So Many Heads And No Available Crowns...

What a sight for sore sighs...three men who would be king, each of them without access to a most coveted crown. The Prince of Wales and Camilla have arrived in St. John's. (We all have a pretty good idea of how long Charles is likely to wait.)

But what of the other two pretenders of the realm? Prince Stephen fancies the idea of lording it over all he surveys but so far, Canadians have thought otherwise. Three cheers for reasoned common sense!

And what would be a royal reunion without the aspirant to the throne of the Rock. Prince Danny has already issued a few choice proclamations -- just ask any and everyone who happens to be smarting in the land of the fleur-de-lys. (I'll bet they're more than willing to light Danny's fire!)

In short, it requires an expert of the highest calibre to correctly fashion crowns for what could potentially be extremely swelled heads.

Break out the ermine robes, sceptres and champagne. The royals are in for a hell of a good time.

The Ultimate Topper In Hypocrisy!

I have to say one thing about the Obama Administration. They sure know how to deliver a message with a sledgehammer. (Has Barack taken a page from this Prime Minister's playbook?!) Recent Canadian history has confirmed that this approach, more often than not, leads to mixed results.

But there was Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in Pakistan, plainly stating publicly that she believes that officials in that government, its armed forces and intelligence service (ISI) have more than a little idea where Osama Bin Laden is.

I have a pretty good idea where Bin Laden is also -- but guess what, it isn't in the border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. My strong suspicion is that he is sitting comfortably smack in the middle of one of our most reliable allies...he is likely under protective custody, which may or may not be officially sanctioned.

Somehow I suspect that I'm not the only person in Washington D.C., Ottawa, or elsewhere for that matter who happens to have come to that conclusion.

Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio?

The song sure got it right. I can't believe what's going on at the Quebec National Assembly...to see elected members merrily indulging in indirect character assassination without resort to a single shred of evidence boggles the mind.

I'm all for parliamentary privilege but the spectacle going on in Quebec City strikes me as a new high in low -- totally irresponsible behaviour devoid of any integrity.

Of course, it all went down from there with serial denials about the conduct of persons who just so happened to have done nothing wrong; assorted alleged threats to the physical and mental integrity of persons associated with this political farce.

Makes one wonder where it will all end. Has political democracy been reduced to this?

And then people wonder why thoughtful and intelligent individuals would rather eat dirt than enter public life...

Can You Hook Up A Law To A Ventilator?

I can't help but wonder whether a federal law can be hooked up to a ventilator?

I've been watching the Federal Accountability Act in recent months. Events have left the impression that political erosion is well underway and that the foundation of the act could be in jeopardy.

It seems to be one thing after another. Drip, drip, drip...

Surely, this wasn't what parliamentarians had in mind when the landmark legislation was passed. I thought the FAA stood for the Harper government.

Apparently, I was mistaken.

The Harper Effect.

As an economist, I'll bet that this Prime Minister if he could have his druthers would like to be known for some innovative economic theory which his government could put into practice to quell the recession. Economic malaise is often a highly resistant enemy.

But that's not what I see in his future. Until now, Hillary Rodham Clinton seemed to be the person most likely to wear the glass ceiling syndrome into the history books. But fortunately for her, a new contender stands ready to inherit the crown.

Stephen Harper has done everything short of turning himself into a monkey but to no avail. He is enjoying a thrilling roller coaster ride in the polls only to inevitably find himself once again on a predictable down slope. Too bad the guy isn't overly fond of skiing!

To my mind, that quite literally screams GLASS CEILING. Canadians have taken the pulse of the devil they know and some indescribable force has prevented them from "pushing the button" for Harper in solid terms. We know what we've got but conversely, we also have quite an idea of what could be coming!

The man is seen as competent, diligent and single-minded. That third one's much of the trouble. You don't get the sense that Team Harper means more than one person in the shower each morning...

A prime minister in our system is always first among equals. That's a concept that seems to have escaped the present incumbent. Harper is ideally suited for a presidential system.

Let's keep an eye on the ball and see whether this PM makes it into the texts for The Harper Effect. My wager is that he's already there.

Lady Macbeth For President...

The runoff is coming in Kabul and across the country in two weeks. Afghan President Hamid Karzai strikes me as a man with few electoral worries. More of the same down the road, I regret to report. He has so many colourful family members.

There's talk of a national unity government under his good auspices. Yawn.

I'm for thinking out of the box: Lady Macbeth for President! Let her political slogan ring across the land -

"Out, damn'd spot! out, I say!—One; two: why, then
'tis time to do't.—Hell is murky.—Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and
afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our
pow'r to accompt?—Yet who would have thought the old man to
have had so much blood in him?"

Pledges of political reform as precious blood continues to flow for naught. But then there's the track record. Nothing quite like highly inconvenient facts. The psychological mindset can't help but continue along with the political paralysis.

Leave it to Lady Macbeth. July 2011 can't come soon enough for me. Bring our people home.

How Many Shovels?

Call my fickle but I'm looking for a commitment from this Prime Minister beyond the twelve percenters actually in the ground! I'm still waiting for Stephen Harper to tell us precisely how much of the APPROVED stimulus package will actually make it to shovels in the ground. So far, the silence has been deafening.

Now Prime Minister, far be it from me to imply that your government is intent on turning off the spigot before the spring of 2011. I'm sure that the PM will want to go public on that score and confirm that all funds APPROVED will in fact make their way to the construction stage.

Harper has stressed time and again how important it is to do everything we can to create jobs and put people to work. I expect he intends to hold up his part of the bargain. But just in case, we'll be watching with interest.

A Spring Election?

The defining moment of this Parliament is likely to come this spring when the budget is tabled. The Athletes' and Olympics Party...oh sorry, what was I thinking -- ah, ah, I mean the Conservatives, will still be comfortably ensconced in a warm glow (serves them right for not supporting climate change legislation) rapt with overconfidence and smug satisfaction. (In other words, no different than they are now.)

Jack should be all fired up over HST and so will the Bloc, replete with its sovereignist hand out for federalist cash.

Can't you just feel those little wheels spinning in the Prime Minister's brain. Let me guess? Harper has it already figured out how the Liberals will cave into pressure and support the budget with their collective tails securely fastened to their desks.

All I can say is: think again, brother! Budget time is going to be crunch time for this government. We'll vote him up or down and may the chips fall where they may.

Call me Thatcher on this one. You can turn if you want to but the lady isn't for turning and quite frankly, neither am I. Michael has some serious thinking to do between now and then but I'm confident he won't let me down. The Harper itch has proven itself to be a lot harder to scratch than originally anticipated but sooner, or later, Michael is bound to get the hang of it.

Thank You, Prime Minister.

I want to thank our Prime Minister for taking the time to place a phone call to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Words fail me to express my appreciation for his reading the riot act to Karzai.

Harper's conduct has done our soldiers proud and increased the lustre surrounding the memory of our fallen soldiers, diplomat and aid workers.

