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Wednesday, September 01, 2004
NORMAN'S SPECTATOR
From today's edition of NORMAN'S SPECTATOR
In the US , the Republican Convention vies with the latest terrorist attacks in Israel and Russia for the lead. Most papers also front a Canadian story that’s top of the news in the UK —the corporate ‘kleptocracy’ at Hollinger. In our other mother country, the hostage-taking is the lead story in all papers (the second deadline has passed).
The New York Times’ editorial board opines on the situation in France . The Washington Post’s editorial board focuses on the Convention, and Darfur. The Los Angeles Times’ editorial board looks at Afghanistan.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board defends President Bush’s economic record, and says the alleged Israeli mole at the Pentagon is a patriot and the FBI should lay charges if it has anything on him. Reacting to yesterday’s WTO ruling, it wants Congress to do away with the Byrd Amendment, “a nasty little rule [that] rewards domestic producers that support dumping petitions with the proceeds of anti-dumping duties.”
At home, the Globe, Star, Post and Citizen all front the Hollinger story (Here’s the CanWest lead). The Post and Citizen also front a story on home-buying patterns.
Elsewhere in the Post, Father Raymond de Souza weighs in on the Anglican convention and Claire Hoy on the one in New York . Andrew Coyne is down on the Olympics and increased government funding to win medals. Lorne Gunter is down on the Wheat Board.
The editorial board is down on one dog, the pit bull, but puts in a good word for “rottweillers, dobermans and other breeds occasionally prone to serious violence.” And it’s heartened by signs of cooperation among the attack dogs on the opposition side of the Commons.
The Montréal Gazette stuffs the Hollinger story in the Business section and leads with the latest suicide bombing in Israel , which the Star and the Globe also front. The Citizen stuffs yesterday’s two big terror attacks in favour of a local story that affects us all--public sector labour negotiations.
Inside the Gaz, L. Ian Macdonald says Stephen Harper must get back in the game, and should arrive with a smile on his face. Hardliner Josée Legault says Bernard Landry has gambled by asking for a confidence vote. After a bad day, the editorial board still sees glimmers of hope in the war against terrorism.
Inside the Citizen, Avril Lavigne disses Napanee. David Warren warns the French against encouraging terrorism. Susan Riley thanks God for Michael Moore and says she’s ready for retirement. The editorial board liked what it saw at the Green Party convention.
The Vancouver Sun fronts the colour-coding of junk foods in BC schools and an interview with Hollinger lieutenant, David Radler. The editorial board suggests a new process for nominating Supreme Court Justices.
The Globe and Mail fronts the latest on Darfur from the UN. In the ROB, Bruce Little says it’s time for the Bank to hike interest rates. Vox says loss of reputation is the least of Conrad Black’s problems.
John Ibbitson pitches for free trade—between Québec and Ontario . On the comment page, Marcus Gee pitches EU membership for Turkey . Jeff Simpson pitches Rudy's run for the Rose Garden in 2008.
From outside, Desmond Morton says George is no Winston, though he ties himself up in the end by noting that Churchill definitely lost the post-war election. Shira Herzog wants Ariel Sharon to pull out of Gaza her way—the Israeli Labour Party way--but mostly she just wants him to pull out and deep down fears he won’t.
The editorial board finds the kidnappers of the two French journalists guilty of “hubris” and—though the anti-veil law is wrongheaded--says they hate us because of our “values and freedoms.” (Who writes this stuff? My vote is for signed editorials, as in the Québec and French press. ) Another editorialist says Conrad Black is a tragic figure, while a third says that Paul Martin’s process for appointing Supreme Court Justices has been a sham.
The Toronto Star editorial board says that kind of criticism was predictable and that the government should proceed with caution in reforming a process that has given us a terrific court but any process can be improved, etc. etc. For a second day running, it carries on its campaign against pit bulls.
Aside from the Hollinger story, the Star fronts some high living by another celebrity, Tie Domi, and more bad news for pit bulls in Ontario . Inside, Chantal Hébert says the Martinis' medicare plans are murky, and that not since Charlottetown has Ottawa been so clueless.
In the Toronto Sun, Peter Worthington says Republicans are on a roll. In Calgary , Rick Bell reflects on Alberta ’s riches. In Edmonton , Paul Stanway likes the Kirby/Keon prescription and Mindelle Jacobs says we’re too nice to win Olympic medals. From London , Salim Mansur says we do have a surplus in one department--politicians.
TOP STORY
Opposition works to limit PM's power
The Ottawa Citizen’s Bill Curry reports:
“A united opposition could rob the prime minister of a powerful tool of influence -- the ability to threaten an early election by declaring Commons votes as matters of confidence in the government, says Conservative MP John Reynolds.
Posted by Norman Spector on September 1, 2004 | Permalink
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