You can't watch the news these days without hearing a of new 'Jihad' being proclaimed against someone or something. In the good old days, these were just 'struggles', valiant efforts by some religious folk to fight against the temptations of Satan.

Fair enough. But since the rise of global Islamic-fascism and their subsequent terrorist attacks, the term 'Jihad' has come to mean 'Holy War'. And like cell phones or the latest Black Eyed Peas mp3, everyone these days has to have one. It has become almost fashionable. As such, it has lost a little of its cache.

I first became familiar with the terms 'Jihad' and 'fatwa' back when Salman Rushdie made headlines with his book 'The Satanic Verses', which caused several Islamic leaders heads to explode.

At the time, it was kind of a scary concept. An entire group of people announcing that they were, in effect, your enemy. Rushdie went into hiding for several years which just added to the 'Jihad' mystique.

Since then, we've seen Jihads against countries, people, races, individuals, corporations, etc. Like shuttle launches, no one really gets that jived about them anymore.

Just this past week, Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi issued a statement where he called for a Jihad against….Switzerland!

There's an old entertainment term for when a television show has officially passed the point of significance: it has 'jumped the shark'. This latest rally cry indicates that announcing Jihads has reached that mark. The saying is now: Jihads are like opinions and a**holes: everybody has one.

Now it's my turn. I've held back long enough, and now the time has come for me to announce my own personal Jihads.

My first Jihad is against those idiots who insist on crawling in the left-hand lane on the freeway. That is commonly known as the 'fast' lane. Step on the gas or park the car. Your choice. But enough is enough.

My second Jihad targets those granola-munching enviroNazi's who insist that there should be no debate about climate change. Recent incidents like Climate Gate have thrown those doors wide open, my little green friends. It seems that the 'denier' shoe is on the other foot, now. (Come to think of it, a sub-Jihad against morons who use the term 'denier' to label those who hold opposing views. It isn't dignified.)

A Jihad against those annoying addicts who think it's a great idea to have the 7/11 cashier check 67 Lotto tickets at rush hour while the line of customers waiting to pay for gas forever grows behind them. 7/11 is open 24 hours, bonehead. You are an addict, so act like one and come back at 3:00am.

A huge Jihad against those who criticized the Canadian Olympic Women's hockey team for their on-ice cigar and beer celebration after winning the Gold medal, specifically the IOC. You old farts always have to bitch and complain about something, don't you? Considering your organization was led by a suspected Nazi for years, the amount of moral authority you have is zero.

And a Jihad against Hockey Canada for their decision to apologize for the above incident. No one had anything to apologize for. Apologizing for daring to let loose and celebrate a Gold medal? How traditionally Canadian. How pathetic.

Finally, a Jihad against the multitude of Jihads. No one really takes them or the people who give them seriously anymore, do they?

It's that time again when we pass out kudos and condemnation to those most deserving. Here's this year's list of TheModerateSeparatist.com Rant Award winners. Just what exactly an RA is, is up for debate…


Best Knocking Off of a High Horse Award

The public and media backlash from Canada and the U.S. against snooty U.K. journalist Martin Samuel for his hatchet piece on the Vancouver Winter Olympics. How many medals does England have…?


Most Underrated Politician Award

Two words: Sarah Palin. She is far more intelligent than she is portrayed. She is still very popular in some circles and she is not going away.


Most Overrated Politician Award

Two words: Barack Obama. Okay, so that's the obvious choice, I'll give you that. I'm not the only one who has figured this one out by now. But there were other very deserving candidates in the running from all over the globe. It wasn't that much of a shoe-in. Really. Don't give me that look…


Best YouTube Videos You Should Make Your Kids Watch Award

Any of Penn & Teller's Bullshit! episodes targeting issues like P.E.T.A., recycling, and the environmental movement. They are a great and direct antidote to the real bullshit they are being taught in the classroom.


Best Online Political Resource Award

This was a tough one right from the start. With so many quality sites representing both partisan and non-partisan points of view, it was a tough call. Old personal favourites like The Land of the Free (http://www.thelandofthefree.net/) and the Western Standard's Shotgun Blog (http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/) are always top-notch destinations for the politically inclined, particularly those with a decidedly conservative slant. After much thought and consideration, I just couldn't make the call between my final two choices. This category ends in a tie.

