Chris Pronger Needs to Clear the air

I agree the media is far too intrusive in celebrity cases. In most cases too much time and money is spent invading the lifes of celebrities to dig out information that doesn't effect us.

But the Pronger case is different. The Edmonton Oilers were one game away from winning the Cup and is just willing to walk away. It's a kick in the gut to the city because finally the league is competitive and the Oilers are still forced to trade away their star player. Is it the case that star players are still going to continue to leave this city because bigger cities have more to do and sponorship opportunities. According to Al Strachan:

Pronger feels that he has served his sentence in Edmonton and should be released for good -- in fact excellent -- behaviour.

If this is the case Oiler fans need to be worried because this year will be will as close as the Oilers will get to the Cup. Or is it for another reason. I doubt Pronger would that selfish and leave a championship team for money. I think he is leaving because his wife doesn't like it here. She comes from a rich background and there aren't alot of places to spend $6M a year in Edmonton. There are too many questions and Pronger owes it to his former team to explain some of the details of why he had to leave Edmonton immediately. If he doesn't clear the air, rumours like this one will run wild.

http://www.blog.pcloadletter.ca/?p=276

Ken Dryden for Liberal Leader

“As kids we knew whatever Canada was then it would be far greater tomorrow. That is the Canada I see today. That was the Canada born into me. Long before I ever wore the jersey, I wore the jersey.” Ken Dryden

A united Liberal Party. That is all the Liberals want and need to win. Liberals don't need an ideologue to redefine party policy or a charismatic leader to get noticed. Last election the Liberals lost the trust of Canadians and they need a leader immune to the sponsorship scandal who Canadians already trust.

The Liberals defeated themselves last election. Internal fighting between Chretien and Martin divided the party and when the sponorship scandal broke a divided Liberal party couldn't defend itself. The Liberals believed they were invincible and reality hit them hard.

"There's always a way to win; there's always a way to lose. And it's up to you to find that way before the final buzzer goes. And you know that if, in fact, that final buzzer goes and you don't find the answer, it's not that it wasn't there. It's just that you didn't find it. It was there. It was there all the way along." Ken Dryden

Canadian know and trust Ken Dryden. He joined the liberals after the Martin/Chretien civil war and was Martin's top performing minister. Dryden brought in the National Childcare program by gaining the signatures of all 10 provinces and advocating such a strong argument a national childcare program is more benefitical than simply handing out money to some parents who are taxed on the handouts. It is near impossible to bring down the national childcare program in a minority government and strong opposition from the provinces and public opinion.

Dryden is more than a hockey player. He is more than a national hero that played on the legendary Montreal Canadien hockey teams of the 1970's and was the winning goalie of the 1972 series. After hockey he became a lawyer and wrote the greatest book about hockey of all-time, The Game. Before politics he was a lawyer, a broadcaster (was the colour analyst during the US's infamous 1980 Miracle on Ice win), an author (spent a year researching about education by spending time in the classroom), and was a former President of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ken Dryden is the only candidate running for the federal Liberals who has served in cabinet and is a bystander the Martin/Chretien conflict. Ken Dryden believes in a big Canada where Canada's potential is unlimited and strong social policy to make sure nobody is left behind. If he wins he will be the offical opposition leader and he isn't afraid to stand up to the truthiness of the conservatives. (Also making him the first politician to use the term coined by Stephen Colbert.)

"But to take on a "great national endeavour," you have to think in those big terms. It has to be in you. In your bones. It has to be part of your understanding of this country, what it is, how it works, what it can be and should be. The railroad, Medicare, the education system Canada was built on "great national endeavours." In which Quebec was an immense part; in which Alberta and B.C. and Nova Scotia and Ontario were immense parts. Great national endeavours that made Quebec better, that made Quebec more "Quebec." That made Alberta more "Alberta."" Ken Dryden

For the next Liberal Leader I want someone who can motivate Canadians to think big by inspiring us by giving us something to fight for. Dryden has the intellect and the passion to inspire us. Canadians are proud of our social security net and our strong national institutions that make us different from our southern neighbour. It is time once again to bring a leader into power that will continue Canada's progress.

