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Friday, September 24, 2004
Press Review
NORMAN'S SPECTATOR (where the articles are hotlinked).
Most of the US majors lead with Iyad Allawi’s visit, which also attracts attention in the UK . Across the pond, however, the top story is a mother’s plea for the life of her son being held hostage in Iraq .
The New York Times’ editorial board reviews Allawi’s performance. Paul Krugman says George Bush should get real about Iraq . Noah Feldman weighs in on elections in that country; Stanley Fish on the election at home.
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board reviews Allawi’s performance from the right. Daniel Henninger says the Dan Rather case shows the decline of major media power. The Journal’s European edition serves up new revelations about Kofi Annan’s son and a possible link to the UN’s oil-for-food program.
The Washington Post’s editorial board reviews the case and release of Yaser Hamdi, and applauds the democratic process in Muslim Indonesia.
Charles Krauthammer says John Kerry is abusing the US ’ few remaining friends. E. J. Dionne says George Bush is twisting the truth. David Ignatius says he and Kerry should be debating economic policy. Richard Cohen comes to the defense of Dan Rather.
The Los Angeles Times’ editorial board calls Allawi’s Iraq a Potemkin Nation. Yossi Klein Halevi wades in on Madonna’s trip to Israel . Juan Cole comments on Iraq . Jonathan Chait unloads on George Bush.
At home, too, the Allawi visit attracts some attention, as do the latest revelations at the Gomery Inquiry. The Prime Minister is defending his health agreement. On that subject, the Sun Parliamentary Bureau’s Kathleen Harris serves up the howler of the day:
“NDP health critic Bill Blaikie criticized the deal's "grievous fault" of failing to address privatization in the health system, but sees no problem with a special deal for Quebec .” (Memo to Bill Blaikie: haven't you heard about the private clinics in Montreal, and about French immersion—the death knell of politicians speaking out of both sides of their mouths in the two solitudes?)
Bill Curry must be a graduate (he's young enough to be one of Trudeau's children), as he chases a fine story in yesterday’s Le Devoir that ends up on the front page of today’s Ottawa Citizen—the latest in asymmetrical federalism (and/or of a Martin minister trolling for votes in Québec).
The Citizen also fronts news that our ambassador to Ukraine is in trouble for sounding off—a specialty of our diplomatic service, in my experience—and the sale of surplus Canadian helicopters to the Dominican Republic, “a nation whose armed forces have been repeatedly accused of human rights violations.”
The Montréal Gazette fronts a story on Québec hospitals where sick people go to get sicker. The Gaz also proves the benefits of French immersion today, with another article Le Devoir fronted yesterday—an internal PQ report suggesting that young people are losing interest in sovereignty.
The editorial board rejoices in that news and also liked Paul Martin’s speech to the UN; Josée Legault says the PQ could learn a thing or two from Mario Dumont (here's part of the reason).
The Toronto Star fronts Tim Harper’s report on Allawi, along with another fine article by its reporter in Haiti.
Inside, the editorial board weighs in on home care, and reviews testimony at the Gomery Commission. Chantal Hébert surveys the shenanigans of sharks within the Liberal Party. Carol Goar writes about Canadian medical stars.
The Vancouver Sun has a scoop on a top doctor Canada is trying to attract--Dr. Sam Aparicio, a Cambridge University molecular pathologist, who is one of the world's leading gene researchers. The Sun also fronts Premier Gordon Campbell's plan to crack down on panhandlers.
In commentary, Vaughn Palmer predicts BC will adopt a new voting system. Barbara Yaffe figures Paul Martin is burnishing his international image in preparation for the next election. Yours truly weighs in on the controversy surrounding CanWest's use of the "t" word.
Elsewhere in CanWest land, pit bulls are being seized in Windsor. In Edmonton, the Journal reports that major bucks are about to rain down on Alberta cities, to preserve the rein of you know who.
In the have-not province in which I live, by contrast, municipalities will get to keep the proceeds of tardy traffic tickets. And the Times-Colonist editorial board is scandalized by the moneys wasted in Ottawa.
The Globe and Mail fronts Allawi, along with more from the sponsorship inquiry. Capitalism is coming to China, but Edmonton is the place to go if you’re going to have a heart attack. Meanwhile, the Ontario government is trying to control health costs.
Inside, Stephanie Nolen reports on the digital divide in Africa . John Ibbitson reports on divisions within the natural governing party:
“The Liberal Party that fought for a generation against an equal partnership between federal and provincial governments is the author of that ultimate partnership. The forces in the party that might have raged against the betrayal are mute. The challenges to the Prime Minister's leadership are farcical, in part because this party has governed for so long, and become so tired, that there is no credible figure apart from Paul Martin fit to lead it. And he is old.”
The editorial board reviews the latest sponsorship revelations and concludes, “The memos this week make it clear many people were aware early on that something was wrong. The inquiry's task is to trace the breakdown to its source.” As if there were any doubt.
Another editorialist says Buzz Hargrove’s position on the FTA qualifies him for membership in the Flat Earth society. In commentary, Murray Dobbin is displeased the CLC is accommodating itself to the FTA; he says it has cost us dearly.
Rick Salutin likes Kofi Annan and says the whole world liked John Kerry and he does too. Jeff Simpson, too, would vote Kerry; today he struggles mightily to make sense of his man’s policy on Iraq .
In the Toronto Sun, Christina Blizzard wades in on the health care wars. Salim Mansur says it’s time to dump Salutin’s hero, Kofi Annan. In Calgary , Link Byfield weighs in on various Liberal scandals. In Ottawa , Michael Harris goes after the Correctional Service.
The National Post stuffs Allawi and fronts a Petrocan deal in Russia along with a Solomonic Los Angeles Dodger (Shaun Green will play one on Yom Kippur but sit another out).
From Jerusalem , Matthew Fisher reports on the latest gun battle in Gaza . At home, young Quebecers are bored with sovereignty and the ADQ’s Mario Dumont wants to re-name his province the 'Autonomous state of Quebec '. As the comedian Yvon Deschamps put it--Quebecers want an independent Québec in a strong, united Canada .
In commentary, Vaughn Palmer reports on BC’s cabinet shuffle. Sheila Copps says John is her kind of Tory, but Scott Brison is clearly not her kind of Liberal: his proposal to sell off federal buildings is “a short-term cash grab that will cost Canadian taxpayers dearly in the long run.” The editorial board was unimpressed by the Prime Minister’s speech to the UN.
TOP STORY
Ad firm drew loud complaints
The Globe and Mail’s DANIEL LEBLANC reports:
“Officials in at least four federal departments complained internally about the quality of the work by Groupaction Marketing Inc., with some of the grumbling reaching all the way to the Privy Council Office, sources said yesterday.”
Posted by Norman Spector on September 24, 2004 | Permalink
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