The Conservative Party was set to win Canada’s federal election after ten years of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. The Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, was set to become prime minister. His party was leading by 25 points in voter surveys. But then Donald Trump was sworn in for a second time in America. And . . .

Not only did the Conservatives lose, nationally, Poilievre lost his seat in Parliament, personally. I had a memory of 1994.

That year, the Republican Party romped. We captured the U.S. House for the first time in 40 years. (I say “we” because I was a Republican then. And remained one, staunchly, until 2016.) Not only did the Democrats lose, nationally, Tom Foley lost, personally. He was Speaker of the House.

I rejoiced over the general Republican victory. At the same time, I felt for Foley. “Must be humiliating,” I thought. I think I can imagine how Poilievre feels as well.

Tom Foley lost to George Nethercutt. Poilievre lost to Bruce Fanjoy — amazing name.

• The day after the Canadian election, a White House spokesman, Anna Kelly, said that the election “does not affect President Trump’s plan to make Canada America’s cherished 51st state.”

Oh, there’s a plan? I had no idea.

Are present-day Republicans so thick that they fail to see how insulting all of this is to Canadians? Is that their purpose? To insult and demean them? (And to crater Canadian Conservatives?)

Almost nothing is more obnoxious or detestable than a bully. And I’m afraid that our country — in the form of its government — has become a bully.

During his three-hour visit to Greenland, Vice President Vance said, “We can’t just ignore the president’s desires.” (I wrote about this in a recent report from Copenhagen, here.) The president, Trump, may act like a spoiled child — but he is not entitled to get whatever he wants. Americans should respect the sovereignty of other countries. We are not Russia or China.

Right?

• On Sunday, David Frum wrote,

Canadians will vote tomorrow in the most emotional election since 1988. I have my own preference. But I note: no one doubts that the vote will be free and fair — or that the loser will peacefully accept the voters’ decision. That may not sound like much. It’s more than others have.

• In 2018, I recorded a podcast with Stephen Harper. In an accompanying blogpost, I wrote,

Stephen Harper was prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. He is a conservative, and a Conservative. For years, I called him the “Leader of the West.” Indeed, that was the title of the piece I wrote about him in 2013.

The day after this week’s election, Harper made a statement. I read it with some wistfulness. It is a mature statement, the kind a politician, a leader, should make. The kind a democrat (with a small “d”) should make. If you can imagine a present-day Republican making it, you have a better imagination than I.

Said Harper,

Yesterday’s federal election was the 45th in the proud history of Canada’s democracy.

I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Prime Minister Carney on the results his party achieved. I wish him, and the government he will lead, success as they navigate our country forward during these challenging times. I also want to congratulate Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada on making significant gains, both in seats and popular vote, and bringing an entire new generation of Canadians to the Conservative Party.

To all candidates, campaign volunteers and election workers who participated in this election: thank you for your contribution to our democratic process, one that so many brave Canadians have sacrificed so much to defend. Their legacy is the proud and independent country we must always serve and protect. The True North, Strong and Free.

• On X, the Senate Republicans have an account: “Senate Republicans.” The “handle” is “@SenateGOP.” The account is described as follows: “Updates from Senate Republicans and the Senate Republican Conference, led by @SenTomCotton.”

Here is a sample of their handiwork:

These nameless leakers from the Pentagon want a military that’s woke, not lethal.

That’s why they’re trying to smear Pete Hegseth.

In recent weeks, Hegseth’s main detractors have been other Trump appointees. Do you think they want “a military that’s woke, not lethal”? I don’t. Why should we take seriously anyone who talks this way?

Many Republicans use the word “woke” the way leftists have long used the word “fascist” — as a reflexive, all-purpose, brainless epithet.

(Two years ago, I wrote an article titled “What’s ‘Woke’?” If interested, go here.)

Another sample of the Senate Republicans’ handiwork:

Nameless bureaucrats and the legacy media are teaming up to stop Secretary Hegseth.

They will fail.

“Nameless bureaucrats.” There’s a chestnut. How about “legacy media”? What does that mean? I first heard it from the lips of a young co-worker, of the “post-liberal” stripe. I thought, “Does he mean National Review? We were founded in 1955, by William F. Buckley Jr. Are we ‘legacy’? Is ‘legacy’ bad?”

The way the “post-liberals” use it, I think “legacy media” means outlets that are not Catturd, Joe Rogan, Newsmax, and the like. I have a feeling that “legacy media” means, essentially, “media I don’t like.”

• Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said, “It’s been clear since Day One of this administration that we are not going to tolerate individuals who leaked to the mainstream media, particularly when it comes to sensitive information.”

The use of “mainstream,” qualifying “media,” is interesting. And significant. (Leak to Catturd!)

• I have read stories such as this one my entire life. I find them difficult to read. The one I have linked to is headed “A secret note hidden in Dachau-built ‘Violin of Hope’ tells a tale of survival and craftsmanship.” I found it very moving.

Franciszek Kempa — I hope to remember his name.

• Iván Fischer is one of the two Fischer brothers who conduct. The other is Ádám. They are Hungarian. The other night, Iván conducted the New York Philharmonic in a program of Mozart and Bartók (speaking of Hungarians). For my review, go here.

• From the Associated Press: “A curious bear had some fun on a child’s backyard slide, to the delight of the people watching from inside the house.” To see this unfold, go here. On one hand — yes, delightful. On the other: Bears in the backyard? “Not cool,” as we used to say.

• Back to music: I passed this street corner, in New York, the other day. Filled my head with Gershwin.

Do you remember this lyric, by Ira?

Away with the music of Broadway!
Be off with your Irving Berlin!
Oh, I’d give no quarter
To Kern or Cole Porter
And Gershwin keeps pounding on tin.
How can one be civil
When hearing such drivel?

Etc. Good stuff.

• At the golf range, a man was teaching his grandmother the game. I complimented her on a particular shot. “I’m 90!” she said. (She is an immigrant from Japan.) I said, “The ball doesn’t know how old you are.” She beamed.

• There is something candid and macabre about little kids, don’t you think? Earlier this week, two little boys were with their mother in line at the grocery store. One was about five, the other about three. Their mother said, “You can split a pack of gum.”

The older boy explained to the younger, “You have to chew the gum, not swallow it.” “Why?” asked the younger one. His brother said — thoughtfully, matter-of-factly — “Because if you swallow it, it gets stuck. And you die.”

See you soon, y’all. (Careful ’bout that gum!)

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