Once upon a time there was a little lad called Preston who wanted to make things better and promised populism, listening and civility. Everyone thought he was well meaning but didn't much vote for him. Now, he has an institute and, like Brian, is generally ignored in favour of the negs. The negs sling slag. They say the Courts are elitists despite the soundness of their reasons (and who the heck wants a non-elite judge), Ontarians are whiners despite carrying the load, that the Senate is a vipers' nest (ok, they're not all bad) and that slagging personality through TV ads is wholesome politics. They go to other countries for TV interviews because our news is so bad. The negs think it's all so clever but face the problem that people do not like rudeness. It shows in the polls. And, now, is the there a plan afoot to now discredit even Parliamentary process?

Mr. Milliken signalled Tuesday that he's had enough of that tactic too. He told Mr. Kramp, a rural Ontario MP, he “may find himself suspended” from the Commons if he continues to ignore the Speaker's ruling. Kory Teneycke, communication director for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, gave no indication that Tory MPs will let up in their attacks on Mr. Ignatieff, a former Harvard academic. “This is the House of Commons. Debate of a partisan nature is nothing new and in our estimation should not be restricted in that way and certainly not restricted on one side of the House in a way that is different from the other side of the House,” Mr. Teneycke said.

Parliament is not a place of free speech. It is a place of robust structured debate that very but not absolutely free. You cannot call someone a liar. You cannot call someone many different things. In return, you cannot be taken to court for what you say in Parliament and its precincts. That is the deal to advance the political discourse. It is fundamental to freedom and, seeing as the government can't get a majority and looks like it never will, it reflects the will of the people. It is the Lex Parliamenti, it is separate from the rest of the law and it is run by the Speaker. Imagine the insult that poses to the negs.

So, what I am waiting for is the day that the negs turn on the people directly, tell us we don't deserve them, that we are too thick and amoral to deserve them. That when the people point out that they, too, believe in faith, family and freedom that the negs will say that they do not.