It was only last spring when Conservative supporters were posting here and elsewhere asking why “honest Liberals” were standing by the corrupt. They were openly hoping one or two more might just turn their backs on Paul Martin to help bring the government down.
Today, one has chosen to walk away from the corrupt to strengthen a Conservative government with a clean slate – and the same people receive the news with handwringing and angst.
I live in a province in which the conservative party of the day once won both the highest number of seats and the popular vote – only to watch two Liberals take cabinet positions in a Romanow government as their price for keeping the NDP in power. And they still have power.
There wasn’t much the SaskParty could do about it, but at least the purity of their principle kept conservatives warm at night.
Well, no it didn’t, come to think of it. A lot of our best and brightest left the province and they still do. While dippers nationwide swoon at the mention of Romanow today, Saskatchewan’s economy endures crumbling infrastructure, declining population, rising crime rates, predatory crown corporations and the worst business tax environment in the Western world.
So, here is some very old advice, from a source many will recognize –” Don’t strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.”
I’m glad a Liberal MP crossed and I hope more of them do. David Emerson’s a big boy, he can face the deserved criticism from the electors. But should he become the first floor-crosser in modern Canadian history forced to run in a byelection just to prove a point about “Conservative principle”?
Are we nuts??
Certainly, I’d have preferred he’d gone to the back benches and earned his way into cabinet – but then, I don’t have the task of building a larger tent, quelling a persistant media theme on the “lack” of urban MP’s, balancing regional representation, and finding the experience and talent to solve long standing international trade disputes.
I expected there would be decisions made by Harper I wasn’t going to like, and I expect there to be more.
Pragmatic politics isn’t always done tastefully, and sometimes you swallow when you’d rather spit – but the parliamentary rules allowed what was done today, and as has been pointed out ad nauseum, Harper has done nothing particularly novel when compared to previous administrations.
However – if there is to be any hope of the type of democratic renewal possible only under a majority government, we had better get a grip on the very real fact that the present rules are the ones everyone else plays by, and that they lend themselves to crass political opportunism because they have been crafted and refined by crass political opportunists.
For the Conservatives not to use all legal parliamentary precedents to their advantage because of concerns over principle and optics, will only ensure the return of power to a Liberal Party proven to have no such reservations.
But, by all means, if gnats such as these cabinet appointments are this unpalatable to you – wrap your lips around that big, red beast until it’s been sucked back into power and any hope for meaningful change in how we are governed, protected and taxed is swept away for another decade.
For now, let’s hope Harper employs every legal loophole, every opportunity, every bit of leverage at his disposal to keep the Liberals as disorganized, dazed and confused as possible.
Anything less would be political malpractice.
Spot-On Kate!
Soooo many of you ASSUME DE’s constituents elected him because he was a “liberal”. Has it occured to the pius masses that perhaps he was elected because of who he is, and his ability to get things done? I’ll repeat it for the hard of reading: Was DE elected for his ability or his party? Has anyone asked the people of that riding why they voted for him? I’m sure if the constituents are p*ssed, they’ll let DE know at the ballot box. Do you really think, after all that has gone on, that Harper is an idiot? Sure sounds like alot do. All this sanctimonious handwringing of principles… Go ahead… take yer foot off the liberal throat. Go back to playing “chinese checkers” and let the govt. get back to playing chess (h/t Bruce).Personally, I’d just step down a lil harder! You can fight fire with fire, or fight fire with water. Sooner or later, you’ll realize that water evaporates.
Yep, how about them Libs?
Lets see we’ve just finished “Slagfest 2006” and people are surprised that PM Stephen Harper is conducting ‘lifeboat’ talent rescuing from a tainted Liberal crew.
Lets recall the NDP candidate who was to take a fall in the Abbotsford riding; enticed by a Liberal; allegedly.
A Lib supporter suggesting the Conservative candidate was a sexual molester on radio and TV (Sask); with the intent of libel and slander.
Voters list tampering in Landslide Annie’s old riding of Edmonton.
Ballot box stuffing for the Libs in Desenthe-Churchill.
All “highly democratic activities” on the part of Liberals. If I were David Emerson; I would be leaving the Liberals as well.
