Scotch, Scotch, Scotch

In the immortal words of Ron Burgandy I love scotch. Okay, love is pretty strong, but I do enjoy a nice glass of scotch from time to time. So here is installment one in a-perhaps-never-to-be-continued series of reviews.

As a Christmas present from my girlfriend's dad I received a bottle of The Peat Monster (if you need a gift for a guy named Pete just stop reading and buy him this). According to its makers "The Peat Monster combines extremely smoky malt whisky from Islay with medium-peated Highland whiskies to create a balanced and approachable monster..." which is absolutely right. If you love smokey scotch this is for you. If you don't really like scotch then you should keep your distance.

My personal recommendation would be to use The Peat Monster as to follow other scotches, as it's strong taste may be a bit much for the first drink of the night, but it's got a great flavour that really sets it apart.

The Peat Monster is a creation of Compass Box Whisky and I'm anxious to try some of their other products; especially Asyla.

Beware of Spinning Liberals

Whenever I think the CPC messaging could use improvement I take heart by checking out what's going on over in the Liberal Camp.

Senator Art Eggleton spent 5 minutes on CTV Newsnet today arguing against electing senators. His two main reasons? 1) That's how the Americans do it. 2) It could create legislative gridlock.

Memo to Art: The bi-cameral system is designed to create gridlock, so that the end result will be consensus. The only real question is whether you believe that we need appointed elites to save the commoners from themselves, or two sets of elected officials to save the citizens from their government. I know where I stand, and I'm glad to say I know where the new Conservative government stands.

Anyone else smell a majority?

Dear Vic...

Justice Minister Vic Toews told The Globe and Mail in early October that, while his department was preparing measures to introduce should the motion [to open the debate on same-sex marriage] pass, he was also working on policy options to bring in if the motion fails.

You don't bring any motions forward Vic, that's what we said during the last campaign. This is soon to be dead, dead, dead. Please, let it die with dignity. If our government is pre-occupied with this issue we will lose, and we will deserve to lose. Not because we are anti-SSM, but because there are so many issues that need to be addressed. Broadbased tax-relief, the hopelessly outdated CRTC, the Wheatboard and a little train wreck we like to call the Canadian Healthcare system come to mind.

Help me get published on McSweeney's...

A co-worker and I are attempting to get a list published on McSweeney's Internet Tendency. Help us pick the best one by going to the The Bolg, reading our 4 candidates and voting for the one that makes you giggle!

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5 Thoughts on the Liberal Leadership

1) Dion's choice to "go green" on Saturday morning was brilliant. In an early interview one of his organizers explained that green represented growth (on the ballot) and added it was also representative of Dion's environmental priorities. That was the last I heard of the growth explanation, it was quickly picked up by the media as a purely environmental symbol - the Dion camp was right to go with this.

Also, if I ever have the chance I'll be stealing the idea of a new colour scheme on voting day. Tip o' the hat Dion's organizers.

2) A surging Green Party and a Liberal Party with a bigger focus on the environment. Vote splitting is our friend.

3) Dion is not popular in Quebec, neither was Chretien but he still won a lot of seats. It's too soon to say if Dion will help or hinder the LPC in Quebec.

4) Another francophone Quebec Liberal leader will turn off some voters - mainly voters in the West or in rural Ontario which already. This will not be a big factor.

5) Dion has a lot in common with Harper. He's decisive (read stubborn if you're not a supporter) and something of a reluctant politician. Both men tend more toward policy wonk than leader. Is this a new trend in Canadian politics? Unlikely. Will it make for an interesting election? Undoubtedly.

Note: My prediction of a Kennedy victory made back in the summer was incorrect, but the way in which I said Kennedy would win is the way Dion did win. A half-point for me.