"I’m the normal guy. Trudeau and the NDP are the wackos. They are the extremists." - Pierre Poilievre, CPC leader, Leader of His Majesty's Official Opposition
I think we err in portraying Trump as an extreme, as way out there.
He is merely the epitome of marketing economics.
He is the used car salesman selling a car that has been driven by Aunt Martha and only on Sundays to and from church … he is big tobacco - smoke does no harm, he is big oil denying the environmental impacts of burning hydrocarbons.
It's all lies covering up the primary purpose of making a profit or, in politics, in attaining power.
Mr. Polivierre has seen Trump's success and is but a shallow copycat. His comment reflects where he sees society today: for us or against us. If against us, your life is worthless.
Both have rejected discussions of ideas and the ability for well-meaning people to disagree with integrity.
Hi Tom. Thanks for your comment. Not surprisingly, I disagree. Trump may have started in 2015 as a used car salesman, but the 2024 version is very extreme. There are so many examples of his extremism, which to me is self-evident, that listing even a few is a waste of time. Arguably the same for Poilievre. I mean, the man met with Diagolon, which is considered a right-wing extremist group, if not outright Nazis. Members of his caucus lunched with Christine Anderson. Downplaying Poilievre's extremism is a huge mistake.
Sara Kendzior wrote today: "Trump is not an ideologue. He is a bulldozer used by two GOP-linked networks that often collaborate." She is referring to rightwing neo-fascist ideologues, and organized crime which wants to "collapse the US and strip it and sell it for parts, much like the oligarch wars that followed the collapse of the USSR."
So is Poilievre another bulldozer, used to destroy stuff by some networks? Not unlike Danielle Smith, then.
Hi Val. Great to see you here. Not unlike, just like Smith. My view is that it's not so much about stripping Alberta and/or Canada for spare parts as it is protecting those who own the country, the energy incumbents like utilities and oil companies, from disruptive systemic change. Though one could argue, I suppose, that Smith is stripping Alberta's education and healthcare systems for spare parts, something the hardcore conservatives (especially the Christo-fascists) have wanted forever.
IIRC, Coyne described Poilievre as a 'viper' around the time he became Conservative leader. So he's had a dim view of Skippy for a while.
I think we err in portraying Trump as an extreme, as way out there.
He is merely the epitome of marketing economics.
He is the used car salesman selling a car that has been driven by Aunt Martha and only on Sundays to and from church … he is big tobacco - smoke does no harm, he is big oil denying the environmental impacts of burning hydrocarbons.
It's all lies covering up the primary purpose of making a profit or, in politics, in attaining power.
Mr. Polivierre has seen Trump's success and is but a shallow copycat. His comment reflects where he sees society today: for us or against us. If against us, your life is worthless.
Both have rejected discussions of ideas and the ability for well-meaning people to disagree with integrity.
Hi Tom. Thanks for your comment. Not surprisingly, I disagree. Trump may have started in 2015 as a used car salesman, but the 2024 version is very extreme. There are so many examples of his extremism, which to me is self-evident, that listing even a few is a waste of time. Arguably the same for Poilievre. I mean, the man met with Diagolon, which is considered a right-wing extremist group, if not outright Nazis. Members of his caucus lunched with Christine Anderson. Downplaying Poilievre's extremism is a huge mistake.
Good column and I agree.
Sara Kendzior wrote today: "Trump is not an ideologue. He is a bulldozer used by two GOP-linked networks that often collaborate." She is referring to rightwing neo-fascist ideologues, and organized crime which wants to "collapse the US and strip it and sell it for parts, much like the oligarch wars that followed the collapse of the USSR."
So is Poilievre another bulldozer, used to destroy stuff by some networks? Not unlike Danielle Smith, then.
https://substack.com/@sarahkendzior/note/c-61408630
Hi Val. Great to see you here. Not unlike, just like Smith. My view is that it's not so much about stripping Alberta and/or Canada for spare parts as it is protecting those who own the country, the energy incumbents like utilities and oil companies, from disruptive systemic change. Though one could argue, I suppose, that Smith is stripping Alberta's education and healthcare systems for spare parts, something the hardcore conservatives (especially the Christo-fascists) have wanted forever.
A good topic to start a substack on. ;-)