Life Can Be Unfair

Recently, a long time friend of ours confided in me that he was 'very angry' with the state of his health...'it was so unfair'.  He, like me, is getting on in life and for the most part has enjoyed very good health.  The last couple of years though have been a challenge for him and with it has come much pain and general discomfort.

I, as you know, have had some serious health challenges too over the course of the last two years and have endured some serious side-effects albeit not as much pain as experienced by our friend.  There is another difference between us...our friend is not a Person of Faith.

Rather than get angry, I have been thankful to God for pulling me through and thank him for the gift of each new day.  I also believe that there is a better place awaiting us after death so death is not to be wished for but neither is it to be feared. 

I would encourage our friend to look to God for help but realize from trying earlier in our friendship that this would not be well received on his part. So rather, I tell him to put his faith in his doctors and hopefully his health troubles will soon pass though I am not so certain they will.  I also Pray for his speedy recovery and tell him so in the knowledge that he will be okay with that ...and in fact will be appreciative even though he will likely find it a waste of time on my part.  I will keep Praying though.

Another example of Life Being Unfair occurred just late last month when the best friend of our granddaughter was killed in a car accident along with her 6 month old unborn baby. The mother was only 27 - far too young to die and certainly in such a violent fashion.  I do not know whether or not she was religious and regardless she could end up in Heaven based upon how she lived her life.  Kristen certainly had many nice things to say about their friendship.  I have asked God to take her safely into his arms.  And, there is no doubt that her unborn baby girl is there now with Jesus and His Mother Mary watching over her.

I guess the Moral to this is that Life Can Be And Often Is Unfair but you do not need to Let It Get You Down.  There is a way forward and it is in each of us if only we open our Hearts to let it out.

As I See It...

K. D.  Bell 

The Conservatives at 34.3 % and the Liberals at 33.1 %

 I can predict the outcome of the Election with just those numbers...A Conservative Minority.

I see a hand up at the back - yes what is your question?

Don't you mean a Liberal Minority Galagher?

How So - well as students of Canadian History know full well - those numbers were the final per centages in Canada's Last Election ...the one in 2019.

So True and I thank you for pointing that out - indeed despite their small % lead the Conservatives took but 121 seats to the Liberal's 157.

So raw numbers can be and often are misleading - as in today's miniscule distance between these two parties.

It often comes down to where your strength is - for the Liberals since Moses climbed the Mount - the Liberals have been strong in the main centres of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver where the vast number of voters reside.  

Bottom-line - just because the Tories have a lead in the popular vote does not mean that they will win out electorally.  Historically, for a Party to win a majority they would have to secure at least 40% of the vote and neither one is even close to that number. 

I said in an earlier blog that I would predict which Party will win - but can only do it closer to the Election on September 20th when the polls can be expected to harden up. So another 10 days or so to wait.

Speaking of Opinion Polls it reminds me of Brian Mulroney's rise and fall - in 1984 he secured vast majority government with a little over 50% of the popular vote and 211 seats in a parliament that was less numerous in members than today's.  By the time he left politics and turned the reins over to the hapless Kim Campbell he was scoring in the low 20s and poor Kimmy went on to win but 2 lonely seats in the disastrous election campaign for them with but 16% of the vote.  Mulroney had most certainly handed Campbell a Poison Chalice.  

That brings me back to the Present and to realize how fickle an Electorate can be.  How in the world is it possible for someone as bad a Prime Minister as Justin Trudeau to even be in the running at this late date in the Election.  The fact that He is likely to retain his minority simply defies belief.

A favourite saying of mine is Never overestimate the intelligence of the average voter. Given that He is still neck and neck with the Tories I am prepared to modify this to the following - Never overestimate the intelligence of any voter. 

So I will end with another one of my favourite sayings - with the advance polls soon opening  be sure to get out and vote early and vote often.

As I See It...

K.D. Galagher

Throwing Pebbles

 OFF  A  CLIFF.

The Throwing of Pebbles has been in the news muchly over the course of the past couple of days and it reminded me of a little ditty that made the rounds when I was young...it went like this:

      Brothers came home and told their father that they had thrown 'pebbles' off a cliff - the father responded "no harm in that boys"...until this kid came to the door all broken and battered.  You guessed it - his name was Pebbles.

With that, we cast ahead to the present and learn that pebbles a.k.a. bits of gravel were thrown at our distinguished Prime Minister though the Woke Media was quick to turn them into 'Stones' and that they were hurled at a totally defenceless Trudeau by an unruly and totally out of control mob this despite the fact that He was surrounded by a protective wall of Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Those who entered the bus along with Him - reported that he was unfazed by what had occurred and saw it as no big deal.

But the very next day, Trudeau did a 180 and was now in great dungeon about what had occurred the day prior.  Violence has no place in Canadian Election Campaigns.  So what happened in a mere 12 hours or so?  I can just imagine...His Brain Trust in Campaign Headquarters - known as the War Room - seized on this like a Spider on a Fly.  Why they told Him - this is pure gold - we can discredit the Right - once known colloquially as the Conservative Party of Canada. So they wound Him up and out he went and did his drama schtick for which He is so well known.

As for me - Trudeau and His Team and the Progressive Media made a mountain out of a molehill.  That said, Trudeau is correct when he said there is no room for violence on the part of demonstrators.  Anyone doing so should be criminally charged while bearing in mind there is a great deal of difference between the seriousness of tossing pebbles and the hurling of rocks.  And there is nothing wrong in a healthy democracy of having demonstrations take place even when those participating might be angry as hell. You and I may not agree with their point(s) of view and often we do not - but for the sake of everyone they need to be able to voice their concerns. 

One of the great deficiencies in our Democracy has been the Left's Insistence that only they speak on behalf of society.  Any and all opinions are okay as long as they coincide with their own.  It is simply not healthy.

And in closing I continue to think back to His Father who withstood the slings and arrows thrown at him by the FLQ with nary a whine nor complaint. 

As I See It...

K.D. Galagher 

 

GUNS...GANGS...&

 BAMBI

Let's deal with Bambi first.

The Liberals have caught O'Toole and his fellow Tories off guard.  The Conservatives want to protect legitimate gun owners - farmers, hunters and such and are right to do so.  The problem though is that the Tory Platform provides for cancelling the Liberal Ban against Assault Rifles.  And for this they are wrong since one does not need an AK 47 to bring down Bambi.

But in pointing this flaw out, the Liberals are once again showing themselves to be Hypocrites...since the issue of gun violence in our society does not pertain to Rifles...or even Assault Rifles per se but to handguns and more specifically to handguns smuggled in from the United States and used by Criminals here in Canada.  Liberal Legislation does not address this serious problem one iota ... as they know full well.  Nor does it stop Trudeau from bragging how tough his Government is on banning guns.  Handguns have been banned long before Trudeau was even born and have become ever more a problem for police and society since.

In fact, the murder rate by handguns is up ... just shy of 80%,  since the Liberals came to power in 2015.

And who does Trudeau put front and centre to defend their ineffective policy...why none other than His Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair a.k.a. the past Chief of Police for Canada's largest City ..Toronto.  If anyone knows that smuggled handguns are causing the carnage it is Blair and yet he refuses to acknowledge this fact just like his Boss J.T. 

So who is more at fault - O'Toole and his Tories for saying they will remove the Ban on Assault Rifles or Trudeau and his fellow Liberals who say that everything possible is being done to reduce murder by handgun when in fact diddly squat is being done.  You decide.

And this would be bad enough, but Trudeau and Company have also legislated the removal of Minimum Sentences for Crimes involving Handguns - Minimum Sentences that the previous Tory Government under Stephen Harper introduced years ago.  So not only are the Liberal Provisions ineffective, but Sentences for Criminals are much less severe.

So if I was O'Toole and when I got asked about his so-called inconsistent stance on the banning or not banning of assault rifles I would reply as follows:

I am so glad that you asked this question since the real issue here is not our farmers and hunters having possession of lawful rifles rather the issue pertains to handguns being smuggled into our Country from the United States and used by criminal elements for their nefarious purposes including murder.  In fact, the murder rate by handguns is up nearly 80% since Prime Minister Trudeau was elected in 2015.

Well what about assault rifles?

Again, our focus is on the elimination of illegal handguns which are causing the carnage and on bringing the full force of the Criminal Law down on these callous criminals including reinstating minimum sentences which the Prime Minister and His Government revoked.

Next Question Please...

O'Toole has the Truth on his side...use it.

As I see It...

K.D. Galagher

I WAS WRONG ABOUT TRUDEAU...

 In a recent blog I said that JT was quick to condemn others for sexual harassment but not himself.

