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.
Parse this any way you like, but it simply comes down to “principles are fine, but we’re in charge now.”
Was it a good move, Yes it was. PM Harper reconized the importance of better representation for the major centres. Are the voters angry, sure but when the wind is out of the sail & the calm after the storm, the voters will accept the situation. Just look at the last election Belinda won, even stronger so the voters were not that disgusted they voted for the person not he party. The liberals crying the blues, well aleast this was not a move to stay in power. I admire PM Harper for this gutsy move, will voters remember? Most likely not, just look at Adscam. If they were that disgusted the liberals would have been wiped off the electoral map. Yes I agree with some of the writers I hope there are a few more.
Does anyone wonder why we have heard from few liberal opposition members (except BG) – Is that the smell of FEAR I detect?
There is a point to ponder, as the landscape changes once again (albeit very slowly). Idealogies come “from the heart, of the soul and for the mind” whereby politics is an inherently dishonest, immoral and blood-thirsty business! When Politics penetrates Idealogy, anything can and does happen. Moral, honest people can turn immoral and dishonest (and the reverse can be sometimes true as well, I guess). It’s all about gaining power and then retaining it. You’re only as good as your last election.
Conservative or Liberal? Most of us know we were dearly in need of a change. This country could not endure any more of the Liberal Party!
I, for one, will wait and see how this new government operates, under the constraints of a minority. Time will tell! We certainly couldn’t do any worse.
While all about you are losing theirs…
Not, I’m sure, that you aspire to being a man of course, Kate.
correction: *whereas
Interesting to note that as of 10:00 am EST the CTV and CBC websites no longer have this as a front page “story”.
As far as Jack Chow, er Layton being “pretty clean”, let’s not forget he did sign the papers for a “stressed out” candidate who stole a $50K ring only a few years earlier.
Let the gnashing continue…..
Desperate Paul Martin offered candy to daddy’s little rich girl in order to save his slimy butt. Being Daddy’s little girl is her one and only qualification.
Builder Stephen Harper actually wants to run the country for the sake of the country and opted for an experienced federal cabinet minister right from the start even though he knows he’ll get flack for it.
The differences are huge.
“As far as Jack Chow, er Layton being “pretty clean”, let’s not forget he did sign the papers for a ‘stressed out’ candidate who stole a $50K ring only a few years earlier.”
And the people decided. Which is the whole point.
Does anyone remember when “jumpin’ Jack flash” and Olivia nuzzled in a rent-subsidized apartment during his stay on the City of Toronto Council?
Interesting poll at ctv.ca: “Should MPs who switch political parties be forced to step down and run again in a by-election?”
With 27000 votes cast: 58% NO; 42% YES.
Interesting to note that high profile journalists are taking pot shots at bloggers.
Perhaps it’s because Kate at SDA has a better grasp of the political reality in Canada than any “Chretien Liberal”, as Maclean’s Editor Ken Whyte referrred to Mr. Wells.
Talk about blind partisanship!
And, oh yes, tough teaty Mr. Wells, David Emerson is no Harriet Miers.
“And the people decided. Which is the whole point.”
Not really. They never should have had to decide because they should have been presented with someone who wasn’t a thief.
I take back anything bad I said about Belinda Stronach.
“Conservative or Liberal? Most of us know we were dearly in need of a change. This country could not endure any more of the Liberal Party!”
It’s getting a little tough telling the difference between them these days. If we can only get 30 more ‘principled’ Liberals to cross the floor, we can get our majority!!
Can you have 60-70 people in cabinet?
Hey did any of you miss the irony yesterday of Anne McLellan’s position being scrapped? Not only did she lose her seat her position was deemed a colossal waste of time, money, office space? I’m loving it.
That and Jim Petit’s info about the T.O. Star.
“Are the voters angry, sure but when the wind is out of the sail & the calm after the storm, the voters will accept the situation.”
You’re right, bryan. Canadian voters accept just about anything. Baaaa…
I would just like to say that people can justify and rationalize anything. If Paul Martin had done this, you all would have jumped down his throat, but since it is your guy you will just rationalize it away. If you replace the words Stephen Harper with Paul Martin in Kate’s justification post, how is it any different?