The first RA goes to the 'premier conservative site on the net', Free Republic (www.freerepublic.com). This has long been my first stop to catch the latest conservative news and views. Fantastic array of writers and sources, albeit housed in a basic, no-nonsense presentation. The best and the brightest of rightwing pundits from America and around the world.

The second winner of this category is a site that I have only recently become familiar with, and I can honestly claim to be a fan from the first second. Opposing Views (www.opposingviews.com) is a cool site which features viewpoints from across the political spectrum. Categorized into groups and subgroups that include politics, society, health, money, and religion, opinions run the gamut. There's always a new poll to take part in or a new article to agree - or disagree- with. Quickly becoming my number one.


The Predictable as Death and Taxes Award

MP James Moore and the other handful of idiots who made sure Canada didn't have an international event without playing the bilingual card. Another day, another numbskull bitching that there wasn't enough representation of both Canada's two official languages at some public event. How do you say 'learn to speak English like normal people or get a separation referendum right already' in French?


The Who's the Dickhead Now, eh? Award

George W. Bush warned us that Iraq, Iran, and North Korea would become global threats if not taken seriously. He took out Iraq. Then he was summarily dismissed as a failed, lying president. Now, Iran and North Korea are close to, if not already, threats to the global community. I hope that somewhere, someday, Dubya will get to shout out a big 'I told you so'.


Best Site That Gives Me the Munchies Award

I love hanging out over at Cannabis Culture Marijuana Magazine Online (http://www.cannabisculture.com/). Featuring Canada's 'Prince of Pot' Marc Emery, the British Columbia, Canada-based site includes counter-culture views and news from a variety of sources. Watch a little 'pot.tv' or spend some time in their chat forum. Where are those Oreo's...


Best Ass Kiss of a Blogger Award

Natasha R. of Iowa wins this by a landslide for her comment "…I've been a fan of yours for about a year now. I never knew until just recently that you were Canadian. From the content of your writing and your point of view, along with your knowledge of the United States, I always assumed you were American." That kind of flattery will win you the RA every year.

It was supposed to happen by now. It was to be over. Done. Finished. The snake was to have eaten its tail.

In the words of Marvin Martian: where is the Ka-boom? I was expecting an earth-shattering Ka-boom?

According to the 'experts', also known as the brain trust of Alberta's Progressive Conservatives and other Kreskin-like pundits, the dramatic and exciting rise of the upstart Wildrose Alliance was supposed to have fizzled.

They were certain that by choosing the one person in the Stelmach government who still maintains some semblance of a rightwing reputation to be in charge of the provincial coffers, the masses who left the party for the Wildrose would return to the fold.

Ted Morton was going to give all those wayward former PCers the excuse they needed to come back. All will be forgiven.

I heard a rumour that this actually worked. Once.

Ka-boom, indeed.

Apparently there is one person who, after Danielle Smith won the WAP leadership and Morton was named Finance Minister, decided to go back to the PCs.

If it is the person I think it is, well, I had a saying when I owned my own business: I hope my worst former customer is my competitor's best new customer. Better for them to endure the endless headache.

But the masses didn't return to the P.C. party. The move has proven to be another in a long list of Ed Stelmach failures.

No problem, said the Tall Foreheads. The Wildrose will implode on itself anyhow. They are made of wingnuts; rightwing zealots with a scary agenda. Their policies are ancient, they are out of touch and old fashioned.

They are a fringe party, a coalition between the libertarian Wildrose Party and the socially conservative Alberta Alliance. That divide was there for all to see during the leadership race. Bad blood and bad feelings! Scars! A chasm that could never be filled!

Enter leader Danielle Smith and a small government, pro-business agenda. Notice the unified and solid team from all corners of the party - social conservatives and moderates - behind her.

Another swing, another miss.

At least the PCs haven't made any of the usual dumb comments about Smith being a woman, have they?

The fact is that time and effort has all but transformed the coalition into a solid entity. The Wildrose Alliance is unquestionably a strong, single party with members representing all points of the spectrum.

What has become clear is that the actual degree of difference between the two sides on most issues was minimal and rather easy to overcome.

It is our common beliefs in such things as grassroots representation, fiscal conservatism, and our sense of patriotism for our province that has made this possible; that and a desire to work together and - here's a word that has absolutely no meaning to any Stelmach supporters out there, so take a minute and grab a dictionary - compromise.

