I presume I am not the only one who understands the Olympics to be on one point of a sliding scale that includes little league summer's end tournaments and Junior B hockey. How, then, could a government become so confused that this editorial observation can be made in the Globe and Mail this morning without explanation:
Political calculation is clearly behind the decision to prorogue. The Conservatives are hoping to bask in the glow of Olympic glory while dodging the mess and scrutiny of lawmaking, Question Period and an outstanding, unprecedented order from Parliament to provide transparency and truth on the detainee file. Then, they hope to return in March, stronger in the Senate and ready to reclaim, they hope, the public agenda.
Isn't that like suggesting the political calculation is that the Conservatives are hoping to bask in the glow of their paper hat arrangements made over the holidays? What is the connection? Are the leftists who make up the majority of Canadian athletes (you don't hear of any sending back the guvmint cheques, do you) supposed to respond and throw the game or pull up limp to ensure they play an accurate role in the Olympic political morality play? If they win, will we all pin up pictures of the dear leader in our kitchen by way of thanks for (surely) personally organizing the event?
Comments
Ben (The Tiger) - December 31, 2009 11:11 am
I seem to remember Brian Mulroney talking the same way about the 1992 World Series and the Charlottetown Accord.
Didn't quite work out for him.
The Tories will bask in the glow of Olympic glory if people actually like them; if not, no chance.
As for athletes' politics, they're funny birds. Either hard-core righties or hard-core lefties, and it's hard to predict who'll be which.
Alan - December 31, 2009 11:28 am
Well, I suppose you can't bench press until you vomit twice a day unless you are a little two dimensional. Funny that the PM of a country would risk his reputation on someone he does not know winning gold in curling.
Ben (The Tiger) - December 31, 2009 1:58 pm
Don't know that he's risking much. Things are going relatively well for him these days, though that prisoner thing wasn't pleasant.
He's where he wants to be -- steady minority territory in the polls. Means no election in the near future.
Alan - December 31, 2009 2:49 pm
2010 is the year he cuts services. We'll never like him as much as we do now.
Jay Currie - January 1, 2010 5:17 am
Spring is when Harper calls the election, Fall will be for cuts.
Sitting just a few miles off Ground Zero for the Olympics I have to say that there is a distinct absence of fervour. Not withstanding the fact the Torch went down my street Day 2 of the run.
Alan - January 1, 2010 11:54 am
I even have a torch relay "roadie" pass thingie. It was goofy when it came through here. Good goofy but goofy nonetheless.
Ben (The Tiger) - January 2, 2010 5:28 pm
Newman and Spector think Jay's got it right.
What the heck, why not? If Canadians are never going to be willing to give him a majority, we might as well get that figured out by spring 2010.