A note on being grateful during the holidays
As the newsletter wraps up for another year, the writer extends his thanks.
It was a banner year here at the Acceptable Views, and I owe it all to your support.
North of 100,000 readers stopped by, we have a distribution list 1500 strong, and we even reached Substack Bestseller status for one brief, shining moment. If you enjoyed some of these missives, please consider an upgrade today. (Presently 10% off for the holidays.)
After taking the time to write to you from multiple countries, coasts, cafes, and political conferences, the least I could do was try to ring in the holidays with as heartfelt a message as possible to you, Dear Reader, and you’re welcome to check out a face made for radio below.
On the year in review side, I’ve been particularly proud of a few columns this year.
From a recent feature from Chris Brunet (whose recent bomb-shell investigation into plagiarism at Harvard caught the eye of the Joe Rogan Podcast, and even Elon Musk):
'I won't consider returning to Canada until unvaccinated Canadians can have organ transplants'
It’s the beginning of the holiday season, which means for the majority of Canadians it’s a time to plan, gather, give thanks, forget what ails them, and look towards the promise of a New Year, and a new beginning. After all, even a nation in precipitous decline deserves a breather, and a little (ginger) bread and circus.
To multiple appearances from Rupa Subramanya of The Free Press, True North, and the National Post:
'The experts have no idea what they're talking about': Trudeau courts disaster with India, and the Indian diaspora
It’s 7:14 a.m. on June 23, 1985, when Air India Flight 182, en-route from Montreal to London, disappears from radar. The fuselage is found vivisected 120 miles off the Irish coast. Of the 329 souls onboard, 268 Canadian citizens served as explicit collateral damage.
Dispatches from Ottawa featuring the Right. Hon Stephen Harper, and Pierre Poilievre:
The right adults, in the wrong room
After a week at Canada’s largest small-c conservative networking conference, put on by the good folks at the Canada Strong and Free Network — and after some time spent on the Hill, where one had to periodically dodge Biden’s ever-expanding security detail — “Hi, pardon me, my name’s Alex, we follow each other on Twitter,” has been so baked into my vocabulary, it may take cognitive behavioural therapy to rid the habit entire.
Notes from inside a mayoral campaign:
'It's about standing up for the regular folks, come hell or high water': In conversation with Anthony Furey
Toronto’s problems aren’t unique, but, as is the case in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Vancouver, they’ve fallen on concerned, ordinary citizens to solve. Like the efforts underway in those similarly once-great cities, Anthony Furey’s have been anything but ordinary.
Or, even essays more personal…
Running in Vancouver
It’s been two years since the combined intellect of the Trudeau and Ford governments gifted yours truly with a heart condition, and I’m starting to feel a bit more like myself. I knew something was wrong the moment the second dose of Pfizer went on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride throughout my system, inflamming most of what it came across; but mainly: my heart.
I’ve tried to bring readers into the political fold to the best of my abilities, and I hope on occasion that some of these words have resonated, or, at the very least, entertained.
The goal is to build on this growing foundation in 2024, knowing how important that year is going to be from an election perspective here in both Canada, and for our neighbours to the South.
The worst should be expected from the usual suspects in media and in office, so I’ll be here right along with you mixing it up, and hopefully best representing your wholly reasonable beliefs and priorities, that deserve far greater than to be tarred and feathered by men and women on their sixth booster.
You’re not some “fringe minority” holding “unacceptable views.” You’re my kind of people. And you’re on the right side of history.
To borrow from Fitzgerald: "They're a rotten crowd. You're worth the whole damn bunch put together."
See you in 2024, where I hope you receive all that you deserve, and more.
-Alex
(P.S. If one is so inclined, you’re welcome to support my work this holiday season, or give the gift of independent media for 10% off.)
Nicely said. We are the champions. So sorry that your heart was injured by the pokes. I hope it will serve you well for years to come. Merry Christmas, Alex.
"You’re not some “fringe minority” holding “unacceptable views.” You’re my kind of people. And you’re on the right side of history".
Thanks for this. I needed this boost since we're getting it in politics, in our church, kind of surrounded everywhere by the woke.
But the "fringe" are being roused and all of this woke stuff is heading to the garbage dump with the common sense rallying cry. People are waking up to the fact that the tolerant, nice types are anything but once you cross them and challenge them.
Merry Christmas Alex!