Today, the doubters are full from their feast of crow. There has been no implosion, no Earth-shattering ka-boom. The rise of the Next Ones has continued virtually unabated.

The Wildrose continues to lead in various polls conducted, their message resonating with more and more Albertans. Danielle Smith is now the accepted as the 'premier-in-waiting', the Wildrose the 'government-in-waiting'.

As much as I am looking forward to the next round of 'the Wildrose won't last' predictions from the self-described experts, it is the next act of desperation from Ed Stelmach that I can't wait to see. What could he possibly do next?

Where can a premier get a Elunium pu36 explosive space modulator when he needs one?

Along with the expected excitement and exhilaration, the Vancouver Winter Olympics have seen their share of controversies, from the unfortunate death of an athlete on opening day to the ongoing problems with the West Coast climate that has hampered some events (Vancouver too warm for a Winter Olympics? Who would have thought it?).

Without question the most unnecessary, petty, and perhaps most childish of all is the whining coming from within Canada regarding the supposed lack of French at the opening ceremonies. (The French bitching about their asses not being kissed enough? Again, who would have thought it?)

If the source of the whimpering were coming from the usual suspects - Quebecers, left-wingers, NDP/Liberals, etc. - it would be one thing. Just the habitual response from the 26% of Canadians classified as 'French-Canadian' who consider themselves to be one of 'two equal nations' within Canada.

That's called 'Canadian math', by the way. 74% and 26% are equal. Don't worry, international readers. I don't understand it, either.

What makes this garbage smell even worse is the fact that some of it is emanating from Conservative MPs.

Heritage Minister James Moore, who I have always considered to be an actual 'Western' MP, jumped aboard the Stupid Train with his comments that he was 'disappointed' with the amount of French used at the opening of the Games.

He went on to say that there wasn't as much of Canada's minority language "…as expected", and that there should have been "…a better representation of our bicultural past and the reality today."

What is perplexing is why a government cabinet member would publicly add to this non-issue right when Canada is playing host to the world. Why would Moore fan the flames?

I mean, a Minister of the government of Canada being publicly critical of the organizers of an Olympic Games while they are occurring?  Dumb, dumb, dumb.

If this is yet another sad attempt to suck up to Quebec/French voters, it is feeble at best. The timing could not have been worse.

Pardon my French, Mr. Moore, but I thought you were better than that. Perhaps I was wrong.

As far as those poor, downtrodden French who claim that they were 'offended' by the supposed lack of representation of their gawd-forsaken language at an event being held in a decisively English part of the nation, well, I too am offended.

I am offended that I was forced to endure the moments of the opening ceremonies that were spoken in French. I am offended that, in the Olympics as with everyday life in Canada, I am force-fed a language that is not part of my culture.

And I am offended by the opening ceremonies as well. As an English Canadian, I don't feel my language was represented enough.

The host city is Vancouver. If you want more French, have Quebec City make an Olympic bid.

Then you can speak French to your hearts content.

There once was an American president so ridiculed, so dismissed as an idiot that he is considered by some to be the 'worst' president in history.

Nothing he said was right. What he didn't lie about, he was too stupid to understand. He started 'unnecessary wars'. He was his VP's puppet. He was Big Oil's puppet. He was his father's puppet.

He lied, and our kids died.

This is how his epitaph, written mostly by so many on the political left - and many unfortunate moderates and some rights who have been swayed - reads.

Now that epitaph may have to be rewritten, all thanks to a Middle Eastern maniac whose actions have done the once unthinkable: they have proven George W. Bush a genius.

Back in January 2002 when Bush introduced his 'Axis of Evil' theory, he listed Iran along with Iraq and North Korea as imminent threats to global security and safety. He claimed that these 'rogue' nations were major supporters of global terrorism, and were each seeking what came to be the buzzwords of the Iraqi conflict: weapons of mass destruction.

As time when on and the ultimate smoking gun that became the requirement for justifying the military action in Iraq wasn't found, namely nukes or other massive WMDs, that was all the citizens of coalition nations as well as the ever-slithering media needed to discredit both the war and Bush himself.

The accepted common thought became 'Bush (or the intelligence community, or both) misled the people about Iraq, so why should we trust him about Iran, North Korea, or anything else?'

After all, it was only in 2007 that a National Intelligence Estimate on Iran claimed that Iran had long abandoned its nuclear ambitions.

