This is absolute madness.  How is it that anyone can take this Obama ad seriously?  How can anyone vote for this madman?

So let’s just cut through the haze, here.  The Obama team has young, innocent girls step in front of a camera to beg their mothers to vote for Obama, so that Obama can help enable those children to one day slay the little, innocent girls growing in their womb.

How bone-chilling that those very children are advocating for a man who could care less for their very existence.

The again, that’s evil for ya.  Bone-chilling.  Disturbing.  Stark-raving sick, and sad.

So says Incubus – “The world is a joke when out of love… please come back to us.”

Let it be said, clearly and boldly, right here on damiangoddard.com – there are no “suffering” hockey fans in the GTA.

That’s right.  The NHL may  well be on its way to pulling the plug on the entire season, but fans in Toronto don’t care about hockey.  Now, they certainly care about their Leafs.  But hockey?  They could give a flying Fern Flaman.

There are no hockey fans in the Greater Toronto Area.  And it’s a damned shame.  And I’ve been saying this for years.

Today, it was announced the Brampton Battalion will be moving to North Bay for the start of next year’s OHL season.  And that sad news has significance for yours truly.  Back in 1998, I was hired as the club’s inaugural public address announcer at, what was then called, the Brampton Centre.  I held the post for two seasons, during which time I had the privilege of high-fiving owner Scott Abbott right before blaring “Battalion goal, scored by # 9 Jason Spezza!…” or #10 Raffi Torres!… or #7 Rusty Klesla!… or #18 Jay McClement!…  Great memories.

But what always bothered me through the years, even when I had gone on to become a national tv sports anchor, was the evident lack of passion at the Brampton gate for the incredible product that is Canadian Junior Hockey.

The 15-year lease is up in Brampton.  And so, the Battalion and 500-win head coach Stan Butler will be shuffling off north during the off-season.

And unfortunately, only a select few of the so-called passionate hockey fans in the surrounding Toronto area will care enough to give the Battalion a proper send-off.

So, just how popular is Comrade Soetoro here in Canada?

Well, the question should be – what kind of Canadian supports the current Commander-in-Thief?  Thanks to the Toronto Sun and an Ispos-Reuters poll, we have a pretty good idea.

As all Canuckle-heads know, there are two sets of Canadians: those who are “left of centre”, and those who swap kvass recipes while printing off Nicholas II dart-board facades in their down time.

I’m, as they say, off this reservation.  And yet, I’m devotedly Canadian.  I’d say I’m “conservative”, if not for the fact that I self-identify as “Catholic”.  The word is so very powerful.  If you’re not familiar with it, I suggest you look it up.  Really interesting stuff!

Anyhoo, apparently 84% of Canadians would hitch themselves to the Obama-wagon if given the opportunity to deke behind the curtain.

Eighty-freakin’-four per cent.  Disappointing?  That’s putting it mildly.

Crazy?   “POLO!”.

But it’s reality, folks.  And it should be a stark reminder for us freedom-loving, faith-filled Canadians of the work that lies before us.

I’ve been roof-topping about the need to “live your faith out loud” and “speak out for freedom”.  But let’s understand this, as well.  Doing so will come at a cost.  The losses may come in the form of friends, family members, co-workers.  God forbid it results in the loss of job, income, or the ability to head down the street with the family for a little take-out.

However this American election shakes down, we’ve gotta hold on to the joy that ONLY CHRIST CAN BRING!

So yes.  You can be pissed off as the number “84” rattles around in your brain, fellow Canuck.

Just remember to – more often than naught – turn that frown up-side down, Charlie Brown.

And when the need arises, give Lucy a little “what for”.

It’s what freedom-loving folk do, for Pete’s sake.

I would wish that every one of my Catholic friends read this brief essay from my good friend Louie Verrecchio. It finishes with a whallop; a healthy, masculine, slap upside the head –

“We’ve become the Church of Martha, Martha — feminized, frenzied and busy about many things; a Church that is all-too-frequently distracted from the only mission that really matters; converting the world to Christ who didn’t lay down His life to establish a think tank.

To that end, I hereby respectfully submit to the Synod the following amendment:

Oh, how we have squandered the liberties and freedoms afforded us, by those before us, who lost their lives fighting for it.

They lost their lives, folks.  Dead.  But oh so living, in my hope… for greater love hath no man that he lay down his life for another.

And what?  What are we worried about? Right here, right now.  Here in Canada.. the true north… strong?… free?…
What’re we worried about?  Losing a few friends on Facebook?  Stepping out of line at work, and thus forfeiting that promotion?

Is there a sense of foreboding in this post?  I wish it were not so.  There is a fear here in Canada that is palpable.  You can taste it, in how folk have become so afraid to speak basic truths, to openly live a life based on these intrinsic values we hold near and dear.

And I hope I’m wrong, but the final domino of freedom is about to fall.  Barring a miracle.

