the policies of Josef Stalin. The book was co-authored by Ken Ham, founder of the the Creationist Museum in Kentucky, in partnership with Charles Ware, president of Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis.

The Creation Museum is an intellectual folly, an institution dedicated to ideas that have been discredited by science. It contends that the earth is only a few thousand years old and that dinosaurs co-existed with humans.

Ham's views don't instill confidence when it comes to his take on Darwin. His claim that Darwin did more than any other person to "popularize" racism is untrue. In fact Darwin wrote in negative terms about the slavery he encountered during his voyages. His views were egalitarian by the standards of the day. The use of the term "savage" was commonplace during his time, and has to be kept within its cultural context.

The attempt to link mass atrocities with the "influence of Darwinian naturalism" is a dicey one. Efforts to use evolutionary theory to justify racism, is a deliberate distortion of the theory for political ends. The book understates the role of historical forces and a class struggle that was mainly driven by the imperatives of power.

Throughout history Christian nations have sanctioned and promoted racism and genocide in the name of God. The former apartheid state of South Africa attempted to normalize racism. It was sanctioned by both the official church and the state.

Unlike Darwinian theory the link between Christian triumphalism and racism isn't a matter of debate. For example the Papal bull, Romanus Pontifex, issued by Pope Nicholas V, sanctioned slavery and the brutal oppression of captive peoples. The bull lent Papal authority to the activities of the Portuguese slavers as they plied the coast of West Africa.

The greater irony of course is that the God of the bible outdoes Hitler, Stalin and Mao combined. The wars and killings he called for were arguably motivated by the view that the Israelites were a 'superior' people. They were instructed to execute the deity's homicidal designs - designs that played themselves out in an unending litany of atrocity from one book of the bible to the next.

Ham's cynical attempt to fuse Darwinian theory with racism and genocide, is part of an agenda that is attempting to get the theory of evolution out of school curriculum. Unable to discredit evolutionary theory on the basis of sound argument, Ham and like minded associates have resorted to a smear campaign. The fact that they have chosen this approach says more about their intellectual redundancy than it does about links between Darwinian theory and racism.

Kentuckyus Kenhamus

Online Sex Auction : Pregnant Woman Demands Customers' Real ID's

Der Spiegel had a recent story about a German woman who auctioned herself off on website to six men. Between April and May of 2007, she had sexual encounters with the men that news reports describe as 'anonymous'.

After the encounters, the woman discovered she was pregnant and now wants disclosure of the men's identities. A Stuttgart court has upheld her demand, claiming that she has the right to know the identity of the father-to-be. The court ruled that the web site must release the personal information.

When the men took part in the sex auction, they received guarantees from the site that their personal details would be kept confidential. However in the view of the court, the interests of the unborn child take precedence over the site's guarantees of privacy.

This is a tough one to call. It's doubtful that a man who conceives a child 'anonymously' after bidding for a woman in an online sex auction is going to be a plus factor as a father, especially after having his ID revealed by court order. In fact he may turn out to be a large liability.

The woman's decision to keep the child and demand the ID of the father via court order, suggests prior motive. I'm not convinced that the court is serving the interests of the child by compelling the men involved to reveal their identities and undergo paternity tests - although it's a hard one to call without having all the details of the case.

Tags: online sex auctions, internet privacy

Conrad Black : Judge Refuses to Extend Bail

Conrad Black who was sentenced to 6 1/2 years for fraud and obstruction, has been trying to obtain a bail extension.

Many common criminals go directly to the clink. Black, being an "uncommon" criminal, is able to employ teams of lawyers capable of turning foot-dragging into a virtual art form.

Judge Amy St Eve refused the request by Black and two co-defendants to remain on the loose until June 15. They are required to report to prison on the previously arranged date of March 3.

True-to-form, Black is going to appeal.

I've no idea what he and his team hope to achieve by appealing, because the evidence speaks for itself. The sentence was actually pretty lenient when you consider the obstruction end of it.