The fact that the Bush administration had been sounding warning bells about Iran at that time just compounded the President's distrustful image. A leaked NIE document was taken as truth above that of a sitting president.

By the end of his time in the White House, Bush's credibility on foreign policy was perceived as zero. Americans wanted 'change', especially after a decade that began with a horrific terror attack and was followed by years of war on two fronts.

And so the Great Apologist Obama was elected. The war in Iraq was ignored like it just wasn’t happening, and the new policy was to 'talk' to those on the other side of the fence. Not quite appeasement, but understanding.

We were too disliked by the rest of the world because of Bush foreign policy. Obama was here to change all that. The West was not to rush to judgement. Hell, how long did it take Obama to finally admit that there was an actual 'war on terror'?

Now we find ourselves in a dangerous new world in 2010. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proudly announced that his nation has gone nuclear, I'm sure to the astonishment to all of those who were absolutely certain that Bush was lying.

But Dubya was bang-on. As he warned, Iran is rushing unabated towards nuclear capability. North Korea continues to be trouble, with recent missile test launches that caught the attention of the world community. It should be noted that they, too, have a manic as leader.

The only nation that made up Bush's Axis of Evil that is not a current nuclear threat is Iraq. You could even say that Iran is what Iraq would be today if not for U.S. and allied military action.

What is certain is that while his claims were discredited and his warnings dismissed as the ramblings of an overly zealous, war-mongering religious nut, time and current events have revealed one truth:

George W. Bush was right.

The blizzard of credibility-sapping incidents that have hit the international Global Warming movement has caused some unexpected fallout.

When Climategate broke and exposed The Sky Is Falling Burning crowd for the cheats and liars many of us suspected they were (a suspicion further confirmed by the shear lack of coverage by the main stream media - their silence is as good as a confession), it caused a shockwave.

It seems that every week since that scandal broke is another story of so-called 'experts' forced to admit they saturated their claims with false, flawed, and biased data. Every edition of the paper brings another 'gate' from the imploding enviroNazi camp.

Climategate, Glaciergate, Goregate (the story of a failure of a VP who became a failure of a presidential candidate who became a successful charlatan by duping the gullible public out of big bucks. Cha-ching!!)...

But perhaps the saddest victim of all, the one entity that rises above - or lowers below, if you will - all others as the most unintended and glaring consequence of our society's rush to accept all things 'green' like a fish nabbing hook, line, and sinker, is none other than those poor bastards who now find themselves stuck driving around town in a Smart Car.

There should be a warning on the sun visor: "Testicles not permitted in vehicle."

Let me be clear: women don't look much better behind the wheel of these pitiful excuses for transportation, but it's the men who garner our sympathies.

The intention was pure, if not obvious: they wanted to either 'make a statement' by buying the trendy enviro-friendly car, or they were trying to score with a neo-hippy babe.

Hey, they meant well. They voted Gore. They wear sandals. They recycle. They spend $15.99 for a 'green' light-bulb. They were trained like a herd of Pavlovian dogs to buy only what the Green Gods tell them to, lest they live with the guilt and shame of being labelled Earth Killers.

But what was certain is now uncertain. Creeping in is the unsettling feeling of realization, a moment of clarity that you really don't want to experience.

They are having to face the possibility that they were had.

On top of the embarrassment is the vain effort to answer the question 'how could I have thought that was cool?', much like the many fans of disco were forced to ask themselves when they emerged from the coke fog around 1982 and saw the bellbottoms with a clear head for the first time.

Hell, even I have been affected by this. Gone are the days of seeing if I could last the entire red light stopped beside a Smart Car without:

• a) laughing,
• b) getting a snotty look from the pissed-off driver,
• c) both a and b

"Should have gone with the Prius, dude. Unreliable in the winter, sure, but at least you wouldn't have to wear a disguise."

The fun is gone now. Today when I look over, I see a beaten man. I see someone with a permanent 'God, don't let anyone I know see me in this thing' look etched on his face.

I admit, I can't help but feel bad. Really, I do. Sitting there in my 4WD Jeep Wrangler Sahara Edition with its bad-ass, gas-sucking, Alberta oilsands-powered attitude, I'm telling you I pity the soul squished in the glorified roller skate.

