what up blogosphere?? psyched about the budget dropping tomorrow afternoon?? no??

i guess have one prof that is a known economists and another that worked at the treasury board, they've been hyping tomorrow's shenanigans since the start of the winter term. one of them is even privileged to be invited to ottawa and review the thing before it goes public.

which isn't saying much considering this government broke the traditional budgetary secrecy practice and spilled their beans last week.

as one commentator put it; last week canada got the bill, this week they find it exactly what they got. sorta a reverse version of a credit card.

likely the budget will survive and so will the harper's government given the massive spending projects that have already been announced it's unlikely the liberals will defeat the government. besides, they have to get their shit together under their new leader before going to the polls. iggy needs to introduce himself to canadians at the helm of the party. earlier this month, thomas axworthy suggested the liberals are in needs of an infusion of new ideas and policy directions before thinking of election.

not a bad idea but given the lightning fast development of the last two months, elections and coalitions will always loom given the three parties formally entered into an accord to take over the governance when they seem fit.

as for the coalition; it's safe to assume that idea sputtered out of canada's consciousness soon after the liberals booted dion. the only person really talking about is the ndp's layton; cognizant a coalition government is his only realistic claim at power in federal politics. that is not to say the coalition government will not form in the future, however, unlikely it would be over the budget as harper is pretty much bending over backwards to ensure every corner of canada is injected with stimulus dollars. a defeat of the government would be a blind political move without consideration of the text itself.

i had many expectations of the obama presidency that have yet to formulate but i hold up nonetheless. it's only been a few days of course.

perhaps, it takes time but my patience isn't impressive. get on it president!

no doubt, mr. obama has been elevated to global status of a rock star, akin to the level that bono can only wish for.

so no reading about the selling of exclusive rights to broadcast the inauguration on HBO raises some issues.

first, HBO has obtained the exclusive rights for today's concert for a cost of 2.5 million. the disney channel jumped on the train shelling out another $2 million to broadcast two programs monday night. and on tuesday, obama will attend the 'youth ball' broadcast via mtv for a cushy 600 000 the network paid to the presidential committee.

in that sense, the obama inauguration is becoming a tv event; much like the superbowl where millions of dollars change hands.

sporting event is one thing, but this is the american president, elected by the people for the people. getting corporate media interest tangled with the barack presidency raises the issue of fairness, access and above all, basic democratic principles. sure, it's just a concert likely to include bono on another trite about his latest cause. as an side, a new u2 album is coming out in the next few months; once reinforcing the theory that bono only becomes political parallel to his music career side. it's not a knock against him by any means, however.

although, many networks that have obtained the rights are part of basic cable and there is no television shortage in the united states, the technical issue of digital-cable receivers will leave a considerable amount of viewers in the dark.

more so, c-span itself has been pushed out from the coverage given hbo's exclusivity to the events.

this news itself speaks of the different approach to this presidency since the night of election back in november. within hours of it becoming official, everyone was out to make a buck with shirts, stamps, plates, coins, etc etc. the press coverage more over has been similar to tmz covering on the latest happenings of lohan; fluffy, void of content--in other words, pointless. like we really need to know what is on the lunch menu of the school that barack's kids will be going to??

at first itself, the news was rather humourous. barack who used the media so well, developed a great relationship and used it to springboard to the top of the democratic ticket when it seemed virtually impossible. the days after the tense of election, the daily coverage seemed a welcoming change to frame obama of the ideal anyone in the united states still can become the president.

however, the approach has not changed, only intensified as major news networks continue coverage ala the celebrity prism of what barack does on vacation, what's he wearing, what phone he has, etc etc etc.

yes, obama himself is a celebrity but treating him the same way as celebrities that make the pages of people magazine blurs the lines between what matters and what does not. for barack is to be the political leader of the united states, to guide the nation and give it direction. people magazine is the anti-thesis of that, to sometimes escape the harsh reality that confronts celebrities like obama.

maybe that is ultimately the intent; slow realization that obama is just a man and regardless of his policies, change will not come around in the coming months. jobs losses will continue to mount, the middle east conflict continue to escalate, and the burdening debt of the american public will be carried by several generations long after obama is out of politics. in that case, it's better to treat this administration lightly, do not hold it to fire, because utimately, the change mantra of obama will leave millions disappointed.