Belbimbo Strumpet crossed the floor and embraced the party of sin and corruption. David Emerson is leaving the party of sin and corruption. Perhaps he reached his own personal level of disgust and finally saw the light on the road to Damascus; unlike the erstwhile former PM Paul.
Turncoat or have the Liberals so reached a cesspit of odium through “Slagfest 2006” that some were rightly disgusted with the performance.
Walking across the floor for no reward, principled decision.
Walking across the floor for reward, political pragmatist or opportunist?
The optics are decidedly bad; was David Emerson hit by a bolt of electoral lightning on the way to Damascus or is he like his namesake David loading his sling to slay some more Philistines in the Liberal party?
Or even more apocalyptic; was in fact David Emerson: THE MOLE????!!!!!????
Hans…. Wouldn’t it be a kicker if DE was “the mole”? One of Harpers “secret weapons”? Perhaps DE is just one of those people who wants to accomplish things for the people, regardless of what party is governing. I’d say those types are a very rare commodity indeed.
Why tell people to smarten up and stop griping so the Liberals aren’t “sucked back into power”.
They voted for tangible change, not change deferred. How hard would have been to to say no and how easy for Harper to be loyal to his supporters, rather than challenging their loyalty or political smarts.
You might win the SDA Award instead of Ol Hoss.
Haw, haw, haw, I’m reminded of Jehonadab in 2 Kings 10. He gathered all the Baal worshippers into one building by pretending he was going to make a sacrifice to Baal. Once he got them into the building he barred the doors and killed them all.
He used their own philosophy to kill them. Not unlike PMSH is using Liberal philosophy to slay them.
God said that was the right thing to do in His eyes (2 Kings 10:30).
A little covert action will go a long way.
“For the Conservatives not to use all legal parliamentary precedents to their advantage because of concerns over principle and optics, will only ensure the return of power to a Liberal Party proven to have no such reservations.”
Can anyone explain to me why we bothered to have an election if the Conservatives are going to behave exactly like the Liberals? If not for acting on principle, what exactly is the difference between the previous government and this one? And if this one abandons principle on the very first day they are in power, then what was the point of electing them in the first place?
This was a stupid, stupid move.
No, Ed, this was an expression of Harper’s highest principles. Rather than making his cabinet selections on strictly partisan grounds, he has enlisted the willing help of someone with expertise and invaluable expertise.
Were you outraged, by the way, when Brison “crossed over”? Or when Trudeau appointed four men to the senate in order to put them in cabinet?
People should trust and support Harper. The attacks from within are short-sighted.
Emerson has experience.
Well said EBD! Experience is what Harper NEEDS right now. DE has stated before he isn’t a partisan.I believe DE is one of those rare people who doesn’t give a rat’s who is in charge, he just wants to do his work, for his constituents, and his country. So, let him be, let him work, let him help. Trust Harper… he didn’t get this far by being stupid. He has 5 things to accomplish, that’s all, just 5. Anything else is a bonus. I’m sure this won’t be the last of the talent crossing the floor. And if it helps Harper in the ultimate goal of reforming govt, then great!
The comments here have been a Smorgasbord of delights. So many eager (and recent) Conservatives just itching to dive into the political dirt shouting: “Me too!” They all want to drink Emerson bath water. They celebrate how Harper has mooned the whole nation within a day of taking office. They seem to feel they have arrived in the big time now that their man has showed himself instantly ready and willing to get down there among the swine.
Alas I feel just as I did when I heard that all the big papers were coming out in support of the Conservatives: the fix is in, I thought, and our “betters” have decided to dump on one pol for a fresher model. Now it appears that someone has decided that a BC voice of a certain type is needed to push along the gigantic disaster that the Olympics of 2010 is sure to prouduce, plus bridges and highways, allways that, which our betters have also decided must proceed.
So we do not really have a politics? Guess not. But we have got rid of the English accent ? Well, yes, but we seem still to be burdened by the Blue Blazer crowd, and it looks like the fresly minted Conservative government has already been
given its marching orders. Harper lasted 24 hours.
Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
Speech To The Electors Of Bristol
Excerpt:
Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests, which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates;
Parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest�that of the whole�where not local purposes, not local prejudices, ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole.
You choose a member, indeed;
but when you have chosen him, he is not member of Bristol, but he is a member of Parliament.
If the local constituent should have an interest, or should form an hasty opinion evidently opposite to the real good of the rest of the community, the member for that place ought to be as far as any other from any endeavour to give it effect.
I beg pardon for saying so much on this subject; I have been unwillingly drawn into it; but I shall ever use a respectable frankness of communication with you. Your faithful friend, your devoted servant, I shall be to the end of my life: a flatterer you do not wish for. >>
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/burkee/extracts/chap4.htm
In a nutshell, I, too, concur with Kate’s analysis.
Sure, I was surprised at the two appointments, but upon careful consideration, I came to see it as an astute political move. Some conservatives reacted quickly and negatively, but, hey, I’ve done that, too, before, so I can’t blame them. We’re an easy folk to agitate, but we do then think carefully about stuff and settle down quite quickly.
The important thing is that the new government perform its actual job as promised. The appts, while controversial, are really immaterial to the end results. Besides, in the long run, they will have planted, subconsciously, in the minds of voters: 1) The Tories are moderate enough to get a Liberal defection right into the cabinet, proving we’re not the kooks Paul Martin claimed we were and 2) We’re serious about treating Quebec right, as well as all provinces, something the Liberals failed to do. These things matter a lot.
Funny how the MSM isn’t making much hay about how the Liberals have done it in the past, too, as they didn’t make a stink when they did, as I recall. Remember Stephane Dion’s unelected appt to cabinet? Where was the big controversy? See, the MSM is biased against the Conservatives.
Kate,
I really hope you’re right and we should give Harper the benefit of the doubt. Hope is the reason why I voted for the Conservatives in my downtown Toronto riding where everything was probably lost for us.
It’s wrong to second-guess a guy like Harper who’s brought us so far when we all thought that all was lost.
May our hopes endure and our fears be quelled! 🙂
I saw Paul Wellsss bon mots – would have been nice if he had the parts to actually link to the post in question.
I hear he is bitter as he is still writing his book on the last campaign and Stephen Harper is working on his next one!
Manley, Liberal? Is John Manley preparing his exit from the corrupt/moribund Liberal party?
Will John Manley be the next Emerson? Is Manley ready to put the interest(s) of the whole of Canada ahead of his own partisan ambition?
Will Manley walk to the Conservative party? Will Stephen Harper welcome Manley? Stay tuned.
Manley tells Harper to improve relations with the (gasp) United States (read, gasp, George Bush). Amazing talk when one considers this has been a policy of Stephen Harper from the beginning.
Manley has the best interest of all of Canada in his heart. Walk, John Manley; you have nothing to lose except the corruption of the Liberal party; walk, John Manley. Do the right thing. Kudos to John Manley. Bravo Prime Minister Stephen Harper. >>
Manley to Harper: Mend Canada-U.S. relations
By STEVE ERWIN
TORONTO (CP) – Repairing Canada’s relationship with the United States and establishing common North American security strategies should be top priorities for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former deputy prime minister John Manley said Monday. via cnews
Too bad Kate won’t win Paul Well’s contest, since the abject refusal has to be comical.
Kate may be many things, but comical…never.
The opposition parties will exploit every lapse in judgement, every mistake, every attempt at an end-run around around rules and ethics. If you buy Kate’s exhortation to just accept this as the price for greater power, then you’re accepting that politics is essentially about power. I don’t know whether to be more concerned about Kate continuing to cultivate minions, or to get a little wistful thinking that the minions are going to have to grow up. Kate thinks the latter, obviously, hence this little lecture.
“Surely you don’t want Jones to come back, comrades?”
Sorry Kate. As much as I’d like to crow about how we took a Liberal away (and as pragmatically correct as you are about this) I can’t excuse what’s been done. The difference between us and them is that we HAVE principles – and we’re supposed to stick by them, unlike the Liberals. Principle matters.