And I swear, when the little kid in the car behind me tried to control the Smart Car with his toy remote control car joystick, I stifled my laughter as best I could.

The point is this: the whole concept of climate change being a topic that requires no further discussion has been blown away, and with it our collective learned behaviour that 'green is responsible' when using our purchasing power.

Many are beginning to question just how necessary the push towards a 'green' economy really is, and how sound the entire theory is to begin with. We wonder how much of the data was fudged, how many books were cooked in the name of global government.

With regards to the Smart Car owner, it's imperative that you get behind the wheel of a SUV as soon as possible.

And lose the sandals.

When news broke of the two companies who decided to play the 'green card' by publicly boycotting transportation services who use so-called 'dirty oil' from Canada's tar sands, I knew there would be an Alberta backlash.
And so there was.

While one of the two PR-whoring companies in question, Whole Foods Market, is fairly unimportant due to their lack of presence in Alberta, Bed, Bath & Beyond felt the wrath directly. With five locations around the province, citizens of the oil-rich province were able to do a little boycotting of their own.

The repercussions were such that BB&B did an about-face and retracted their move. Apparently Albertans weren't dumb enough to continue paying for overpriced BB&B products with 'dirty oil money'.

Bad enough that these companies are so willing to be sucked into the negative, misinformed spin targeting the tar sands by such suspect special interest groups as ForestEthics. What leaves the bitter aftertaste in the mouths of Albertans - who historically have long memories and can hold grudges when done wrong - is the blatant hypocrisy that is exhibited.

Bed, Bath and Beyond thought they could openly attack Alberta and it's lifeblood - our energy sector - all the while greedily accepting those same dirty oil bucks at the cash register. Such a miscalculation calls into question their level of intelligence.

Rumours of active rebellion filled the virtual world before BB&B backtracked.

An email from a reader in Calgary (who asked to remain anonymous) described a Saturday afternoon visit to a local BB&B location. Along with her sister, they casually perused the store, picking out item after item, putting the sales staff through their paces on a busy day with issues of colour, size, and selection.

Keep in mind, she says, that she and her sister were on their best behaviour at all times.

After almost two full hours, they brought their goods to the till. When all of the items had been scanned and the bill had been totalled, she reached out to hand her debit card to the sales lady, then hesitated.

"I pulled my hand back and said: '...oh, wait. My husband and I both work in the oil industry, which makes our money dirty and unacceptable to your company. I guess I won't be getting anything today.' And with that, we turned and walked proudly out of the store to the amazement of those around us."

Other stories of incidents around the province made the rounds, including unsubstantiated rumours of oil being spilled in stores, although I doubt that ever happened.

But the sting of the move was felt by Albertans, and you can bet it will be a long, long time before many of us spend any of our dollars in Bed, Bath & Beyond.

If our oil is too dirty for you, then so is the money that comes from it.

Realizing that you've been played is always a difficult thing. Embarrassment, anger, that feeling of 'how could I have been so wrong?'.

It's normal. It happens to all of us, and happens all the time.

But there is a fresh addition to the traditional and familiar telemarketing scam and phony investment victim groups. This new collection consists of fairly intelligent and well-meaning people who are quickly becoming aware of the delusion in which they have been living.

Friends, if you happen to cross paths with one, treat them with kindness and care. They aren't lost causes, they are saveable. They are Ted Morton supporters, and they are waking up to the fact that the person they put their faith and trust in is not the person they thought he was.

Rising to fame from obscurity during the 2006 Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership race, Morton formed the image as the 'most rightwing' of the three candidates. He appealed to social conservatives and rural supporters with his reputation as being pro-Albertan and someone who would stand up to Ottawa if needed, which always plays big in these parts.

He didn't win, but did split the votes enough to prevent the obvious and best choice, Jim Dinning, from winning. Of course, that left us with Ed Stelmach as premier. Good thinking there, Teddy.

My assumption at the time has been proven correct: while there certainly were true blue Morton supporters, many who made up his camp were working from an 'anybody but Dinning' angle. Honestly, a pylon with a far-right rep could have run and still attracted the anti-Dinning, anti-Calgary, anti-establishment crowd.

In the time since that vote, we've seen Morton accomplish........well, not much. His work as a Minister has been kind of like a small Prairie ghost town - if you aren't looking for it, you won't find it.