We may have our political differences but again, thank you for stepping up on behalf of Canadians.

I haven't changed my position on the war in Afghanistan. I can only hope that eventually the PM comes around to my view. Afghanistan is another Viet Nam waiting to happen. Just ask potential "one-term" à la Johnson President Barack Obama.

Canadian Blood Is Being Shed For THIS Man?!

President Hamid Karzai has finally revealed for all the world to see his true colours: not as a thoughtful and reform-minded democrat but as an autocrat intent on holding on to power at any cost.

There has been so much fraud in the Afghanistan presidential election that it puts former Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis to shame. Duplessis was a rank amateur next to Karzai's people...

No wonder President Obama is in no hurry to send American reinforcements to Afghanistan. The Afghan president's contempt for the principles of democracy is more than self-evident. That man needs to leave the political scene and he needs to do it now. I'm tired of holding up the corrupt while fighting the wicked.

Is this really worth shedding Canadian blood for? Again, I say no way. If Karzai hangs on (whether or not he blocks a runoff), we should withdraw in 2011 and play absolutely no military or civilian role from that point on.

A Year Of Cognitive Dissonance.

Welcome to Harper Day! You remember it well -- that's when the voting public returned this government with an increased minority. As a democrat, I bemoaned that fact but accepted the political will of the Canadian people. (The actual anniversary was last Wednesday.)

Then came the months of November and December when history was almost made but for the fact of the prorogation of Parliament by the Governor-General. No one needs to be reminded how Conservative support spiked upward during the so-called "coalition crisis".

We're seeing that again now: Ekos has the Conservative lead at fifteen points! But this Prime Minister isn't smiling. As a strategist, Harper is smart enough to know both last fall and now that voter expression is nothing more than an example of cognitive dissonance.

Think about it for a moment -- the voters want this Parliament to "work" but what does that really mean in the cruel world of real politik? It means much more of the same. Political stagnation on issues where the government is determined to hang tough (such as the environment) and ramrodding bills through the House on other matters with single opposition party support.

To my mind, that is the key element of cognitive dissonance. Another thing that should have this Prime Minister worried is how his high polling numbers will eventually translate when we finally get to an election. There is no way in hell that the Conservatives can hold a ten to fifteen point lead and they bloody well know it! Once we've gone to the polls, their support is likely to drop in the first two weeks of the campaign. Harper has to solidify the base while holding the middle.

In the final analysis, it will boil down to this: do you feel comfortable with Stephen Harper in office for potentially another four to five years? That will be the ballot question. The polls in tandem are saying "Yes!". I'm suggesting that when push comes to shove that the eventual answer will be "No".

Thank God For The Queen...

Constitutional scholars rejoice! The debate is raging as to who is actually Canada's Head of State. The booming PMO reminds us that the role is vested in the monarch with most of its powers devolved to her representative, the Governor-General.

However, most recent GGs had another idea -- which seems to come out of actually doing the job. Governor Generals, past and present consider themselves as the de facto head of state.

Sorry boys and girls but this isn't horseshoes. Essentially, the PMO has it right but that doesn't mean that things should stay as they are. Stephen Harper gets to choose the Governor-General, not the Queen. She quite properly follows the advice of her prime minister.

Perhaps now is the time to move to a ceremonial president. Cut the last formal link with Great Britain and let Michaëlle Jean actually be Michaëlle! The president would be named by the PM but at least it would still take two to tango.

I'm open to compromise in true Canadian fashion but one thing's for sure -- count me out on the idea of combining the powers of head of state with that of head of government. Anything short of that is the way to go just so long as I never hear the most dreaded words in the Canadian lexicon: "Good Day, President Harper!"

The Two Most Well Massaged Words In The English Language: Conservative MAJORITY.

I've got to hand it to this Prime Minister. The man is one clever operator. Just look at the EKOS poll done for the CBC which gives the Conservatives a fourteen point lead -- makes me wonder if the PM honed his technique in Stockholm...

I hope Stephen Harper is a fish lover. After all, no one in memory has ever been better at serving up red herrings to a gullible public.

A case in point (from The Star):

OTTAWA–The Conservative government was accused of orchestrating an "extraordinary" cover-up after public hearings into alleged torture of Afghan detainees resumed briefly Wednesday.

Justice department lawyers have moved to block the probe into complaints about military police conduct in Afghanistan by throwing a national security blanket over the inquiry.

"It is extraordinary to me that there has been such a determination on the part of the government to cover up evidence and shut down witnesses and to prevent people from coming forward who would have something to say," Liberal MP Bob Rae told reporters Wednesday.

Rae (Toronto Centre) said there are serious allegations of torture at Afghan prisons and questions surrounding circumstances in which prisoners were transferred from Canadian to Afghan control.

"I don't believe that it is in the national interest for Canada to be covering up this information," he said.

Peter Tinsley, the military police complaints commissioner, postponed the hearings for a week while lawyers squabble over the breadth of the investigation into what military police in Kandahar knew about the possible abuse of prisoners handed over to Afghan authorities.

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It is me or is it passing strange that the commissioner's mandate is not being renewed. Surely, it's also a coincidence that Tinsley will not be remaining as a member, even though he allegedly requested it himself. Again, must simply be "happenstance"...

I don't know about you but I find national security to be a highly convenient cloak. This strikes me as painting with overly broad strokes.

On to the next gem.

Conservative surrogates have been quite busy lately. This is how the CBC reported the latest salvo against a longstanding CPC target:

Two writers appeared before the justice committee on Monday, repeating their call for a repeal of a controversial section of the Human Rights Act, and asking for a probe into the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn are also calling for the elimination of Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which allows the commission to investigate allegations of hate speech.

"I think a very practical, doable thing for this committee and for Parliament would be to repeal Section 13 of the Human Rights Act altogether, to leave any hate speech prosecutions to the Criminal Code with its proper checks and balances, and frankly, to bring in a forensic audit to the Human Rights Commission to examine the allegations that I have made," Levant told the commission.

Levant is alleging that employees of the commission belong to neo-Nazi organizations, an accusation he made in July in a National Post column.

Some committee members, like New Democrat MP Joe Comartin, seemed incredulous at the accusation.

"I think I like everybody sitting at this table are at some disadvantage, Mr. Levant and Mr. Steyn, in terms of the accusations that you're making against members of the commission and their staff."

Levant offered to give MPs documents to back his accusations and come back to testify once they had read them.

Levant was subject of a complaint to the Alberta Human Rights Commission under the act for reprinting the provocative Danish Muhammad cartoons in his magazine in 2006. He published the controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in the now defunct Western Standard, arguing that they were "the central fact in the largest news story of the month."

A complaint was launched by the Canadian Islamic Congress against Steyn for an article he wrote titled "The Future Belongs to Islam" and posted on the magazine's website in October 2006.