Here's Dryden's main challengers:

1) Michael Ignatieff

Ignatieff's campaign looked like it was stuck in the mud with Ignatieff past comments regarding torture and his 30 year absense from Canada. But Ignatieff has recruited close associates of Trudeau who see him as the next Trudeau. He has has secured support from 3 key Liberals: Romeo Dallaire, John McCallum, and Ruby Dhalla. The main difference between Dryden and Ignatieff is US residency. Ken Dryden lived for a much shorter period in the US and didn't move back to Canada for the sole dream of becoming Prime Minister of Canada.

2) Gerard Kennedy

I didn't know anything about Kennedy when his name first surfaced, and now I know a little more. Kennedy is young and charismatic. He is an edge over the other Leadership hopefuls because he had an organzation already assembled in Ontario from his previous run for Ontario Liberal Party Leader. But he lacks any federal experience and if a quick election occurs after he wins, that is a risk the Liberals can't afford to take.

3) Stephane Dion

Dion was a great minister and is politicial ideology is what Liberals and Canadians believe in. But the last two Liberal leaders have come from Quebec and last one's riding was in Montreal too. If the Liberals want to regain Quebec it might be wise to copy Harper's strategy. Elect a non-Quebec leader who can pursuade Quebeckers why you are important to English Canada.

4) Bob Rae

Rae's campaign is weak. But alot of influential Liberals are supporting him because he is what the Liberal party wants. A left-wing leader to win support away from the NDP and Green party. But remember Ontario gets to vote in the next federal election.

5) Scott Brison

I think Brison will surpise many. He could place as high as third on the first ballot. There are no other candidates from Atlantic Canada and some hope can bring PC voters to the Liberal vote. His social views haven't changed since defecting. But he has tried to soften his fiscal views. Why would the Liberal party elect a leader that once advocated for a private health care system?

Stanley Cup Prediction

Results of First 3 Rounds:

Dave: 8/ 14 and 0/14 right on
Joe: 6/14 and 2/14 right on

(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs (8) Edmonton Oilers

Dave: I was feeling so cocky a week ago about Edmonton's chance of winning that I thought they could beat any team from the east without Roloson and Pronger. But after watching Carolina fight hard to defeat Buffalo, a team that just wouldn't die- I am taking the Hurricane threat more seriously. Carolina and Edmonton's offense are almost identical except Staal gives Carolina a major edge. Carolina has three strong lines led by Staal, Weight, and Brind'Amounr. Edmonton has 3 strong lines led by Horcoff, Stoll, and Peca. Roloson is a greater threat than Cam Ward. Roloson was a former Hasek backup and brought the Wild to the NHL Final 4 a few years ago. But this series will be won on defense. Carolina has experienced defenseman who all except Kaberle have been in the Stanley Cup Final before. They lack a Chris Pronger though who can play over 30 minutes a game and is tied for the Oilers lead in points in the playoffs. Edmonton in 6 games.

Joe: I'll say Oilers in six. Maybe five. The Canes have done a good job getting here, but they have yet another young goalie who has been pretty good, but if rattled, can let in a few bad goals. There D is the weak link, Hedican is good, but the down the list it is not the greatest, and have made some bad mistakes which hasnt cost them very much, this may cost them now. Edmonton in 5 games.

RCMP Foils Toronto Terrorist Plot

The RCMP successfully stopped a major terrorist attack. This should be an occassion to celebrate and thank the police and intelligence officers who stopped the terrorist attack. But the right is not happy:

The suspects are all of Arab descent and the indication is that many of them were Canadian-born or at least had gained citizenship at some point.

To me, this is an indication that we need to have better control over immigration and citizenship to ensure that the people we let in ACCEPT our post-enlightenment freedom loving society. And for those born here, we need to institute Civics classes in the public schools with a clear message to our children what the values of the country are.

Didn't we succeed. Not only did Canada prevent the terrorist attacks but we did it by respecting human rights and not threatening our civil liberties. There was no illegal wire tapping or meaningless arrests. The right has always claimed Canada did not have the resources to stop a terrorist attack. But we did and any cries to start deporting arabs (even Canadian-born ones) will fall on desperate ears.

The new Harper goverment has just been in power a few months and hasn't introduced any new anti-terrorist legislation but that doesn't stop them from trying to claim credit and claim this wouldn't have happened under the liberal government. (Look at the bold word.)

“Today, Canada’s security and intelligence measures worked. Canada’s new Government will pursue its efforts to ensure the national security of all Canadians.”