Know that the 10% of us here for the insider tea are happy to be learning about this. I've been a longtime supporter of Canadaland (OPPO was EXCELLENT) and I'm super sad to hear that Jesse's 'all opinions are welcome' approach to current affairs -- one that I hold in high regard -- is the target on his back.
The current politics show really has a hard time hedging off the rabidness of its left of centre guests and I can only imagine how difficult it is for him to manage. I'd now like to know which staff fell on which side of the issue so that I can spend my time elsewhere in the future.
The situation at Canadaland recalls to mind the recent article in The Economist about the New York Times. What strikes me about both cases (and indeed the entire Woke phenomenon) is the sheer spinelessness of Management. The solution should be quite simple; the boss needs to stand up (literally) and define the purpose of organization, demand that all the employees support that purpose, and then discipline anyone who fails to do so. (Fire the worst offender is my advice.) The problem would be sorted by lunchtime.
Maybe the fundamental problem is that left leaning bosses don't understand Capitalism.
It's easy for you or me to ignore the risks that come with your prescription, but there's a very real chance that in addition to things being "sorted by lunchtime", the organization would be dead by the end of the week.
Canadaland doesn't have leverage over their paying customers any more than the Line can "discipline" theirs. If those customers stop paying that's the end of the publication.
For an owner, staring at a very real possibility of your business vanishing in a puff of smoke is very serious. And if you've got investors, telling them that you incinerated their investment isn't going to go well at all.
It's a fundamental problem with reader-funded publications.
I accept your prescription and I offer the commentary offered by the French when an execution (staff? otherwise?) was explained: "Pour encourager les autres."
Anyway, if anyone is looking for a clear-headed analysis of the situation in Israel instead of sophistry from Canadians, here's an interview by the Carnegie Endowment with Efraim Halevy, former director of the Mossad, and Ami Ayalon, former director of Shin Bet.
The link starts toward the end where Ayalon declares that Hamas cannot be beaten through military force, because Hamas is an ideology. At one point he almost begs the great powers to impose a two state solution because that is what is best for the security of Israel and the whole Middle East.
The whole interview is worth a listen. There is none of the normal sloganeering and posturing that usually accompanies a debate about Israel. These are men with skin in the game and an inside perspective of the reality in Israel and Gaza.
Thanks for this link -- I’ve taken the opportunity to watch the full video and urge others to. I agree it is exceptionally clear-headed as to the background and factors that have led to this situation, and importantly with people who were well-placed to appreciate the enormity of the challenge.
That probably a good listen [I haven't yet] but you have to realize it will be utterly rejected by the crowd who reject anything with a connection to Mossad, Shin Bet, real or imagined, as 'Jewish propaganda'. I doubt it will change anybody's mind.
It’s a very balanced and realistic view of the situation. There’s no shilling for the Israeli right-wing, and they have very good faith interpretations of the motivations of Hamas and Palestinians. This is something the reflexively pro-Israel crowd should watch.
They make a case for a ceasefire simply because Israel has not figured out their political goals - they only have military goals. And a military operating with no political goals is dangerous. They will simply destabilize the region, breed new enemies, and turn the world against Israel. This is happening already. The Suez Canal is effectively shuttered, the world is voting against Israel, and Hamas is more popular than ever.
Ayalon speaks frankly about Netanyahu’s strategy to support, fund, and promote Hamas, which is something that few in the west know about. Powerful Israelis are playing cute political games, and thousands of regular Israelis and Palestinians have died for it. Not good.
The Oppo podcast is a big part of why I'm here. I loved it and was disappointed when it ended. Had no idea why it ended - good to know now. I also had no idea how bad things had gotten at Canadaland til what happened last week blew up. I hope Jesse fights back. I haven't given them money in awhile and I definitely won't be again if they keep going in this direction.
Oppo simply ran its course. There was no drama behind why it ended and no animosity, just a genuinely mutual agreement that the pod wasn't clicking anymore and that it was time to move on. JG
I'd be interested in a 'drunk Matt' column or two...I wouldn't hold anything in it against you.
The Canadaland situation is a perfect example of why we RWNJs say 'The Left always eats itself'. I appreciate the editors of The Line for their 'No BS allowed' and being willing to amputate infected limbs if and when necessary.