i guess that's the issues that are coming about thus far; the privitization of the access to the president and devoiding him of any substantial coverage in the news media. it'll be interesting how this plays out because no doubt obama has no fear of going in front of the camera and presenting ideas, debating, and having an intellectual conversation with country. perhaps, for the past eight years, the media has become lazy as there was little of such activity between the white house and the media.

dying days of the bush monarchy are upon us and i am sure the columinists of the world are preparing their words for the papers the day before obama officially becomes the commander-in-chief. i do mean to use the term bush monarchy in the most facetious way.

i still remember the night of november 2nd 2000 being up well into the wee hours and the united states wasn't exactly sure as to who their next prez was. bush one minute. then gore. bush again. no wait, it's gore and the see-saw battle continued till the supreme court installed bush co few months later.

i guess the 2000 election was a turning point for me that sparked my interest in politics and the following days was marked by debate with my american born english teacher on the 'nader effect' and to what extent that cost gore that presidential election. in the following years, i did my undergrad in political science and economics, largely using the american context as a proxy to gauge my academics with what was happening in the world.

ironically, my first introduction into 'blog world' centred on the post 9/11 ramifications and the lead up to the iraq war.

whether or not, my neighbours to the south have anything to be thankful for in the past eight years (probably not), my personal story and development is largely linked to the bush presidency; good or bad. and i am sure, many young americans attribute their interest in the political process in 2008 based on the momentum election that just happened.

i won't go as far as saying that i just completed a seminar course with thomas axworthy in a graduate thanks to bush alone, but large part of my interest stem from what observing the american context of the past eight years. although, my direct experience with americans has been rather limited, one personal story of a dear friend moving back to toronto post 9/11 solidified the real impact the event had on americans. to be able to uproot their lives solely out of the social and political climate of the country made me think americans are not all that irrational but the fears were real. although, she lived in a tiny town in buttfuck indiana, the fear was the same as anyone residing in a city of millions like new york or los angeles.

which is why i dismiss the notions that are americans are misguided and unaware of the politics. they jumped on the presidential 'gut reactions' trains, however, eight years later were able to sober up and come to terms that was mistake and derailed the direction of perhaps one of the most storied nations in the history of our civilizations. a life without mistake is not worth living and where one goes wrong, the experience and lessons can only strengthen one. here we are witnessing a macr-national application of that principle that we hear so often in our daily lives.

the election of the obama too speaks of america's ability to reshape and steer its direction in an entirely different terrain. while no one is able to project the path of the obama presidency, the sheer optimism in every corner of the world speaks of the american power as a guidance and compass for every nation of the world. are we to optimistic? i guess only time will tell. i am of the school barack is a man inheriting a position laden by problems, burden, and errors that overcoming it will require political skills and aptitude unlike the world has ever seen. while the hope/change message is what drove is campaign home; campaigns are just foot in the door.

perhaps, history will judge will bush differently than 20% or so americans that still are willing to support him. living in a vacuum it is pointless and comical to make assessments of his presidency that will undoubtedly be interpreted months, years, decades from now. perhaps, barack obama could not exist without bush in the first place??

all i can do is speak of my personal experience, someone who is not even an american citizen, but follows the american political process like the common man follows the nfl season. i thank bush for my education, my knowledge, my ability to articulate a thought about domestic and international politcs thanks in part to the evening of november 2nd 2000.

i hold a very instrumental view of politics; we pay taxes on just about every purchase and capital gain that we take; at least in canada that is. i'd like to know what elected officials are doing with the money and whether i should should support or disapprove where my hard earned money is going. while i can say i have paid fractional american consumer taxes on the here and there visit to the south, their politics spills beyond their borders, especially into canada, so i can justify making comments on the bush presidency.

time will tell but at least i have something to be thankful for. and somehow, i think many others have similar stories to tell.

it's like.... cold

so i was watching the wackness, one of the better films i've seen in a long time. mind you, getting me to watch a film is like trying to get to church; five minutes in and all my concentration is out of the window.

towards the end, neil young's 'out of the weekend' came on and truly one of the greatest tunes i have ever heard. maybe it was the movie that made the song perfect but simply gorgeousness

now i'm scrambling to download all uncle neil's records circa 70-75.

great tunage