Those who follow me on Twitter will be aware that I had a little out-of-the-ordinary fun this weekend, and headed up to Ottawa to speak at the Manning Centre Networking Conference and Exhibition, to speak about the application of online technologies in the context of political campaigns, with co-panelists Stephen Taylor and David All. The public speaking went well (I won't bore you with the details, if you want to read about our panel, here's a generally fair and accurate writeup from Kady O'Malley of Macleans); the rest of the abbreviated visit was definitely fun.

Ottawa is a small place-- I wouldn't say, based on what I was told, that it was randomly selected as Canada's capital per se, but, well, it wasn't a big, established city at the time the Canadian capital city was selected. So, it doesn't feel like a lot of capital cities I've visited do. Parliament Hill is really very accessible, almost like the town square in a now slightly overgrown village-- and thank goodness, too, because as it happened, I had just over 24 hours in Ottawa, a presentation to polish and deliver, and a flight to catch back ridiculously early yesterday morning (really: I got up at 3:50 in the morning to be sure I'd make it).

That was plenty of time to check out the building where Parliament sits-- a beautiful building, which reminds me a little of the main Univeristy of Glasgow building.

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I've been meaning to post about this all day... yesterday, actor Ron Silver passed away at age 62 in New York.

Hubby and I had the good fortune to meet Ron at the 2008 Republican National Convention.  We both thought he was a very nice man-- and we also both remain huge fans of his work on the West Wing.  He'll be missed, but his work will not be forgotten. 

See also Roger Simon's farewell post-- well worth a read, not least because of the unique friendship these two shared.

Rest in peace, Ron. [intro]

There's been a ton of back and forth about Michael Steele today. I've updated my previous post repeatedly, and don't care to say too much more on the subject. However, I will say this, briefly.

I continue to be glad that we have an RNC Chairman who is open and accepting of moderates and libertarians in the Party. I am glad that Steele said what he did in the GQ interview about homosexuality not being a choice (I agree). I would very much like it, personally, if his abortion position were essentially the same as mine, and I think whatever his precise views are, it's important and counts for a lot that he is accepting of those of us who are pro-choice (whether we're pro-Roe, or not) within the party. But I do think a review of comments he has made, in the GQ interview, during his 2006 Meet The Press interview, and in his clarifying statement, makes clear that he has said things on multiple different sides of the abortion issue. And I do think that's of concern. I emphatically do not think it's wrong, or bad, or disloyal of people, including myself, to point that out. I actually think it's important, and fair.

We have some very important elections coming up next year. The GOP needs to win. I won't argue that in order to do that, we need to espouse a consistently, unmistakably conservative line (I'm not a conservative). I do, however, think it's important that people are clear on what the Chairman of the RNC, the leader of the GOP (no matter what the White House, the DNC or Rush Limbaugh thinks), believes on an issue that is critically important to many Americans, irrespective of what their precise views are on it. And yes, while I don't think it's critical that the GOP be as conservative as possible so we can draw every conceivable contrast with the Democrats, I do think it's important to be able to draw some contrasts-- something that requires clarity, even on issues where there may not be any, or a significant, contrast....