Tim!

It's time for the Government of Canada to make the donuts...you remember how that one goes, raising TAXES. You'll never hear it from this Prime Minister's lips but after all -- the man is an economist.

He knows a revenue black hole when he spots one...the trick will be pulling it off. What with the gravitas of Stockwell Day newly installed at Treasury Board and the old reliable (Sorry, Jim) still calling the tune over at Finance, the squeeze is in and the tap has been closed.

Now Tim and the other creative Conservatives can spin Gerard Kennedy's remarks until the cows come home but Canadians are smart enough to know that a further dent in their wallets is not too far off.

What I like about Gerard is his intellectual honesty and yes, his guts. Sure, he wasn't reflecting party policy when he quoted the FCM poll but he gave us a lot to think about as regards federal spending priorities.

Yours truly is not a big fan of raising the GST. One of the few pleasures of many people is conspicuous consumption. I also don't like one rate that applies across the board. I prefer looking at corporate income taxes and surcharges or bracket increases on high-earning individuals (now there's another heart attack in the making just trying to set the bar) as potential means to a fiscal end.

But remember folks, Tim and the other strategists are hurting bad these days. They know that this Prime Minister has put himself in a box of his own making. They can quite literally skate for the gold medal and still end up in the dumpster.

Ain't politics a gas!

Why Ekos Is Important.

Much has been made of the so-called Liberal lead in the latest Ekos poll: 0.5% is no reason to crack open the champagne. Rather, it's symptomatic of the problems facing all four parties represented in the House of Commons.

Let's take them one by one -- Conservatives should be concerned. This poll perhaps heralds the death knell of any chance they may have had of forming a majority government. It says something about this Prime Minister: that people's doubts are alive and well about Harper's suitability as a PM. The well established tendency to continually and inevitably overreach is the largest chink in the Harper armour.

Liberals aren't out of the woods either. There is no apprehended breakout on the political horizon. That's precisely why Conservatives are still smiling. The leader keeps plugging away, much to my delight, but significant forward projection past the incumbent government remains elusive. (We won't go into that one again. Enough already.)

The New Democrats, Bloc Québécois, and even the Greens, have the same problem. They're dropping. So much for the LaytonDemocrats consigning the Liberals to the ash heap. In Quebec, the Bloc remains the flavour of the month -- but without any enthusiasm, much less a bandwagon.

In short, people can't find a champion they have complete confidence in. That means trouble with a capital "T" for all the parties, not to mention a likely low turnout on election day.

But at least it's not all bad. The Conservative Party, Quebec Political Operations Director has said adiós, muchachos. That should keep them off-balance and spinning their wheels in Quebec for a while longer!

A Message For Fellow Liberals.

There comes a time when it becomes imperative that we speak truth to power. Granted, that is never an easy thing to do -- much less to hear. But when you're committed to the best interests of Canada, not to mention your own party, you swallow hard and get on with it.

Think of it, we have some of the greatest political fighters in living memory within our midst. I won't name them, you know who they are. These people should be first in line to set the leader straight on what is working and what quite obviously ain't.

Unlike some Liberals, I have the utmost confidence in Michael. I can readily see all the raw potential that lies within him. But I also see a politician who has failed thus far to find his political self, much less his voice.

Come on Michael. We both know you can do it. Most of us are ready to walk through fire for you but hey, the way things are playing out right now just isn't as it should be.

Time to take a second look and change our strategy. The ball is in Donolo's court. Let's see what he can do with it. But remember, time is not a luxury that we can endlessly afford...

Dear Prime Minister,

Like many Canadians, I was proud and happy to make a not insignificant personal donation for Haitian relief. I want to thank you and your government for lifting the cap on matching funds by the federal government.

As per usual, in light of all the action something has been understandably forgotten -- it's only the small matter of $900 million dollars USD sitting in Saudi Arabia. Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea for the lead governments to coax our friend into giving back the money before "returning" to Haiti.

Mind you, should he be delayed, having been obliged to take a little detour via The Hague, no problem, we'll understand...

Prorogation: Was It Good For You?

As most of you know, in light of prorogation of Parliament by this Prime Minister, Liberal support in the polls has gone up to the point where a fifteen point deficit has been eliminated and we are now "competitive" with the Harper government.

On the surface, that should strike all Liberals as good news. But in reality, it isn't. What we're experiencing now is what I would term prorogation froth -- a temporary manifestation of righteous indignation on the part of everyday Canadians.