The article, an excerpt of a book authored by Steyn, talks about Islam being a threat to North American institutions and values. It used statistics to show higher birth rates plus immigration mean Muslims will outnumber followers of other religions in Western Europe.

Both complaints were eventually dismissed.

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This entire episode troubles me. I'm not a fan of hate speech. I want as many tools in the drawer as possible to deal with it. That is precisely why I do not agree with Levant and Steyn's approach.

Both of these files strike me as somewhat symptomatic of Conservative group think. I don't like that mindset or mentality. To my mind, what we're seeing is warning bells and caution flags in spades. Something to seriously think about...

Afghanistan: Time For The Not So Long Goodbye.

It's not easy for me to write this post. Having visited La Citadelle de Québec and had the honour of passing through the chapel and museum of the Royal 22e Régiment, it's not a comfortable feeling breaking faith with our Canadian Forces -- especially after we've lost 131 soldiers, one diplomat and two aid workers. But that's how our precious democracy functions. Each citizen has to come to his or her own conclusions.

Our Prime Minister recognizes that it is the will of Parliament that all combat operations come to an end in Afghanistan in July 2011. Some would like to see a further extension of the mission, either in a supporting military or humanitarian role. I say no. NATO should be informed as expeditiously as possible that 2011 is it. Leave it to others on the European continent to make a foolish mistake, most notably British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (as if he didn't have enough problems already).

Canada has done her duty and has nothing to be ashamed of. Our forces have been stretched to the limit and sending our troops over there for 3-4 rotations is almost an obscenity. Those families deserve better than that.

Now, let's turn to the world of No Drama Obama. I sense that the President is extremely cautious about escalating troop levels. The U.S. already fields 68,000 troops and General Stanley McChrystal is pushing for a further 40,000 in reinforcements. Can you spell Q-U-A-G-M-I-R-E?

The Administration is divided: Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appear to be onside, to varying degrees, but the roadblock is called Vice-President Joe Biden. It's also my impression that President Obama's thinking is more or less in line with that of the VP.

Clearly most of the action has shifted to Pakistan where President Asif Ali Zardari knows he could follow his wife if Al-Qaeda is not brutally suppressed or exterminated. His government is in peril every day of the year and no one wants the terrorists getting their hands on the Pakistani stockpile. This is where most of the West's efforts should be concentrated. This is the vital lynch-pin in defeating Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

As for Afghanistan itself, it's useful to recall that so far the score is 4-0 in favour of Afghan fighters. Just ask the British and the Russians. More emphasis has to be placed on further training the Afghan Army and Police. But NATO cannot and will never win on the ground in Afghanistan. Generals have already admitted that.

In some ways, the West is damned if we do, and damned if we don't. But remember the lessons learned in Viet Nam. In 1968, General William Westmoreland pleaded with President Johnson for 200,000 more troops. Johnson said no, bowing to the inevitable that the war could not be won using military force. That conclusion applies today and God help anyone who's foolish enough to forget it.

So Long Thomas.

Dear Tom,

Again, I have nothing against you personally but with respect, you're dreaming if you think you can hold on to Outremont...yes, yes, you did take it last time with 2,400 votes but you've got big problems waiting:

You guys chose to infuse the breath of life into Stephen Harper after denying him oxygen seventy-nine times. I hear the heat in the kitchen was almost unbearable after that one. Channeling Harry Truman or yes Hillary, even Bill Clinton. I hope your party hasn't ordered a life-time supply of super glue!

You also know that you owe your two victories to soft Quebec nationalists who happen to be of the social-democratic persuasion. Remember, how many of those people deserted the Bloc to give you a win while at the same time delighting in sticking a finger in the Liberal eye.

Those days are over. You can thank Jack for that. He not only killed his leadership but he's also sent you to the bottom of the political ocean.

You might want to think twice about taking a run at Jack's job as soon as it becomes vacant (and it will, right after the next vote). Remember Tom, our fellow Quebecers are not likely to take too kindly to Jack's recent political manoeuverings. No question about it, Jack has been in Toronto for a long time...

HST: Nothing Like Upside And Downside For Almost Everyone.

When historians look back, they may focus on the 2009 HST Federal General Election, when collectively our politicians just happened to bungle into it. The cast of the old reliables is about to get a shake up if minds suddenly go blank and fast moving events take on a life of their own.

Talk about a mixed blessing with potential lethal political consequences: let's start with the Harper government. This Prime Minister, master at wedge politics and hot potato deflection, will need all of his newly revealed talents as piano-playing minstrel to pull this one out of the bag. The man of a thousand contradictions has been all over the map on this one. Harper calls it a provincial matter -- he's nothing more than the federal l'encadreur! Efficiencies of scale seem to be the order of the day, not raising your taxes. Tell that to the minions in British Columbia and Ontario who seem a tad ticked off. Not so the Premiers. They have gazed into the federal light and have been converted to the cause (and subsequent federal cash transfer).

Moving on to the Liberals. Michael has spoken of the Harper Sales Tax while in other quarters assurances have been sought that a future Liberal government will not undo the scrambled eggs. There has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing over which way to go and that decision is expected imminently.

For their part, the Pension Democrats have swallowed their blue little pills and are quite suddenly energized by all of this unexpected vigour...they are intent upon pointing out what is wrong here and on this at least, are prepared to fall on their swords!!! Tell that one to the provincial NDP in British Columbia and Ontario...

That leaves only the Bloc Québécois. They are the only party for whom upside is the name of the game. They have 2.6 billion reasons not to support the bill and have nothing to lose in railing against federal centralization of tax collection.

Get your track suits and sweat pants on. Sweaty palms and times lie ahead in Ottawa.

The Liberal Road Ahead.

The political storm has finally abated over the recent resignation of Denis Coderre as federal Liberal Quebec lieutenant. Michael has called for unity and that's what he should get. Indications are that we will see the job split in two: political operations will fall under the responsibility of one individual while another will take the helm as chief organizer in the province.

Personally, if we move in that direction you won't hear any objections or arguments from me. I hope that the leader looks at several people before deciding whom is best suited to fill these posts.

I note with interest that the chair of the Quebec caucus is increasing his visibility before the media. Marc Garneau strikes me as a person who can play a pivotal role as rebuilding continues in this province. I also want to emphasize that when I think about organization on the ground in Quebec, my mind turns to Pablo Rodriguez. He worked with Coderre and logic suggests he could be at the forefront in whatever capacity the leader might deem appropriate.

It's not for me to tell Michael how to fill a single or several slots. We have plenty of talent across the Quebec wing. Michael knows he has to fill the vacuum. The only thing I'm arguing is that it be done sooner rather than later.

Thanks Jack!

I want to thank Jack and other Pension Democrats for the generous early Christmas present they've given to Liberals -- they of all people recognize the fragile nature of our economy and have therefore "deftly" moved to protect their own personal financial interests.

It's a good thing that the Conscience of Canada doesn't have a direct line to Woodsworth, Coldwell, Douglas, Lewis et al. I suspect the conversation would not go "well". Principles are a wonderful thing until you flush them down the old bowl in the name of collective self-interest...

This brings us to the "cranky" voters as Tom Good has described them. I can't help but wonder why: you've got this Prime Minister who pines for an election so he can ram home his agenda for a solid four years if the distracted masses can be sufficiently hoodwinked; This is the same man whose definition of making a minority Parliament work means everyone else caving so he can get his way on each and every bill put before the House. Funny how people want MPs to work together but conveniently forget, or ignore, that it's generally my way or the highway from the get go.

Wake up Canada. If you want a majority government, at least have the guts to elect one. Put an end to the farce of successive minority parliaments where winning by default is the manta of this government.

Clearly you have two choices ahead of you: you can put your faith in Stephen Harper and enjoy much more of the same -- but in ever increasing INTENSITY! Was that good for you?

Or, you can stick to your allegedly progressive principles and line up behind a solid alternative. That brings us to Michael. The man is far from perfect, just like the rest of us. However, Michael is intelligent, thoughtful, generous of character and fundamentally a stand-up guy. Does he strike you as the type of person who could go to bat for you over the next four years? Will his Canada generally be a good fit with your Canada? If the Canadian way is a middle-of-the-road approach, only you can ratify that in the next campaign. If you're in the mood to hug the progressive center, now is the time to line up behind the Liberals.

It's going to take strategic voting to send this Prime Minister back to Calgary. There is no other choice -- without it, the job can't be done. So make a decision and then head to the polls, when we finally have an opportunity, and speak in one voice for the kind of Canada I believe most of us cherish.

In short, voting for the largely discredited Pension Democrats gets you a sure thing: at minimum, several more years of Stephen Harper. Voting Green will dilute the progressive vote allowing Conservatives a clear path to victory in many crucial seats.

It's up to you now. So go out there and bring much needed change to Canada.

Well, we're not for them, but..we're not against them either.

Now let me get this straight -- you're MPs but you're not supporting Harper nor are you backing the other opposition parties.

I guess which party forms Canada's government is not important enough for the Pension Democrats to bother with the outdated formality of a vote!

That's the Pension Democrats for you: present in the House but with each member securely tied in his or her seat.

BEYOND PATHETIC. I hope they lose every one of their damned seats when this government is finally defeated.

They Say We Get The Government We Deserve!

Canadians sure are an interesting lot: most of them quite obviously think that this Prime Minister is the bee's knees. No objections, no complaints, no desire to get off their duffs to go out and vote.

So what the hell -- why are the rest of us bothering? Let Harper stay in office until he meets his maker. Why should we care? No one else gives a tinker's damn.

I was under the false impression that more than two-thirds of Canadians wanted someone else in power. I must have been mistaken.

What's 300 million dollars -- but a speck in the ocean. But hey, have it your precious way. Keep chanting "No Election!".

We'll get what we deserve all right but don't be surprised if we come to quickly regret it...

There You Go Again Ron: Missing The Boat!

Remember when Ronnie kept using that expression over and over as he debated Walter Mondale? Well folks, it applies in spades to yours truly.

I should have been a Mayor - as they say in the ring, I could have been a c-o-n-t-e-n-d-e-r. Being mayor is a nice job and just when you find yourself in need of a change of scenery...pow, you might be eligible for a possible Targeted Employment Adjustment Program!

Now wouldn't that have been grand -- coasting from the mayor's chair right smack into the middle of the federal arena as a party candidate.

Would have brought new meaning to the term make work. Oh well, at least I can dream...

Merci Denis!

C'est avec tristesse que j'apprends les nouvelles aujourd'hui de la démission de Denis Coderre comme lieutenant politique pour le Québec.

Il faut le dire. Des erreurs, de part et d'autre, ont été commises quant à la sélection du candidat dans la circonscription d'Outremont. Mais je veux surtout féliciter Coderre pour son niveau d'implication dans la province. Il s'est fendu le derrière pour le parti. On ne doit jamais oublier ça.

Filled With Glee And It Isn't Even Christmas!

Remember how many of us have trouble sleeping as Christmas Day approaches. The excitement mounts as we look forward to the festivities, the food and of course, the presents!

I imagine one man is feeling pretty much like that tonight -- just think, tomorrow he'll hop into the Challenger and head to Saint John -- all the while rejoicing in the fact that he has played Jack and the Pension Democrats for dolts.

Incredible as it may sound, that caucus is still intent on being rolled like suckers by this Prime Minister.

Witness the latest gem by Brad Lavigne as reported in Sun Media:

The NDP’s national director, Brad Lavigne, told CTV’s Question Period the NDP will support the Conservatives to keep alive the prospect of an additional $1 billion in employment insurance benefits, which the Conservatives have proposed.

“The number one priority for New Democrats is to get $1 billion into the hands of 190,000 unemployed workers and their families,” said Lavigne. “We are not going to do anything to interrupt that process.”

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Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't you the guys who said that the Conservative proposal wasn't enough? Perhaps that had something to do with your party previously voting against the Harper government seventy-nine times!

Is Anyone Surprised That It's Off To Saint John?

Call me stupid, but I thought you got your report card at school, not at the ice cream factory!

Quite obviously, this Prime Minister does not take the report card seriously -- otherwise he would be before the House of Commons on Monday and presenting it to the Liberals! You remember them, Mr. Prime Minister, those are the guys who made the deal with you in exchange for supporting your stimulus package...

Pay attention Jack, but I digress.

Anywho, the PM is off to Saint John to deliver the "good" news. God, you don't know how I hope Elsie will be there but again, I digress.

Might not be a bad idea for Paul Zed to put in an appearance as well but again, rather tiredly, I digress. (I'd call that equal time considering that the local MP is bound to be but a few paces behind our sunny Prime Minister.)

Like Hell, It's Not About You!

Nice try, Jack. For the benefit of those who missed it, here is part of his piece in The Star:

Jack Layton
Leader of the New Democratic Party

It's not about us. That's my mantra when I have to make a tough political decision because it can be so easy to succumb to decision paralysis if the focus is inward: What will the other parties do? Will our supporters agree? Will a decision cause rifts? Can it be communicated clearly? Will we be pummelled by the pundits?

But it isn't about us. It's about the people who elected us. So, when discussing our recent decision to support Stephen Harper's offer to improve employment insurance benefits in response to our call for action, I kept turning my mind to the Canadians I met during my recent travels across the country.

These are people for whom the recession is not over. There was the young woman at Queen's University who told me her dad had lost his job in the forestry industry. The family had scraped and borrowed to get her back into school for the fall semester.

Or the mid-level manager I met in Quebec City who had been laid off after 16 years. She pleaded with me to support the EI changes that would give her an additional 20 weeks of employment insurance. At her age, she said, finding a new job is going to be a long, hard struggle.

Or the hundreds of proud miners in Sudbury I met after they had been laid off. What do you tell a 60-year-old man who has lost his job in an industry with an uncertain future?

