clown

Friday November 29, 2024

October 12, 2016

Shotgun Divorce Wednesday October 12, 2016

When I drew a cartoon back in 2016 of Trump as a gun-wielding clown chasing the GOP’s elephant out of his circus tent, I couldn’t have imagined just how spot-on it would turn out to be. Back then, Trump was the outsider shaking up the Republican Party, and the party itself still seemed to have a pulse—full of leaders who at least tried to push back. But now, eight years later, it’s clear Trump wasn’t just running the circus; he was slowly turning it into his personal kingdom.

February 26, 2021

The old GOP—the one that talked about free markets, small government, and national defence—feels like ancient history. People like Mitt Romney, the Bush family, Liz Cheney, and John McCain represented a party with ideals (whether or not you agreed with them). They thought they could outlast Trump, that voters would tire of the chaos. Instead, the opposite happened: the base embraced him, and anyone who didn’t was shown the door. Now, loyalty to Trump isn’t just expected—it’s the whole game.

In Trump’s first term, there was still a mix of insiders, skeptics, and yes-men in his administration. But it didn’t take long for him to figure out who was “with him” and who wasn’t. By the time we reached 2024, Trump wasn’t making the same “mistakes.” His Cabinet picks and key appointments are all about loyalty, not experience. Some of these choices—like putting TV personalities or controversial figures into top positions, Dr Oz, and Pete Hegseth — have even Republicans raising their eyebrows. But guess what? Nobody dares to seriously challenge him. The ones who do, like Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzinger, are now on the outside looking in, while people like Tulsi Gabbard and Stephen Miller are riding high.

February 4, 2021

The GOP has been completely reworked in Trump’s image. It’s no longer about policies or platforms; it’s about fealty. If you’re not 100% behind Trump, you’re out. Even Nikki Haley, who’s tried every dance move possible to stay in Trump’s orbit without completely losing herself, has found herself sidelined again. Trump’s version of the party has no room for skeptics, no patience for dissent. Hello, RFK Jr.

This is the Republican Party now. It runs on loyalty oaths and culture wars. Fiscal conservatism, small government—those are relics. The GOP isn’t about ideas anymore; it’s about Trump and the grievances he taps into. For his supporters, that’s enough. They love the fight, the energy, the fact that Trump’s version of the party feels more connected to working-class anger and less like the old, buttoned-up establishment.

Looking back at that 2016 cartoon, it felt exaggerated at the time—a clown, a gun, the poor GOP elephant running for its life. But honestly, it doesn’t feel exaggerated anymore. The circus has turned into a monarchy, with Trump firmly on the throne. And for now, there’s no one left in the party brave—or foolish—enough to try and take it from him.

Friday January 13, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 13, 2023

Sunwing has received 7,000 complaints about holiday travel disruptions

Sunwing Airlines has received 7,000 complaints so far from customers unhappy with the airline’s performance during a turbulent holiday travel season that saw many customers stranded abroad.

July 17, 2019

Sunwing executives told MPs on the House of Commons standing committee on transport, infrastructure and communities Thursday that the airline cancelled 67 flights between December 15 and 31, in part because of staff shortages. Sunwing president Len Corrado said the airline struggled after the federal government declined its request to hire 63 pilots as temporary foreign workers.

Members of Parliament are questioning airline executives and airport authorities on Thursday about the travel chaos that erupted during the holidays.

Hundreds of air passengers were stranded over the holiday season after airlines cancelled or delayed flights, largely due to a major storm that hit much of Canada around Christmas.

Even though the House of Commons isn’t sitting right now, MPs on the transport committee met Monday and unanimously supported calling witnesses to discuss the travel debacle.

Executives from WestJet and Air Canada also testified.

Sunwing, a smaller airline that offers flights to warm southern destinations, faced the brunt of MPs’ questions Thursday. (CBC) 

January 8, 2016

Then there was this under-reported tale from last month under the headline, “Swoop flight to New Brunswick flies back to Hamilton without stopping at destination”

People who were on a Swoop Airlines plane are telling CHCH News of a flight to New Brunswick that ended up back where it started, leaving a lot of angry passengers.

First passengers got messages from the airline saying the flight was delayed. Then after taking off three hours later than scheduled, they flew to Moncton but didn’t land, the plane turned around and flew back to Hamilton.

Swoop sent out a series of notifications, first blaming “operational delays,” then saying it was “due to weather,” then “delayed due to customs and immigration,” even though Hamilton and Moncton are both in Canada.

A passenger on the Swoop flight Justin Forshaw says, “they then said there was going to be people at Hamilton to receive you, give you travel vouchers, transport to a hotel. There was nobody there.”

May 25, 2022

The passengers say when they got back to Hamilton airport they were abandoned. There was nobody from Swoop to help them.

