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.

---------

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.

---------

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...