The Rot Starts at the Top

Do you know the expression, a rotting fish always starts at the head? That's what came to mind recently watching Harper and his party.

From his behaviour in the House, to flippant remarks on political shows, to interviews with media and overtly partisan speeches, it is evident that Harper has set a tone that his party emulates without reservation. It's nasty, juvenile, vindictive and damaging. Damaging to those he directs his remarks at and damaging to the country.

To be honest, it's difficult to understand that such a man is running this country. Actually, I take that back. It's more than difficult. It's appalling and embarrassing.

Since the day that Harper took office, it has been this endless loop of vindictive divisiveness. It's as if Harper has never really understood that he is the PM. He governs the country as the Conservative Party, not the as the Government of Canada and he does so without regard for the greater good.

None of this is news of course, but to have heard and read about him this past week speak about Israel, well it just really highlighted the depth that he will sink to over and over again to attain his partisan goals. He deliberately articulated falsehoods in an effort demonize some and gain popularity with others.

This excerpt from an interview on CFRB sums him up.

During question period, Rae, the Liberal foreign affairs critic, read from an interview Stephen Harper gave to Toronto radio station CFRB on the subject of Israel's 60th anniversary this week.

In the interview, Harper said that in some circles, anti-Israeli sentiment has become "a thinly disguised veil for good old-fashioned anti-Semitism."
"I am disturbed that there are some elements in our political system, there are even some members of Parliament we saw during the confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah a couple years back — some that were willing to cater to that kind of opinion," Harper said.

Disgusting. Apart from the blatant illogic of the statement, the fact that he actually accuses some MP's of being anti Semitic is beyond the pale. Of course the man does not have the courage to identify who he is referring to. No, he makes these loathsome swipes only when and where he is protected. In the House, during interviews where he is assured that he will not be challenged and at partisan rallies where his followers will accept virtually anything the man does or says, even that which contradicts their supposed values. I find that incredibly disturbing.

Many of his MP's of course follow suit. Everyday in question period, just before the cameras come on for Dion's first question, a Con MP rises to use his/her Members Statement time to deliver a juvenile taunt to Dion. Here's an example:

Mr. Jeff Watson (Essex, CPC): Mr. Speaker, 16 months ago, the so-called leader of the Liberal Party said that he was “a hero” but the self-proclaimed hero has in fact turned out to be a zero. The only one who has had a worse year than the Liberal leader is Britney Spears.

In a desperate effort to rebuild his image, the Liberal so-called leader has turned to his best friend for advice. No, not the Liberal deputy leader and, no, not the Liberal member for Toronto Centre, but to his dog Kyoto, and he has followed Kyoto's advice with lethal effect.

Kyoto says “down boy” and the Liberal leader responds by driving his poll numbers in Quebec way down. Kyoto says “sit” and the Liberal leader responds by having his caucus sit vote after vote after vote. When Kyoto says “roll over”, the Liberal leader obliges on every significant matter of policy and confidence in our government.

However, the Liberal so-called leader is saving Kyoto's best advice for last. In the next election, which Liberals now pretend they will call in the dog days of summer, their so-called leader will finally play dead.

I imagine the brain trust in the Conservative party believe that by behaving like a 12 year old hiding behind his mother's skirt is the best way to solidify their base. The taunting in the grand scheme of things is minor, but very telling of the type of individual who calls the Conservative Party of Canada home.

That type of behaviour escalates in importance and the one who sets what the next level will be is Harper. Consider his attempt to link Navdeep Bains to terrorism. Ask questions about the Afghanistan mission and you are accused of being Taliban sympathisers. If you are concerned with the rule of law, due process and the defense of Canadian citizens abroad you are deemed to back terrorism or care more about murderers than Canada's security. Now this most recent comment. Disagree with any aspect of Israel's foreign policy and you are an anti-Semite. (Do you suppose that Harper is aware that many Israeli's disagree with their government's foreign policy?)

That Canada is currently being governed by such a group is one thing. That it seems to be unrealised by the general public is quite another.

Are Canadians giving this gang a free pass or have they just tuned out? It seems to me that the unintended consequences of Harper's governing by partisanship, seems to have diminished the national dialogue to the point that no one cares. That's a tough reality to witness especially when we see such enthusiastic re-engagement south of our border.

Harper's apostles refer to him as a strong leader. I see a coward.

What is strong and growing in intensity imo, is the reek that emanates from the head of the CPC.