That was until Stelmach pulled his desperation Cabinet shuffle and plopped Morton in the Finance chair. It was such a blatant attempt to re-capture the masses of former P.C. supporters who have walked over to the Wildrose Alliance that Morton doesn't bother denying it.

Unfortunately for Morton, the P.C. pattern of pointing the steering wheel one way and travelling the other has repeated on his watch with his first Budget.

Warning Albertan's that we are all going to have to 'give up a little' (am I the only one who reads more than one meaning in that...?), the actual document is evidence that Ted Morton's reputation as a fiscal conservative is completely wrong.

A 6% increase in spending while depleting our Sustainability Fund is about as fiscally irresponsible as you can get right now.

What is telling is Morton's difficulty in selling the plan to the people. It turns out he's about as good a salesman as he is a politician. Calling it a 'train wreck', Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith and others have made the point that the Budget was, as Smith put it, "...already at the printers when Mr. Morton became Finance Minister...".

So then, is this Morton's budget or previous minister Iris Evan's handiwork? Morton's answer says it all:

"Well, neither."

The Budget is so bad, such a flawed plan, that even the Finance Minister won't stand behind it? Yikes.

Of course, when you carry the 'fiscal conservative' label and put out a numbers package so horrible that it actually receives praise from the far-left socialist New Democrats, well, would YOU be able to talk it up?

When the Wildrose did the expected and released their own fiscally-responsible plan for getting the provincial economy back in order - otherwise known as 'the Budget Morton Wishes he Could Release' - Morton failed to form a logical and intelligent argument as to why his government's plan is superior.

You know, like you'd expect from a professional and mature politician in charge of our economy.

No, Morton's only comment was to regress back to his childhood and make fun of the party's name. Not exactly a prime way to instil the confidence and trust of the voting public, Mr. Morton.

Word is that Premier Stelmach has chosen Morton to represent Alberta in upcoming Equalization talks with the federal government, playing on Morton's other image as a tough Albertan who is going to be difficult for Ottawa to deal with.

Right. And I'm going to be the next Playgirl centerfold.

So folks, if you come across a lost Mortonite, remember that they have been burned so treat them well. They are just like the rest of us, and are just looking for honest to goodness fiscal conservatives that will say what they mean and mean what they say.

As one good friend and former Mortonite said last week: "....we've been had. We were sold a Bill of Goods. Morton is no different than the rest of the bloated Stelmach gang. His rep is a creation. If I had known then what I know now..."

Subject: Danielle Smith
Leader, Wildrose Alliance Party (Alberta)


1. If someone back in the year 2000 had told you that you would be considered Alberta's 'premier-in-waiting' by the end of the decade, what would you have said?

DS: I never thought I would run for political office until two years later, so at that time I would have said that I enjoy my job as an editorial writer and columnist with the Herald. I had no plans to run.

2. Finance Minister Ted Morton is asking Albertans to 'give up a little' in today's budget. Smart fiscal policy, or a case of Albertans paying the price for dollar mismanagement by the Stelmach government?

DS: It's meaningless rhetoric is what it is. The 'fiscal conservative' is trying to say the right thing so people will think that the government is moving in the right direction. We know this budget was already at the printers before Mr. Morton became Finance Minister, so I think he's perhaps preparing people for next year's budget...

3. Do you have a political mentor?

DS: Link Byfield is one. John Murdoch, Tom Flanagan.

4. We both grew up in the 1980's. Which Breakfast Club character were you - jock, brain, head-banger, etc.?

DS: The Geek. Definitely not the Emo girl, not the Princess.

5. Other than the obvious - my endorsement - to what do you credit your victory in the Wildrose Alliance leadership race?

DS: First, I'd say Paul Hinman's by-election victory because people weren't paying very close attention to the race until they realized we had momentum and we could win. It's a combination of.... It's threefold: phoning people, direct mailing people, and town halls to galvanize the momentum we were building.

- ....and my endorsement....

DS:....and your endorsement (laughs).

6. What is the single most important issue facing Alberta today?

DS: I think it has to be the Royalty framework. It's flawed and it impacts negatively on Albertans in so many ways. Second would be the negative environmental image regarding our oilsands. They have come under attack recently by all sides - the feds and internationally. More should be done to correct that.

7. What was your most embarrassing moment?

DS: I sometimes feel a bit like Bridget Jones and have them all the time, you know?