The moronic equivocation over the UN declaring for a 'ceasefire'...is moronic. Israel was established because the world felt guilty after 2/3 of the European Jewish population was murdered by the Nazis, and practically nothing was done to prevent or oppose it. Israel was _instantly_ attacked by its neighbours, who were all adherents to a religion that baked in Jew-hatred from its inception. The attacks have continued to the present day for the same reason. Reasonable accomodations and reparations were offered repeatedly by Israel and were refused. Genocidal attacks continued to the present day, and Israel is signalling that they are absolutely not going to take it any more. Any 'ceasefire' that doesn't include complete surrender by Hamas and the return of hostages [the ones that remain alive...I have grave doubts many of them are] should be rejected. But the main problem is a totalitarian religion that maintains Jew-hatred as a tenet...and that is an even larger problem than Israel vs. Hamas. It's a problem for the entire world, and the world had better figure it out PDQ.
I think that your assessment of the UN General Assembly vote was off base.
Have a listen to Chantal Hebert on this--her take seems more reasonable. What you've done is limit your focus regarding the Hamas issue to the domestic political dynamic. This fails to acknowledge the important international politics that were at play, including the fact that it would have been impossible to pass an amendment at the UNGA that would have included language condemning Hamas in the non-binding resolution.
And, BTW, there was signalling at play, but it was intended for external consumption (to indicate support the United States' pressure campaign against the Netanyahu government's conduct of the war in Gaza).
Bottom line? Canada was right to vote to indicate that too many civilians are being killed and that Israel is losing international support.
WRT the Conservative Party's ridiculous decision to signal support for Putinistas in their own ranks (you certainly were right about that), I hope it burns them where "the sun don't shine". It was a slap in the face to many who see the geopolitical importance of ensuring that the war criminal, Vladimir Putin, does not get rewarded for launching his war of aggression against Ukraine.
So, yah, if the Conservative tack was part of some "micro-targeting" strategy, it was a gross failure.
Sorry. I was remiss in not posting the relevant link (to take interested readers to Chantal Hebert's comments, offered during the most recent "At Issue" broadcast on The National):
I personally think the Conservative vote on the trade deal was nothing more than a move to constantly keep carbon tax issues front and centre. Through this move they could attempt to show that the Liberals are so fixed on carbon taxes that they are now inserting them in trade deals which may forever lock in such taxes in Canada.
I agree with you on that. They should have thought it through better, however. Voters (and many in the media) will turn a blind eye to about 20 boneheaded Liberal decisions, but they'll dig in deep on something by the Conservatives.
Hi folks. In general, I support Jen’s position regarding the employees of Canadaland. I agree with your position that their concerns should be taken up directly with Jesse Brown, and not in an unsigned release. I also support the position that, if they are going to accuse him of poor reporting, they should provide specific examples. I take issue with Jen’s referring to those behind the release as POS’s. I’ve heard this term used by left wing pundits as well, and I feel it is wrong to dehumanize anyone with this type of language, regardless of one’s politics, or legitimate concerns with the actions of another. You’re right, things are getting bad, and this use of language doesn’t help. Please, call out the behaviour, do not demean the person. Other than that, I get value from your analysis of what’s happening.
Sometimes the only way to properly express one's revulsion and disgust is the use of "four letter words" - as my long gone mother used to describe them. The point is that some people have simply sunk so low that the four letter word assemblage is the only correct way to describe how low.
As for dehumanizing them, well, they certainly do a really good job of that themselves and, again, one must use appropriate descriptives.
Not sure that I agree with your rather off the cuff comment about Conservative Party support for Putin amongst alleged right wing element. It’s the kind of dismissive comment I’d expect from mud slinging politicians of the left trying to discredit the Conservatives. I expect better of you.
Maybe if he wasn’t dog whistling to the Putinistas with his vote against the Ukraine free trade deal, then people wouldn’t think he was dog whistling to the Putinistas?
For some reason, the Western foreign policy of tolerating or even cozying up to dictators, with a view to managing them [or profiting from them], seems not be in effect for Putin, who has been magnified and demonized to near Hitlerian stature. One wonders why [or has dark suspicions]. Compare the attitude to Iran.
Some might express puzzlement at the claim that Canadaland can coherently be both "left of centre" and "anti-institutional." The federal government is the largest, most omnipresent institution we have, and there's considerable wisdom in the caustic observation that, as far as the current incarnation of the left is concerned, "Government is always the solution, never the problem." A longstanding conservative complaint about the left is the way it strives to weaponize the legislative process to force cultural change on people who don't want it, and who regard this tactic as an illegitimate exploitation of powers we might be better off if government didn't have to begin with.