Yes, you’re right – politcally, it’s a bad idea to make him run in a by-election. But we can’t be hypocrites. We raged and howled when Belinda crossed the floor, and said that if she had any decency she’d run in a by-election as a Liberal. Two weeks ago Emerson was saying he wanted to be Harper’s worst nightmare. Yesterday he was shaking the man’s hand with a smile on his face. I’m glad we gave the Liberals a taste of their own medicine and I’m glad we’ve gained another experienced hand in cabinet – and a representative from Vancouver. But the cost in our credibility just isn’t worth it.
I was against it at first but the more I hear from self righteous Liberals the more I am starting to think that I am not too worried about this Emmerson thing.
Roll on Big Mamma.
Roll on Prime Minister Harper.
Are you with Stephen Harper? The time has come, the walrus said…. Politics is life; move to 24 Sussex Drive with Prime Minister Harper. You have a Canada to re-build, rescue from Liberal corruption.
What is your choice/decision?
This Canadian conservative moves with Prime Minister Harper. >>>>
Moving Day on Thursday for Harper
Josh Pringle
Tuesday, February 07, 2006 6:18 AM
Stephen Harper will move into his new home on Thursday.
The Prime Minister says he has put off renovations to 24 Sussex Drive so he can move his family.
The National Capital Commission had recently announced its intentions to make renovations to the Prime Minister’s official residence.
Harper says he wants as few disturbances to his children’s lives as possible during his transition to the Prime Minister’s Office.>> cfra.com
Does anyone really think that PMSH and DE are so stupid that they havent thought this through?
Im thinking we should admire DE for putting himself in the middle of a hurricane.
DE is a very smart man who is capable of big things and who surely doesnt need the headache.
I do not see him as an opportunist except insofar as he feels he can do something for his country.
I know its more fun to look at it differently, but i have a lot of trouble wondering why else he would consider such a move.
The vision of a “card carrying Liberal” of this stature being responsible for a very important portfolio does not disturb me all that much. Im kind of a “bottom line” person, and i think that when:
a) the softwood lumber dispute gets settled quickly and
b) The 2010 olympics costs get under control
We better all give both Prime Minister Harper and Minister Emerson the credit they will so richly deserve.
This isnt a sandbox game, folks.
I defended Belinda’s right to cross the floor. I think it was a really bad political move on her part. She probably thought the NDP would keep the Liberals in power no matter what, just to thwart the conservatives.
There is a long history of crossing the floor. Ever here of Winston Churchill?
It was becoming clear that the first line of media assault on the new government was its lack of representation in Canada’s major cities. Harper quickly and incisively blunted that strategy. Not surprisingly, of course, the media thread today is Harper’s “hypocrisy”, but it is sad to see alleged supporters of conservative policies allow themselves to be such willing tools.
I wonder how many people outside of Vancouver or the small circle of political junkies had ever heard of David Emerson? Was this a major public face of the Liberal Party? It appears that Harper identified a Vancouver MP whose background, expertise, and temperament were such as to strengthen his cabinet, a very different case than we saw with Belinda Stronach, a weak and ineffectual Opposition critic whose ineptitude was shown up even more starkly during her time in Cabinet. If he’d enticed Hedy Fry to cross the floor, I’d be more sympathetic to the critics here; if he tries to poach Ken Dryden or John Godfrey from Toronto, I might well jump ship, too, but the Emerson move seems surgical and strategic.
Similarly, the Fortier appointment gives the government a presence in Montreal (which would never abide being represented by a Quebec-area MP). Again, the move is strategic; if the idea of senatorial elections is put off until the Greek kalends, we may be justifiably skeptical about Harper’s honesty (although I could easily live with retaining a small number of appointive Senate seats – three or four at most — to allow governments to respond to events similar to the imbalances faced by Harper now and Mulroney and Trudeau in the past).
But I do wish some of our activist friends would get over themselves a bit. If we want to reverse the previous government’s day-care agenda, get rid of the gun registry, increase democratic accountability, lower taxes, etc., etc., I don’t see any other realistic options on the horizon.
Was it not D.Emerson that said he would be Harper’s worse enemy. Then maybe it is smart to keep your enemy close. Toronto is upset about not having representation, they don’t see those elected from the GTA as having much to with Toronto proper. Vancouver would have been in the same boat if not for Emerson’s change of heart. Let’s wait an see how this all plays out.
