Paul Martin (quite possibly Canada’s next prime minister) has a weblog. I have mixed feelings about this. Part of me thinks it’s great that weblogs can be used in mainstream politics. Another part of me is finds it creepy and suspicious.
To their credit, the writing is good. It appears to actually be written by Paul Martin, and in a style suitable for a weblog. They also feature two smart links at the top of the page: What is a blog? And Why does Paul blog? Very good questions for many people visiting the site — and with good answers.
Unfortunately, they are missing permanent links to each individual post. These are critical to a weblog, I think — particularly for interaction with other sites.
Though he did get me talking about him, I’m not going to vote for him. What I would really like to see is a Paul Martin weblog after the election (regardless of the outcome).
Although Paul’s Blog hasn’t been updated in three weeks, I’d say it is still a much better attempt at blogging than this British MP.
“To their credit, the writing is good. ”
But there are typos:-
“Before entering politics, he had a distinguished career in the private sector as a business executive Power Corporation of Canada, in Montreal, and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Steamship Lines.”
Surely you could do better than
“He married Sheila Ann Cowan in 1965. Their first son, Paul, was born in 1966. Their second son, Jamie was born three years later and their youngest son, David, was born in 1974”
how about
Paul married Sheila Ann Cowan in 1965, they have three sons Paul, Jamie and David.
The UK MP says the use of language was a joke but his intentions with the blog are not. Serious attempts to get more MPs blogging outside of a campaign are being made.
In the US, the Howard Dean presidential campaign blog is on fire whether you agree with his politics or not (and, really, Vermont is Canada in the US so what’s not to like). By comparison, if Martin’s blog is not being updated is he not much more the joke than the UK MP?
“What I would really like to see is a Paul Martin weblog after the election (regardless of the outcome).”
That’s probably the best comment I have read regarding blogs & politics.
yikes. same-day french translation – much, much better french than he actually speaks. real personal.
overall, a big, big *yawn*, except if you’re a political hack. it’s only interactive if you want to help volunteer…
brucegarrity.com is not as polished, but doesn’t have a stupid looking photoshopped picture of him trying to smile. it reveals a bit about the person, including things he simply observes and can’t do anything about.
As pointed out by the Flea, Martin’s blog lays dormant – embarrassing.
So glad you got mister Rock, you know mister gun control in your corner. That makes it simple, My vote goes elsewhere.
As someone who champions the idea of switching to a more democratic
representation in the Ontario Provincial Parliament (and in Canada as
a whole), I think that MPP’s *should* have the right to represent
their electors the way it’s being carried out in the US, where
Democrats and Republicans often vote according to their conscience,
and not according to the speaker/party whip. We definitely need more
free votes, and since McGuinty pledged to allow far more free votes,
it’s up to him to implement his noble idea.
Although many people ponder proportional representation, as a means to
supposedly reflect the popular vote more accurately, the idea is a
clearly bad one, since Israel has been ruled since its inception 53
years ago by a minority gov’t, hence being subject to undemocratic
pressure by ultra-religious parties who hold the swing votes in a way
which grossly subverts the electorate’s will. It will be a nightmare
to implement such a bad idea here in Canada in general and in Ontario
in particular.
As for a Triple-E-Senate, it should’ve been installed according to the
failed Meech Lake Accord. Too bad it didn’t pass. But we have to
remember that Australia’s parliamentary system is more similar to the
American one than ours – they have a “Triple-E-Senate”, plus a Federal
Capital Area just like Washington D.C., not like ours within Ontario.
If we had had a TripleESenate, Chretien wouldn’t be able to force a
same-sex legislation upon us, lest 4-5 provinces would block the bill
in the senate. Another advantage is that by having a true bi-cameral
system in the US and Australia, there’s a real check-and-balances
system between the executive and legislative branches.
Ernie Eves mentioned the idea of allowing 2 MPPs from different
parties to co-sponsor bills at the house, as is the tradition in the
US, as well as choosing comittee chairpersons by a secret ballot, and
premier Dalton McGuinty pledged fixed-election-dates once elected.
Both notions are good if applied, since it will render more
transparency and accountability into the house. I expect Mr. McGuinty
to explore Mr. Eves’ notion while explicitly sticking to his own
election-campagin promise of fixed-election-dates.
James from Ontario
Rick Mercer, on his new show Monday Report, has pointed out that Paul Martin’s blog has still not been updated since October.
“Walking Eagle”.
Two weeks ago Prime Minister Paul Martin was invited to address a major gathering of the Canadian Indian Nation in Northern Canada. He spoke for almost an hour on his future plans for increasing every Native’s
present standard of living, should he be re-elected. He also referred to his career as Finance Minister.
Although the Prime Minister was vague on the details of his plan, he seemed most enthusiastic about his future ideas for helping his “red sisters and brothers”.
At the conclusion of his speech, the Tribes presented him with a plaque inscribed with his new Indian name -Walking Eagle. The proud the Prime Minister then departed in his motorcade, waving to the crowds.
A news reporter later inquired of the group of chiefs as to how they came to select the new name given to the Prime Minister. They explained that Walking Eagle is the name given to a bird so full of shit it can no longer fly.