Face it. You are all just partisan hacks who don’t care about ethics or principles – you care about power. Just like Harper.
Appoint an unelected individual to Senate when you said you wouldn’t – heck that’s OK. It helps us with our power.
Nice. Good luck ever playing the integrity card again.
Hey Peter – I’ll offer you the same challenge I’ve given Paul Wells (who still hasn’t come up with the goods) – find the post here in which I jumped on Paul Martin for luring Belinda Harper to his cabinet.
And you’re goddamned right it’s about power.
This is politics. It’s not the Special Olympics.
“Not really. They never should have had to decide because they should have been presented with someone who wasn’t a thief.”
And the voters of Vancouver-Kingsway should never have been presented with a person intent on stealing their votes to get a Cabinet post.
“Does anyone remember when “jumpin’ Jack flash” and Olivia nuzzled in a rent-subsidized apartment during his stay on the City of Toronto Council?”
I see rank-and-file Conservatives aren’t fussy about the truth, either. Chow and Layton paid full market rent. It was a mixed co-op, some subsidized units. They didn’t live in one.
Not all Conservatives have abandoned their ideals. Harper wants to take the party towards the centre to try and form a majority next time. Accountability and ethics have been sacrificed for this strategy. He may get his majority next election, but without a lot of his ex-Reform base, that will be difficult indeed.
File under hypocrite.
I am not a big fan of the MSM, but this is an interesting dig from the Tories’ biggest supporter (Toronto Sun):
“Congratulations Prime Minister Stephen Harper!
In your first day on the job, you’ve accomplished what Paul Martin couldn’t have done if he’d been PM for 10 years.
You just made Belinda Stronach respectable again.”
OUCH!
The best is the enemy of the good
At small dead animals, we get a no-holds-barred reminder of what politics is about, and what the big picture is. Finally.
Methinks Kate has succumbed to the odor of the ‘small dead animals’with whom she consorts .
Yech!
“Hey Peter – I’ll offer you the same challenge I’ve given Paul Wells (who still hasn’t come up with the goods) – find the post here in which I jumped on Paul Martin for luring Belinda Harper to his cabinet.”
Kate, this is an anti-Liberal, pro-Conservative blog. You ripped Belinda a new one when she defected and by extension ripped the government for allowing her in. Youw ant to play the semantics game, that’s fine. It doesn’t take a braniac to figure that out.
And if it’s all about power, you must love PMPM. He did all he could to stay in power, much to the chagrin of the CPC. So why was it so wrong then and so right now? Where does the slippery slope end, or do you get to choose what is too far?
Methinks Kate has succumbed to the odor of the ‘small dead animals’with whom she consorts .
Yech! Vive la difference!
Well done and Well Said, Kate.. the last post here in your response to Peter D and the post on the main page from which these comments have sprung.
I have to say I just found it gratifying in the extreme to have come here this morning to read what you wrote.
I didn’t say it nearly so well as you have, but my points were the same to my husband, who is Conservative and voted for Stephen Harper.. or shall we say, for the Conservative representative in our riding… since we cannot vote for the Prime Minister as one can for the President in the US… but that’s moot..
The glorious thing is that you said what needs to be said regarding David Emerson’s move to the Conservatives. BRILLIANT move on Harper’s part and it shows MORE than anything else his concern for representation with the best possible expertise in all areas of the country.
I was pleased and delighted to see what had happened AND that it came as a complete surprise to most if not all on both sides of the aisle.
My husband, however, coming home from a trip to the States and listening to radio all the way, had quite a different view… and I told him, “that’s what you get for listening to those blowhards on the radio”….he was ‘worried’ that Stephen had made a big mistake… that there should be a by-election, blah, blah, blah… that the consituents in Emersons riding were ‘duped’.
And THIS from a man who is solidly behind the Conservatives and Stephen Harper!!
My response was much the same as what you have said but you did it in a much more colourful way and I just got the best chuckle out of it this morning. Thanks, Kate!
