Author: AllanHardingM

Poilievre Blamed Climate Taxes While Big Oil Guzzled Profits

As gas prices pinched, the Conservative front-runner followed the right-wing script by ignoring ‘sky high’ billions for oilsands firms.

A cavalcade of right-wing pundits and think tanks echoed this attack on federal climate policy. But the idea that carbon prices were the primary driver behind record-high gas prices is incorrect, according to experts like University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe, who told CBC that “it’s really about global oil prices, and that’s really driven by things far beyond the Government of Canada’s control.”

Reported in The Tyee August 16,2022

Canadian oil and gas companies, along with their shareholders, were doing fantastic. That’s the story contained in recent earnings reports from the top four oilsands producers, which together announced combined profits of over $12 billion for the second quarter of this year. 

“Overall, the first half of 2022 delivered solid results, and we’re positioned for an even stronger second half of the year,” gushed Alex Pourbaix, president and CEO of oilsands producer Cenovus, as his company announced $2.4 billion in earnings for the second quarter of this year. 

“In the second quarter of 2022, Suncor reported the highest quarterly adjusted funds from operations in its history,” interim president and CEO Kris Smith said during an August earnings call as the company reported nearly $4 billion in net earnings. “And we returned record adjusted fund flow right back to our shareholders.”

Imperial Oil meanwhile reported net earnings of $2.4 billion, and CNRL reported $3.5 billion —

Reported from DW Deutsche Welle Germany’s international broadcaster

Court Painter has no comment…

“When enough Americans decide that a cult of personality matters more than a commitment to democracy, we risk becoming a lawless autocracy. This is why we must continue to demand that Trump and his enablers face the consequences of their actions: To cave in the face of threats means the end of democracy. And it would not, in any event, mollify those among our fellow citizens who have chosen to discard the Constitution so that they can keep mainlining jolts of drama from morning ’til night.”

We are going to be living in this era of political violence for the foreseeable future. All any of us can do is continue, among our friends and family and neighbors, to say and defend what is right in the face of lies and delusions.”

Tom Nichols Excerpted from Atlantic Daily article A Deepening Void by Tom Nichols August 15,2022

Court Painter looks to the heavens for extraterrestrial confirmation of wonder!

“Ever since Donald Trump became president, the Canadian commentariat has often blamed unpalatable aspects of our own political discourse on Trumpism. Kellie Leitch proposing a Canadian values test? Trumpism! Quebec passing laws to ban religious garb? Trumpism! Doug Ford becoming premier of Ontario in 2018? Trumpism! And, well, you get the point.

Those takes are lazy and prevent us from looking inward and examining how our own politicians and media ecosystem have contributed to the decline in our political discourse. Additionally, it often leads us to downplay our own domestic issues of extremism, like the problem of white supremacists in the Canadian Armed Forces, or how we tend to punch above our weight when it comes to producing disinformation influencers.”

Excerpted from Canadas’ National Observer article Trumpism 2.0 and what it means for Canada by Supriya Dwivedi | August 15th 2022

If you haven’t read the latest screeds in the National Post by Rex Evil Eye Murphy and Lord Black of Swillharbour, don’t bother!

“Originality is dangerous. It challenges, questions, overturns assumptions, unsettles moral codes, disrespects sacred cows or other such entities. It can be shocking, or ugly, or, to use the catch-all term so beloved of the tabloid press, controversial. And if we believe in liberty, if we want the air we breathe to remain plentiful and breathable, this is the art whose right to exist we must not only defend, but celebrate. Art is not entertainment. At its very best, it’s a revolution.” —Salman Rushdie, “On Censorship” 

Famed author Salman Rushdie, who has endured death threats from extremists for decades, was stabbed Friday before a scheduled lecture in western New York, according to state police.

A man stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution, about 70 miles south of Buffalo, at about 11 a.m. Friday August 12/22 and attacked the 75-year-old Rushdie and an interviewer.

Mr. Rushdie was taken by helicopter to a local hospital, the state police said in a statement. His condition is not yet known. His agent, Andrew Wylie, said in an email Friday afternoon that Mr. Rushdie was undergoing surgery.

Skippy all suited up for a battle that reportedly is already won!

Court Painter seen breaking the news to Conservative Leadership Candidate & Freedumb Fighter Pierre Skippy Poilievre.

Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Home Raided by the FBI

“Taken together, this is one of the most significant, sensitive, and politically explosive actions the US Justice Department and FBI has ever taken — one of a tiny handful of times it’s ever investigated a president. Bottom line: The FBI & DOJ must’ve known they had the goods.”,tweeted journalist and historian Garrett Graff.

Trump supporters gather in front of Mar a Lago

Court Painter captures the moment!

The reason the gulls ride the thermals and circle overhead is so they can conserve energy while they watch and wait.

Former President Donald Trump gull spotting!

Court Painter seen with his portrait of US Attorney General Garland who is rumoured to be on the verge of rocking the gull spotters world big time!

Court Painter cannot be held responsible for rumours however remains hopeful the watching and waiting is about to end.

Excerpted from August 2 Atlantic article

Where Do the Democrats Find These Guys? A personal history of electoral losses By  Caitlin Flanagan

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan Tuesday despite threats from the Chinese government that there would be “serious consequences” for the visit.

Pelosi’s gesture will go down in history as the Pelosi Poke