The Weekender: The Best Thing for America is a Trump Win. Seriously.

A couple of months ago, I wrote a piece in this space about how Donald Trump was not Rob Ford, but to look at the situation a different way, perhaps the best thing the American voter can do is get Donald Trump out of their system, like Toronto did with Ford. The come out of nowhere election of Ford in 2010 surprised even the most skeptical of pundits; it floored the media and the political establishment that an unpolished, unpracticed populist with a simple message and a proclivity to stick his foot in his mouth would rise to the highest office in North America’s fourth largest city. On that basis, the comparisons between Trump and Ford are easy, and that’s why we know that the only way Americans are going to shake off the siren song of winning “yuge” is by seeing what four years under Trump looks like. Continue reading “The Weekender: The Best Thing for America is a Trump Win. Seriously.” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday March 3, 2016

So that happened. No matter where you reside on the political spectrum, watching the drama unfold Tuesday night had you on the edge of your seat as an intrepid, trail-blazing woman tried to hold her own against a consortium of powerful men had you mesmerized… But enough about the Agent Carter finale! This week on Open Sources Guelph, we’ll eagerly take up the American political discussion again, and mix in the promised dissection of last week’s Ontario Budget. We’ll also talk about the latest developments in Syria, and take a time trip to Guelph’s General Hospital to look at an emergency room emergency situation. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday March 3, 2016” →

Marge’s Nightmare is Our Reality as The Simpsons Spoof the Presidential Race

The Simpsons is no stranger to making pointed political commentary, so did you think that the craziness of the 2016 U.S. Presidential race was going to pass without notice? Hardly. In a new video posted Saturday night, Marge is being driven to night terrors about the hyper-partisanship and the acidic vitriol of the presidential campaign so far, and while many of us aren’t hyperventilating yet, we’ve certainly felt like we have been. Can the presidential race be a bit more harmonious, as Homer suggests? Let’s find out. Continue reading “Marge’s Nightmare is Our Reality as The Simpsons Spoof the Presidential Race” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 11, 2016

We said we’d never go there, but they tasked us. They tasked us! So on this week’s Open Sources Guelph, we’ll open with discussion of the trial of Jian Ghomeshi, and how just about no one involved, including the media covering it, will come out looking good. We will also dig into the complexities of affordable housing in Guelph, the greater complexities of the war against ISIS, and the curiosities of the U.S. Presidential race. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 11, 2016” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 4, 2016

The clown car has sprung a leak. On this week’s Open Sources Guelph we’ll journey to the Hawkeye State where the weird and wild journey of the American presidential race finally lead to some actual voting. Meanwhile, there’s some voting here in Ontario too as a by-election comes to a head, to say nothing of the debate around one of the most controversial trade agreements ever negotiated in total secrecy. Perhaps that’s a lesson to learn as the Royal City begins sitting down with its outside workers, officer staff, and librarians. This week, as it turns out, the show is one big segue. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 4, 2016” →

The Weekender: What Happens When Money is Top of Mind

The narrative of the 2016 Presidential race in the United States has been that the problems in America can only be solved by people how have had no previous dalliance in the political class, at least on the Republican side. Donald Trump, Ben Carson, and Carly Florina have all, to varying degrees, enjoyed success with voters looking for an outsider to tell Washington what to do. This populist movement has somehow managed to tie itself to people that have a lot of money and in the is imbued the hope that they can restore balance to the world, and it’s working so well, they’re apparently giving it a try here in Canada. Continue reading “The Weekender: What Happens When Money is Top of Mind” →

The Weekender: Comparing Trump to Rob Ford is an Insult to Rob Ford

After an absence from the the political scene as he underwent his second round of cancer treatment, Rob Ford popped back up on the radar this week with an interview with his official stenographer Joe Warmington of the Toronto Sun, and a Q&A stand-up comedy routine on Twitter Wednesday. Gone are the days of nonstop Rob Ford verbal blunders, mostly because of his illnesses, but also because he’s been relegated to the relative harmlessness of his old Ward 2 council seat where he can focus on returning phone calls and casting belligerent, obstructionist votes in peace.

These days, you want outrageousness in politics, you have to look southward to Donald Trump, who just completed another week of campaigning, which mostly involved telling rabid supporters why he’s awesome and why others stink. Make no mistake though, to compare Donald Trump and Rob Ford, which many have already tried, is a grave disservice… to Rob Ford. Continue reading “The Weekender: Comparing Trump to Rob Ford is an Insult to Rob Ford” →