I have also heard many similar stories from my neighbours and friends here in Toronto, as plants have closed and businesses small and large have downsized. Multiply these stories with those my caucus colleagues are telling me. More than 1.6 million Canadians are now unemployed. Another 200,000 are expected to lose their jobs before this coming winter is over. And the epicentre of the job losses is right here in Ontario.

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Do I think that all of the above was factored into the NDP's decision? Yes I do. But none of Jack's points were the overriding concern. They aren't stupid -- they saw that they would take a drubbing in the next election and that perhaps fifteen to twenty caucus members would not be returning to Ottawa. It's an open secret in Ottawa that many of those same MPs need to get at least another year under their belt to qualify for a full parliamentary pension. For them to pretend that we are living in the Land Of Oz and that this political reality had absolutely no weight in their internal deliberations is beyond ludicrous.

As I've said before, Jack is going to lose seats. He had a choice to support the Liberals and trim his losses or take another route. By propping up the Harper government, he all but guarantees that the NDP will be all but decimated when we finally go to the polls. Not exactly smart thinking Jack.

Malaise.

A vague feeling of [political] discomfort. I don't like it one damned bit. I'm starting to get excited -- I'm already well beyond irritated. Hell, I'm getting more mad with each passing day.

Time for a reality check. Something major better be done and fast. I'm not smart enough to know exactly what the problem is but even an idiot can see that this isn't working.

Time to reassess, reconsider and recalibrate.

Now over to those of you who can actually do something about it.

The Field Of Conservative Dreams.

I had no idea that Infrastructure funding was the political equivalent of fuzzy Math. Programs are underway at a staggering rate -- 12% have shovels in the ground. What this government needs to remember is that an impressive approval rate (far faster than any previous government) requires a necessary secondary component: it's called follow through...

The Conservative project flow lives up to its name on the ground -- it sure is Conservative, with plenty of something being shoveled but it ain't dirt!

Yes, the steel is being ordered but tell that to the people in Burlington, Markham or any other community.

And oh by the way, try not to keep your candidates too well briefed. That has proven to be hazardous to the Harper government's health.

No, No, It Isn't Buy American, It's Reciprocity!

I wonder how Sir Wilfrid Laurier is resting. What would be his reaction in finding out that this Prime Minister is now pushing reciprocity as a way of getting Canadian companies into the game regarding U.S. federal, state and city contracts.

Perhaps success awaits this time. But of course, the Americans want the same access to Canadian provincial, territorial and municipal contracts. Let me take a stab at which country's businesses will win the bonanza if a level playing field is created -- you guessed it, American companies.

This is starting to look a lot like the softwood agreement: we'll have to settle for whatever we can get. Sounds like a pattern to me...

Why don't we throw a little weight around for a change. We aren't exactly beholding but forceful is not an adjective that I would associate with this demonstration of so-called Canadian resolve.

Time to play the energy card. The Americans aren't and have never been shy about playing hardball with their perceived second-tier cousins. Take it to the mat. Or is it only the Russians who happen to know how to skilfully play the geopolitical game?

Jack Will Cave To Save His Leadership.

It may not happen today -- or even next week -- but as sure as I'm breathing, you can count on Jack Layton and the Pension Democrats to cave big time and eventually support a Liberal motion of non-confidence.

The heat is on: the backbiting has already begun with the true believers none too happy propping up their previously sworn enemy, Stephen Harper. Layton's position will only become more precarious over time. Jack has to begin a serious attempt at consolidating his position, pronto. Can it succeed? Not likely unless he starts to move off his present stance having just completed an astonishing 180.

He's got to start thinking about another 180, otherwise the pummeling that his party would have taken in a November election will start to look like a hiccup compared to what will be in store for him if he maintains his present political posture.

Jack's leadership is fading fast and will soon be on life support. He might want something extra special come the holiday season. Liberals should be more than ready to oblige.

Hey Brad!

Brad,

Watched you for many years on the tube. You happen to be one of the social-democrats that I like the best! So how about doing me a favour and sending someone over here to mix it up with me.

We'll generate an interesting intellectual exchange for all those out in cyberspace who may be inclined to follow this crossing of swords.

For my part, I will do my best to live up to the boiler plate of this blog. I suspect whomever my opponent turns out to be that that person will also behave properly.

After all, you guys may not be the best political strategists on the block but you do have class.

The House Of Cards That Jack Built.

Talk about becoming Prime Minister through the backdoor. Jack has finally succeeded in forming a government complete with a caretaker prime minister and a fine host of Conservative cabinet ministers...just what he always wanted!

Now it might be a little confusing for John and Jane Everyday Canadian but the coalition prime ministers are intent on getting the job done -- at least for a short while. Stephen Harper will continue to sit comfortably in the chair while his co-prime minister, Jack Layton, fashions government policy to whatever extent and for whatever period Stephen Harper chooses to let him. I don't know about you but I'd call that leadership...

Jack may have his hands firmly gripped on the levers of power but he forgets that someone else has actually tied his hands.

Look Jack, here's what you do. Tell Harper that you want to make the living arrangements complete. Put Tom Mulcair and the others from the front bench in cabinet. Let 'em know how it feels in Ottawa. Get a short, sweet taste of the perks and privileges before most of you get blown out of the water come election night!

The Shotgun Marriage.

They've barely left the altar and the forced marriage between the Conservatives and the Pension Democrats is already cracking under the EI strain. Joe Comartin and Peggy Nash aren't happy campers. (I wouldn't be either if I suddenly found myself wed to Stephen Harper!)

Poor Jack. What a way to go out as party leader. This has got to be the bonehead play of the year. The party couldn't even manage to get their pending name change up for a vote at their convention and now they are tarred with the brush of being this government's NBF, albeit a cranky one.

If this Prime Minister was counting on a sure-fire ally, he may as well guess again. Hopefully the Pension Democrats will finally come to their senses before the non-confidence motion is tabled.

I can just see the PM ROFL...having made a monkey once again of two opposition parties. If by chance Stephen Harper should suddenly drop dead, I suspect the death certificate will likely read "Died Laughing."...

The Upside Of Mutually Desirable Scheduling "Conflicts".

When I think of scheduling, I think of Marjory LeBreton. She was a whiz at it. As you know, it may not be a science but it's without a doubt a refined art.

Like they say, the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions -- suddenly you find yourself otherwise committed and unable to line up "A" with "B". Too bad...

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't treat your precious gems correctly. So, as soon as you're back in town, take your scheduler to lunch or at least buy some flowers.

Nice to have someone you can really count on, even in a pinch.

CORRECTION: Ms. LeBreton did deal with appointments but not the scheduling kind. She was in charge of political appointments in the PMO during the Mulroney years.

Stephen Who?

Tomorrow should be a good day for Stephen Harper. He may not get much out of it other than a fine constitutional! But at least he'll be heading home fit.