8. Recently there has been a troubling trend of vandalism of oil and gas lines in Alberta and British Columbia. Is enough being done to protect our energy sector and our provincial infrastructure overall from the risk of domestic and international terrorism?

DS: Some people don't feel proud of the industry the way they should. It provides so much to the Alberta economy in terms of jobs, it provides so much in terms of our growth in GDP, it provides a lot through royalty revenues, but I think that this...government has basically done a terrible job celebrating the things that the industry is doing well.....

You have to...there are some extreme environmental groups who you can't deal with, who you can't talk with, who just want to come here a wig out, and that's not reasonable.

The Greenpeace stunts were a wake-up call that this should be taken more seriously.

It's really two separate questions - domestic vandalism which is more apt to be environmentally motivated in nature. International terrorism is based on something different.

9. Salad or fries and gravy?

DS: I prefer fries and gravy, but I eat salad.

10. Do you see a current need for a high-speed rail system between Edmonton and Calgary?

DS: My husband does - he's a big lobbyist for that!

11. Do you have a habit/vice that you can't break?

DS: Not really. I don't smoke, I broke my chocolate habit...I guess I'd have to say my morning coffee.

12. Which historical figure would you love to have coffee with?

DS: Living?

- living or dead. Anyone from history.

DS: I'm thinking Ayn Rand, or maybe Margaret Thatcher. Ronald Reagan would also be one. Probably Thatcher.

13. Is 'failure' a fair word to describe the Stelmach era?

DS: I've used that term before. Failure of leadership.

14. What music is in your player right now?

DS: P!nk. I'm going to get the Black Eyed Peas. I like 'I've got a feeling'.

15. Yes or no: A provincial police force?

DS: Yes. The national police force should be doing..they should be handling national responsibilities. So things like border security... child porn, gangs, terrorism,..the R.C.M.P. are highly-trained officers, aren't they? They shouldn't be breaking up bar fights and the like, so in that context...

- that stuff should be a provincial...

DS: ..yeah, that should be a provincial responsibility.  That's for community policing.

16. The perfect Sunday in 10 words or less:

DS: (carefully checking and re-checking the word count) Breakfast with Hubby, walking our dogs, Sunday dinner with family.

17. A poll conducted on themoderateseparatist.com asked which Alberta party leader would make the best premier. You finished first with over 80%, even though you are the only main party leader without a seat in the Legislature. When will we be seeing you on the inside of the House?

DS: There are a number of ridings that would make sense to me in Calgary and the surrounding area. I'd have to make that decision when an opening occurs.

- It would depend on where it was and the circumstance?

DS: I'd like to run in my home riding of Calgary-North Hill. That's where I'd prefer. I'd consider the bi-election option depending on the location.

18. Forget all the other questions, this one is the make it or break it. This answer will determine your chances of sitting in the Premier's chair: It's the Oilers vs. the Flames in the playoffs. Danielle Smith is in the crowd wearing ....which jersey?

DS: I don't watch hockey...

- (laughing) how politically-correct! 'Subject refuses to answer...'

DS: (laughs) We were an Oiler's family when I was growing up, when Gretzky...

- ...but you are reformed now. The lobotomy took and now you wear Red. Fantastic!

DS: (laughs) Sure.

19. You've travelled the province extensively over the past year or so. Has anything surprised you, or is there anything you have learned about Albertans that you didn't know before?

DS: There's this thing that's been cultivated. We've seen one region against the other, one city against the other, rural against urban, urban against rural, and I think that there...there's a will right now for our people to work together for a common goal or a common vision, and I think that the job of a political leader is to be able to find out those items are and what the goals are so we can work towards them... I feel a really strong sense that we want to put those battles behind us...

- I've always thought it hypocritical for the P.C.s to complain about the old Chretien/Martin federal Liberal tactic of pitting one region against the other for gain when they've engaged in the same tactic within this province.

DS: Oh, absolutely!

20. What result in the next election would the Wildrose Alliance consider a 'success'?

DS: Well, I think we have to remember where we were a year ago. We were a party with a few hundred members, no seat in the Legislature. Now we're a party of over 13000 members, we already have three seats in the Legislature, so with this kind of trajectory... I would hope the we would at the very least be able to form the Official Opposition. That's the minimum. But I think we can get a mandate to form the next government. That's what we are striving for.


