Chris Benoit

Like many people, I was a wrestling fan growing up, I had lost interest in the past three or four years, but when I saw this story among the headlines on ESPN.com, I was shocked.

I always enjoyed watching Chris Benoit wrestle, but was never his biggest fan, and never claimed to be. I never met him, or saw him compete live. That said, I'm saddened, but equally angered by the murder-suicide of himself, along with his wife and son.

Chris Benoit's death deserves to be covered as a news story, but nothing further. I'm sure in the coming weeks, and months we'll become better informed on the circumstances that led to this heinous crime, and I think its going to paint a portrait of Chris Benoit, and the entire wrestling industry that will be uncomfortable for many fans. But, thats too bad. The industry needs to face up to the disgusting realities that it faces, and stop acting as ostriches.

Chris Benoit, unfortunately, does not deserve a tribute show, or to be remembered positively.

UPDATED

I don't think I'll ever watch another Chris Benoit match. This might be explained scientifically, due to brain trauma, or some sort of mental problem that developed while he competed in the ring, but regardless, I have trouble expressing remorse, or forgiveness towards someone who kills his wife and child, and then takes his own life.

Its so mind boggling that someone could committ the crimes that Chris Benoit has committed, especially when everyone who knew him has always spoke so highly of him. He was respected by everyone in WWE, and by every fan who watched him compete. I pray that his ex-wife and two children who survive him, will be able to get through this incredibly difficult time.

My questions are the same as anyone else's. Why? Why did this happen? Why did a man, who seemed so humble, so polite, and so caring, to so many people decide to committ an act of such decadence and violence? I just don't know.

My heart to goes out to all who survive him, friends and family alike, but my forgiveness of Chris Benoit himself for these acts will have to be reserved for later. I just can't imagine that a normal, caring, loving human being could act in that way.

Who would you vote for?

TSN has released the list of nominees for the Hockey Hall of Fame today, and its probably the best list of candidates that I've seen in years. I don't envy the writers and journalists who have to vote this year. Who do you think should be inducted? Keep in mind the limit for the number of inductees in one year is usually four. I'm not sure if thats law, or just convention.

Mark Messier
Ron Francis
Al MacInnis
Scott Stevens
Adam Oates
Igor Larionov
Claude Lemieux

More Kudos for Harper's principled stand...

Thomas Courchene of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, published, not too long ago a very nice defense of the Conservative government's plan to fix our broken form of fiscal federalism in Canada. PM Harper and Min. Flaherty laid out their plan to put the bickering between provinces and the Federal government six feet under, and they're following through, almost to the letter. Its so nice to see.

Mr. Courchene's piece from the IRPP should be published in every major newspaper and discussed on every major newscast, so that Canadians can at least get a basic understanding that this government is intent on doing what it says its going to do, polls be damned. I think thats very different than what Canadians have become accustomed to, and needs to be communicated more effectively, so that Canadians understand the choice before them, come the next election.

If you want the straight goods on Equalization...

visit this blog. This is easily the best blog I've found, in terms of explaining the controversy over the Equalization program and the Atlantic Accords. If anyone has found a better source, send it this way. I'm always open to new information.

I think the Prime Minister, in the end, did the right thing with the budget, and Equalization specifically. He certainly could have communicated it better, but in the heat of the moment, when you've been taking jabs from ungrateful premiers for three months, I understand you get a little testy.

Anyone reading this will quickly realize that this goes against my post from last week where I was very critical of the Harper government's communication tactics, but its important, with hindsight, to recognize that, in the end, when the fog clears, people will realize that Harper got it right. As he has on many issues since forming government (ie. income trusts, Afghanistan, etc).

Who really "can't afford" health care in America?

Conservative Party sponsors Pierre Bourque

Is there really anything wrong with the Conservative Party of Canada choosing to sponsor a stock car driver? If it were the Government of Canada choosing to sponsor Pierre Bourque, that would be a more serious charge. Or if the Conservative Party were paying the sponsorship with taxpayer dollars, that would be wrong as well.

Since nobody has seen any evidence of wrong-doing yet, I can't really complain or have a problem with the CPC choosing to puts its logo on a stock car, in an attempt to advertise its brand to potential voters.

The opposition is crying that this is hypocritical, since the government claims to care about the environment, and these cars, like all cars, contribute greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The Liberal Party only wishes it had the financial capital to advertise its brand in these unique ways, but even if it did, it would probably just use taxpayer money to pay for the sponsorship anyway, because being a Liberal, and being a Canadian are one in the same...right? Oh, wait...thats not quite right.