I’ve spent the better part of a year chiming in on the American Presidential Election which is now upon us.  This election doesn’t just affect Americans.  It is of vital importance not just to Canadians.  This is for the free world.

It is my opinion that the United States cannot bear another four years of Barack Obama.  That said, Mitt Romney is still a vote for evil.  Just… lesser than, as if that’s supposed to give us the warm and fuzzies.

This path we’re on is about to get a whole lot rockier.  How strong are we?  How resilient?  How dedicated  DO WE WANT TO BE in rebuilding a society in moribund decay?

Is it possible to recapture what has been squandered?  The answer is, yes.

Americans like to say “One Nation, under God.”  We here in Canada would like to borrow that.  It’s my hope that the entire world does the same.

But a hinge is about to swing on history.  What world will we wake up to on Wednesday, November 7th?

I am a history grad from the University of Western Ontario.  I’ve always taken a shining to history lessons.  Here’s an excellent one.

Good night.  And God bless us all.

Two flesh.  Becoming one.
Ruminate on that for a moment.
And then, if you have children, look into their eyes as they giggle back.
Acknowledge their mother’s temperament.  Notice daddy’s cow-lick.
Then, in your down time, stew on those words once again – two flesh, become one.
Miraculous, ain’t it?

Okay, so where my blog post lacks in production value, this video makes up for it.
In spades.

If at the 3:24 mark of this video you don’t feel a pang in your soul, then I suggest some SERIOUS self-examination.

The words that MUST rip at the arrogance of pro-aborts – every life is sacred.

Don’t mean to spoil the end of today’s Vortex, but “purveyors of spiritual abortion must be silenced” was too good to pass up.

And not that I was ever waiting for the phone to ring off my hook after my dismissal, but Salt & Light TV has never reached out to me; a faithful Catholic, and 20-year veteran of both television and radio.

Hmm.  Maybe I’m not “the right fit for (that) organization”, as well.

Move over, Rogers Sportsnet.

One question I get more than any other is, “would you take back that tweet?” The answer is oft-times met with a pert, “absolutely not”. I am as my Catholic faith made me, after all.

Which, I’m certain, causes many other Catholic acquaintances to roll their eyes like Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

Yeah. I just said that.

But one question I have yet to receive is this – “why select November 1st as the date to launch damiangoddard.com?” Good question, if I do say so myself. Which I just did.

The reason is simple; All Saints Day.

I must admit that much intercessory prayer has gone up to those blessed souls who are, as of this very moment, completely enveloped in the Beatific Vision. I have spent the last number of years leaning quite heavily on the Saints – the men, women, and children who spent their earthly lives setting an example for all to follow, in accordance with the Queen of Heaven.

Yeah, it’s a Catholic thing.

Well, it was during one of those down moments roughly six years ago when I found myself seeking some direction. So I got dressed, jumped in the car, and went to… Chapters.

You thought I was gonna say Mass, didn’t you. Admit it, you Bible-thumping freak.

Anyhoo, I was just kinda aimlessly flipping through the oodles of chicken-noodley, pseudo-pagan, self-worship, self-help concoctions in the “Religion and Spirituality” aisle, when I came across a book that caught my eye.
“Voices of the Saints”. By Bert Ghezzi.

Hmm. An Italian Catholic. Interesting.

I bought the book, took it home, and didn’t open it for a few days. (Enter backstory of my Grade 1 report card – “Damian is easily distracted.” Groan)

But when I did get around to it, I decided I would pick the first of the 365 Saints therein via random selection.

I felt like one of the contestants spinning that giant wheel on the Price is Right.

The Saint I selected was St. Catherine Labouré.

So THAT’S where the Miraculous Medal came from!, I almost blurted out halfway through her story.

And then, the final words in that saintly entry, that stabbed at my heart – “I knew nothing. I was nothing. For this reason God picked me out.”

I remember my weeping being so… full… so cleansing. I actually felt like a filmy, scummy, residue was rubbed off my heart… kinda like how we rub our thumbs over the mouldy parts of a carrot while under running water.

Okay. So you now know that I’m a huge procrastinator AND that I don’t like throwing away food. (Drea, stop laughing)

I’m a pretty emotional guy, (not femme-bot emotional, manly-man emotional) but these tears were profound. I went on to lap “Voices of the Saints” well before the “a Saint for each day” prescription.

And then I went all Victor Kiam on Ghezzi. I loved the book so much, I decided to cold-call the man to say “thank you”. Bert and I have become friends. Though, we have not chatted in quite some time. But now, with this website and broadcast endeavour, I have a reason to make that reconnection.

The Saints. They are perfect role-models. They are gifts from God. And many times, their gifts are presented in bloody, bloody, horrific, self-sacrifice. As God wills. As Christ wants from us, His beloved.
For greater love hath no man…

So, why November 1st?

Because I’ve constantly got some scum that needs rubbing. And I thank the Saints for helping keep me honest. And incredibly joyful.