Canada's Election Debates: 2 Down, 2 To Go

The geniuses who run the TV networks have managed to deliver the most antiseptic "debates" in Canadian history.

As a matter of fact, the word debate is a misnomer, what we are being spoon-fed is a mini-question and answer period where answers are provided fully, in part or a not at all before we move to the next, totally unrelated and different subject. What's new is the format of the question raised by ordinary citizens (carefully selected by the geniuses).

Big deal. So far, we appear to be cruising for a repeat of the last parliament.

The Liberals seem to be the only ones spoiling for an all-out brawl and failing their ability to so engage Harper, they have to resort to picking up a brawl with the US ambassador.

Ironic that the current attraction is the movie "Merry Christmas" retelling the story of opposing armies deciding to enjoy some common unauthorized and unofficial Xmas cheer during the hostilities of WW1. Is that a lesson?

Lets eat drink and be merry for a few days before we turn the guns on each other again?

On another front, if it's true that "justice delayed amounts to justice denied" one has to feel sorry for Conrad Black.

A judge in Chicago has set a trial date for March '07 because her calendar is too full until then! I didn't know there was such a severe shortage of judges in the US.

Under the Canadian Charter, it is doubtful such a long agony would be permissible: the chief justice of that particular court or district would promptly intervene to find another judge who has more openings on his or her calendar,thereby preventing the defendant from filing for dismissal of the charges on the basis that he was denied a timely hearing.

But then things are done differently in that country where Congress has to fight (politically) with the Pres to get him to sign a bill outlawing torture (of the physical kind.)