Kate, You are dead on. Public school boy honour and ethics will not get far in national politics. If the party were to insist on taking a moral stand on every issue the Tories would not have won.
Politics and warfare are very closely related. When you have an advantage you must press it with out any thought to your opponent. This is a world of spin, deception, and lies. Dividing your enemy, knocking a country loose from an alliance, is a well worn tactic. If you want to succeed in politics, or war, you will have to get your hands dirty.
The great unwashed have short memories, and even shorter attention spans. John Q. Public is not well informed, does not understand the issues, and I would be surprised if he could name one policy for each party. Elections are about sound bites, not policies.
In a few months time what will have happened? No one will remember this. However, we will have a strong minister we otherwise would not have. This is a win. This does not conflict with party policy.
If a party/army were to refuse to employ any of these basic political/warfare tactics it would be completely destroyed.
At the end of the day what is more important: victory, or �schoolboy� fair play? Socialism has convinced me that we must win. If a few sneak attacks are employed along the way I won�t fret. We are playing by well-established rules, and we are winning. In short, folks: slash and burn!
This is the best analysis and commentary I’ve read on the subject, thanks for posting it.
Absolutely x2para–much as I dislike seeing a Liberal anywhere I have to trust Harper to knowwhat is best for Canada.
Who knew Graham was a comedian–yesterday he was waxing eloquent about the Senate appointment being appointed to Cabinet and being responsible for PWGS and not being responsible to Parliament–LOL–like Gags and the Liberals were so responsible with that portfolio–even the top Liberals swear they did not know what was happening with Adscam under PWGS–what a hoot
Considering the tens of millions of dollars that were STOLEN from the taxpayers over the past decade, it shouldn’t be that difficult to recover some of it, and refund it to the people it was STOLEN from? (Seeing some of these crooks locked up, would be kind of neat, too!)
In praise of Stephen
“To understand how far Stephen Harper has come, you have to recall how far back he started. When he became the leader of the Canadian Alliance in 2002, it was fair to ask whether the job was worth holding. Under its previous leader, Stockwell Day, the …
I think there are many people who are happier whining about the Liberal government and imagining some mythical perfect governent which will one day be elected and make everything perfect. Sorry, folks, not gonna happen.
Let’s not forget, much of the whining is coming from Liberals, and Liberals pretending to be shocked Conservatives.
Not so long ago I figured I would be governed by Liberals forever.
I have little respect for those who cross the floor without election, but if Harper figures Emerson can be useful, I respect his political smarts.
As was written on Let It Bleed, that thud you heard from Harper putting it on the table…
Wow !
This is so good …thanx for helping me see the light of day .
We may not like this , but it is a fact of life in Ottawa …and Mr Harper either learns the game or he will be run out of town by his enemies .And that meets all of the good things we elected the Conservatives to do , will not get done .
So I will swallow this gnat and stay away from camels !
And yes , I am hopeful that some other MP’s will see the light and cross the floor to join the Conservatives . We need an effective government that can stay in power for at least 4 years .
blessings from Virgil , Ontario
Chantal Hebert on CBC last night said the pundits today would be on Harper’s case for not having reps from the 3 big cities – instead they are on his case for trying to rectify this situation.
One of the huge differences between Quebec and the “West” is that Quebec votes stragically to maximize its own interests. Hence they remain at the center of Canadian politics. Many in the “West” complain about this but vote to ensure they will never have influence.
In BC we always seem to vote the opposite of who is in power and it gets us nowhere. (BC being the only province in the last election to increase its number of Libs.)
Getting in power and keeping in power means having to make many tough decisions. When Canadians next go to the polls they will judge the parties on their whole body of work. For all of those Conservatives who are now disappointed are you really going to vote for someone else or not vote at all because Harper made these moves? If Harper does not implement all of his top priorities are you going drop your support?
My own view is that a half of a loaf is better than no loaf at all. If Harper manages to implement the accountability legislation, GST tax cuts, stronger military, etc I will be very happy. Just because he lured Emerson across the floor I am now going to vote for someone else?