I feel sorry for those who actually believe that we can build a solid foundation on top of prorogation. Polling patterns clearly demonstrate that we can't. Canadians for better or worse, have grown comfortable with a Jack and Michael political ménage à deux.

You saw it with your own eyes at the rally in Ottawa. There is no political dividend to be had. Both parties are pursuing the backing off strategy and that will lead to voters backing off from choosing their champion to fight for them against the Harper government. It's like a cat chasing its tail. Don't expect different results by repeating the same flawed strategy.

I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that I'm on the money here. Give me a call in March just before the PM takes the screws to the opposition and we will be right where we find ourselves now -- in second place.

In politics, you can't fight gravity by inaction. Coasting along is not a winning strategy. Waiting for the other guy to shoot himself in the head won't do it either. In short, you win by defining your leadership and your party, by picking your battles, by boldly striking out and seizing the right moment to propel your party past the others on the Hill. By having a vision for Canada and by having the stones to lay it all out for the Canadian people...oh, Harper will steal it, is the retort. So what. Better to stand for something concrete than to stand for nothing more than a political vacuum. No substance, no relevance, no credibility and certainly no political glory.

Is anyone willing to take my bet? Liberals can get it right or they can prepare to sink once again in the post-prorogation polls. When people think of I-G-N-A-T-I-E-F-F, I want him to remind them of a street fighter who is willing to put his leadership on the line and fight for what he truly believes in. It's time for Michael to let his gut and heart do the talking. Stow away the brain-centered reservation and get on with it. The last thing we need, as Liberals, is for people to yawn, or worse yet, shrug as soon as his name is mentioned.

The "Demotion" Locomotion.

Some of them may be bitching and complaining. Others might be cursing the Prime Minister under their breath but at least they are still in the ministry. They might as well count themselves lucky.

Think back to how former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien used to "settle" the question of under-performing ministers. Wasn't very pretty and it cut like a knife. That's what I liked about Chrétien -- the guy always had the guts to do his own slicing...just imagine how many of Harper's ministers would be long gone if Jean was still at the helm. (Here's a hint: it takes at least two hands!)

However, does that mean that these particular ministers deserved their lot. I'm not so sure. I thought Peter Van Loan was doing a reasonable job at Public Safety. I had no complaints about how Diane Ablonczy was running her shop. In fact, someone should pass the Conservatives a good dictionary so they can get a better idea of what "ministerial discretion" really entails. Diane has always been top drawer in my book. Too bad pandering to the base comes before that consideration.

And then there's Lisa Raitt, minister of repeated mistakes. Perhaps her move to Labour is justified but I do want to say something in her defence. I was none too pleased when she was "persuaded" to go before the cameras and speak of her family tragedy. IMHO, that was about as low as the PMO could get. No wonder she spent all that time crying in her office.

Finally, yours truly is left after each shuffle with the same unanswered question. When is James Rajotte finally going to make it in? I don't care if the cabinet is already chock full of Albertans. Rajotte has earned his place at the table.

Today Is The Day.

Much is made of the fact that the roots of Canadian nationhood can be found on the battlefields and in the trenches of Vimy Ridge.

Today, we experienced something similar: we saw on our television sets a government finally come into its own. Watching this Prime Minister and his ministers almost effortlessly handling the give and take of the Haiti file was quite a revelation for yours truly.

Some of you will recall that I've taken on many of these same ministers in the past. I landed a few but then again, so did some of them!

I'm taking off my partisan hat on Haiti. Rather, they deserve a hat tip. The Harper government has struck just the right note in representing Canadians and reflecting our common values. Job well done, with much more work ahead.

Please donate to reputable charities. Mine will be made next week.

Listen To Laureen.

That's the only advice I have for this Prime Minister. None of us are getting any younger. Slow down, seriously reduce the on-deck hours and take time to smell the roses. And most important of all, get plenty of sleep and exercise. See the doctor at least once a year.

In my own case, the next thing he'll be tackling is cholesterol levels in my blood. We are what we eat -- and we love to eat. That certainly describes yours truly to a tee!

I Guess It WAS A Game-Changer.

Poof. There goes the fifteen point lead! I hope this Prime Minister gets a lot of sleep. He's going to need it mightily in light of the recent release of a Strategic Counsel poll -- followed by one from Ekos -- which demonstrate that the Conservative lead has evaporated.