Passengers say the flight attendants said there would be a new flight to Moncton within 24 hours but they still haven’t heard anything. Passengers CHCH News spoke with are doubtful about receiving refunds from Swoop.

CHCH News requested an on-camera interview with Swoop, and they responded with a statement saying the airline blames the cancellation on the weather. It doesn’t explain why passengers were given those other reasons for the delays and cancellations, or why there was no one to meet them at the airport. As for refunds, it says it’s “working through reimbursements.” (CHCH) 

Thursday January 20, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 20, 2022

Clown Advice to Boris Johnson from Doug Ford

June 22, 2016

Premier Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservatives have a comfortable lead over their Liberal and New Democrat rivals in a new poll of Ontario voters published Wednesday.

Polling conducted last week by Abacus Data finds 37 per cent of respondents supporting Ford and the Ontario PC Party, with 28 per cent favouring the Ontario Liberals under Steven Del Duca and 25 per cent backing Andrea Horwath’s NDP. 

“If you’re the PCs and you’re looking at this number right now, you’re feeling pretty good, I think,” said David Coletto, the CEO of Abacus Data, in an interview. (CBC News) 

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defied calls to resign in a feisty performance Wednesday in Parliament — but it may be too little to prevent a push by his Conservative Party’s lawmakers to oust him over a series of lockdown-flouting government parties.

Wednesday May 5, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 5, 2021

Being Jason Kenney is the worst job in politics today

May 26, 2006

As former Alberta premier Ralph Klein used to say, the secret to being a successful politician is to figure out which way the parade is going and jump in front of it.

So spare some pity for current Premier Jason Kenney as he tries to straddle two marching bands of public opinion, which are on a nasty collision course over his handling of the pandemic.

In short, Kenney is failing spectacularly in every direction he’s turned – and the result has been the fastest infection surge anywhere in North America coupled with Canada’s loudest public revolt against overdue restrictions to curb the outbreak.

It’s a uniquely tricky business bordering on mission impossible to govern Alberta even in good times, where voters are happiest with the least amount of government in their lives.

As one rural MLA noted many years ago, “My folks think that painting a yellow stripe down the middle of the highway is too much government interference.”

But mix an oil industry meltdown with enterprise-killing lockdowns and hospitals near the breaking point and you create the perfect storm of angry opposition.

January 26, 2021

Closing down businesses, schools and rodeos has sparked outrage and defiance in rural areas, where COVID-19 is not spreading as quickly.

But by heeding the cries of the United Conservative Party’s rural base to go slow on restrictions, the Kenney government has infuriated cities where soaring third-wave infection rates are swamping intensive care units.

Kenney’s challenge has been complicated by an internal revolt of his own MLAs, some still smarting from the absorption of the Wild Rose Party to create the United Progress Conservatives, who have taken a very public stand against restrictions they deem excessive.

During a long news conference on Wednesday, a weary-eyed Kenney shrugged off the internal dissent as merely a welcome exercise in democratic debate.

Sorry, but attacking public health measures designed to save lives is not up for debate and Kenney really needs to send a no-nonsense signal this is not tolerated with a mutineer expulsion or two. (CTV) 

 

Saturday December 21, 2019

December 21, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday December 21, 2019

Auditor general is looking into cost estimates for Hamilton LRT

Ontario’s auditor general says she’ll look at how reasonable the province’s cost estimates were for Hamilton light-rail transit (LRT) as part of an upcoming audit of Metrolinx.

December 17, 2019

A key construction union is also investigating the government’s numbers, and says its preliminary investigation shows the province has been misled.

Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk said in a letter to Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath Thursday that she already started a value-for-money audit of Metrolinx governance and operations earlier this month.

“As part of this audit, we will be looking at the reasonableness of the cost estimates for rapid transit projects, including the Hamilton LRT,” she said.

Lysyk was responding to a request from Horwath, who represents Hamilton Centre. The province cancelled an LRT project earlier this week that runs 14 kilometres through three NDP ridings, including Horwath’s. The province will still invest $1 billion in Hamilton, Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said, but a task force will decide how it’s spent.

Horwath wrote Lysyk on Wednesday asking her to look into the Ministry of Transportation estimate that Hamilton LRT would cost $5.5 billion in capital, operating and maintenance over 30 years.

December 18, 2019

Mulroney said the estimate was the reason her government cancelled LRT. The ministry hired a third-party consultant, she said, after “proponents in the market” alerted her that the Hamilton project was over budget.

Horwath wants Lysyk to investigate why the cost-per-kilometre is higher for Hamilton’s LRT than the Hurontario and Finch West lines.

“The minister is refusing to disclose the third-party consultant’s report that the premier cites as validation for his figures,” Horwath told Lysyk, “so the public has no way of independently assessing them.”

The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) announced earlier this week its investment arm would do its own review of the numbers. The union said in a statement Friday that preliminary figures show the province’s numbers were inflated. (CBC)