This Prime Minister can walk the halls of Congress all he wants but he won't be making any headway on Buy American in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. Even the President took a convenient shot at our provincial governments and their alleged propensity toward inter-provincial trade protectionism.

In short, our PM couldn't get a trade ambulance in Washington D.C. even if the Canadian Council of Chief Executives placed the phone call...

We won't get anywhere -- or be taken seriously until we are ready to play the energy card, something Stephen Harper has no intention of doing.

It may be show and tell but the back end of the bargain is bound to be extraordinarily brief.

The NDP Are No Better Than The Rest Of Us.

Is anyone surprised to see Thomas Muclair making the big announcement today? At least the Bloc is coherent. They are giving the Harper government a limited get-out-of-jail pass but we all know how they will be voting when the non-confidence motion comes up.

The same can not be said of the high and mighty New Democrats -- what hypocrites. I used to ridicule this Prime Minister for what I regarded as sanctimonious behavior -- but these guys give new meaning to the word.

Who the hell do they think they are lecturing the rest of us when their decision is based only on one consideration: pensions before principles, plain and simple.

Loads of them will be going down in the next campaign and they bloody well know it. Saving their social-democratic hides is all they really care about. Fine. Keep giving us the BS but prepare to take your medicine. Here's a hint for you. When the day of reckoning finally comes, it'll have a rather bitter taste. Expect an election night that most of you will never forget.

They'll Always Have Friday.

Remember the date -- Friday, September 18th, 2009.

Canada will have a Conservative government in office on that date. The government will manage to get over the hump on that day.

But fortunately for us, there are still a lot more bumps right in the middle of the road. Navigation should prove a lot trickier next time.

So many possibilities, so many chances to make history.

The Bloc is about to expend its round. That will be followed by the NDP's shot across the Employment Insurance bow. Might make Harper happy, might not.

Then will come the hour of decision courtesy of a Liberal non-confidence motion. Stand ready. Remain patient. All in good time.

Rolling The Suckers Is Worth A Few Laughs.

Hey Suckers,

You guys have seen me in action for quite some time. I would have thought that you would recognize the cut of my jib by now. I haven't changed -- I'm still the guy I thought you knew so well. Oh what the hey.

You know all I really want is to stay afloat. Can't wait for winter and those Olympics. It'll be a great ego boost. What fun knowing how I hoodwinked all of you. Sticking it to you one more time will be such a delight. (Good thing you read the bill -- this time!)

Anyone for pretzels? Thanks for not lining up with the Liberals. I owe you one. But don't expect to collect. It's not really my style, remember.

Michael: Please Get Bob A Sheaffer.

Bob Rae has been known to produce magic on the written page. He's a scribe we Liberals can have confidence in!

I can't help but cast my mind back to that fateful day in December 1979 (the 13th to be exact)when the Clark Government fell thanks to an amendment penned by Bob Rae.

Who said lightning can't strike twice in the same place.

Principles For Sale?

“The path of least resistance is the path of the loser.” - H.G. Wells.

Some people may have reasons why they are willing to throw their principles right out the window at the earliest opportunity. Personally, I can only think of thirty-six convenient excuses...trying to stem the bleeding is always a challenging task.

You think that takes work. Wait until their supporters get wind of the fact that convictions ratified seventy-nine times in Parliament are quite suddenly and remarkably "disposable".

As Don Imus said in front of Bill Clinton: "Go, Baby.". You guys will never forget it when it pops up and bites you in the ass. I can just picture the Liberal seat count climbing as you read this.

Ways-and-Means...To What End!

Next Friday may turn out to be a big day. We could quite conceivably get an embarrassment of riches: a way-and-means motion to formally implement budget provisions (can you say home renovation tax credit?), the government's report card and modified limited hangout of its "enhanced" employment insurance proposals.

Upping the ante has always been a Harper specialty but I digress. Sowing confusion and dividing one's second tier enemies is indeed an interesting experience to behold...the two major parties might as well take the week off. We know where they stand!

But can either the NDP or the Bloc seriously consider putting out for this Conservative government? Well, the short answer is no. But that does not preclude, at least in theory, a quick trip to first base -- which will only postpone the inevitable political climax. All parties know that.

I expect to see many twists and turns in the road before this government is despatched but for now I sense a desire on the part of this Prime Minister to sow delay and freeze in a political stalemate on the ground, at least in the short term.

Harper has other things on his plate: a quick trip to the White House -- not to mention the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh on September 24 and 25th.

Watch for this PM to attempt to fake out the opposition without making any form of significant concessions to any of the parties. Can it work? I don't see how. Look how well that plan went over at the Employment Insurance Panel.

Why We're Done.

Don't expect the political mating dance to get very far -- we're watching nothing more than political theatre, and a rather amateur performance at that...

Put yourselves in the heads of both Stephen Harper and Jack Layton. Both men are on the same wavelength. These guys are no dummies. They both know that any possible area of compromise between them is minimal, if it is even at all possible.

In other words, the face-saving area where an agreement can be hammered out is quite simply not there on Employment Insurance or any other issue. Both men know that the title of this movie is quite literally, A Bridge Too Far.

Harper and Layton will have to settle for cover that they can take to their respective base: each will claim to have walked the extra mile in search of agreement to "make this Parliament work" and both will blame the other guys. Sound familiar?

Max: The Go To Conservative.

I'll say one thing for the Conservatives -- they won't have it complicated when they're back in opposition. Anyone with a problem in Quebec will know exactly what to do after the election: contact Maxime Bernier, The Go To Conservative.

Conservatives won't have to worry about straying from the party line or mixed messages coming out of the mouths of MPs. Kind of hard to do that when you're a caucus of one.

At least it will be fun for Max. His political rehabilitation is assured. Of course, he better back the right horse in the leadership race but I suspect Max is sophisticated enough to see the profile of the Alberta Clipper on the horizon...

Not that it will do them any good mind you. A newly elected Liberal government will be, quite literally, like a breath of fresh air. Aline made Jean's day by saying: "Four more years!" That sounds just about right to me.

Yogi Berra: It's Déjà-Vu All Over Again!

Stephen Harper is a real Taurus. Boy is he ever predictable...haven't we seen this movie before?

Flashback to: Senate, courts would keep Tories in check: Harper
Updated Wed. Jan. 18 2006 11:22 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

A Conservative government would have to work with the checks and balances of a Canadian court system that bears the mark of more than a decade of Liberal reign, Stephen Harper said Wednesday.

The Tory leader drove home comments he made Tuesday that the Conservatives would be unable to wield absolute power even as a majority, as they would face a series of checks and balances from Liberal-appointed judges and senators.

---

His last performance did not exactly do him justice! Many claimed it actually cost him his shot at a majority government. Now, explain to me how this latest rendition will do precisely the opposite. Right.

Hollinm, The Master Strategist Needs A Refresher!

