Friday digest

- In typical fashion, the Bloc Quebecois, which represents a province representing just over 20% of Canadians (and falling), has demanded one-third of all new federal transfer monies within four years.

Just another day at the office for the separatists, who have the ultimate luxury to propose and oppose pretty much whatever the hell they want because they are free from the burden of accountability that comes with a seat at the table of government.

- The leader of the party which knows what's best for everyone (see here) won't get his chance to tell the leader of Afghanistan why he's wrong and that the Taliban are really not a half-bad bunch of guys (see here). Sorry, Jack, but the "let us enlighten you" routine won't work with a leader like Harmid Karzai.

- The author of the 1998 Iraq Liberation Act says he would have voted for the coalition's mission, here: "This deal with Iraq makes me want to throw up. I’m sick and tired of being told that if you voted for authorization, you voted for the war. It was a mistake, and I would have made it, too.”

- Phrase of the day today comes from US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton: "Comic strip diplomacy".

- This commentator asks when the "open season" on Islam is going to end and as per usual, blames pretty much everyone else for his faith's troubles rather than extolling Muslims to take a good, hard look in the mirror and asking the hard questions about violence, tolerance and dissent. There's your answer, pal.