The "new NHL"

I love it.

Here are my early picks for end of the season hardware....

MVP....tough one. Jagr's picked up his game, Forsberg is at the top of his game, etc....To me, the MVP is the Swedish Sensation, Daniel Alfredsson. let's see if he can keep up his 1.5 points per game pace.

Top Defenceman......this one's easy. Bryan McCabe is scoring like a top line Centre, and he is Toronto's defence. How can you not choose a guy that's both offensively and defensively leading his team?

Top Goalie......really hard. It looks like it's gonna be the Dominator again. You heard it here first.

Top Rookie......Sidney crosby. 'Nuff said.

Most Improved Player......Eric Staal. This kid is for real. And he's gonna win me my Yahoo Fantasy hockey pool. Go 'Canes!

Top Coach......Andy Murray. Leaving behind jacques Martin's defensive priorities, the Sens are on pace to top 400 goals and finish the season with single digit losses. Phenomenal.

Who'll win the Stanley Cup? Easiest answer....Les bleues, les blancs, les rouges...Les Habs, Les Habs.

Momma always says....

Stupid is as stupid does.

Actually, my mom never said that. Tom Hanks movies aside, this little pearl of wisdom almost explains the PM's recent moves. Almost.

So the leader of the corrupt believes his re-election lies in 2 issues. First, the economy. Sure, sure...the economy is great. We are the envy of the free world. Blah, blah, blah. All I have to say to that is if a party as deceitful and dishonest as the Liberals can provide us with another budget surplus, think what the Conservatives could do....Harper would infuse the economy with new jobs, cozy up to our neighbours from the south on issues like softwood lumber and other natural ressources. Increased military spending would again, lead to more jobs, and perhaps clear the fog of inefficiency as it relates to our depleted Armed Forces. Bottom line here is simple.....It's the economy, stupid! Liberals or not, we would be in the same financially superior situation than we've found ourselves in decades past. So for me, the 'economy' argument is moot.

Next we have the all familiar Martin cry that Stephen Harper has a hidden agenda. Well isn't that the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it? Has the Gomery scandal taught you nothing, Mr. Prime Minister? We Canadians are sick and tired of being bullied into voting Liberal, not on their merits, but purely and solely based on the other parties inability to relate to us. But those days are behind us, Mr. Prime Minister. After 16 months of opposition leader Harper, we have realized his agenda is anything but hidden. He is true to his party, his platform and his constituents. that's a lesson the Red and White should learn soon, right Mr. Prime Minister?

So this election (in 55 days) is about lessons learnt. We Canadians have learnt our lessons the hard way, Mr. Prime Minister. But we will not repeat them. The question is, Mr. Prime Minister, will you?

In my old age

Apparently, one is supposed to move towards Conservatism as one moves along in years, yet I find the exact opposite happening to me. As a staunch conservative on most issues, my own feelings on the March Israeli elections have made me question my own position on issues I have not really contemplated before.....poverty, hunger, social imjustice and Israeli domestic policies. It seems to me at least, that as I matured and became of the world around me, the conservative views on military, foreign policy and international politics defined my political opinion. It disturbs me to say that I cannot hold true to those views anymore. Weird, no?

We find ourselves in a world juxtaposed from the one we inhabited only 5 years ago. As the Western world have moved closer to the Right, ie Merkel beating Shroeder in Germany, Blair losing his huge parliamentary majority and Chirac's loss of control in France. All signs that, internationally, Conservatism is spreading with a gusto unseen since colonial times. Yet, I feel that in Israel's case, it is time to address the social problems plaguing our country.....and now, in a time of "relative" calm and security, what better time to tackle these problems?

USA supports Israel. The EU has thawed their view on Israel. Even the UN seems to be waking up from their dream of being an effective and representative world body, and is almost (so close...yet so far away still) able to address the anti-Israel rhetoric that has plagued their halls since the Zionism is racism resolution (repealed later).