8:30am on a Tuesday morning is a tough interview as it is. Tougher yet when you've just finished a run of four 12 hour nightshifts with no sleep in 36 hours.

Thanks to Danielle  for putting up with that vision of sleep-deprived, zombie-like loveliness that greeted you at Tim Horton's on Budget day - yawns, stubble and all. And the hair. My God, the hair...

Today is the last day of voting in the "Who is the Best Choice for Alberta Premier?" poll.

Click your choice from the list on the left sidebar.

Results will be posted on Tuesday, February 9th.

A little (cough!) mindless comedy for the weekend. Thanks to Tony R. for reminding me of this chestnut:

Two aliens in a U.F.O. descend upon the Earth to find a human specimen for experimentation. They come upon and hover over a Newfie rowing his little row boat all alone in the middle of the lake, singing away:

"I'm the guy who builds da boat, an' I'm da guy who sail's her..."

A push of a button and 1/3 of the Newfie's brain disappears. The Aliens observe:

"I'm the guy who builds da boat, an' I'm da guy who sail's her..." continues the Newfie, blissfully unaware of what's happening.

The space creatures are amazed. Again, they push the button and another 1/3 of the Newfie's brain evaporates. They take in the reaction:

"I'm the guy who builds da boat, an' I'm da guy who sail's her..."

The Aliens just can't believe it. They are dumbfounded and astonished.

Curious, they decide to go for broke. The button is pushed and the rest of the Newfie's brain is history.

"Alouette, gentille Alouette. Alouette je te plumerai..."

Way back when the Vancouver Olympic torch design was first revealed it caused a buzz because some claimed it resembled to a rolled up marijuana joint - an irony not lost on those who know British Columbia as the weed capital of Canada. Many celebrities and amazing everyday people have carried the torch on its cross-country journey, yet no matter how many times I see it I still see a big joint making its way to the West Coast...... We are a strange bunch, us Calgary Flames fans. G.M. Darryl Sutter makes the vital move of ridding the team of prima donna players whose reputation for greatness far exceeds any real life evidence, and all the fans can do is pout. Appreciating good fortune has never been a strong suit for the Sea of Red......speaking of Dion Phaneuf, it's almost comical to see the Toronto media once again play the game of over-expectation, falling all over themselves placing their 'next saviour' on the same pedestal that featured so many other false idols. Phaneuf is a good hitter but horrible in his own end. He's more likely the next Brian McCabe instead of the next Chris Pronger. And future captain? Hilarious!......Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach shuffled the deck last month in hopes of reversing his party's free fall in the polls. Ron Liepert decimated our provincial health systems with a bunch of moves so bad that his replacement spent the first month reversing Liepert's policies. I can't wait to see how Liepert destroys the Energy portfolio.......a fun game: go to the next anti-Harper prorogation rally and ask the protestors to define 'prorogation'. You can't buy that kind of comedy.......former Liberal P.M. Jean Chretien also prorogued Parliament. Where were the protests then?.......speaking of missing protests, whatever happened to the American anti-war rallies? Bush was Public Enemy #1 for killing young Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet both wars continue under His Holiness Obamalama. Troop levels in Afghanistan were even increased, yet we see no protests. No Obama heads on sticks. No 'Barack is a War Criminal' posters. Not a single swastika to be seen. I guess to the morally and ethically superior anti-war unshaven, war is acceptable under a Democrat president. The truth is now out there: they were anti-Bush, not anti-war, rallies.......has Michael Moore finally got the hint after his terribly-made 'Capitalism' bombed that no one enjoys his shtick anymore?.......the reputation of Alberta's oilsands is being smeared both internationally and domestically from other provinces. I wonder what the response from a capable premier would be?.......I'll say it here and now: defence will be Team Canada's downfall in the Olympic Men's Hockey tournament. No Gold this year.......I saw Canada Green Party leader Elizabeth May on television last night. Talk about a visual definition of 'irrelevant'.......now that the global warming movement has been exposed as a fraud, can we begin to seriously discuss the natural phenomenon called 'climate change' and how mankind may act to reduce the effects to our civilization? We need more Timothy Ball and Lord Christopher Monckton and less David Suzuki and Al Gore.......I've been using Windows 7 for a month now problem-free. Maybe, just maybe, Microsoft has finally gotten it rirrrr...rrr..rr..........ii.....