Angel >> Federal NDP leader and prime-ministerial wannabe Alexa McDonough Finally: a socialist in Canada with a lust for power. After a summer-long reflection, McDonough decided she didn't want herself or her party to become solely a "political conscience," to always be against things but never in favour of anything. She wants to form a government, and she's decided to bring the NDP out of its time-warp. To the horror of labour leaders, she appointed the party's first-ever spokesperson on business issues. And she dropped this bomb on Maude Barlow and all the other anti-MAI crusaders: "Globalization is not by definition some kind of disaster. Globalization is a reality." Bold moves for a social democrat.

Insect >> "Winnable" referendums This one really should go down in history as one of the most craven political tactics ever. This past weekend, the Parti Québécois national council voted to hold a referendum in the next mandate if they are re-elected; the next day, party leader Lucien Bouchard threw a tantrum, saying he refuses to hold a referendum unless it is "winnable." The national council promptly backed down and obeyed Bouchard's wishes. But what's with this "winnable" thing? What does "winnable" sovereignty look like? It probably means we're in for yet another confusing referendum question that doesn't really mean anything--that might be winnable, although it would be impossible to tell what on earth you had won.