Getting back to the Israeli political forum, I am actually leaning towards supporting Sharon's new party.....probably named "Kadimah", hebrew which means "moving forward". And I think it's high time we do, indeed, move forward. But not in peace negotiations or anything like that. While I do not need convincing of the importance of a strong military and skilled foreign diplomats, I believe the Israeli voters have certain expectations of the next government, no matter who leads it. They expect that the mood of peace and the feeling of security continues. I agree. yet, that should not mean that Israelis should continue to live in hunger and poverty. If anything, how can we expect to make peace with our neighbours if we can't even take care of our own people? Once we do take care of all Israelis needs, the rest of the International community can feel proud to stand with and behind the lone Jewish State in the world. I know I would.

25 percent

I read an article at haaretzdaily.com yesterday about some 25% of Israelis living in the West Bank are willing to relocate within Israel. Interesting, no? We seem to find ourselves in a period of relative calm, that is, on the terrorist front. Don't get me wrong, we all know Qassam rockets continue to fall in Sderot, and Hamas and Hizbullah are still geared towards complete destruction of a Jewish state in the Middle East, yet we still find ourselves in a period of "relative calm". In these days of post-disengagement, and in the mindset that is Middle Eastern politics, we seem to be waiting for a Palestinian response, notably, a call to disarm and face the "Israeli Zionist opporessor" on diplomatic terms, not military terms. Sorry to burst your fantasy bubble, but this is not going to happen. If anything, these past few months have demonstrated Abu Mazen's (and Al-Fatah's) inability to rein in the terrorists and build an economic foundation for a future Palestinian state.

So back to the 25%. As I mentioned earlier, the cycle of Middle East politics is not unlike this "cycle of violence" we hear oh so often. One side does something, the other responds, then the other responds in kind, etc.....So instead of waiting for the Palestinians to respond to Sharon's bold move (which he stole from Mitzna, let us not forget), why not continue to move unliaterally towards a final settlement and begin to relocate these 25%? If they are willing to go, and the government is serious about a final settlement with a Palestinian state as the result, it seems obvious to me to get these Israelis moving sooner, rather than later.

I guess what I'm trying to say is let's keep the momentum going. We must also think of these things in international terms. Israel seems to be in a "relatively" good position vis-a-vis the international community. With Iran's recent statements stirring the proverbial pot, our "friends"in the EU are actually condemning Iran for such a sick and twisted statement. Condy Rice and George W. are firmly behind the Israeli government, and olive branches have been extended to various Muslim countries with a history of vitriolic statements regarding Israel, like Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

In the ever-changing landscape that is international politics, it seems clear and simple to me that we, the Israeli government and her supporters, need to shake this tree, and see what kind of fruit will come to bear. Unless, of course, we get bogged down with something. Something like an election. Ya, that would do it, alright.

Change of season....

Is it just me or is there something special in the air this weekend? The press if full of tintillating stories about upcoming elections in both Canada and Israel. Here at home, who knows how Gomery will affect the outcome? In fact, does anyone even care anymore? All I know if that trust is a major issue this time around, and with the Liberals actions from the last 2 Prime Minister's, trust is not something that Martin will want to address. Meanwhile, the Conservatives and NDP are led by 2 men who are utterly unidentifiable. These 2 have proven, unlike the Liberals not through action by through their demeanour, that they are not prepared to lead what will inevitably be another minority government. And that leaves the Bloc. In today's fractious world that is Canadian federal politics, it almost seems as if the Bloc were to expand West and East, they might be the biggest winnners in the upcoming Winter election.

And then we move to the Middle East. Elections will be early to mid March, and with less approximately 3 months until voters will have their say, interesting developments have occured. First, perennial Labor leader and past Prime Minister Shimon Peres was narrowly beaten by a relative young upstart, Peretz (think that confused anybody?). Sharon ahs already completed the necessary steps to break from the Likud and start his own party...but that decision will only come in 2 days. MK Lapid seems to feel Sharon will bolt. Does that leave the door wide open for Netanyahu? Will anyone go up against this other former Prime Minister? Then the leader of the right-wing National Union Party, Avogdor Lieberman, is calling for a united Right come March. Will the National Religious Party and Likud answer that call to keep Sharon from power? So many questions...

And this is why I am so excited. It may be getting cold outside, but things inside the Knesset and on Parliament Hill are sure to heat things up in the coming weeks. Maybe I can even leave my jacket at home this week...