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Friday January 24, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 24, 2020

Where the Tory leadership race stands now that Ambrose and Charest are out

Rona Ambrose is out and she wasn’t even in. The former Conservative minister ended weeks of speculation about whether she would run for the party’s leadership by saying that she is going to pass and “focus on making a difference through the private sector”.

May 31, 2016

She said she struggled with the decision of whether or not to return to political life but her conclusion came as no surprise. Her friends were always dubious that she would commit. She married her partner, businessman JP Veitch, last summer and people who know her well said she is enjoying the pace of life in the private sector, as well as being back in Alberta.

The announcement will be lamented by Conservatives who saw her as the most likely bet to modernize a party that has been disparaged as out-of-date and narrow-minded. In her written statement, Ambrose tacitly made the case for change. “I know we will choose a strong, compassionate person to lead us, who supports ALL families,” she said.

She joins former Quebec premier Jean Charest on the sidelines.

May 13, 2015

There is general agreement among the dozen or so senior Conservatives I spoke with on Wednesday, that this is shaping into a contest between Peter MacKay and Pierre Poilievre, with Erin O’Toole a wild card in third place but still capable of pulling off a shock.

Charest’s decision certainly upsets any plans Poilievre had of running as the rock-ribbed movement candidate, who would stop the Progressive Conservatives and other socialist apparatchiks from taking over their party.

On the other hand, Charest would have brought in new members who would have been more likely to transfer their support to MacKay, if and when Charest fell off the ballot.

There are growing concerns that this could prove to be a particularly divisive contest, if the two candidates are viewed as proxies – Poilievre for Stephen Harper; MacKay for Brian Mulroney.

But it is an over-simplification to suggest Poilievre will be the hard-right Reform candidate and MacKay the voice of the mushy Red Tory middle. (Continued: National Post) 

 

Saturday April 8, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 8, 2017

Is Trump’s bromance with Putin history?

The bromance between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin may be over before it could really blossom.

April 6, 2017

Blame Syrian President Bashar Assad for coming between them.

The Kremlin, a close ally of the Syrian strongman, condemned the U.S. cruise missile attack on a Syrian airfield early Friday morning as an “act of aggression in violation of international law.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it suspended an agreement with the Pentagon to share communication about U.S. and Russian aircraft conducting separate missions over Syria to avoid mishaps.

Russian aircraft support Assad in his fight against rebels, which include the Islamic State, while a U.S.-led coalition is focused exclusively on defeating Islamic State militants.

December 17, 2016

Russia’s decision in 2015  to enter Syria’s civil war with airstrikes against Assad’s opponents strengthened the dictator’s grip on the country when it looked perilous.

Trump ordered the strike in retaliation for Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons in a rebel-held town Tuesday, but Russia defended Assad, saying the chemicals were released when Syrian planes struck a terrorist lab.

The U.S. strike widens the gulf between Trump and Putin over Assad’s future months after the Russian and American presidents seemed to be coming closer to an agreement to join forces to bring an end to Syria’s six-year-long civil war, defeat the Islamic State in Syria and let Assad stay in power.

After the chemical attack — which killed 86 people, including 27 children — Trump abruptly reversed course, calling for Assad’s ouster, as President Barack Obama had done. That is something Putin has been loath to do since the Syrian leader is one of his few allies in the Middle East. (Source: USA Today) 

 

Friday November 9, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Friday November 9, 2012

Sandra Pupatello to run for Ontario Liberal leadership

Sandra Pupatello enters the Ontario Liberal leadership race 

The two front-runners in the Liberal leadership race are both staking out the political centre, with one saying her “mantra” is jobs and the other pledging to rebuild relations with the province’s teachers.

Sandra Pupatello, a former member of Premier Dalton McGuinty’s cabinet, jumped into the leadership race on Thursday, saying she plans to make the economy central to her campaign.

“I’m about jobs,” Ms. Pupatello said at a news conference in Toronto before heading to her hometown of Windsor for her official launch. “It’s going to be my mantra.”

Ms. Pupatello, 50, and former cabinet colleague Kathleen Wynne, 59, are the two leading contenders to replace Mr. McGuinty, who is stepping down after nine years in office.

Ms. Pupatello enters the race with the support of two cabinet ministers – Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, a long-time friend, and Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Transportation and Municipal Affairs and Housing. Mr. Chiarelli plans to hold an event in Ottawa on Friday for Ms. Pupatello. Also supporting her are Teresa Piruzza, Liberal MPP for Windsor West, the seat Ms. Pupatello held until last year, and former Liberal MPP Pat Hoy.

Ms. Wynne is also attracting caucus support, with Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey, Attorney-General John Gerretsen, and MPPs David Zimmer and Mario Sergio endorsing her.

Ms. Pupatello said that the eight years she spent in cabinet, holding down the economic development and trade portfolio, and education before that, leave her ideally positioned to focus on job creation and to put the province in a strong fiscal position to support health care and education, as well as to have an impact on social problems. (Source: Globe & Mail) 

 

Tuesday March 20, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday March 20, 2012

‘I’m just putting up warning signals’

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent is standing by his sharp criticism of party leadership front-runner Thomas Mulcair, saying he has a “responsibility” to highlight the shortcomings of the Montreal MP before the race concludes.

In an interview Saturday with Postmedia News, Broadbent said he has no regrets about coming forward recently with public comments about Mulcair’s leadership qualifications.

Broadbent reiterated his concerns, saying: the NDP could disappear if Mulcair brings it too close to the political centre; that Mulcair had claimed false credit for the party’s breakthrough in Quebec in last May’s election; and that New Democrats ought to be worried about whether he has the personal temperament to lead a united caucus.

“I’m just putting up warning signals,” Broadbent said from his Ottawa home. “I felt I had a responsibility to do this.”

“I have never had a personal vendetta or something so trivial or banal against Tom. But I have strong convictions about the truth in politics and I dislike intensely when someone gets a bum rap or when someone else tries to take credit for what other people are doing.”

In recent days, thousands of New Democrats have been casting their ballots for the next leader. The race will conclude next Saturday with a convention in Toronto – where seven candidates will make their final pitch.

Broadbent, who supports former party president Brian Topp’s candidacy, turned heads last week when he took his advocacy a step further – issuing blunt criticism of Mulcair through media interviews. (Source: Montreal Gazette)

 

Saturday January 20, 2001

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 20, 2001

The Inauguration of George W. Bush

In a nonstop day that began with prayers in the morning and ended with partying at night, George W. Bush became the 43rd U.S. president Saturday, promising in his inaugural address to build “a single nation of justice and opportunity.”

“Now is not the time for speeches — it’s the time for dancing,” Bush joked at the first inaugural ball he visited Saturday night. Bush and wife Laura attended 10 post-inaugural events in all, including the eight balls, a ninth party added at the Washington Convention Center and an affair honoring veterans.

The joyous spirit was apparent throughout the day in Washington, although the appearance of thousands of protesters served as a reminder of the contested election that was finally declared a Bush victory in December.

Bush assumed the presidency from former President Bill Clinton just after noon Saturday, and quickly moved to assert his new power: Before the inaugural parade had begun, he had formally nominated members of his Cabinet and ordered federal agencies to suspend implementing new regulations within an hour of taking office.

“I’m here to tell the country that things will get done, that we’re going to rise above expectations, that both Republicans and Democrats will come together to do what’s right for America,” Bush, now the 43rd U.S. president, said at a congressional luncheon in his honor Saturday. (Source: CNN)