Harper really is a control freak.

I always thought that when opponents or critics of Stephen Harper called him a control freak, it was a shallow, mostly empty criticism that had little merit. Times have changed.

John Ivison's column in the National Post today, points out a serious problem that will become the ultimate downfall of the current government. Stephen Harper, for whatever reason, has great trouble trusting members of his own caucus to communicate the government's agenda effectively. I really don't understand why, considering the depth of talent on his front bench. Starting with Jim Flaherty, John Baird, Stockwell Day, Rob Nicholson, etc. are all strong MPs and strong cabinet ministers who could take some heat and pressure off the Prime Minister, and who can be trusted to effectively disseminate the message. But, for whatever reason its not happening, and it needs to start happening soon. Like, RIGHT NOW, or at the latest, in the fall. At the rate the Prime Minister is moving at, his polling numbers are only going to sink faster, the more he is seen as bullying his opposition, instead of making a strong coherent case for his government's policies. As Ivison pointed out, he could've done a pretty strong about-face publicly on his equalization decision, arguing that it was the right thing for the country, and that he made a bad promise, in the heat of an election campaign. Instead, he challenged them to sue the government.

Sure, today, while he's facing a paper-weight opposition leader who can barely muster double digit support in his own province, these weaknesses may not haunt him. A stronger opposition leader, might be taking this Prime Minister to the wood shed right now, if he/she were in Dion's leadership position.

Cooler heads need to prevail, and when this parliament is finished, the Conservative Party needs to go on a short weekend retreat somewhere, and work out the kinks in the communication lines, which can be healed by just allowing the appropriate minister to sell the plan for their ministries, and constantly be overshadowed by an overbearing PM, who seems to be haunted by prior slips of the tongue. Hopefully, Harper will retreat in his own introverted, weird way, and emerge reconciled to allow his colleagues to do their jobs.

Andrew Coyne on the Accords.

Andrew Coyne nails the absurdity of our fiscal federation...AGAIN. Check it out at his website. Its a thing of beauty. I'm a big fan of Stephen Harper, and the shots at his government hurt, but sometimes truth hurts. Its too bad that Canadians don't maintain these 'long memories' when the Liberals are running the joint.

Maybe its a case of the Conservatives getting power so rarely, that when they're actually elected to govern this country, they're held to higher standard, simply because we've become so accustomed to a lower one.

On the other hand, you could pick any governing party in power - provincially or federally - and dig up quotes from two or three years back that contradict what they're doing now.

I think part of the reality of our parliamentary system is its predicated on adversarial politics, which makes it very difficult for opposition MPs to be critical, without giving the people the ammunition to paint them as liars or hypocrites, if they're ever given the chance to govern later on.

As much as I think politicians shouldn't make promises they can't keep, and Harper has done that on Equalization, I'll have a hard time voting for anyone else when the next election rolls around. Ultimately I think he tried to do what was best for the entire country, and as is the nature of politics in this country, is going to pay a higher price for that, than previous governments who did much worse.

Road to Surrender Series...just fantastic.

Christopher Hitchens: God is not Great.

For those who aren't familiar, Hugh Hewitt (radio show host, and blogger for Townhall.com and Salem Radio) hosted a "Great God Debate" between Christopher Hitchens and New Testament scholar, Mark Roberts. The debate, done over the radio, was fine, although it wasn't the proper format for Mark to rebut Hitchens arguments properly.

Anyway...here's the full rebuttal on Mark's blog here. I found it interesting.

I did it~!

I'm now a member of the Blogging Tories.

Could someone please send us to an election....SOON~!

Could someone just end parliament and send us to an election? I realize that it would be hasty, and maybe it wouldn't benefit the Conservative Party, but this parliament has become a joke, and the conservatives are completely lost, and fumbling the ball.

Just look at the patchwork of a communications strategy they have. First, there's negotiations with NS and NL, then there isn't, according to Min. Flaherty, then there's a challenge to take the government to court from PM Harper, now negotiations are back on. And, amidst all this an honest MP had to be ejected from caucus because he became mired in push polls, and misinformation that distorted the budget.

A lot of this could have been avoided if PM Harper and his PMO had been more dilligent to countering the misinformation, and keeping his caucus onside.

*Sigh* Sometimes I really hate federal politics in this country.