Enjoy your time off, guys, and thanks for restoring comments in 2023. I think both the site and its readers benefit from having them.
P.S. Surely 'balance' doesn't require us to situate ourselves on both sides of issues as a matter of principle. What it requires is that our judgment is the outcome not of bias or self-interest, but of a balanced, impartial consideration of all relevant evidence, regardless of which side of any particular issue that judgment ends up placing us on.
A non-binding UN resolution is irrelevant. For the party in power, it's an impossible tightrope to walk because any firm position will offend someone. This is just another example where sitting in opposition is easy because you can't do anything meaningful.
Like Canada, the current Conservative Party is not a serious organization. They're simply taking contrary points to the government because that's all they do....there is no plan. There are no adults in the room. Conservatism has been co-opted and become toxic. Not thinking is not a good way to form government.
2023 is the year where it became clear that democracy is more under threat than it perhaps has ever been. There wasn't much leadership countering it. I used to be an optimist, but until they get that arsehole in a legal courtroom, the threat to democracy just grows. The political choices in Canada are equally depressing. Leadership as a word has lost its meaning.
The only upside I can see right now is the Leafs appear to be playing better.
Have a wonderful break. Looking forward to what you bring in 2024.
I guarantee that the anonymous canadaland complainers wear masks when they protest. When the far left hides behind anonymity, they're not sending their best
Do you think the Liberal vote at the UN is partly connected to trying to keep the coalition with the NDP going? Could NDP have pressured the Liberals for how they voted at the UN?
Know that the 10% of us here for the insider tea are happy to be learning about this. I've been a longtime supporter of Canadaland (OPPO was EXCELLENT) and I'm super sad to hear that Jesse's 'all opinions are welcome' approach to current affairs -- one that I hold in high regard -- is the target on his back.
The current politics show really has a hard time hedging off the rabidness of its left of centre guests and I can only imagine how difficult it is for him to manage. I'd now like to know which staff fell on which side of the issue so that I can spend my time elsewhere in the future.
The situation at Canadaland recalls to mind the recent article in The Economist about the New York Times. What strikes me about both cases (and indeed the entire Woke phenomenon) is the sheer spinelessness of Management. The solution should be quite simple; the boss needs to stand up (literally) and define the purpose of organization, demand that all the employees support that purpose, and then discipline anyone who fails to do so. (Fire the worst offender is my advice.) The problem would be sorted by lunchtime.
Maybe the fundamental problem is that left leaning bosses don't understand Capitalism.
The problem is audience capture.
It's easy for you or me to ignore the risks that come with your prescription, but there's a very real chance that in addition to things being "sorted by lunchtime", the organization would be dead by the end of the week.
Canadaland doesn't have leverage over their paying customers any more than the Line can "discipline" theirs. If those customers stop paying that's the end of the publication.
For an owner, staring at a very real possibility of your business vanishing in a puff of smoke is very serious. And if you've got investors, telling them that you incinerated their investment isn't going to go well at all.
It's a fundamental problem with reader-funded publications.
This is why we do The Line to hard way. No investors. And we bite the hands that feed us. We need an audience that gets it. And even enjoys it.
I accept your prescription and I offer the commentary offered by the French when an execution (staff? otherwise?) was explained: "Pour encourager les autres."
Anyway, if anyone is looking for a clear-headed analysis of the situation in Israel instead of sophistry from Canadians, here's an interview by the Carnegie Endowment with Efraim Halevy, former director of the Mossad, and Ami Ayalon, former director of Shin Bet.
https://www.youtube.com/live/hchzdcqsqKk?si=0gUywG-rxveB_dH3&t=2911
The link starts toward the end where Ayalon declares that Hamas cannot be beaten through military force, because Hamas is an ideology. At one point he almost begs the great powers to impose a two state solution because that is what is best for the security of Israel and the whole Middle East.
The whole interview is worth a listen. There is none of the normal sloganeering and posturing that usually accompanies a debate about Israel. These are men with skin in the game and an inside perspective of the reality in Israel and Gaza.