Black, who isn't famous for manual labor, hauled 13 boxes out of 10 Toronto Street. He pulled off the 'heist' in direct contravention of orders that forbade removal of any boxes 'soever, and he did it while under investigation by the SEC. Video footage of Black and associates scanning for cameras and using the back stairwell when employees had vacated the building for the day doesn't require a footnote. If the person being videotaped had been wearing a hoodie, it would be described as criminal-type behavior.

Obviously Black needed to access the contents of those particular boxes very badly. The video clip of the Great Box Heist (GBH) is a bit like watching a Charlie Chaplin caper in parts. To describe it as a desperate ploy is probably fairly accurate.

Once the authorities succeed in corralling him, his prison house writing projects may not go quite as planned. Last time I checked the Florida facility doesn't permit typewriters. However I gather they are well stocked with Sharpies and stick-it pads.

Tags: Conrad Black, bail, Amy St Eve, Hollinger, SEC

Private Elba

Tags: Conrad Black, Napoleon, Elba

Barack Obama : Breaking on Through

The latest polls have Obama out front with roughly a 20% lead over Clinton in Maryland and Virginia respectively.

Looks as though Hillary's gender edge is eroding badly in both states. Females are favoring Obama by a solid margin. In Maryland, Obama leads Clinton among women 54% to 40% and in Virginia he's out in front 53% to 40%.

Obama's clean sweep of the weekend's caucuses and primaries, was passed off by Clinton as evidence that the caucus system favors "activists". She put the win in Louisiana down to an energized African-American vote.

She's definitely in trouble. The recent losses won't exactly fire up her supporters in Texas and it might have the effect of tightening the purse strings. Who wants to put out cash on what is increasingly looking like a campaign in the early stages of a downhill slide.

Guess she's going to have to take the man she patronized as "inexperienced" and a mere community activist more seriously now, because he's right on her patrician tail.

Feminists have been making their objections to Hillary Clinton clearly known. About time. Unless of course you view the ideal woman candidate for President as a martyr figure with enough questionable baggage to fill the compartment of a Greyhound bus.

Bringing on the artful dodger, Bill, in hopes of riding on the lingering vapors of his much heralded popularity was a mistake also. When he showed an underhanded and cynical side in the attacks on Obama, that turned off a lot of Democrats.

Most recently Chelsea has been pitching for Mom ... a move that prompted MSNBC's David Shuster to suggest Chelsea was being "pimped out". Any other relatives Hillary can bring aboard the slowing bandwagon? Looks like she might need the whole extended family ... with bells on.

Throughout this campaign Barack Obama stands out as a class act. Despite the unbelievable barrage of crap and innuendo that has been funneled in his direction, he stayed above the potentially crippling attacks and retained his cool and vision. If any candidate has earned the stripes to play this game right to the gates of the White House - that candidate is Barack Obama.

Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Democrats, Chelsea Clinton, David Shuster, MSNBC

Superstar Steve and the Ottawa Harperites

Has power gone to Stephen Harper's head - or perhaps "hairdo" might be the better term? Pictures in the papers lately make the PM appear kind of smug. At times he appears to be gloating. The nearest analogy might be the Cheshire cat.

The squarehead hairdo is still his defining feature. You wonder if maybe his stylist has been trying for a sort of neo-Prussian look. With the addition of a little hard gel, I've no doubt the Harper 'helmet' could have deflected WW1 machine gun fire.

The Toronto Star had an interesting article on Saturday of this week titled "The Cult of Harper" by Susan Delacourt. It's well worth the read. Ms Delacourt writes that Harper is known to be "scripted, aloof and unknowable". This sounds almost guru-like, and indeed Harper seems to be affecting strange airs that suggest he has acquired a wire about himself. Perhaps this is what gives the impression of self-inflation. I think "puffed up" is the colloquial term - or "full of it" as my Gran used to say of a certain neighbor.

This is quite a different Harper from the dude I ran into by accident while lining up at a cash machine in the Heritage Mall in Owen Sound. This was back in the days when he was in opposition. The early Ottawa years when he still spoke to the press more-or-less spontaneously, minus attitude and a stop-watch.