Hollinm,

I thought I would attempt to explain why I think the Coalition strategy will not work this time. I could be right on target or completely in left field but here goes:

The Prime Minister is once again looking at political reality through a faulty lens. Harper is attempting to transfer an electorally winning formula (which he did not use) to a given set of facts on the ground that are no longer sufficiently similar to the previous political dynamic.

The PM is not one for changing variables but I am. Point One - Stéphane Dion is no longer leader of the Liberal Party. That makes all the difference in the world. I have nothing but the highest respect for Mr. Dion but let's face it, the country found him wanting as a potential prime minister. That is more than an insignificant nuance. Point Two - We are no longer in a formal coalition environment: there is no signed written agreement, or even verbal understanding between the parties. This is huge.

Under the former scenario, a common position was negotiated prior to a pending non-confidence vote. Today, each party will be making its own decision without an agreed upon common set of principles. The reasons for voting down this government will vary from one party to the other.

More importantly, we won't be going into the campaign with even a loose alliance. There will be no prior deal-making of any sort. Once the seat count has been shaken out (after the voters have spoken) only then will negotiations begin, if necessary, to form a potential multi-party deal that can command the confidence of the House.

In other words, the Conservative strategy will take flight no better than your average lead balloon...we won't see polling with Conservatives ten to twenty points in the lead.

Go Ahead, Make My Day!

Steven Chase and Campbell Clark

Ottawa — From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Last updated on Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009 08:29AM EDT


Stephen Harper's Conservatives have decided their election strategy will rely in part on reviving the ghosts of last December.

The fleeting, four-day coalition that opposition parties formed in late 2008 to unseat Mr. Harper's Conservatives was deeply unpopular outside Quebec. The Tories plan to resurrect its fading memory to rattle voters, warning that backing opposition parties will bring instability.

This strategy is also the reason that Mr. Harper will not make a deal with the NDP or Bloc Québécois to avert an all but inevitable election.

He is gearing up to attack the Liberal propensity for making deals with “socialists and separatists” – as the party did last December – and Mr. Harper would be unravelling his own campaign plans if he struck an accord with the NDP or Bloc.

Conservative strategists want to remind their base, and swing voters, of the alliance the Liberals forged with the NDP and Bloc – and frighten them with the notion Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff might try it again. The accusation plays right into existing Tory attacks that paint the recently installed Liberal chief as a political carpetbagger who's returned to Canada after a long absence merely to win power.

--------

Good old Conservatives. Good luck fighting the next war with the last's tactics. Can you spell backfire? Rather short-sighted of you, don't you think.

The Prorogation Pattern Is History.

My first thought after looking over the Nanos poll is how we are into a totally new game now that an election is a virtual certainty. The worst news is for the New Democrats -- progressive voters seem to be abandoning them in droves while Liberal support holds steady. In other words, the Harper government's number will not be heading once again into the stratosphere in the pre-election period.

Conservative numbers although rising, are nothing to write home about. I'm thinking this is as good as it gets for them. I'm thinking plateau -- look at the undecided! Those numbers are rising dramatically. To my mind, that suggests that strategic voting is in the offing. Like Trudeau said: hold your nose and...

Once we are in the campaign I expect a gradual firming up in Liberal support. I feel sorry for Jack. If he doesn't take the Prime Minister down, he risks an even greater hemorrhage of voters into the Liberal camp. He might as well contain the damage and go now rather than bleed much more significantly further down the road. Progressives are not known for having much patience for anyone who would even conceivably think about propping up this government.

I like the underlying trend. May it continue.

Over To You Jack.

I'd say we have Gilles on board. Wouldn't you? One down, one to go!

Jack is talking Lexus here while Stephen is offering nothing more than a Versa. They're kind of boxed in: remember, they both said "no deals"...

Remember, the NDP is a party that actually thinks it has a chance of forming government. (That's what they said last time and look how well that turned out. No disrespect intended, but please.)

They have to maintain some shred of credibility. Jack is no elephant working for peanuts, much less the lowly assistant to a clever but rather tactical organ grinder.

Can me overconfident, I don't care. Things seem to be moving along swimmingly. Not even a single ripple on the horizon.

Sorry, Duff.

Democracy Watch has gone before the Federal Court of Canada -- it argues that the Harper government violated its own fixed-date election law by going to the polls last fall following [prior to] prorogation of Parliament by the Governor-General.

The Prime Minister's strategic decision was quite obviously politically smart but also demonstrated a lack of courage on his part -- knowing full well that his government was about to be defeated in the House of Commons. In short, Harper was not convinced he could win an election.

To my mind, Democracy Watch is barking up the wrong tree here. An ordinary statute passed by Parliament is exactly that. It can be repealed by the present or a future parliament at any time. It has no extraordinary constitutional status. Conversely, when the Prime Minister asked for prorogation, we were dealing with the area of well established constitutional convention. Like it or not (and I'm still steaming even though the Governor-General's decision was both legally and constitutionally correct) that body of precedent cannot be effectively challenged in the courts, IMHO. I could be wrong but I think I'm on firm constitutional ground.

American Friends.

What's Jason Kenney's problem? Does he have difficulty with the concept of any Canadian actually having American friends? Does this mean that yours truly should be banished to the outer reaches of Mongolia because I not only have American friends but also -- dare I say it, American relatives.

Here's an idea, why doesn't this Prime Minister take Jason's remarks with him when he heads down to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Obama on September 16th. That should go over big with our largest trading partner...good going, Jason! I can feel Buy-American quite literally crumbling before our feet after your pensive remarks.

It's been almost four years -- let no one suggest that we could possibly be witnessing amateur hour here. Perish the thought.

Let Me Get This Straight.

Dear Fellow Opposition Parties,

Forgive me for being confused. I thought you said this Prime Minister could never be trusted. Last time I checked, at least one of you wouldn't vote with Harper if your lives depended on it. Much was also made of the fact that the Conservatives do not reflect Quebec's values or political view of the world.

Wasn't that Stephen Harper who refused to enact at least three different motions passed by all opposition parties in the House of Commons...I thought the voters sent a clear signal in the last election. They wanted the PM to play nice with the opposition and go along to get along. But it seems Harper's definition of a minority Parliament is not exactly the classic one.

Those of us who call ourselves progressives or social-democrats should, at least theoretically, rather eat dirt than keep this government in office. You can't tell me that any of you seriously believe that the Harper government is flexible enough to back bedrock policies and principles championed by your respective parties.

Enough of the political posturing. Stand up and prepare to be counted. As they wisely say in this neck of the woods, mettez vos culottes!

Decoupling From The Bloc?

I'm with Liza Frulla -- the former federal and Quebec cabinet minister. She says a majority is still theoretically possible and I agree. But it won't happen unless Denis Coderre and Pablo Rodriguez have found the secret to get the moderate middle in Quebec to decouple from the Bloc Québécois.

