US Debate leaves comedy writers working Overtime

Wednesday nights' Presidential debate in the USA has provided a treasure trove of comedic material for the various late night comedians, all of whom no doubt tasked their writing staff to make much comedy hay out of the night's developments.

Some of their work revolved around poor Jim Lehrer, who hauled his butt out of debate retirement to tackle one more gab session between politicians, no doubt wishing he'd stayed home by the time it was all over.

Mr. Lehrer as respected as  he is, quickly seemed to take on the role of Grampa at Sunday dinner, sitting at the head of the table trying to get a word in edgewise to the conversation, only to be totally and completely ignored.

It was not at all how we imagine he thought the structure of the debate would go, as the night moved forward he appeared to have all the resonance of a substitute teacher in a class run amok.

However, the main focus of the late night take on the debate has been the less than forceful performance of President Obama, a man who as we have seen in the past is given to great oratory, but on Wednesday seemingly adopted the role of less than attentive pupil to Professor Romney's lecture series.

The President missed many an opportunity to rebut some of his Republican competitors talking points, or deliver a powerful defence of his four years in office thus far, even his staunchest supporters in the media (hello MSNBC) felt that he was dis-engaged from the entire night's production.

The cable news networks of course had the wall to wall coverage of the night that we have come to expect these days.

As mentioned MSNBC post debate had the aura of a wake, CNN that of a cocktail party where the booze has run out and over at FOX, well HOLA, Hoochie coochie Coo, it was though a party scene from Animal House, such was their joy at the Romney performance.
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Still, the real barometer of success these days in the US seems to be how the late night comedians review the political developments.

In this multi channel universe, with Netflix, Apple TV and oh so many other distractions, we are thankful that the folks at Mediate take the time to provide the Best of collections of the late night shows.

Below some of their submissions from the Comedy Review of Debate Night in America.

The Daily Show
Stewart: 'Deeply Divided Nation' Has Agreed on Something - Obama's Debate Performance Sucked

Late Night with David Letterman
David Letterman presents Obama's Top Ten Excuses for his Lacklustre Debate Performance

The Colbert Report
Stephen Colbert Feasts Off Chris Matthews' Impotent Rage

Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon Shows Candidates Ganging Up On Jim Lehrer: "Jim, Shut the F**k Up"

Conan
Conan Shows Us Why Big Bird is No Match for Mitt Romney

Of course all of this is but a preamble to Saturday Night, where the folks at Saturday Night Live no doubt with a few days extra to work with will provide a most enjoyable review of Wednesday night.

Though we imagine that Mr. Lehrer, perhaps should take the advice of  the twitter universe, where more than one contributor suggested that he NOT turn on his television at 1135 on Saturday night.

We imagine that may be sage advice...

Scorching the earth with Christy Clark

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has left more than a few political observers shaking their heads with her rather pugnacious debate with her counterpart Alison Redford of Alberta, the two Premiers clearly at polar opposites on the nature of transporting Alberta's resources to a port, any port in British Columbia.

Ms. Clark, spent about fifteen minutes with Madame Redford on Tuesday, exiting her session with the Alberta Premier to declare that the reception and discussion was "frosty and very short", hardly enough time we imagine to go over Premier Clark's five conditions for support.

One can't imagine why, as Ms. Clark has seemingly gone out of her way to poke the Alberta bear repeatedly over what it is going to take to move oil or bitumen through BC towards those thirsty Asian markets.

In fact, when your opening line to the conversation is to declare that there is no way that British Columbia will support this proposal, well, there's not more to ask one imagines than to wonder when the Premier's plane is scheduled to depart.

With Premier Clark seemingly giving an eye towards Alberta Royalties, or at least not reassuring her Alberta counterpart that those monies are not on her radar, the Albertan's will no doubt be rather suspicious of the BC Premier's motives and her veiled threats.

The current talking point seems to be that Premier Clark, aware of just how unpopular the Northern Gateway proposal is at the moment, is using that as a political tool, no doubt hoping to pick up votes from those in the regions impacted most.

The problem is, as more than a few political observers have noted is that the Premier doesn't seem particularly consistent on the whole pipeline discussion (such as it is), one day she rules out a provincial tax on the pipeline in BC, the next she gives thought to consideration of it.

It's no wonder that the Premier of Alberta is tad confused over where her would be partner in pipeline development is from day to day.

The use of the pipeline and the movement of resources to world markets as a political tool, probably isn't going to win the BC Premier any fans east of the Rocky Mountains, but with a government that is dwindling in popularity by the day, it may be her last gasp gambit to reverse the BC Liberals woeful polling status of late.

Nation building this clearly isn't, bringing the relations between the two normally friendly western provinces to the point of open hostility.

But in politics, desperate politicians will lay waste to much in a bid to keep office, in the case of the Premier, even wrapping herself in an environmental and parochial flag may not be enough to stave of electoral defeat in May of next year.

One thing is certain, while she doesn't have a vote, we imagine that Premier Redford will be watching the BC election results quite carefully next year, anxious to find someone in Victoria more inclined towards conversation rather than opportunism. Leaving the cause of good neighbours to the post election period we imagine, providing Alberta hasn't built a fence by that time.

She clearly won't find much relief on the Northern Gateway file from NDP leader Adrian Dix, who would appear to not be the biggest booster of the Northern Gateway proposals, though, to his credit, Dix is not quite as belligerent as his Liberal counterpart in the province is.

The NDP leader may not be inclined to the snarky back and forth, but we suspect that any Gateway plans through Northern BC will be off the table for the NDP, regardless of any incentives from the other side of the mountains.

There is however a leader to the east, one steeped in the left of the political spectrum hat may offer a transit point for Alberta oil.

Interestingly enough, NDP and Official Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair is waving a flag at Alberta suggesting that Redford take her Alberta resources east, a project that would provide revenue for Alberta and keep their royalties in place as they are .

It also may just offer her some time to sort things out on her relationship with BC, that while her neighbours to the west figure out where they want to be when it comes to resource development and the transportation of it.



Vancouver Province-- Clark's handling of pipeline debate not convincing voters
Vancouver Province-- Premier Clark picks another fight over Alberta pipeline
Vancouver Sun-- Clark would do well not to take natural gas plans to the bank
Vancouver Sun-- Clark's ever-more-ambitious natural gas plans bump up against discouraging reality
Vancouver Sun-- Christy Clark continues to press for revenue from Northern Gateway pipeline
Vancouver Sun-- Pipeline impasse remains after Clark, Redford hold 'frosty' meeting
Vancouver Sun-- Northern Gateway hit from all sides
Globe and Mail-- You heard it here: Northern Gateway's dead
Globe and Mail-- 'Frosty' meeting between Clark and Redford
Globe and Mail-- The Gateway gap: B. C. and the oil patch stumble into silence
CBC-- Redford, Clark make little progress at 'frosty' meeting
Calgary Herald-- 'Chump change' remark another Christy Clark classic
Calgary Herald-- B. C. Premier calls Northern Gateway benefits 'chump change'...
Calgary Herald-- Premiers meeting on Northern Gateway pipeline turns 'frosty'
Calgary Herald-- Breaking the ice

Christy Clark seeks a magical mystery tour

The decision from Premier Clark to scupper a fall session is not gaining universal acclaim, the choice to take to the byways of the province to meet with the people and get away from the "sick culture" of Victoria has been getting less than rave reviews and not just for her dismissal of Victoria as some kind of home of  political flotsam.

As seems to be the case with Liberals, the need for a fall session is one of those superfluous moments of Democracy, seemingly spending the spring on governance is all that is required, this despite the introduction of a new cabinet (those not taking to the parachutes, meet the new gang, same as the old gang) who now will not be able to showcase their skills in any form of accountable session of the Legislature.

Clark of course is not the first Premier to shut the doors to the Legislature, the approach was a favourite of her predecessor, though if you're trying to portray yourself as NOT the same old, same old, then uh, er, doing the same old, same old isn't exactly the winning strategy.

Clark also seems to be suffering from a bit of Romneyitis of late, offering up comments for public consumption that seem to cause more problems than they solve, case in point her thinking out loud on the whims and ways of life in Victoria, while she apparently meant the political Victoria, her words in effect seem to have painted the entire capital region as some kind of bubble zone where reality is but a faint notion.

A walk around any number of Victoria neighbourhoods out of the shadow of the Legislature  could convince her otherwise, parts of a city that have just as many concerns as any other part of the province, neighbourhoods where Government decisions have real impacts on the day to day life.

Then again, the Premier herself has said that she doesn't particularly like to spend much time in the Capital, a strange declaration for someone who is governing the province. Indeed, if one wanted to change any kind of culture, the best way would be through actions not through endless road trips and sound bites.

While her thoughts may resonate off beyond Greater Victoria and with her political base, she does a dis-service to the backbone of the province with her curt dismissal of its civil service and the elected officials that the voters send to Victoria on our behalf.

In effect, by shutting down the Legislature she's telling us that our votes don't really count, don't really matter, there being no work for MLA's to do, their opinions seemingly not convenient to the goal of governing.

Perhaps buoyed by recent polling numbers that have at least ended the Liberal slide, Madam Clark believes that her travels to and fro across the province will boost her profile for the good.

Maybe yes, maybe no, but by shutting down debate, by leaving the governance of the province to cabinet memos and press releases the concept of accountable democracy seems lost.

The Premier may think that Victoria as a concept is out of touch with the average British Columbian, but by changing the dynamic of the government away from the Legislature and towards this ongoing style of edicts issued by office, without debate or contemplation leaves one wondering if the Premier is perhaps a little out of touch herself on the concept of elected and representative office.

We're not sure what to make of her plan for a provincial tour until the Spring, it may in her mind be the preamble to a victory lap, or perhaps if you ask an NDP supporter, a farewell tour, the final verdict on that comes in May.

Regardless if you want to find the Premier she won't be at the Legislature.

Perhaps you can find her in a riding near you, if so maybe ask her some questions about governing, better yet, give her some suggestions, like representation by population means that our elected representatives should have the opportunity to discuss, debate and vote on the government plans.

Otherwise, why even bother with elections.

Her planned tour and the closing of the day to day business of the Legislature has made for much in the way of comment, some of the highlights can be found below.

Globe and Mail-- Christy Clark to avoid legislature, tour province in lead up to B. C. election
Globe and Mail-- Evan Solomon to B. C.'s Clark: Where's the democracy?
Globe and Mail-- B. C. Government should hold a fall session
National Post-- Christy Clark's 'sick culture' comments were not lost in translation
Vancouver Province-- Dix secretly pleased Clark nixed fall sitting
Vancouver Sun-- Christy Clark's change of heart rides shifting Liberal tides
CBC-- An Open letter to B. C. Premier Christy Clark

Keep your powder dry...

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The best laid plans can be revealed at the most untimely moments, case in point, the daily briefing at the US State Department today which briefly veered into interesting terrain.

Well interesting if you're a suspicious Canadian always on the look for American intent to march north.

A signing ceremony between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Mexican counterpart Patricia Espinosa was apparently held behind closed doors, something that caught the attention of the press corps at the State Department, which of course inquired as to the closely kept discussions and if perhaps a secret invasion of Canada was on the agenda.

Much merriment followed among the press pool, all while the State Department categorically denied that any such invasion was on the drawing board (see official transcript).

Though if you think it out a bit and  considering the importance that the Conservatives have placed on the War of 1812, a 200 year bit of payback from the US side could be just the distraction that a troubled US economy could use, or maybe President Obama is just plain tired of hearing about all those commemorative vignettes airing above the 49th...
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At any rate, a nation unprepared is ripe for invasion, so we stand at defcon five, eagle eyed for any pending movements from the south (or the north if you hang around Alaska much)

For a sign perhaps, we await the non stop airing of South Park's Blame Canada and a weeks worth of Canadian Bacon as the call to action from the south.

Just sayin' that perhaps it wise to keep your powder dry along Lundy's Lane and other pivotal points, and if a gal named Laura comes by with the word, heed her call to arms.

The Huffington Post has made much hay with the developments of the day, their article and video presentation can be found here.

The daily diversion from the world's pressing problems managed to find some space around the media circuit today.

NBC News-- State Department: No secret plan to invade Canada
Politico-- Obama administration denies plan to invade Canada
New York Post-- It's Offical: The U. S. is not conspiring with Mexico to invade Canada

Pauline Marois strikes the Maple Leaf on the first day

“We haven’t made a final decision. But keep in mind that in the past, whenever we had control over these decisions, the Canadian flag was always removed,” -- PQ spokesperson Eric Gamache, perhaps providing the heads up for tomorrow's headline.

We're not sure what games Pauline Marois enjoyed as a child, but we're beginning to think that the newly elected Premier of Quebec clearly had a passion for capture the flag, though in her case, it would seem she would probably added on the idea of hiding the thing in a closet.

With the Parti Quebecois back in power (all be it with the slimmest of margins) the PQ it seems is returning to some of the childish, petulant moves of its past to blaze the glorious new future that Madam Marois will bring.

The first casualty it seems of the new regime, will be the cloth symbol of les autres, the Canadian flag, which seemingly is to be banished from view with the official swearing in of the Marois cabinet on Wednesday.

Such is the nature of the PQ, to find any possible excuse to banish any representation of a larger nation outside of those parochial borders.

The move no doubt will earn a backlash from beyond Quebec (which is perhaps just what the PQ would intend), where more than a few Canadians who might be attached to the Maple Leaf might wonder just how tedious the discourse is going to get now that the separatists are back in the saddle.

Of course some might even wonder just how much hubris that the PQ has to go around, banning any and all Canadian symbols while gladly cashing those transfer payment cheques from the Federal Treasury, the largest of amounts which are destined to the province on a year after year basis.

In fact, it some might even suggest that the best way to solve that particular sore point might be simply to make sure that the transfer payment paperwork request features a rather large Maple Leaf in the upper corner, surely the PQ wouldn't process such an offensive thing would they?

Globe and Mail-- Canadian flag back in Quebec assembly - for now
Globe and Mail-- Maple Leaf flag back in storage as Parti Quebecois era begins
National Post-- Canadian flag returned to Quebec Legislature... but maybe not for long
National Post-- Canadian flag taken down, replaced with Fleur-d-lis, at Quebec legislature
CBC-- Quebec's flag flap: back to the future?
CTV News-- Canadian flag removed from Quebec National Assembly
Huffington Post-- PQ Take Down Canadian Flag as Pauline Marois Takes Oath...

When Political season collides with television season

It's the most wonderful time of the year, for Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, Colbert Report, late night talk show hosts and any other satirical show currently in your television universe.

The two political campaigns are providing for much int he way of comedic gold for any and all writers, though only the truly gifted ones will be able to deliver the comedy goods on a frequent basis.

With the countdown to the US Election Day now on, every single moment of a politicians day is up for potential mirth, the folks at Saturday Night Live seem to have put down their comedic line in the sand over the weekend with their season debut.

In the cold opening to the show, Jay Pharoah took sceptre of mimicry from Fred Armisen, taking on the role of Barack Obama as his own, a perhaps long overdue switch, though Armisen's Obama was fairly good over the last few years, one always wondered when Pharoah would get the chance to channel his inner Barry O.