It was a summer day and I noted that the Sears Catalog clone ahead of me in line bore a spooky resemblance to the Leader of the Opposition. Harper has a sort of generic middle-of-the-road look I associate most of all with accountants. I figured it was more likely that Owen Sound had a doppleganger.

I mean what are the odds of the Leader of the Opposition lining up for a few bucks outside Food Basics in the Heritage Mall during summer break? Bruce and Grey counties boast some of the most scenic attractions in Ontario and you couldn't meet finer Canadians, but generally we don't attract a lot of high powered Ottawa politicians on summer vacation.

Daring myself to be proved wrong, I touched the 'accountant' on the elbow and said "you wouldn't happen to be ...?" I guess he got that a lot because right on cue he flashed a smile and shot out a hand with the words "Stephen Harper".

I think he was a bit miffed that I seemed interested. My America's-Most-Wanted appearance with shaved head, earring and Doc Martins wasn't exactly Tory-friendly. He may have been concerned about a possible mugging in the car park, but nonetheless chatted gamely.

He asked me where I lived and what I did for a living. Unable to recall what I did for a living, I mentioned art - always a good standby. He told me that his wife was a graphic artist.

There was nothing contrived or smug about him. He seemed real, if a little too tightly wound. You sensed he was a guy who didn't 'get down' easily. It was a brisk and engaging chat, even though I noticed that when he got his cash he bolted for the exit like a man running short of oxygen.

That guy bears little resemblance to the present occupant of the PM's office, and there is hard evidence to indicate that the impression of ego inflation isn't just some trick of the camera.

The government lobby in the Commons has long been graced with pictures of former prime ministers, which seems entirely appropriate - especially for visitors keen to learn about Canada's history. Now it turns out, the ex-PM's have been removed and in their place are pictures of Harper in various "action poses".

Then of course there is the bizarre and ongoing revelation that the Tory reform zealot is nothing-of-the-sort. He seems more like a bon vivant with big hair than a man on fire with a Tory agenda. He looks as though he is enjoying himself too much schmoozing and posing to actually break a sweat doing the hard stuff that matter most to his constituents. Which of course pleases me greatly. Except I think it is all a ruse to hypnotize Canadians into giving him a majority, at which point the agenda is likely to change. Meanwhile take another Prozac.

Truth is he is governing like a Liberal. Government spending has gone up under Harper. This was the Tory crusader who came barnstorming in as the no-holds-barred manager intent on accountability across-the-board. Makes you wonder if it was all a big sham, and that what it really boils down to in the end is the need to retain power at all costs.

Some try and pass it off as Harper's inner-Libertarian, but that doesn't add up because the guy's a control freak and the individuals around him are required to perform like widgets or else. Libertarians are all about the individual and less about top heavy machinery-of-state, whereas Harper is obviously relishing his little top-down Kingdom-on-the-Hill.

Makes me nostalgic for Chretien - at least he sprinted up the stairs and growled like a real human.

Tags: Stephen Harper, Canada, Tories, Ottawa, Canadian government

Meet Me in the Dungeon

Tags: Stephen Harper, Canada, Tories, Canadian government

The Danger of Viral Superstitions

An Alpha Male Jesus

(Revised and updated )

Guns aren't evil in and of themselves. Most of our neighbors in this neck-of- the-woods are gun owners. Great guys. The world being the way it is these days any nation that wants to play in the big leagues needs the big guns. Unfortunate though it may be, sometimes confrontation is unavoidable.

What gets to me though is the way Christians, especially of the evangelical persuasion, bring Jesus into their war plans as a sort of heavenly Commander-in-Chief. Why do they imagine Jesus would want to have anything to do with waging war?

I'm not a believer, but from what I know of the historical Jesus (assuming there was one) - he wasn't the type of guy who gave high fives and waved the flag in order to hype any type of crusade.

