Blessed American Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow marks American Thanksgiving, and as I figure I'll be pleasantly distracted by family and a tryptophan-induced stupor, now is an excellent time to mention it. Despite the fact that our Nation faces many significant challenges at home and abroad, we have much to be grateful for. Among these are the faith, family and friends we draw support from, our Nation's freedoms and the relative security many of us enjoy in our neighborhoods. It is also appropriate to recognize those among us who are less fortunate, which should inspire us to recommit to offering equal opportunity to all of our fellow citizens.

So enjoy time with family and friends, turkey and all the fixings, a football game and your inevitable nap on the couch. Blessed Thanksgiving!

More MSM Harper Bashing: U. S. Style

Just when you thought that only such Canadian organizations like the Toronto Star were being outsourced to produce attack ads, this nice gem by The Nation disabused me of that notion when I read it this morning. Contained within are the same tired phrases employed by Liberals to brand Prime Minister Stephen Harper's reasonable government with the "scary" label. "Christian Right." "Worst excesses of Bush's presidency." "Bellicosity, slash-and-burn attitude." And supporting Israel's legitimate right to self-defense is a big no-no since, as Joel Johannesen over at ProudToBeCanadian so often puts it, that ain't liberal. And of course, trotting out the names of fundamentalists Ralph Reed and Pat Robertson helps multiply the fright factor.

As an American, I'd go for a President Stephen J. Harper over President George W. Bush any day. I consider him to be more of a McCain-North than Bush-Light. Liberals like to complain that Prime Minister Harper is no fan of the Kyoto Protocol. As a conservative environmentalist (yeah, we exist), I accept the scientific consensus that global warming is real and that while we may be on the upswing of a natural cycle, humans are certainly amplifying it at a minimum. Therefore, it is our responsibility (one of our favorite words) to reduce our impact on creation as much as we can. If we really believe that the government that governs the best is the one that governs the least, we should surely apply this principle to our dominion of the planet. But I digress.

Any agreement which does not recognize the problems of China and India's current and projected emissions is fundamentally flawed. This applies to Kyoto. Instead of addressing one of this century's greatest issues in a common-sense manner which engages both emerging powers, it is essentially another redistributionist treaty which will ultimately fail. Harper knows this and is right to favor a "Made in Canada" approach to cutting emissions. 12 y of Liberal government clearly accomplished little, as this little barb demonstrates. While I would charge that the government's plan is not aggressive enough, it is still a step in the right direction and should stimulate the discussion of concrete solutions.

What the article also fails to mention is that the Conservatives were elected earlier this year to replace a party which had been in power for 12 y, developed a sense of entitlement and got mired in a particularly rank combination of scandals and incompetence. Instead of using these similar circumstances to take a justifiable shot at the outgoing GOP majority in Congress, the article demonstrates its bias towards conservatives in all conditions.

Liberals consistently pride themselves on their open mindedness, but this assessment of Harper's performance clearly lacks the objectivity required for a strong argument. Members of both parties, Republican or Democrat, Conservative or Liberal, should be reminded that arguments should be won by facts and not pure rhetoric, as governing from the truth will ultimately deliver maximum benefit to the people.

Joe Courtney Wins Election in 2nd Congressional District

After an extensive recount, Rep.-elect Joe Courtney (D-CT) has secured his seat in the 110th Congress, ousting six year incumbent Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT). Rep. Simmons has served his district well during his tenure, and has been a staunch defender of traditional conservative principles, including strong national defense and the protection of our natural heritage. The margin of victory in this election, a mere 90 votes, should encourage Simmons to run again in 2008 and continue to be a voice for principled Republicanism in Congress. With the apparent dearth of viable Republican U. S. Senate candidates in Connecticut, Simmons should also consider this option in 2010.

Nevertheless, Rep.-elect Courtney should be congratulated for his victory. Courtney's name is not unfamiliar to me, as I pass his law office frequently while I am home in Connecticut and it is good to have such local representation in Congress. The Canadian-American wishes him a productive term in the 110th Congress.

Veterans / Remembrance Day: Never Forget

North Americans mark Veterans and Remembrance Day today, commemorating the end of World War I on 1918-11-11 at 11:00. This morning, the Canadians at Cornell Club commemorated the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform with a lovely service overlooking Cayuga Lake. Poppies have been sprouting from lapels across campus this week and weekend, especially at our hockey games versus Harvard and Dartmouth. With our fine military members serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and many other theaters, please take a moment today to remember their service to North America in defense of our freedoms. As Terry Kelly notes, it's "A Pittance of Time."

I've also added a military section to the links sidebar, so you can keep track of what today's heroes are doing in defense of our homeland.

