Twas the night before an election

Voici une article que j'ai publié dans le Sherbrooke Record d'aujourd'hui, dans la langue de publication.

What am I thinking!?!?

As we roll on towards an election campaign, I wanted to the opportunity NOT to speak about the reasons for the campaign, or why one party is better than another. Rather, I want to speak about WHAT a candidate is feeling at this very moment. Here are some of the emotions that I’ll be dealing with over the next 40 or so days:

Stress: You know that feeling, where you’ve got a knot about the size of a baseball in your stomach? That’s what I’ve been dealing with for the past week. I hope it doesn’t cause permanent damage, or add to my grey hairs…

Anxiety: Do I have enough volunteers? Do I have enough posters? Do I have enough money (a campaign needs money to succeed, and, frankly, there’s not much out there)? Will voters listen to me? Will they listen to the leader? Will they read the platform? Does it connect????

Expectation: The writ has dropped and the election has started! Race around, find the best telephone pole to put your poster on, find the best location for your office, send out the press releases, and prepare for your debates! All in the same, oh, 10 minutes!

Excitement: Hey, I just convinced someone to change their vote! I met someone who stands out as a community leader! I’ve spoken about a policy we’re offering and someone realises that, yes, it can make a difference! I made a witty remark in the debate, one point for me!

Pride: Yes, you folks have seen me in the paper often over the past three years. An election campaign is the culminating point of that process – and a candidate who has been present, active and engaged in their community will feel pride through bringing it all together.

Anticipation: Will the weather be good voting day? How will the leaders do in their debate (you know, 80% of voters vote based on the leader or the platform, and NOT me…!)? Is voter turnout good? Is it good in the right places?

Relief: When all is said and done, after a campaign is over, one can only feel a sense of relief, after putting in thousands of kilometres on the poor car, shaking thousands of hands, and speaking to thousands of people. I can go back to spending more time with the kids, enjoying spring, and getting ready for summer.

That is, unless I get elected…

If you want to help out by contributing to my campaign, make your donation here:

https://action.liberal.ca/en/donate/Riding/24017
Si vous voulez donner un coup de main en contribuant à ma campagne, vous pouvez faire votre don ici:

https://action.liberal.ca/fr/donate/Riding/24017

Tory Hate

Looking at the language choices made by the editorialist, I think of that quote from Ernest Lapointe, Mackenzie King's Lieutenant from the 1920s to 1940s: "A Tory is a Tory because he hates somebody or something..."

Liberals Launch "Pucapab" Campaign

Today we have launched "Pucapab" (Fed up! in English...), a Facebook and Video campaign to help unseat Stephen Harper. Not a bad little diddy if I may say so. Campaign is focused in French Quebec, so in French only.



Spread the word! Passez le mot!

facebook.com/pucapab

"Signs" of a Bloc-Conservative Coalition?

Check the slogans...

Conservatives 2010:



Bloc 2008:



There's your real coalitions partners. Immitation is the highest form of flattery, or so they say...

RIP Pat Burns

Pat Burns est décédé



For those who followed Burns the coach, as I did, 1993 was my year - Leafs battle through the playoffs, Dougie and Felix and the rest raising those oft low hopes of Leafs fans, this is a big loss.

If anyone is interested in remember Pat in a special way, you can support the Pat Burns Arena in Stanstead Quebec here. It's a worthy cause, one that Pat was and will remain very proud of.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Go Tony!

All the best to Tony Genco, our candidate for the upcoming bi-election in Vaughn, and his organisation.

Questions on Harper's Reaction to UN Smack-down

"As I've said before, our engagement internationally is based on the principles that this country holds dear. It is not based on popularity."

So does this mean that it is the opposite at home?

"Our values...are the things we're pursuing, and that does not change regardless of what the outcome of secret votes is."

So does that mean that you are against secret votes if they threaten your values?

Does that make you anti-democratic?

Why attack secret votes at the UN? Did you want, maybe, to know WHO voted against you? In order to get a little pay-back maybe? A little cut to foreign aid here, a little less trade there, maybe a few less flights to Canada for a foreign carrier from an unfaithful voter at the UN?

We have noted Harper's vengeful, spiteful politics over the past four years at home. If you don't support his policies, shut the f*** up or you'll pay for it. Is he now going to use that abroad, say against China? India? The EU? Washington.....?