Thanks for this link -- I’ve taken the opportunity to watch the full video and urge others to. I agree it is exceptionally clear-headed as to the background and factors that have led to this situation, and importantly with people who were well-placed to appreciate the enormity of the challenge.
That probably a good listen [I haven't yet] but you have to realize it will be utterly rejected by the crowd who reject anything with a connection to Mossad, Shin Bet, real or imagined, as 'Jewish propaganda'. I doubt it will change anybody's mind.
It’s a very balanced and realistic view of the situation. There’s no shilling for the Israeli right-wing, and they have very good faith interpretations of the motivations of Hamas and Palestinians. This is something the reflexively pro-Israel crowd should watch.
They make a case for a ceasefire simply because Israel has not figured out their political goals - they only have military goals. And a military operating with no political goals is dangerous. They will simply destabilize the region, breed new enemies, and turn the world against Israel. This is happening already. The Suez Canal is effectively shuttered, the world is voting against Israel, and Hamas is more popular than ever.
Ayalon speaks frankly about Netanyahu’s strategy to support, fund, and promote Hamas, which is something that few in the west know about. Powerful Israelis are playing cute political games, and thousands of regular Israelis and Palestinians have died for it. Not good.
The Oppo podcast is a big part of why I'm here. I loved it and was disappointed when it ended. Had no idea why it ended - good to know now. I also had no idea how bad things had gotten at Canadaland til what happened last week blew up. I hope Jesse fights back. I haven't given them money in awhile and I definitely won't be again if they keep going in this direction.
Oppo simply ran its course. There was no drama behind why it ended and no animosity, just a genuinely mutual agreement that the pod wasn't clicking anymore and that it was time to move on. JG
You were far too centrist for the vibe they were going for.
A great year from you folks...Jen and Matt. Merry Christmas to you both.
I'd be interested in a 'drunk Matt' column or two...I wouldn't hold anything in it against you.
The Canadaland situation is a perfect example of why we RWNJs say 'The Left always eats itself'. I appreciate the editors of The Line for their 'No BS allowed' and being willing to amputate infected limbs if and when necessary.
The moronic equivocation over the UN declaring for a 'ceasefire'...is moronic. Israel was established because the world felt guilty after 2/3 of the European Jewish population was murdered by the Nazis, and practically nothing was done to prevent or oppose it. Israel was _instantly_ attacked by its neighbours, who were all adherents to a religion that baked in Jew-hatred from its inception. The attacks have continued to the present day for the same reason. Reasonable accomodations and reparations were offered repeatedly by Israel and were refused. Genocidal attacks continued to the present day, and Israel is signalling that they are absolutely not going to take it any more. Any 'ceasefire' that doesn't include complete surrender by Hamas and the return of hostages [the ones that remain alive...I have grave doubts many of them are] should be rejected. But the main problem is a totalitarian religion that maintains Jew-hatred as a tenet...and that is an even larger problem than Israel vs. Hamas. It's a problem for the entire world, and the world had better figure it out PDQ.
I think that your assessment of the UN General Assembly vote was off base.
Have a listen to Chantal Hebert on this--her take seems more reasonable. What you've done is limit your focus regarding the Hamas issue to the domestic political dynamic. This fails to acknowledge the important international politics that were at play, including the fact that it would have been impossible to pass an amendment at the UNGA that would have included language condemning Hamas in the non-binding resolution.
And, BTW, there was signalling at play, but it was intended for external consumption (to indicate support the United States' pressure campaign against the Netanyahu government's conduct of the war in Gaza).
Bottom line? Canada was right to vote to indicate that too many civilians are being killed and that Israel is losing international support.
WRT the Conservative Party's ridiculous decision to signal support for Putinistas in their own ranks (you certainly were right about that), I hope it burns them where "the sun don't shine". It was a slap in the face to many who see the geopolitical importance of ensuring that the war criminal, Vladimir Putin, does not get rewarded for launching his war of aggression against Ukraine.
So, yah, if the Conservative tack was part of some "micro-targeting" strategy, it was a gross failure.
Sorry. I was remiss in not posting the relevant link (to take interested readers to Chantal Hebert's comments, offered during the most recent "At Issue" broadcast on The National):
At Issue | Tensions over Canada’s Gaza ceasefire shift, CBC The National, 14 December 2023, https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2292427331967
I personally think the Conservative vote on the trade deal was nothing more than a move to constantly keep carbon tax issues front and centre. Through this move they could attempt to show that the Liberals are so fixed on carbon taxes that they are now inserting them in trade deals which may forever lock in such taxes in Canada.