Kind of puts quite a damper on politicians celebrating in Vancouver and Whistler.

Somewhere, Warren Kinsella has a grin as big as all outdoors.

Wow! What A Broadside.

And they say that lunch in front of the television can be boring...not today. There I was right in the middle of a joint federal-provincial announcement to turn household agricultural waste into biomass energy when suddenly POW: no sooner had the word Copenhagen come out of the reporter's mouth and Quebec Premier Jean Charest let go a volley against those who criticized him for his remarks in Copenhagen.

My first reaction was one of astonishment, immediately followed by amusement. But then came a strange reaction -- I wondered if his remarks were fair. I'm told that some people are upset allegedly because the Quebec government was misrepresenting the federal position at Copenhagen; others say the federal government was allegedly doing the same thing regarding the Quebec position. A real case of he says, he says! Who knows what the truth really is but I would sure like to know what is what.

In any event, we learned two things from this spectacle. First, we found out the answer to Peter Mansbridge's question. Boy, the Prime Minister sure as hell has changed from four years ago. In spite of the look on his face, he maintained his composure and did not rise to the bait. (To his credit, Charest blasted away in both languages thereby allowing the PM to respond in English if he so chose to.)

The other thing we learned is trivial in nature. We found out that Ron O'Dowd will never be either prime minister or premier. Had I been on the receiving end, I would have blasted back with as much fury as I could muster. Say what you like about Stephen Harper but at least you have to admit that he is a bigger person than yours truly.

About To Blow It On Scanners...

I share Stephen Harper's view that I'd rather not be blown out of the sky on my next flight. But in the rush to put the finger into the hole in the dike, Canada, the United States and other countries have not taken the time to think things through.

Hence the rush to purchase and install scanners in airports. I think Time Magazine hit the nail on the head when it reported the following:

"MILLIMETER-WAVE SCANNER
This uses radio waves to generate a detailed image, which has raised some privacy concerns. The TSA has 40 of these machines stationed at 19 airports, mostly reserved for passengers warranting extra security. It plans to field nearly 900 by 2014. Would it have detected the explosives on Flight 253? Probably"

Probably? Probably! Simply not good enough. On to the next option:

"BACKSCATTER X-RAY
This emits low-intensity beams that highlight organic compounds like explosives and drugs. The TSA has ordered 150 of these machines. Privacy concerns could be addressed by placing the security officers reviewing the images in a room away from the scanner.Would it have detected the explosives on Flight 253? Yes"

Hello! Enough said.

Prorogation: Not Buying What The Prime Minister Is Selling.

Boy, is this Prime Minister ever resorting to flimsy excuses: it's OK to prorogue because Chrétien did it -- twice. Sorry, but that doesn't cut the mustard.

Perhaps one day, some day far off, it will finally dawn on our PM that his is a minority government. Last time I checked that meant that his party can't command the confidence of the House of Commons without at least one opposition party propping up his government.

Yes folks, that also should work in reverse -- it may be legal but it certainly isn't legitimate to prorogue when your government can't, on its own, sustain itself on matters of confidence.

That's why Harper has got it wrong.

Sorry, Good Friend.

Dear Blog,

Sorry for abandoning you for so long. I do feel guilty -- it's almost as if I've cheated on you. That wasn't right, running elsewhere to fight battles among many people who just aren't interested in really hearing what you have to say.

Don't get me wrong. I'm right some of the time but I've also been full of shit on more than one occasion. Yes, my ego is as big as everyone else's but time for some humble pie.

And now to business:

Canadians thirst for leadership. They aren't searching for the "next" dictator but then again, neither are they interested in the "next" patsy. We know precisely what we've got with this Prime Minister and where he's going, for better or worse.

That seems to be sufficient for most voting Canadians. I feel truly sorry for them. That's certainly not what I'm hoping for in the next prime minister. I'm looking for a leader who puts his own political interests second to that of the nation; I want a guy running the operation who feels it right down to his balls that this country, as we have traditionally known it, is going to hell in a hand basket and that he bloody well better do something about it, and quickly; I'm pulling for someone who is not merely content to take "direction" from the Canadian people; I'm with that fellow over there who knows when and how to draw the line in the sand, and more importantly, why.

Spring will be our hour of reckoning. I'm tired of being disappointed.