I can't tell you how many times voters have told me that they vote Bloc "because there is no other choice". The next election will be the ultimate test of the Liberal Party's Quebec organizers. They really need to dish out the red meat that can seduce soft nationalists. (What is given by the left hand can be taken away by the right -- that's the rub, wooing Quebec without provoking a backlash in English Canada about "selling out to Quebec". Not an easy trick to pull off.)

If memory serves, voters have at least three times since 1991 provided an opening for federalists but each and every time, the governing party failed to adequately pick up on its cue. In 1993, the Bloc hit a home run in the wake of the failure of Meech and Charlottetown and won 54 seats. Contrast that with the ebb tide of 2000 where they picked up only 38 seats. (In the last two elections, the Bloc won 51 seats.)

As Bill Clinton might say: KISS - keep it simple, stupid. Focus on a theme and stick to it. Then ram it home. Follow the Bloc's example, find the hot button issue that resonates with the voters. Writers Alain Noël and Myriam Fontaine* have noted how the Bloc has used slogans in each of its campaigns:

2004 - Un parti propre au Québec (literally "A party specific to Québec");*

2006- Heureusement, ici, c'est le Bloc ("Thankfully, the Bloc is here"). *

2008- Présent pour le Québec ("Present for Quebec").

Liberals need to take a page or two out of the Bloc's playbook. It can be done but it won't be easy to start letting the air out of the Bloc balloon.

Source: *The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Harper's Latest Subterfuge...

What some people won't do to stay in office. This Prime Minister has tried political triangulation and it has had mixed results: he's managed to cling to power but hey, this performance is no "new-Nixon". The big political rehabilitation payoff is as distant as ever. No one in his or her right mind is about to give this PM a majority mandate. We've seen him in action, that's the trouble!

So on to a new strategy: lo and behold, someone has managed to effectively muzzle the Canada Revenue Agency. Notice how they have, quite conveniently, nothing to say about the legal status of the home renovation tax credit. What is Stephen Harper doing to open up the channels of communication so Canadians who are entitled to the straight goods on this matter can get it? Nada, nothing, zip.

Why can't some of our politicians come clean and admit what we already know -- namely, that the credit is not in jeopardy should this country suddenly find itself right in the middle of an election campaign.

I thought our leaders had more respect for the voters -- and for their intelligence. Apparently not. Back to politics using the lowest common denominator, a tried and true method of the sharp wedge politics which has recently become all the rage in Canada thanks to the constant stream of muck which has been deliberately encouraged by the powers that be nestled in between the Ottawa and Rideau.

Canadians want the facts so they can act accordingly. Not just another con job emanating from a bunch of overly clever guys looking at doing whatever it takes to keep themselves in control of the political agenda.

Incoming For Max.

They love Maxime Bernier in Beauce. As I've said before, if anyone survives in the Conservative Quebec caucus, it will be him. But it's starting to not look as solid as it once did. Colour me a skeptic but the timing sure seems more than fortuitous what with Le Devoir getting their hands on Max's briefing books.

That's what I "love" about the political culture in Ottawa: the endless capacity to make people suffer -- or even better yet, suffer further for their alleged transgressions and errors. The list is a mile long, and growing: Max, Ruby, Lisa, Peter, Leona, Bill, Garth, Robert, Pablo...

Then we wonder why people don't vote. Everyone is a convenient target and shots come from all sides of the House. It's more than a disgrace. Some will argue that it's all the fault of the Impresario -- well, that's a mighty convenient excuse for other people not to clean up their own act.

Here's a thought: as we approach the holidays, we may or may not have a newly elected government. How about putting the pitchforks on hold and for a change, think about attending each other's Christmas parties on the Hill -- that is if your own party leader hasn't already banned you from another party's Yule-tide celebration...

Omar Khadr: Checking The Executive.

Now that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the government's appeal on November 13th, I couldn't be more pleased. Let's start with a general principle and then move to the particular: it offends me as a Canadian that any government of any political stripe has the arbitrary power to move the goalposts at its pleasure. Either the Charter has meaning or it doesn't -- I expect a split decision. On the general principle that the government has a duty to protect and enforce Canadian citizens' charter rights even while in detention abroad, I am convinced that the Harper government will lose -- we might even see a 9-0 judgment on this point of law.

Now, moving to the particulars surrounding the Khadr case, this is where it becomes unpredictable. Quite obviously, sensitive intelligence information will be revealed in camera to the justices. As I've said before, in my estimation, the known knowns surrounding Omar Khadr are but a small chapter in an otherwise large intelligence volume. The government will do everything it can to keep that secret. Several national intelligence agencies will be the object of a firestorm if what I suspect is the case is ultimately revealed.

That brings us to the crux of the matter. Can national security considerations trump an individual's Charter rights? They sure can but the court will have to weigh the serious, direct and imminent nature of the threat to our national security. I suspect that Khadr's alleged offenses do not rise to the point where they pass the test required to overrule his Charter rights. But then I'm not a constitutional lawyer.

I hope the court agrees to repatriate Khadr in a timely manner. Let him face trial in Canada and let the process play out as much as possible in public.

But in the final analysis, it's critical that our highest bench provide the Canadian government with direction and parameters. Once that has been done, our democracy will be all the better for it.

Jockeying For Position.

As someone who has pushed for an election for quite some time now, it's not unreasonable for you to arrive at the conclusion that I'm rather pleased with how events appear to be unfolding.

First, my biases: a Progressive Conservative down to my bones; a Red Tory whose kindred political spirit is Senator Hugh Segal (that will be news to him -- Ronald Who!); a former Conservative (and Harper opponent) and a newly-minted Liberal since December.

But enough about me.

As we say in court, here are my questions: does this Prime Minister -- a) want to avoid an election at all cost or b) is he looking for a way to precipitate one? I suspect it might actually be a little of both.

My leader is on side. Michael Ignatieff says Harper's time is up. The PM and Jack Layton both say no backroom deals. Gilles Duceppe reminds us that if it's good for Quebec, he's for it.

What the hell does it all mean? IMHO, it means the genie is out of the bottle. In two to four weeks we'll all be out on the campaign trail. I'll be watching for significant poll movement (hopefully in favour of the Liberals) as Canadians contemplate the usefulness of a majority government.

No question about it. This political impasse will be a game changer. One party will be up and one down. Stephen Harper thinks he's about to be the big winner. I think otherwise. Michael knows what he has to do in this campaign to connect and resonate with voters. Part of his job is to show Canadians a better way and lead us to a more comfortable place.

I'm on board and confident we'll get there. How about you?

Welcome!

Remember, the meek are supposed to inherit the earth -- or at least not get sued for what they blog.

For my part, I intend to tell it like it is (or at least, how I see it) without resorting to name calling, character assassination or other personal attacks. Yes, politics is perhaps a blood sport but deliberate shitty behaviour will be on holiday here.

So come on in. The water's just fine. Feel free to line up with or against me. Remember, one of us is right and the other wrong. Subsequent events will prove whether we are worth our political salt.