The crusaders marched under a red cross that became a symbol of power to their enemies. That cross wasn't the Golgotha cross, it was the cross of Christian triumphalism. Jesus wasn't into triumphing over his enemies. He was into turning the other cheek.

Fundamentalist evangelical preachers, try to create a fusion between Jesus and their brand of proselytizing gospel hype. They co-opt the Galilean and make him their front man in the war against militant Islam. Is that a place he would want to be? I mean the actual guy himself, not the trumped up southern Baptist version?

From what this unbeliever knows of his gospel, there is no way. Only in the dreams of those determined to make it so.

Maybe those keen to co-opt Jesus in the name of their crusades should invent a whole new Jesus and write a whole new gospel. That way they wouldn't have to deal with the obvious contradictions between what they preach and what Jesus of Nazareth is reputed to have said.

They could have a big pumped guy from Galilee, sort of like Chuck Norris with a deep tan. This savior works out when he's not preaching by doing a few K's along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He sports a brush cut and a neatly trimmed goatee, rather than the classic hippy look. He has a few tattoos that add to his street cred in and around Bethlehem.

This Jesus is the southern Baptists 'dream Jesus'. An alpha macho saviour who will set all the cheese eating surrender monkeys straight.

No girly walk for this Jesus ... no he walks like the Terminator ... kind of a slow lumbering gait. His eyes flash and his voice is deep, like Paul Robeson. This is a Jesus you don't mess with.

As he walks among the adoring multitudes he passes along pearls of wisdom ...

"He that is not with me, is an Al Qaeda loving liberal."

"Blessed are the rich in investments, for theirs is the kingdom of Donald."

"Invade and ye will find. Toss a grenade and the door will open for thee."

This mega-Jesus doesn't merely turn stones into loaves and fishes - he turns them into hamburgers and fries with side orders of coleslaw. He doesn't just overturn the money changers' tables in the temple ... he uses Kung Fu on them and takes out fifty in a matter of minutes. He doesn't just walk on water, he water skis ... in his bare feet!

Back on the trail he is never short of power words and motivational sayings - kind of like a buffed and inspirational CEO.

"It is more blessed to pre-empt than to receive."

"Whosoever comes after me, let him pump himself up, take up his semi automatic and follow me."

"Don't forgive, kick ass."

"Blessed are they who have nukes, for they shall inherit the kingdom of earth."

"Judge and point the finger, lest ye be accused of being cheese eating surrender monkeys."

So long as this fictional version only remains a hypothetical, crusading fundamentalists are left with the original. According to the New Testament, the original didn't much appreciate being misrepresented.

In Mathew's gospel we find the following sobering comments attributed to Jesus ...

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven ... many will say to me on that day - ' Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'. Then I will plainly tell them, ' I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers' !".

I have a hunch that the folks who co-opt a version of Jesus as partner in their political crusades, are about a good mile wide of the mark.

Tags: Jesus, crusades, southern Baptist, bible

Pope Benedict : Playing Politics in Spain

Pope Benedict continues to show a willingness to become embroiled in the political affairs of European nations through the agency of his emissaries. The Vatican has shown little reservation about becoming directly involved in the Spanish electoral process.

At the recent Spanish Bishop's Conference, a statement was released that is a clear attempt to influence the electorate. It said in part - "not all programs are equally compatible with the faith and Christian demands in life".

Many in Spain interpret this as coded instructions-from-on-high not to vote for parties that support gay marriage or that negotiate with Basque terrorists.

Spain's ambassador to the Vatican, Francisco Vazquez, expressed "perplexity and surprise" at the statement issued by the Bishop's Conference, and made his objections known in a meeting with Vatican officials.

A large part of this clerical activism is a response to the pro-gay marriage vote. In 2005 the Zapatero government introduced full gay marriage rights, much to the chagrin of the Vatican. Partido Popular, a party that is supported by a percentage of Spanish Catholics, has shown an interest in "returning to the issue".

The Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Maratinos, also weighed into the controversy. He said - "We want to maintain a better level of relations with the Holy See, but we do not understand this posture."

