‘Freedom Convoy’ is mostly a convoy of the clueless -

Democracy is fading. We admire it however scarcely raise a finger to guard it. We don’t vote, we hang around on social media slightly than learn dependable information, and a few of us, nicely, as an alternative of operating for workplace, drive to Ottawa to overturn the federal authorities.

This week’s hearings into the February convoy of the clueless confirmed us what occurs when the inmates run the asylum, when the purchasers run the diner. The fries are greenish and the gravy is lumpy with bugs.

It’s taking place in lots of locations, most dangerously within the U.S. the place ex-President Obama campaigning for the Democrats in Arizona lastly grew to become specific, which sadly isn’t his method.

If the Republican candidates win, Obama informed a rally, “democracy as we all know it could not survive in Arizona. That’s not an exaggeration,” he added. “That could be a truth.”

The Canadian and American screamers are vaguely related — the Oath Keepers trial can also be on proper now — with the Canadians attempting to assert semi-respectability whereas the People are nicely past that.

Most of the convoy sorts testifying have been folks I’d hesitate to share an elevator with. There’s one thing off about them.

James Bauder, a trucker, in a vivid blue flannel or madras shirt was violently boring, the type of man who says, “Hootie patootie this appears to be like good, Sharon” when he sits right down to dinner however needs to exchange the federal authorities with a central committee. You would not shut him up.

There have been different oddly dressed, media-hating conspiracy hounds, Tamara Lich being a decided, hard-faced outlier.

I grew up in Norway Home, Man., in Sioux Lookout and Kapuskasing, Ont., in Port aux Basques, Bonavista and Halifax. I frolicked with many Liches out again behind the rink. Their moods change quick. They don’t suppose straight. Once they get mad, their eyes get yellow. Right here, have my beer why doncha, I’d say rapidly.

In probably the most charitable method, I’d describe the Ottawa convoy organizers, so disorganized they’d give hoarders a foul identify, as folks with out social expertise. They can not learn a room. The inquiry, sadly, is being held in a single.

There was, aside from the primary few days, no honking in Ottawa. So claimed self-styled trucker and convoy co-organizer Benjamin Dichter. However everybody is aware of there was honking, continuous, for days on finish. Adults heard it. Newborns have been unable to sleep. It’s on video.

Nope, stated Dichter. As World’s Alex Boutilier stories, Dichter was requested why his upcoming guide was known as “Honking for Freedom” if there wasn’t numerous honking. “Honk was only a pure title for it,” he stated.

Dichter is an affiliate of Maxime Bernier and co-founder of LGBTory (I take it the T refers to Tory slightly than “transgender,” however maybe I’m unsuitable).

In 2019, he informed a Bernier crowd that “Islamist entryism and the difference of political Islam is rotting away at our society like syphilis.” When Boutilier requested about this at a press convention, Dichter declined to clarify and prompt the reporter learn extra.

Dichter is a minor determine and never an fascinating one, however he jogged my memory of somebody. Oh sure, Troy Faulkner.

Faulkner is the Jan. 6 Capitol rioter, a housepainter, who was filmed breaking a window within the U.S. Capitol whereas sporting a jacket bearing his surname and phone quantity. Faulkner’s lawyer stated hopefully that his shopper had turned himself in.

“Was this after he already burned the coat?” requested the decide. It was.

“Burning the coat isn’t an excellent factor,” the lawyer admitted, however famous Faulkner nonetheless had three different variations of the coat. Faulkner, sentenced Thursday to 5 months in federal jail and an anger administration program, then left the courtroom and started shouting at reporters a few pedophile conspiracy.

Once more, marginal folks. The inquiry into the usage of the Emergencies Act is necessary, however the gasoline that drives it’s sheer Canadian politeness that turned to weak point. Everybody should have their say. Nonsense. Everybody should have a vote, however not a platform to babble publicly to a non-public constituency of unusual.

That is how the inquiry has fallen aside. Witnesses cried, which might be comprehensible within the Portapique bloodbath inquiry, however not this one. In Washington, one-eyed (he shot himself within the eye) Oath Keeper Elmer Stewart Rhodes III has up to now teared up twice at his Capitol riot trial.

In Ottawa, the ex-police chief cried. Lich cried as she described her father being requested to depart a restaurant, of all issues, presumably throughout the pandemic. Was he unvaccinated or unmasked? She didn’t say.

The honking downtown didn’t trouble her, she stated. “I’ve spent many days on the location of a drilling rig and there’s numerous diesel fumes and there’s numerous noise,” she stated. Though not outdoors of her residence, in fact.

There was rather more of this from these imply, childlike folks, everlastingly informal about issues like honesty, decency, and cash. I resent having to observe them posing on a authorities stage and discover them vile.