Friday, March 08, 2013

The little guy from Shawinigan's ultimate legacy and soon to be loser (if not already) goofy Christy Clark!

"A choke is a choke. What kind of choke? It's a choke. A choke is a choke. And when you have a good choke, it's because you've choked an NDPer or Conservative into becoming a Liberal!"
Duhhhhh .....
Dear CyberSmokeBlog:

I've just come across someone named Mudcat1 using your new catch-phrase. Are you inspiring copycats or had this already gone viral?  Someone should'a bought the rights from Jean a long time ago.

An apology is an apology. What kind of an apology? It's an apology. And when you have a good apology, it's because it's apologetic

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/03/08/jonathan-kay-christy-clarks-dilemma-is-how-to-apologize-for-apologies-without-actually-apologizing/

Chris Budgell
(Vancouver, British Columbia)

Dear Mr. Budgell:

Thank you very much for contacting CyberSmokeBlog with your excellent, insightful comment regarding what Jean Chretien's real political legacy will become. As you have so aptly pointed out his "A proof is a proof ....." certainly has a one size fits all ring about about.

While still on the subject of federal Liberals, perhaps Justin Trudeau's political legacy will eventually be best exemplified by:
Christy Clark has been one continuous, unmitigated disaster since becoming your province's Premier. Barring major divine intervention (A miracle!) she should be toast come May. Ever notice how former media types have a tendency to morph into real political screw ups? Just ask Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy.

The Jonathon Kay article is very witty, cleverly written and, therefore, bears reprinting. Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
Jonathon Kay: Christy Clark's dilemma is hot to apologize without actually apologizing

By Johathon Kay
Friday, March 8, 2013
When it comes to ritual apologies, Japan is hard to bear. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

  The notion that Canadians are an overly contrite people, constantly apologizing for things, has been well-entrenched in American stereotype for decades. Now, for the first time, it has become the stuff of political scandal: A leaked internal memo prepared for the B.C. Liberals promotes the cynical tactic of pumping out apologies for past historical wrongs, in order to score “quick wins” with Chinese and Indian voters. B.C. voters have responded with outrage, and the scandal likely will seal the doom of the province’s already-teetering Liberal government.
"Take your apology and shove it where the sun don’t shine."
Yet the scandal might have larger ramifications, too: Could this be the beginning of a bout of national self-examination over our penchant for apologies? The scandal truly does raise larger questions. When Canadian tourists and business travelers are jostled in the security lineup at JFK airport or Disneyworld, why do we say “Oh, sorry. My fault, I’m sure,” instead of the more expected “Hey, watch your fat ass.”

Fittingly, it is this country’s first inhabitants that are leading the charge against excessive apologies. On Thursday, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Chiefs, joined with others to denounce the Liberals’ “quick-win” apology strategy.
“It represents a deep sense of betrayal and we find it highly offensive that now the moves on the part of the B.C. provincial Liberals are tainted by this revelation, and it brings into question their efforts at reconciliation with respect to historical wrong doings,” he said.
“Don’t pander to me by saying that ‘Hey we have a strategy. We are going to apologize.’ Well you know what? Take your apology and shove it where the sun don’t shine,” added Sid Chow Tan, the president of the Head Tax Families Society of Canada.
Given the desperate straits in which Premier Christy Clark’s Liberals find themselves, we would not put it past them to abandon all sense of pride and irony, and issue a grand apology for their previous apologies, including incipient apologies they never uttered. Unfortunately, not only would this make Ms. Clark look ridiculous, it would further perpetuate the unfortunate national stereotype alluded to above.

Yet Ms. Clark and her fellow Liberals must make some gesture of repentance for apology-gate. But how do they accomplish this without actually apologizing? Surely, this is Canada’s version of Alexander the Great’s Gordian Knot.

But there might be a way to cut through that knot. And Mr. Tan is on the right track with his admonition to “take your apology and shove it where the sun don’t shine.” The remark brings to mind the prospect of a humiliating, televised but non-verbal  gesture of physical self-abasement by a Liberal government official. This would carry the message of abjection, shame and self-censure that the Liberals mean to communicate, but it would not actually constitute an apology.

Mr. Tan’s exact reference carries a somewhat vulgar connotation. And the spectacle of one of Ms. Clark’s ministers actually going this route with a rolled up copy of the offending “quick win” ethno-apology likely would be too much even for the most jaded Vancouver libertine.

But there are other options. The ninja-monk Silas in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code might provide one model, for instance. Self-flagellation is strongly associated with the spirit of contrition. But it is technically distinct from the act of apology.

Plus, it would score well with certain male voters, aged 18-49, who might be looking for an excuse to vote Liberal.

The band Chicago had it right all those many years ago when they crooned “It’s hard for me to say I’m sorry.” Real apologies should be profound, even agonizing, gestures, not “easy wins.” If B.C.’s Liberals wish to regain the moral high ground, they must offer up the very flesh of government itself in a ritual of self-mortification.

Summon the cilice. The Liberals’ bloody comeback is about to commence.

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