haroldbesmith.bsky.social
@haroldbesmith.bsky.social
Bike riding Pinko, violin student, erstwhile architect, FBO, NANPS, bike riding pinko. 🕎 🇨🇦
“…in addition to issues previously highlighted by the AG around political staff deleting Greenbelt emails & using personal accounts, the government has a "surprising" lack of documentation on such an important decision & sometimes used code words in communications.”
www.thestar.com/politics/for...
Ford government obfuscated Greenbelt records through code words: commissioner
The RCMP is investigating the government's decision to remove 15 parcels of land from the Greenbelt, which the auditor general and integrity commissioner found favoured certain developers.
www.thestar.com
June 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Gore on Trump
Friends,
open.substack.com
April 29, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Will all due respect, Rubio misquoted Canada’s previous Prime Minister.
I am so over the media's framing of these kinds of issues. Who effing cares if the Trump administration wants to "make" Canada a state?

The correct framing here is: "Is the United States' position that it will no longer be adhere to international law when it comes to Canada?"
WELKER: Does the US still want to make Canada the 51st state?

MARCO RUBIO: I think the president has stated repeatedly he thinks Canada would be better off as a state
April 27, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Unlike lawns: “open landscapes (with)…plants such as tall grasses, flowers & herbs – are (cheaper) to maintain, require less water & energy & help sequester more CO2. “…encourage biodiversity and…(appeal) to pollinators,…a…keystone species on which ecosystems depend. www.bbc.com/future/artic...
'Meadowscaping': The people turning their lawns into meadows
Turning lawns into meadows can have big benefits for people, wildlife and the climate. Here's why 'meadowscaping' has become the latest gardening craze.
www.bbc.com
April 27, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted
The notwithstanding clause that Pierre Poilievre is proposing is a dictator move and once your rights are gone, they're gone. #cdnpoli
April 22, 2025 at 6:53 PM
“These are the heroes: the people who act resolutely on their belief that our system, though flawed and flabby, is worth saving.”
The fuel that feeds the Trump chaos machine? Fear.
April 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM
“"This is the epitome of an absolute needless death," Marks told The Associated Press in an interview on Sunday. "These kids should get vaccinated — that's how you prevent people from dying of measles."
www.cbc.ca/news/world/2...
U.S. health secretary heads to Texas after 2nd unvaccinated child dies of measles-related illness | CBC News
A Texas county is the epicentre of a measles outbreak that started in late January and continues to swell, with nearly 500 cases in the state alone.
www.cbc.ca
April 7, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Reposted
This is what #CanadaStrong looks like.
April 5, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Reposted
THIS is why I watched every minute of Senator Cory Booker’s magnificent 25 hour 4 minute filibuster. We are being violated and abused by disgusting white men. He took us onto the Senate floor with him and said
FUCK YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!!!
It was first time I felt hopeful since election night.
I apologize if this is triggering for anyone, but the United States has what amounts to an abusive spouse for a President. I spent most of my prosecutorial career prosecuting domestic violence cases, and I know so many have lived it (or are still living it). I’ve seen the type, and he’s it.
April 3, 2025 at 4:46 AM
“Instead of a strong America using all our strengths to lead the world and confront our adversaries, Mr. Trump’s America will be increasingly blind and blundering, feeble and friendless.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/o...
Opinion | Hillary Clinton: This Is Just Dumb
The Signal group chat is only the latest in a string of self-inflicted wounds by the new administration.
www.nytimes.com
March 29, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Reposted
It gets worse.

This Signal situation is just the tip of the iceberg of incompetence in this administration.
March 26, 2025 at 10:08 PM
20 Signs of Tyranny
Friends,
open.substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Reposted
March 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Reposted
On this day in 1911,146 workers died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.

The bosses responsible were never held accountable for the awful working conditions that sparked the blaze.

Remember this today as politicians and their corporate backers attack workplace safety.
March 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
“I would call Trump’s foreign policy philosophy not “containment” or “engagement,” but “smash & grab.” Trump aspires to be a geopolitical shoplifter. He wants to stuff his pockets with Greenland, Panama, Canada & Gaza — just grab them off the shelves, w/o paying...”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/o...
Opinion | A Great Unraveling Is Underway
Trump’s foreign policy philosophy is not “containment” or “engagement,” but “smash and grab.”
www.nytimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted
Remember that this is where his discussions with El Salvador began. The migrant detentions there are the dry run. He wants to ship U.S. prisoners to El Salvador.We cannot sleepwalk through this.
March 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Is the Muskrat working for China? (Is Trump working for Putin?)
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Is the Muskrat working for China? (Is Trump working for Putin?)
The fact we don’t know and can’t know is itself a problem
open.substack.com
March 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted
March 21, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Reposted
AOC: I want to live in an America that guarantees healthcare to every person.

I want to live in an America that has a living wage for every person

I want to live in an America where you have free speech to express yourself and not be afraid of being put on a list or deported.
March 21, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Reposted
Alito, Thomas, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Barrett, Roberts—they’ve unleashed this monster.
So now that a judge is under attack, Chief Justice John Roberts wakes up to push back. Wasn’t he the guy who wrote immunity was needed so the President wouldn’t be deterred “from taking the bold and unhesitating action required of an independent Executive”? Like what you did now, Justice Roberts?
March 19, 2025 at 3:44 AM
March 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted
Ask yourself:

Why would anyone who wasn’t an asset of the Russian government do this?

Why would any decent human being do this?
March 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM