The Vancouver Scrum

Things that make ya go “Hmmm...”

Tune in to CPAC’s Talk Politics sometime this weekend. You’ll be glad that you did. On this week’s show, host Ken Rockburn does what too few broadcasters do: challenge a Canadian Taxpayers Federation mouthpiece on his assertions. The CTF’s Ontario talking head, John Williamson, was doing the standard right-wing whine about Canada’s principled stand to not participate in the war against Iraq. Williamson first swore that this war was about “liberating the Iraqi people.” Your normal radio or TV talker would leave that unchallenged, but Rockburn fired back that this war was previously supposed to be about imposing regime change, but before that, it was because of Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction -- weapons that STILL haven’t been found. Would Williamson’s opinion change if WMD are never found? Well, he might be less trusting of U.S. intelligence reports, but no he wouldn’t change his mind, says the now-scurrying Williamson, because he believes that Saddam was in cahoots with international terrorist organizations. Again, says Rockburn, that hasn’t been proven by anyone. That threw Williamson off his guard, leaving with him little more than the old stand-by-your-friends argument to advance his (and his political allies in the Canadian Alliance’s) criticism of the government.

Very refreshing to see, I must say. Normally, the CTF’s claims are unchallenged on air (especially right-wing radio) and in the op-ed pages of most Canadian papers, but once in a while, the unthinkable happens. (And what the hell is some supposedly non-partisan organization concerned mainly with fiscal matters doing commenting about foreign affairs? It couldn’t possibly be because they’re actually virulently partisan Liberal-haters? Naaaaaah, of course not.)

I’m beginning to susect that the help-wanted ad for a CTF “director” reads:“The successful candidate is politically ultra-conservative, but willing to give up existing party memberships in order to allow us to have a facade of independence. Must have the fashion sense of a Mormon missionary. Ability to lie with a straght face is essential. Posession of any sense of shame or dignity are grounds for disqualification.”

You can catch repeats of Talk Politics tonight on CPAC at (all times Pacific Daylight Time; if you’re unable to convert, then you don’t deserve to watch the show) 10 PM; tomorrow at 4 AM and 12 PM; and Sunday at 5 AM and 6 PM. I’ll make a point of taping and transcribing the relevant sections, then posting the dialogue on this little blog for you because I’m such a nice guy.