A Thumpin': Democrats Take Control of Congress

In what President George W. Bush described as "a thumpin'," the Democrats have taken control of the U. S. Congress. This afternoon in Virginia, a dignified Sen. George Allen (R-VA) conceded to Sen.-elect Jim Webb (D-VA), handing control of the U. S. Senate to a coalition of Democrats and Independents. Now that Sen. Allen has graciously saved his Commonwealth from a potentially exhausting recount, the new Congress and the President can begin to create the conditions necessary for a productive 110th Congress.

In the end, the results of Election 2006 are ultimately good for the Republican Party. In 1994, the American people handed the GOP the keys to Big Government. Instead of trading it in for a more agile, efficient and compact model, they took it for an extended joyride. If it is to return to power in 2008, it must understand that rhetoric is not a substitute for results and that, as a national party, they must listen to the concerns of all states, not just those shaded in red every four years. Tuesday night confirmed the wisdom of the Democrats' 50-state strategy, and their party will be stronger for it. Likewise, as the GOP prepares for 2008, it must nominate candidates who have a strong chance of winning in all electoral districts. Every state, even those as blue as Connecticut, Massachusetts and California, can be red again!

A Break in the Action

As I have work to get done this morning, The Canadian-American is suspending election coverage until later in the day. In Connecticut's Second Congressional District, current race standings are:

(143 / 149 precincts)

Joe Courtney (D): 116 039 (50%)

Rob Simmons (R): 115 499 (50%)

Final results and commentary about this important race will be posted tomorrow.

True to its billing, tonight's results have been fascinating. However, the general message has been loud and clear. President George W. Bush and the new Congress must work together to provide real leadership. The Nation is waiting.

Democrats Win Control of House of Representatives

Most major networks are projecting that Democrats will win control of the House of Representatives. The Canadian-American congratulates the Democratic Party for this achievement. The results underscore the need for the Republican Party to return to its traditional conservative roots and develop common-sense policies to implement when it returns to power in 2008. The American people will not tolerate another "Do Nothing Congress" and the Democrats will find themselves in the same position as the Republicans two years from now if they do not produce the results which current conditions demand.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) Wins Re-Election

Most major networks are projecting that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) will win re-election. The Canadian-American congratulates him for his victory, yet reminds him that he must listen to his constituents in greater depth. 18 y is a long time in Washington, and can easily foster an "Inside the Beltway" mentality. We encourage him to spend more time in Connecticut in non-election years so that he can better articulate our concerns on Capitol Hill.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R-CT) Wins Full Term

As expected, most major networks are calling the 2006 Gubernatorial Election for Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R-CT). The Canadian-American congratulates her for her well-deserved victory and looks forward to four years of her solid leadership for the State of Connecticut. North of the border, Massachusetts has elected Deval Patrick (D) as the next Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Gov. John Lynch (D-NH) has also secured re-election in New Hampshire. Please stay tuned as more races are called.

Polls Close in Connecticut

Polls have closed at 20:00 EST in Connecticut. Stay tuned for nationally-significant results, expected within an hour. These include:

• Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R-CT) vs. John DeStefano (D-New Haven)
• Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) vs. Ned Lamont (D) vs. Alan Schlesinger (R)
• Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT) vs. Joe Courtney (D)

For full disclosure, supported candidates are in bold. Stay tuned as returns are tallied within the next hour.

Meanwhile in Virginia, Sen. George Allen (R-VA) is ahead of Jim Webb (D) in early returns, although his lead is slowly falling. In Maine, moderate Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R-ME) seat appears to be safe.

Election 2006: It's Go Time

The Canadian-American is back and online to provide coverage of Election 2006 throughout the evening. While I'm primarily concerned with races in Connecticut and elsewhere in New England, I'll be highlighting key contests nationwide. With the Nation facing serious problems such as ensuring the sustainability of our energy supply, combating the economic threat of climate change, maintaining our role as world leader and defending our security and the Constitution, we need a Congress which will be an effective partner in generating solutions. Tonight, the American people will guide the course of our Nation. It is sure to be an interesting night.

Saddam Hussein Sentenced to Death

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to execution by hanging for his role in the 1982 atrocities in Dujail, Iraq. Under Iraqi law, the sentence will automatically be appealed to the Iraqi High Tribunal. Once the tribunal issues their decision, the sentence must be carried out within 30 d. As Hussein must stand trial for other offenses, his execution may be delayed until these proceedings are complete.

While some may cast some doubt on the fairness of the judicial process, there is no doubt that Hussein committed the offense for which he's been convicted. Based on the magnitude of his crimes, his death sentence is a justifiable response. However, care must be taken to impose his sentence in a way which denies him any appearance of martyrdom and therefore provide a rallying point for Saddamist insurgents. Nevertheless, his sentence must be carried out to provide justice for the thousands of lives which have been destroyed by this brutal dictator.