Shakedown book tour, week two

We're now into the second week of my book tour in support of Shakedown. It's going amazingly well. I'm off to Vancouver in six hours for two days of media interviews starting with CKNW's Bill Good Show at 10:30 a.m. PT today and a sit-down with The Tyee, a left-of-centre independent online magazine. In the evening, I'll be speaking at a reception and dinner at the Waterfront Centre hosted by the Fraser Institute. The dinner is sold out, but it looks like there's still tickets available for the reception. Come if you can -- I'll sign your book! 

Today was a pretty great day, too -- I was on John Gormley's show, the number one radio show in Saskatchewan. You can catch it by podcast, here. I was in-studio at CBC Radio in Calgary for their Wild Rose Country, the province-wide call-in show. I've done that show in the past, and it usually feels like a bear-baiting -- every liberal in Alberta (there are a few) seems to be listening, and they call in to wrestle with me.

Not today -- literally 100% of the callers were supportive of my book's thesis, some quite emotionally so. I have discovered that thousands of Canadians have been "quiet victims" of human rights commissions. They're the 90% of HRC targets who make the choice to cut their losses and pay some shakedown money just to get out of the unfair system, but they're scarred by the experience forever. (I suppose even my own father falls into that category, though he refused to pay the danegeld.) Those folks are just glad to hear someone finally chose to fight back.

I was particularly pleased with two callers who identified themselves as immigrants to Canada. One said that freedom of speech was the highest ideal any society could aim for; another said that his immigrant family chose to be optimists, and not dwell on every little set-back they had over the years. It was so inspiring to hear -- I think the host, Donna McElligott, was impressed by her callers today, too.

I also joined John Moore on Toronto's CFRB 1010 drive-home show. He's a libertarian pro-free-speechnik himself, and I was grateful to be able to talk to his massive audience.

I also did some print interviews -- I'll hold off until they're published before writing about them.

Speaking of which, the new issue of The Hill Times has a prominent review of my book. Here's a .pdf of it, including the front-page teaser. I thought it was a pretty balanced review, and positive on the whole. I was tagged the "Michael Moore of the right", but I think I have a greater respect for accuracy than he does, and a touch more personal hygiene, too. But that is actually quite a compliment if the comparison is to Moore's ability to bring stories alive, and to motivate the public to demand political change -- I'll take it as a compliment! Seriously, though, it was a pleasure to talk at such great length with Harris MacLeod, who had obviously spent a lot of time researching the subject.

Shakedown has also gone big on the Internet, too. Here's my interview with Wendy from Girl on the Right; here's Wally Keeler's thoughts on reading it; Denyse O'Leary has written a five-part review of it -- almost a book itself! Here's Mindy's take at Scaramouche, and here's Gerry Porter.

Finally, my friend Nigel Hannaford sent this fun shot of me posing with Laureen Harper at 24 Sussex Drive last week, when I popped by to hand-deliver a copy. (She was also kind enough to feed me supper, and give me some cold medicine!)

Thanks to everybody to has been so hospitable over the past week. I am thrilled with the positive response the book has received from reviewers across the political spectrum and, most importantly, by the feedback I'm receiving from people who have bought the book and seemed to really like it.

I understand that some Chapters stores have stocked out -- such as in Ottawa. My publisher has rush-ordered a second printing, and shelves should be restocked soon -- and you can always order online, and have it shipped directly to you.

Thanks again for your support -- enjoy the book, and come visit me on my tour if you can!