UPDATE:  Just after I published this Blog two things occurred - first new polling came out suggesting that Trudeau was up a solid 2% points which put the Tories at 35% and the Liberals at 33% - really in statistical tie territory.  My comment below that "this election is not over yet" is more prescient than ever.  Second and right on the polling heals came the announcement that Liberal Candidate Saini had resigned from the Campaign.  No mention of Trudeau's hand so I assume the dear fellow simple read the tea leaves and is sparing himself a humiliating defeat since he was of course the incumbent. KG

Well he still does not see anything wrong with His former transgression but suddenly He now sees nothing wrong with sexual harassment claims by seven ...count them ...seven women, one of whom was so distressed she attempted suicide.  The Culprit - Raj Saini, the Liberal Candidate running in the Ontario Riding of Kitchener Centre.

So why the double standard now?  Could it have something to do with Election Day fast approaching and it is now too late to replace this bozo?

So even in the few areas where Trudeau appeared to get things somewhat right - His Principles could not hold in the face of Electoral Advantage.  Shame.

And He dares to call Himself a "Feminist" Prime Minister.

O'Toole, on the other-hand, ditched one of his candidates in Nova Scotia upon a mere hint that he had sexually harassed a woman.

I suspect Trudeau is ruing the day when He decided to Call This Election !!

And speaking of fading Principles, He is obviously afraid to participate in Public Debates.  How else can you explain but One (1) English Debate ...the one that pertains to the vast majority of Canadians.  What about His Claim that His Government Is the Most Open and Transparent in Canadian History? 

And how can you explain the one and only English Debate includes Bloc Quebec Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet...i.e. the guy who wants to break-up Canada.  In many countries around the world Blanchet would be in prison convicted of Treason.  Here in Canada he has the freedom to work for the Separation of his Province and is paid a salary and a pension for doing so.  I kinda like the rogue and can even understand somewhat his taking part in the Two (2) French debates in Quebec since he is speaking to other like thinking Quebecers but there is no excuse for him participating in the English Debate.

The Polls continue to decline for Trudeau but this Election is not over yet - So, 

Stay Tuned.

As I See It...

K.D. Galagher     

Democracy Can Be Sooooooooo

 MESSY !!!

Just ask our traveling roadshow Prime Minister currently touring the country and encountering...are you ready for it - Protests.

Why the nerve of some people !!

You can almost understand His surprise at this turn of events since when first elected Prime Minister in 2015 it was after an Election that saw 'Justin' Mania -- adoring fans from coast to coast couldn't get enough of his nice teeth and beautiful hair.  

That of course was then and this ...as they say...is now.

I wonder though what his deceased father Pierre Elliott would say. He who stood up to real thugs ...the FLQ during his time in Office.  Below is what the Canadian Broadcast Corporation had to say at that time:

After calling an election just three weeks after he became Liberal leader, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau has promised to stem the rise of Quebec separatism and turn Canada into a unified, bilingual nation. On the eve of the election, Trudeau ignores threats of separatist violence and attends Montreal's St-Jean-Baptiste parade. When other officials flee as rioters hurl rocks and bottles, Trudeau refuses to back down. This French CBC Television clip shows Trudeau smiling as the projectiles fly. 

By contrast, Justin claims to be afraid, ...it is just not safe.  And speaking of safety do you wonder if he gives a minute's thought to those poor souls he left behind in Afghanistan?

I understand that many - not all, are anti-vaxxers.  Well even though I do not agree whatsoever with their stand, I understand that we are still supposed to be a Democracy and an important part of being so is to allow dissent as long as it is non-violent.  And yet Trudeau is appalled with their antics. But the media has found that there are many others present with various other complaints against Trudeau's Liberal Government which is totally understandable given the turmoil it has caused throughout Canada.

I have not seen any significant violence at these campaign stops but if any occurs it should be rooted out forthwith by the authorities.  But it is interesting to recall that last year the Natives protested - blocking commerce and nothing was done to reign them in.  More recently, 50 or so Churches have been destroyed by arsonists and Trudeau's reply being that this was only understandable. Yuk. 

The other reason I believe He is so appalled at opposition appearing at his rallies is that for the past year he has hidden out at Rideau Cottage - facing no hecklers and a docile media there by invitation only.  

So as Truman once famously said, if He cannot stand the Heat.. Get Out Of The Kitchen and Go Back to The Cottage.

As I See It...

K.D. Galagher

Justin Trudeau Is Dangerous...

 And Has To Go.

I could begin this blog by reviewing the numerous gaffs and serious mistakes Trudeau has committed since becoming Canada's Prime Minister in 2015 but you know them as well as I do.  I will therefore concentrate on general themes.

