Roundup: Falling over each other to defend Trump’s position

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The first day of fallout from Trump’s tariff threats was full of more panicked flailing, and performative attempts at toughness. Danielle Smith, Scott Moe, and BC’s opposition leader John Rustad fell all over themselves to demand Trudeau address Trump’s border concerns (because boot-licking is how you really own the Libs, apparently). Pierre Poilievre took to the microphone to debut his latest slogan of demanding a Canada First™ plan, which basically involved all of the things that he’s already been calling for—most especially cutting taxes, killing the carbon levy and eliminating environmental regulations—plus more handwavey demands to increase defence spending (which he’s never committed to), and an even more authoritarian crackdown on drugs than he had previously been planning under the guise that Trump was somehow right about fentanyl coming over the border. He also full-on invented the claim that this announcement caught Trudeau’s government off-guard (never mind that they’ve been spending the past year re-engaging with American lawmakers at all levels for this very contingency). Best of all was that he insisted that the prime minister needs to put partisanship aside, and then launched into a screed of partisan invective, and said that putting partisanship aside means doing what he wants. If this was an attempt to show that he’s an adult in the face of trouble and that he has the ability to be a statesman, well, this was not it—just more of the same peevishness that he always displays.

Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau will be holding a virtual meeting with the premiers later today. One of the Bank of Canada’s deputy governors made the unsurprising observation that those tariffs would have economic repercussion on both sides of the border. The Logic has a look at the impact on Canadian business, plus a reality check on fentanyl seizures going into the US and irregular border crossings, and the legalities of Trump’s declaration.

I probably shouldn’t be surprised at the number of people with a platform in this country who insisted that Trump must be right, and it must be our fault that he’s doing this, but seriously? Capitulate and boot-lick at the first opportunity? He doesn’t have a point. If anything, there is a bigger problem with American drugs, guns, and migrants coming into our borders, and we aren’t threatening massive tariffs until the Americans secure their border, because that would be insane, and yet, supposedly intelligent and successful people in this country suddenly think the reverse must be true. We live in the stupidest of times.

Ukraine Dispatch

Russians launched 188 drones against most regions of Ukraine overnight Monday, which was a record in a single attack, and while most were intercepted, there remained damage to apartment buildings and critical infrastructure. As well, shelling in Sumy yesterday killed two. Analysis indicates that the new missiles Russia fired at Ukraine only carried dummy warheads.

Good reads:

  • Anita Anand says that the civil service pension surplus is being moved to Consolidated Revenue, but public sector unions want more investment in workers.
  • Dominic LeBlanc says they are considering giving more resources to the RCMP and CBSA including drones and helicopters in the event of a migrant surge.
  • Dan Vandal acknowledges that there are still problems with food prices in the North, and that they need to ensure the full subsidies get passed along.
  • CBC looks at the rising cost of beef but buries the part about droughts affecting the ability to feed the herds, and doesn’t connect that to climate change. Come on!
  • An AFN report says it will cost $349 billion over the next seven years to close the infrastructure gap with First Nations communities, but will generate higher returns.
  • Jagmeet Singh says he won’t support the “GST holiday” or $250 rebate cheques without changes to give them to seniors, students, and people with disabilities.
  • Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives won a second majority legislature (and Poilievre tried to immediately claim Houston in spite of Houston’s disavowal).
  • Danielle Smith tabled a bill that claims to push back against the federal emissions cap, even though it does no such thing.
  • Emmett Macfarlane points out how Danielle Smith’s attempt to exempt Alberta from the emissions cap is performative nonsense and anti-constitutional.
  • My column dissects Pierre Poilievre’s rant on Saturday after the Montreal riot, and points to the ways in which he is using authoritarian language and tactics.

Odds and ends:

Need a copy of my book “The Unbroken Machine,” or “Royal Progress,” which I contributed to? Want to give a copy as a gift? Dundurn Press is having a 25% off site wide sale!

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2024-11-18T23:53:05.945Z

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3 thoughts on “Roundup: Falling over each other to defend Trump’s position”

  1. Once again, Dale, you bring clarity and analysis to politics.
    If only we had a political TV program that discussed in depth and with experts, not pundits, the daily grind of the HOC. Those tired, old faces on PnP, which we have endured for years!

    Reply ↓

    • Power and politics is the best. David Cochrane hasn’t been there that long, and he’s brilliant. The panelists change every day, and they’re not yet “tired, old faces”. My favorite is Emilie, I can’t remember her last name, but she’s amazing. Maybe you mean another program.

      I do turn off a lot of the others, saying the same, bitter things.

      Reply ↓

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