Edmund Burke’s conservative philosophy lives in Canada; lives in real life politics. Here is the real-life conservatism in action in Canada today. This is not fiction; it is not made up; the proof is what they do, not what they say. >>>
Excerpt from The Province (Vancouver)
Emerson said he decided he could best serve his constituents by being on the government side.
He agreed that some friendships are now broken.
“There will be some who, because they are long-time
Liberal partisans, will be very unhappy. To them, I apologize, but at some point in life, you have to make decisions as to how you will serve the public interest in the most effective way.”
Emerson said he came to realize that Harper had the makings of a good leader.
“In talking to him, he comes across as sincere, honest, hardworking,” he said.
“[Harper’s] an analytical person. He’s a lot like I am in many respects in the way he thinks about public policy,” said Emerson, 60.
“He has done a good job in beginning to position the Conservative Party as a middle-of-the-road party of moderation. That, to me, is how you govern Canada over the long haul.”
Premier Gordon Campbell welcomed Emerson’s move to the Tories.
“He is there to carry out a mission to strengthen Canada and to strengthen British Columbia. He has something significant to offer in that role and we’re fortunate he’s there,” said Campbell. >>
http://www.rapp.org/url/?ACPDUKG2
theprovince via nealenews.com
good work Kate.
Since the stumbling block for floor crossers seems to be the “voters don’t get what they voted for” line I would then say the last 13 years of Liberal rule have been illegal.
They campaigned against free trade, but kept it when they got power
They campaigned to get rid of the GST, but kept it when they got power.
What’s teh difference, voters didn’t “get” what they vote for.
Big deal, look at the longer time frame.
Time for any honest Liberals out there to ponder the Dingwall payoff and ELECTION SCAM and do the right thing. Leave teh Liberals, sit independent and then join the CPC.
Politics is a blood sport. It ain’t croquet.
Kate – ditto – touche – right on – as usual you have looked beyond the nashing of teeth and the MSM (once again) calling out that this is the death knell for Stephen Harper. I absolutely agree with you and we will continually be surprised at the manner in which PMSH governs.
We voted for change – change means doing things that aren’t popular and believe me – this isn’t the first thing SH has done that has been controversial and it won’t be the last.
Hang onto your hat – its going to be a bumpy ride!!
For all you boys and girls out there thinking Stephen Harper is some white knight on a white charger, GET OVER IT.
Kate is 100% right on, this is politics not some ivory tower debating society. You do what you gotta do, and if Harper wants to make this go he needs the best people he can get. If he thinks this Emerson guy is The One for that spot, I’m good with it.
Frankly if I had my way Emerson would be on the back bench along with anybody else who crossed over for at least a year, just to see if they were honest about it or not. But I don’t have my way, because Harper is the guy who put in the 150 hour weeks to be PM and I didn’t.
Gee, maybe he knows something I don’t! What a friggin’ concept!
So kiddies, if you don’t want the friggin’ gun registry hanging on forever and you don’t want your goddamn taxes to stay at 50%+, maybe you should put some trust in the guy you voted for and HAVE SOME RESPECT for his kung fu. (Acheivement or attainment, for the under educated.)
Here’s something else to think about: socialists are milking this for all its worth, equating Emerson with Stronach and saying its all the same. Clearly not true, as others have said above.
You wanna be on their side?
Blogging “Tories” Openly Organizing Against CPC
In the past, bloggers have been kicked out of the Blogging Tories for not supporting the CPC, this despite the fact the offending parties kept their views to their own (widely unread) blogs. Now here we have a case of people – ignorant, politically i…
Amazing. This from the person who posted Belinda Stronach’s cellphone number. End justifies the means, eh?
Hey, no prob. I’ve read The Prince, and think it contains much wisdom. But don’t bother us with talk of “principle” anymore, OK?
Maybe NDPers should practice “deep entryism” and uncloak in a few years to form a majority government. “Democracy?” That’s a term used in election campaigns.
I totally agree Kate. I’m getting a chuckle out of all the students of the Joe Clark School of Politics, with all there hysterics. If you want too win, you fight with both fists.
Did someone just defend Jack Layton as principled?