I agree with you on that. They should have thought it through better, however. Voters (and many in the media) will turn a blind eye to about 20 boneheaded Liberal decisions, but they'll dig in deep on something by the Conservatives.
Hi folks. In general, I support Jen’s position regarding the employees of Canadaland. I agree with your position that their concerns should be taken up directly with Jesse Brown, and not in an unsigned release. I also support the position that, if they are going to accuse him of poor reporting, they should provide specific examples. I take issue with Jen’s referring to those behind the release as POS’s. I’ve heard this term used by left wing pundits as well, and I feel it is wrong to dehumanize anyone with this type of language, regardless of one’s politics, or legitimate concerns with the actions of another. You’re right, things are getting bad, and this use of language doesn’t help. Please, call out the behaviour, do not demean the person. Other than that, I get value from your analysis of what’s happening.
Noted and considered. JG
Andre, I respectfully disagree. Vehemently.
Sometimes the only way to properly express one's revulsion and disgust is the use of "four letter words" - as my long gone mother used to describe them. The point is that some people have simply sunk so low that the four letter word assemblage is the only correct way to describe how low.
As for dehumanizing them, well, they certainly do a really good job of that themselves and, again, one must use appropriate descriptives.
Did I like this before listening to it? Yes. Do I know it’ll be great
Not sure that I agree with your rather off the cuff comment about Conservative Party support for Putin amongst alleged right wing element. It’s the kind of dismissive comment I’d expect from mud slinging politicians of the left trying to discredit the Conservatives. I expect better of you.
Your expectations are a problem?
Not to me they’re not.
Great!
Maybe if he wasn’t dog whistling to the Putinistas with his vote against the Ukraine free trade deal, then people wouldn’t think he was dog whistling to the Putinistas?
For some reason, the Western foreign policy of tolerating or even cozying up to dictators, with a view to managing them [or profiting from them], seems not be in effect for Putin, who has been magnified and demonized to near Hitlerian stature. One wonders why [or has dark suspicions]. Compare the attitude to Iran.
Some might express puzzlement at the claim that Canadaland can coherently be both "left of centre" and "anti-institutional." The federal government is the largest, most omnipresent institution we have, and there's considerable wisdom in the caustic observation that, as far as the current incarnation of the left is concerned, "Government is always the solution, never the problem." A longstanding conservative complaint about the left is the way it strives to weaponize the legislative process to force cultural change on people who don't want it, and who regard this tactic as an illegitimate exploitation of powers we might be better off if government didn't have to begin with.
Enjoy your time off, guys, and thanks for restoring comments in 2023. I think both the site and its readers benefit from having them.
P.S. Surely 'balance' doesn't require us to situate ourselves on both sides of issues as a matter of principle. What it requires is that our judgment is the outcome not of bias or self-interest, but of a balanced, impartial consideration of all relevant evidence, regardless of which side of any particular issue that judgment ends up placing us on.
A non-binding UN resolution is irrelevant. For the party in power, it's an impossible tightrope to walk because any firm position will offend someone. This is just another example where sitting in opposition is easy because you can't do anything meaningful.
Like Canada, the current Conservative Party is not a serious organization. They're simply taking contrary points to the government because that's all they do....there is no plan. There are no adults in the room. Conservatism has been co-opted and become toxic. Not thinking is not a good way to form government.
2023 is the year where it became clear that democracy is more under threat than it perhaps has ever been. There wasn't much leadership countering it. I used to be an optimist, but until they get that arsehole in a legal courtroom, the threat to democracy just grows. The political choices in Canada are equally depressing. Leadership as a word has lost its meaning.
The only upside I can see right now is the Leafs appear to be playing better.
Have a wonderful break. Looking forward to what you bring in 2024.
I guarantee that the anonymous canadaland complainers wear masks when they protest. When the far left hides behind anonymity, they're not sending their best
Do you think the Liberal vote at the UN is partly connected to trying to keep the coalition with the NDP going? Could NDP have pressured the Liberals for how they voted at the UN?
Execute me Matt! Execute me!
No suicide by cop. JG
JG was the reason that I stuck with CanadaLand as long as I did... Though I didn't last much longer than she did🤣