We wonder no more, as the Pharaoh era began in a pretty successful debut, his frequent cut ins to the Romney campaign providing for a  cutting review or is that revue (?),  of the Republican Governor's campaign thus far.

Jason Sudekis, seems destined to be the hardest working guy on the show for the next few months, already known for his biting Joe Biden impersonation, Sudekis now has the dual challenge of divining the best of Romney, the best at least for comedic potential.

One night into the season, he and Pharoah both seem up for the job, all that remains to be seen, is which one still has the SNL heavy lifting once November passes us all by.

You can review the debut of political season on SNL, from the Global website which offers up a number of clips from Saturday's debut.

SNL Cold Opening

Mitt Romney Ad

Clint Eastwood's talking chair tour

Alberta mourns the passing of its guiding hand

The passing of Peter Lougheed , former Premier of Alberta is resonating far beyond the borders of the Western Canadian province, a shared sadness that one of the giants of the last century is no longer part of our political dialogue

His passing at age 84, is a loss to a province that has came into its own in Confederation during his terms of office, Lougheed bringing Alberta into the forefront of the Canadian debate, with equal amounts of Alberta pride, while always steeped in what he felt was best for Canada as a whole.

It was an approach that left him at logger heads at times with the federal government of the day in Ottawa, yet the success of Alberta  and its place in the fabric of the nation never became more enshrined than when Lougheed was defending its interests.

It is perhaps that passion he had for his province and the nation that leaves Canadians a little saddened at his passing, while he had been out of the public debate for a number of years now his shadow was still large enough to provide for impact in Albert and thus, on the country as a whole.

A nod in one direction or another could still set a bit of policy in Alberta, as the Alberta Conservatives learned in the recent electoral battle with the upstart Wild Rose Party.

We wonder what Lougheed would have thought of the current inter provincial spitting match between British Columbia and Alberta, something we can't fathom taking place during his steady hold on the political tiller.

Not that there weren't fireworks during that time, it's just, during the Lougheed years, you had a sense that he was fully in control of his agenda, equal to the positions of those that perhaps thought otherwise, but surrendering no ground all while still placing himself firmly in a federalist camp.

While there are a few bright lights in the political ranks across the nation, none at the moment would seem to be approaching his standard for governance  and his ability to defend his province while still looking at the larger national picture.

His penchant for strong debate and positions, but with a civil tongue, seemingly long lost in the political climate of the day. A sample of his statesmanship on display in the conversation with Alan Gregg that follows.



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Perhaps, that is why the nation pauses to reflect on his time in office, which provided a seminar on how to govern. His participation in the process part of the timeline of a newly confident Alberta in Canada  ushering  in an era of the rise in that province and the west in general in the federation.

It's a political course that many of our current crop of elected officials could use as a blue print for what is best for those that elected them to office.

Rex Murphy of the CBC captured the essence of the man quite nicely with this tribute and reflection on his career in politics and the impact he had on politics long after his retirement.

Some more of the coverage of his passing can be found below.

Edmonton Journal-- Lougheed Legacy 1928-2012
Calgary Herald--  Peter Lougheed's Life and Legacy

CBC-- Albertan's pay respects to former premier Lougheed
CBC-- Peter Lougheed's death stirs emotions of Canadians
CBC-- Peter Lougheed: Life in politics
Globe and Mail-- Two flags drape Peter Lougheed's coffin as mourners pay respects
Globe and Mail-- Remembering Lougheed: Chretien, Mulroney and Manning among peers to pay tribute
Globe and Mail-- Joe Clark: Lougheed built Canada by looking to Alberta's future
Globe and Mail-- Peter Lougheed, Mr. Alberta, helped the province come of age
National Post-- Two flags are better than one: Peter Lougheed's casked draped...
National Post-- Celebrating a "blue eyed sheik"
Maclean's-- Two flags drape Lougheeds coffin as mourners pay respects
Winnipeg Free Press--- Lougheed helped save Canada's democracy
The Tyee-- Peter Lougheed's Radical Legacy