The same Jack Layton who supported Paul Martin’s government last spring in the wake of testimony of Liberal party money laundering, so that he could go to the polls later in the year with a list of NDP “accomplishments”.
Yeah, that’s principled, all right.
If you want too win, you fight with both fists – how true.
However, there are millions of Conservative voters who worked hard to rebuild truth within government – I know it was stupid for Canadians to believe that Harper after 12 years of talking about elected Senate would only take a few minute to reverse himself but I guess Canadian are too stupid to learn that all parties, once in power, will act the same. Do you think Harper would have received this many seats if he told us two week ago that he may have to take such steps?
By the way, what else are you and other Conservative willing to do to gain power -majority – clearly anything within the law? But the problem is the parties created the law and Glomery just gave us list of changes because the law needs a lot of work. Harper is the great talker of reform and accountability – but until then it is okay by your logic to act every bit the Liberal.
Does it really matter now bad the Liberal are if the Conservative within a few minute can do always with their promises? Do you not think that Harper and his adviser sat in a room and talked about the reaction and decided they did care with voters would think?
In the words of the Great Sun King of Shawinigan “If you like da politic and da sausage, don’t to watch it be made of.”
Russ Feingold was in a tough fight to retain his Senate seat in 1998, after having pushed for campaign finance reform and the elimination of “soft money”. Even though he was still allowed to take soft money, and his opponent certainly did, Feingold steadfastly refused based on principle. That decision might very well have cost him his Senate seat, but he didn’t just talk the talk on the issue. He ended up winning by a small margin, being rewarded for living up to his principles. At the end of the day, that’s what people respect.
After that, he again stood on principle and was the only Senator to vote against the USA Patriot Act and won his seat by a wider margin in 2004. Whatvever you think of his politics, you have to admire his cajones.
Today’s Toronto Star is criticizing Harper for believing that people from the 905 area can represent Toronto. They are also criticizing him for the appointment of unelected representatives for Montreal and Vancouver. He can’t win.
The Toronto who? They’re irrelevant, as evidenced by our recent election.
I don’t know who defined Jack Layton as “principled,” but it wasn’t me. He caved on the crime issue and the Clarity Act, for example. But he’s still pretty clean. Watch Harper around the Bloc in the next little while, and get back to me.
Anyhow, this all misses the point. What goes on in Parliament–the ad hoc alliances, the strange bedfellows and all–is one thing. But the voters–remember them?–have the right to be represented, last I heard. Floor-crossing is the pits, and I don’t care which party does it and which benefits from it.
Kate has made the argument, in effect, that the voters don’t matter, so long as her party benefits. Disenfranchise them in a good cause. There’s a lot of that kind of thinking around, but let’s not call it “democracy.”
Excellent post, Kate.
Conservative hand-wringers out there should just get over this and move on. Harper was thinking about the next election when he welcomed Emerson into the cabinet; he needs to build bridges into more urban areas if he’s going to get a majority and this is one way to do it.
Patience, people.
As was said, Harper is operating within the rules…As they are right now. Changing of the rules must wait until Parliament is in session. Elected senators, free votes, the dismantling of the gun registry, etc. will take a bit of time.
Remember, the system is still crap. Worry about lack of principles only if Harper doesn’t change anything. At this point it’s far more important for him to act strategically, not tactically.
Wait for it. Big changes are coming, but you can’t change the course of something as big as the “ship of state” as fast as your motorboat.
Read Kate’s post again!
move along people… nothing to see here… come now… move along… nothing whatoever to see here…
*don’t for a second think that conservatives are any different than liberals… Alberta separation is the only way to end this eastern influence peddling*
Is the media mainly upset that they all got scooped? I heard it on CKNW sunday night and the host said that media newsrooms had it too. Then no one had the balls to say it.
Nothing like the bruised ego of a journalist.
enough
I totally disagree Kate….Harper parachuting an unelected party apparatchik into the senate and a cab-min seat is the hight of hypocrisy….it will damage us and there is no justification for it from the leadership of a party with an agenda to elect senate.
I’m disappointed…that comes from someone who has put a lot of time and money into getting this party to power. At this point I’m wondering if the system is even capable of reform.