First off, the guy has a thin skin.   It is always someone else's fault when things do not go right.  Must be hard to be perfect.

Second. and related to the first, he is not nice - he goes out of his way to point out 'his' perceived imperfections in others.  Harper was mean, Doug Ford is a neo-conservative and the new Tory Leader O'Toole is "even worse than Ford".  (As an aside, if I was O'Toole I would have responded 'this coming from the worst Prime Minister in Canadian History'.)

Third, he is bankrupting Canada to pursue such follies of zero carbon emissions when the real culprits - like China continue their destructive ways.

Fourth, and speaking of China, Trudeau simply adores this country how else can you explain his putting all of his covid eggs in their vaccine basket resulting in the death of innocent Canadians. 

Fifth, he beats the drum proudly telling all and sundry that Canada is a Rule of Law Country and then behind the scenes tries to influence our Adjudicators to turn a blind eye to the Law to help his friends.  Bye, Bye Jody Wilson Raybould and Jane Philpott.

Sixth, and speaking of women, according to our Feminist Prime Minister they are always to be believed and many men have been turfed by the PM and his cronies for just that reason.  But when the alleged offender is Justin himself he adeptly explains this away by smugly saying "Women see things differently from men".  How convenient for him and him only. 

Seventh and while on the subject of Sexual Harassment, let's not forget the fiasco that has taken place in our Military.  A detailed report was completed by Marie Deschamps in 2015 the same year that saw Trudeau come to power.  Deschamps provided a plan for the Liberals to follow which would have gone a long way to improving things for women at National Defence.  The Liberals though did squat and the only action taken upon being found out earlier this year was to order another Investigation by another retired Supreme Court Justice.  But not only that, they let a retired Lieutenant Colonel and a Woman - Karen McCrimmon face the music as Chair of the  Defence Committee when the matter hit the fan during this last session of Parliament.  Daily she tried to defend the impossible.  Coincidentally, she was my Member of Parliament and after one of these gong shows I emailed her asking her 'as a Woman and a Former Military Senior Officer how can you sleep at night knowing that you are defending a Department of Male Privilege and your tone deaf Leader Trudeau?  Not surprisingly, neither she nor her office replied to my email but it was not long before she announced her retirement from office and in a resignation article she confirmed what I had thought - she did have trouble sleeping at night because she knew of incidents of sexual harassment at DND "which would curl your hair".  I guess I should have been asking Trudeau and his equally delinquent Defence Minister how they are able to sleep at night. 

Eighth, our Democracy is on life-support.  Decisions are made not by our elected members but rather by the Prime Minister's Office and Parliament itself has been treated as merely an inconvenient pest.  Filibuster, Prorogue or Simply Shut It Down. He could always count on the suppliant New Democrats to support him in his anti-democratic ways. 

Ninth, Trudeau is very much a champion of Death - none of his Members are allowed to voice their opposition to Pro Choice, nor can they speak out against Assisted Suicide.  And you thought we were a democracy where at least matters of conscience could be verbalized safely.  

Tenth, and speaking of free speech, His Government is bound and bent to mussel the Internet.  Free Speech and its related Freedoms such as Freedom of Religion, Freedom to Congregate to Peacefully Protest and Freedom of the Press are Cornerstones of Vibrant Democracies.  Should Trudeau get back into power those Freedoms will continue to be in serious jeopardy.  

Eleventh, Trudeau loves to diss our Country ...to point out its deficiencies as determined by You Know Who.  Nothing the Guy loves better than to give an Apology - again as long as it does not involve something he has done wrong. For months now our flag on Parliament Hill has flown at half staff - but in Trudeau's mind Canada's Flag always flies at this reduced height.  He has made it known that if push came to shove he would return to his home Province of Quebec or should I say Nation of Quebec since that is what He has endorsed.

Despite all of the above, the day that Trudeau called this snap and totally unnecessary election He and his Party were headed for Majority Government Status.  That same day however, Afghanistan's capital Kabul fell to the Taliban.  Now he will be lucky to attain Minority Status.  Daily Canadians see that our Citizens and our Allies trapped to their fate at the hands of the blood thirsty Taliban.  The resultant shame and humiliation for Canada has decidedly turned the Election on its head.

So will the Grits (aka) Liberals squeak out a minority?  For that we will have to await the polls that come out closer to Election Day - September 20th and much with respect to that will depend on which of the two major parties does better in the 905 Region of Ontario since that vote rich area will determine the Winner.

As I See It...

K.D. Galagher