Let's be clear: the entertainment value alone is worth the current schlamozzle Ottawa finds itself in these days. One of the glorious things Jean Chretien did was leave the fiscal house in such good shape that anyone could pretty much keep the program going, claim it as their own and leave plenty of time for crisis within the Lex Parliamenti. Sort of a modern version of "bread and circuses". All of this leads to the question of whether it has suddenly become as bad as this for Steve-o:
Conservative MPs, plus plenty of rank-and-file Conservatives, are angry and confused about the mess their government created in the past few days. Their fingers are pointing at two men: Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his chief of staff, Guy Giorno. Since Mr. Harper makes all the important decisions in this government, the manifold miscalculations of Thursday's economic statement were his, aided by his chief of staff, a partisan brawler imported from the old Mike Harris government in Ontario.
I suppose I would be really ticked off if I put this much energy into supporting the rise of Harper only to find, to quote my father at dinner last night quoting a media wag, not only did he shoot himself in the foot...he aimed. See, it's not about the cutting of party money and maybe not even about the lack of a stimulus - though the idea of saying we need a postponement of a stimulus package until March and then late January to deal with the implications of a global recession is nuts. I think it's about the implications of a party that is willing, in the face of a global recession, to think about ways to cut civil servant right to strike, ways to cripple the opposition that just got the vast majority of popular support, ways to jerk the chains that have been placed so tentatively in their hands.
Last week, Mr. Harper again displayed character traits that would justly support an advertising campaign built around the theme of "not a real leader." The ideological will never see it. They will always see their best chance at the brass ring of power as the greatest leader of all time. Remember how people were actually associating themselves with the idea that GWB would turn out to be the greatest president of the USA? How many are saying that now? Likewise - but for very different reasons - the Prime Minister may have critically undermined his own cause by that worst of problems: by being himself. Even if the GG is visited by the opposition, we have to wonder how many October 2008 Tory votes did he lose in the last week of November if an election is held in January?
And what if he turns this around without the help of Iggy? Would he not be worth of another level of respect?
Update: Brilliant!. If true, this is the right move for Iggy as well as Rae. It would be my guess that Bob would be the one to do the right thing for his party.
Comments
Hans - December 1, 2008 9:53 am
Speculation: Chretien, Dion, Rae, LeBlanc and Liberal & NDP party officials cooked up this deal well in advance: They are playing chess too. Harper is playing possum. I wish I could think of the classicial allusion to some one who is faking their own mistakes and demise. Harper'c actions include his mistakes are all chess moves in his tactical game to get the Tories a majority likely under a new leader, likely Bernard Lord.
All of which is to say that it is extremely disappointing that our PM, in the face of a purported econimic crisis has nothing better to do than play silly partisan games. See Paul Wells' latest column.
sean - December 1, 2008 10:30 am
"mmphsughmmph"
Thats me under zipper lip unable to confirm anything Han's said, including the small bit that's incorrect about "mmphion"...
Ben (The Tiger) - December 1, 2008 3:02 pm
My take.
He thought he was stronger than he really was.
Paul of Kingston - December 1, 2008 4:41 pm
I think that classical allusion is "stupid like a fox". But in Harper's case I think "stupid like dodo" is more apt.
tracy - December 1, 2008 5:06 pm
Harper really did mess up and shoot himself in the foot.
I live in Harper's riding and I want him to resign for the good of the party.
But Seriously? A leader who abstained from voting on any bill for a year, ran one of the worst campaigns ever where 75% of Canadians rejected him, going to resign as party leader in May, becoming the new PM of a coalition government?
Ben (The Tiger) - December 1, 2008 5:22 pm
We draw our governments from the governing class we have, not the governing class we want...
Matthew Fletcher - December 1, 2008 10:10 pm
First, let me say I am shocked and humbled. Several time's during the last campaign I derided and dismissed the idea of a Liberal NDP coalition as completely impossible. I am shocked that this seems actually likely to come to pass.
That said, there is no way this was planned in advance. If it had been planned in advance, why all the suffering over Dion's decision to step down? If there actually was an agreement in place to form a coalition it would have had to have been made with Iggy and Rae, and it would have had to come with an agreement to keep Dion as leader. It could have easily been spun, "Dion deserves a second chance, the party needs to rebuild and unite, another leadership contest is too divisive etc. etc."
Also, Bernard Lord is to Conservative leadership contender as Frank McKenna is to Liberal leadership contender.
Alan - December 1, 2008 10:55 pm
No one really expects coalitions. They are sprung!
I'm actually suffering from coalition regret this evening. The idea of Dion having a say in the sun is getting me all yantsy, Makes me want to have Jim Flaherty shout at me for a while, put me back in my place.
Ben (The Tiger) - December 1, 2008 11:11 pm
Now that it looks like the coalition might actually take power, I'm getting worried.
Oh well. The people will have their say, whether it's early next year or in mid-2011.
Alan - December 1, 2008 11:24 pm
I have a very quaky feeling about all of this all of a sudden.
Seanie - December 1, 2008 11:31 pm
I just received an email from Iggy vowing that the leadershop process would continue in a fair and dignified manner. Also, they are doing what they are strictly based on the inappropriate actions of Steve-O and Jimmy F. I for one feel pretty damn good about this all shaking out.
Hans - December 2, 2008 8:51 am
Too true, Ben...LOL....