| The Kensington Review |
13 May 2005 |
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Latest Commentary:
Senate Accuses French, Brititish Politicians in Oil-for-Food Scandal -- The US Senate's Government Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has alleged that the UN Oil-for-Food program benefited Charles Pasqua, former French interior minister, and George Galloway, MP, the recently elected independent who was tossed from the Labour Party for his anti-war stance. Messrs. Pasqua and Galloway both said the US Senate was wrong, professing their innocence. Or as Mr. Galloway put it, "This cannot possibly be called an investigation. This is a lickspittle Republican committee, acting on the wishes of George W. Bush." Somebody's lying. Canadian Government Loses Vote, Stays in Office -- In a parliamentary system, when a government loses on a major vote, it is customary for it to resign, and the nation has an election. There is no hard and fast rule over what constitutes a major issue, although budgets count as major whereas adjournments for lunch aren't. Otherwise, it is largely up to the government to decide when its credibility is sufficiently on the line to make a matter one of confidence. Earlier this week, the Canadian government lost a vote that the opposition claimed was a big deal, and the government claims it was not. It was, and Prime Minister Paul Martin should resign. United Dumps Pension Problem on Taxpayers -- A US bankruptcy judge has let United Airlines off the hook for pension commitments it made to its workers. Judge Eugene Wedoff has given the carrier until Tuesday to end four pension plans covering various workers and retirees -- "It involves choosing the least bad of the unfortunate choices." The liability will go to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (which means taxpayers), and some retirees won't get everything that was promised. The International Association of Machinists has said 94% of its voting members have approved a strike if the existing labor contract is voided and the retirement package isn't good enough. But that still gives UAL a huge advantage over other "so-called" legacy carriers. Baseball Creates Its Own World Cup -- All one can say is "about damn time!" Yesterday, Major League Baseball, the MLB Players' Association, Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korea Baseball Association and the International Baseball Federation finally got their acts together and announced the World Baseball Classic, a World-Cup style tournament that will take place in March 2006. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig will provide details in mid-July right before the American All-Star game, but for now, it is enough to know it's happening. © Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux. |
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