Maratinos is not alone in his concerns. Just last month Deputy Prime Minister, Maria Teresa Fernandes de la Vega, stated that the Church could no longer impose morality on the country.

This provides yet more evidence that the Vatican intends to challenge secularism at the polls. Cultural trends in Europe don't hold out much hope for a reactionary backlash. In putting itself out-on-a-limb in this way, the Church is demonstrating how out of touch it is with contemporary realities.

The Vatican has reason to believe it may be able to regain some of its former influence. Groups such as Opus Dei, the Legion of Christ and key Catholic politicians associated with Partido Popular are on-side. The Vatican also owns media outlets, such as COPE radio station, and its backers have been pushing the Vatican line. This has provoked criticism on the part on the part of Spanish secularists who believe the Church has too much influence in the affairs of state as it is.

Tags: The Vatican, Pope Benedict, Spain, Opus Dei, Francisco Vazquez, gay marriage, Partido Popular

The Vatican Empire

Barrack Obama Closing in on Clinton

Barack Obama is closing the gap on Hillary Clinton. Last week polls gave Clinton an 11 point lead. Now only 4 points divide them according to the latest polling.

Obama, who recently received the backing of Ted Kennedy, was endorsed this week by MoveOn-Org - the public policy advocacy group that has pretty much become the focal point for anti-war activists across the country. California's service union with some 600,000 members has also thrown its support behind Obama.

Despite the importance of foreign policy issues, in particular the war, domestic concerns are increasingly important to Americans - especially in the light of the recent uncertainties on the economic front.

Health coverage is a major issue for many. The Obama campaign recently sent out 2 million mailers that provide detailed information about his plan to introduce universal health care.

The tone between the Clinton and Obama camps has become more civil. This will help Clinton more than it will Obama, because frankly Clinton campaign tactics were beginning to offend a lot of Democrats and if it had continued, the Clinton campaign would have bled support.

I'm not sure if it is to Obama's advantage to get too cozy around Hillary. She tends to try and co-opt all within her sphere, and it is important for Obama not to allow her to define him on any level - even a cosmetic one.

Is "Canadian" the New "N" Word?

Racists can't use the "N" word as freely as they used to without attracting negative attention. It seems that they now have a new code word for the infamous "N" word ... and that word would be "Canadian".

In some parts of the States, Canada is viewed as a sort of socialist twilight zone where weed, hockey and beer form the chief pastimes. Canada is a place where it always snows and where the residents live in iglooesque houses when not driving dog sleds through the tundra, bellowing "Land of the Silver Birch" and quaffing a Labatt Blue.

Canadians are associated with beavers of various sorts, government handouts, and oh yeah ... we also say "eh" compulsively for no particular reason. Needless to say, we all have at least one lumberjack or Mountie in the family.

The detractors mock Canadian money as 'Monopoly-like' and generally believe all things Canadian are worthy of contempt.

News that the word "Canadian" is being used in place of the "N" word, is based on more than just anecdotal reports. The Houston Chronicle turned up an email sent by Harris County assistant attorney, Mike Trent, who used the word "Canadians" to describe blacks on a jury.

In referring to the prosecutor on the case, Trent said :

"He overcame a subversively good defense by Matt Hennessey that had some Canadians on the jury feeling sorry for the defendant and forced them to do the right thing."

Challenged about his use of the word "Canadians" - when in fact there were no Canadians on the jury - Trent claimed he believed there were Canadians on the jury. Uh huh.

Further evidence of this trend is an online database that specializes in racial slurs. It classifies "Canadian" as a new racial-type slur word.

I would bet that few American users of the "C" word have ever ventured up to parts north, so their folklorish version of Canada carries a certain cartoon-like credibility in like-minded circles. If they were to come up and try on their brand of homespun bigotry in bars I'm familiar with in Vancouver and Toronto, I wouldn't guarantee their safe return to the sunny south - at least not as one functioning unit.

I Am Canadian