Nice going KATE!
Your clear perception shines through a wall of BS once again.
And for all of those people who think this is an issue worth getting steamed about I say “GrowUp!”
I trust Harper to make good choices. IN fact this Liberal whore he took on has a purpose to serve and that is Harpers job to see that he does it. Do any of you genius’ have a better idea? I doubt it.
OK Hungry Valley, So name just one Basic Fundamental value the Conservatives still hold?
True tales from Trudeau land, aka Truedeaupia:
Remember little Jack Horner, he of the Hornerites Holiness Movement, which arose in…. Quebec….
London Free Press: Former Alberta MP Jack Horner dies at 77
CALGARY — Jack Horner, a former Alberta MP who started out as a Conservative
and ended his political career in Pierre Trudeau’s Liberal cabinet, …
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/11/20/722627.html
>>>>
Remember Hazen Argue, the only CCF/NDP leader whose portrait in NOT on the walls of NDP headquarters. Why not? Well… look here:
Hurt by this rejection, Argue crossed the floor six months later to join the Liberal Party (Liberal Party: … He was re-elected as a Liberal MP … but defeated in 1963 due to the concerted efforts of his former party. In 1966, Argue was appointed to the Senate (Senate: Assembly possessing high legislative powers) as a Liberal. He served as a member of Pierre Trudeau Cabinet … from 1980 to 1984 as Minister of State
due to the Liberal Party’s failure to elect any MPs west of Winnipeg in the 1980 general election (1980 general election …
Senator Argue faced disgrace in 1988 when criminal charges of fraud (fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another person) were filed against him but he died before the case came to court. >>>
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/reference/hazen_argue
“And the voters of Vancouver-Kingsway should never have been presented with a person intent on stealing their votes to get a Cabinet post.”
Wow. Implying that this was a pre-meditated plan between DE and PMSH prior to the election. Not too much of a stretch…..
No matter how you sugar coat it Kate, it still is questionable why one decides to ‘cross the floor’ after a victory of the opposing party.
All tools disposable? What about the tools we already have? You mean to tell me the CPC doesn’t have anyone good enough? Maybe that is why they didn’t win the last two elections and squeaked by on this one.
Grant, if this gentleman has a lot of brains, then that is good, but what about principles? It seems to have been lost – principles and integrity go hand in hand. Now you’re telling us to turn a blind eye to the corruption that has ruined our glorious Dominion?
To have someone run and stay with a party that is clearly corrupt and has contempt for the local voter is akin to the cop term of “guilt by association”.
Question I see no one asked is what IF the Liberals had won, would have crossed the floor?
Of course not, gotta pay the mortgage on the new condo in Belize.
While politics is dirty, this could be a prudent move by Harper, so I will grant him that. But how long will this gentleman stay? Like BS Belinda, when the sugardaddy is ready, will he jump ship too?
Really I’m surprised. I do hope this turns out, but time will tell. Hopefully this leopard can change spots.
cheers
tom
Aaron The Redneck Economist has a good analysis: (WARNING!!!! THIS ARGUMENT CONTAINS LOGIC AND OTHER ADVANCED CONCEPTS THAT ARE UNSUITABLE FOR SHRIEKERS AND MORAL RELATIVISTS AND MAY CAUSE THEIR TINY LITTLE BRAINS TO EXPLODE!!!!)
“Sure, some bloggers think that Harper did this to exact revenge on the Liberals for wooing Belinda Stronach, but I can think of three solid reasons for appointing Emerson.
1. He�s from Vancouver.
2. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Queen�s University. Queen�s Econ Department is generally #2 or #3 in the country.
3. He knows a ton about the Softwood Lumber Dispute.
Occam�s Razor suggests the simplest explanation is often the correct one, so why not assume Harper respects Emerson for his knowledge on softwood lumber, which is no doubt backed up by a solid education?”
http://www.grandinite.com/2006/02/06/whoodathunkit-an-economist-as-minister-of-international-trade/
Many if not most Canadian federal governments have included a floor-crosser, and the same goes for minority cabinets including an unelected MP. This is more the rule than the exception.
In light of this, the shriekers are insane to be calling for Harper’s head for a common parliamentary procedure and one really must question their motives.
One more point: why do the moral relativists hate the Canadian economy, particularly the softwood lumber industry? Emerson is the best person in parliament for the trade portfolio, bar none, and with the possible exception of Chuck Strahl nobody has the forestry experience that Emerson does.
I have not seen a single post in the blogsphere offering a cogent argument as to why Harper has done something to deserve such incredible backlash. I’ve seen many emotional arguments, and many moral-ralativist arguments, but not a single logical argument.
Harper’s first day as Prime Minster he swears in a young, diverse, and dynamic dream team of a cabinet and half the Blogging Tories are shrieeeking with outrage. Get a f**king grip, people, you’re only going to look foolish in the fullness of time, especially if Emerson nails the software file, which seems likely.
Dr. Dawg,
Would sincerely appreciate any info you have on the “Chow and Layton paid full market rent” revelation. I would be happy to stand and/or sit corrected.
I do remember the press (was it liberal, too, in those days) having a hay-day with it.
“…..especially if Emerson nails the software file, which seems likely.”
Of course, when this happens, the headlines will begin with “PM Stephen Harper, best friend of U.S President George W. Bush, announces…..”
8^)
Heh, Geekian slip, that should read “softwood file”.
Liberals will do what they have to do to stay in power. That was the theme of Chretien’s autobiography “Straight from the Heart” It is what he did. It is what Martin did. It is what Belinda did. Now it is what Emerson is doing.
Until the future proves me wrong, I will continue to believe that SH has made a horrible, tragic, mistake.
plenty of new definitions of “hipocrats”!
Harper screw more then few people.
Well said Kate. My sentiments exactly, expressed in a far more eloquent fashion.
I think it’s time that we Stand Up for Stephen.
Anonalogue, thats what I’ve been trying to say, but not so eloquently. I still say it’s a brilliant move to get a resolution to the softwood lumber crisis, get a handle on the 2010 Olympics and get representation for Vancouver in one person. It was a daring move that he had to have known would cause angst in the Conservative ranks and give the opposition ammo but he did it anyway. You CAN NOT compare this to BS. She brought nothing to the Liberal cabinet except to postpone the inevitable.
BTW, did you see Layton in the post swearing in press conference. Did someone forget to tell him that the election campaign is over?
Kate puts it best
And Harper himself said immediately after Stronach left that he was opposed to legislation limiting a Member of Parliament from being able to cross the floor. Harper anyways is being consistent, perhaps he recognized at the time the possibility that …
BTW, McGuinty is Liberal Premier of Ontario.
Liberal Premier of Ontario gives Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet two (2) thumbs up. 22222
McGuinty Pleased with Tory Cabinet
Josh Pringle
Monday, February 06, 2006 9:21 PM
cfra.com
Vancouver Board of Trade endorses the decision too!!
http://www.officiallyscrewed.com/blog/archives/00000226.html#comments
The Toronto Sun’s editorial says that SH has made BS look respectable. I disagree. It was teh constituents of Newmarket-Aurora who condoned th crossing and elected her again. In fact, I believe the majority of crossings are rewarded with a new term come election time. The CTV survey results amy be disappointing to the Conservatives but it is a fact of politics. This issue of deeming the crossing as unethical is a rather new phenomenon. It’s not a big deal if the MP votes as you would have expected. Emerson is a business person ith experience in go’t and in cabinet. He now has a say in how gov’t will run.
Getting the best people in the right job is what the true maket place is about. Let’s give SH.
Belinda may even belive what she did was based on principle, who cares. It’s Paul Martin who created a new post for her vote that is questionable.
I can’t understand the reaction by so many tory bloggers to this. Way to eat your own, guys.
RP,
This is what happens when you violate principles important to the majority of your party.
I agree with Kate. Isn’t the job of the CPC to convert people to our cause? We need to stay in power more than 3 weeks.
I’m a conservative, but this BS just proves that any ethics one might have had or espoused to go out the window when the reins of power get in one’s hands…..