Quelle Surprise!

Don't tell me that Harper's stalling and lack lustre record is actually going to get some press! Really?

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggested in an interview that Stephen Harper's government has fallen out of step with the thinking of other major nations on climate and development issues.

No! Ya think?

This story is not new to most of us of course, but it truly is astonishing that it's taken so long, Harper's entire term in fact, to get other politicians to articulate what is fact.

I know that Brown isn't on any one's Valentine's list, but I do hope that his blunt comments will be echoed by others. That way, maybe the press in this country will be forced to focus on the truth.

Mr. Brown expressed frustration with countries, including Canada, that have backed away from Africa.

“We cannot withdraw from Africa,” he said. If the G8 is to achieve the millennium development goals it set in previous summits. “we've got to continue the efforts we've started in Africa.” He added: “I am determined that a recession is not an excuse to give up on the poor. A recession is when your duty to the poor is even more clear.

“People feel that there's a danger that the development agenda stalls,” he said, noting that 110 million more people around the world, most of them in Africa, are facing hunger, and citing a long list of alarming statistics on mortality for infants and mothers in childbirth.

In pre-summit statements, Ottawa has been silent on African aid and on climate change, in sharp contrast to the United States, Germany, France and Britain, which have actively sought a consensus on these issues.

Can't wait to see the response by Harper and co. Did I say response? I meant spin.

Incidentally, I think this shot of Harper is one of the most poignant, most descriptive, most accurate picture of the man and his ideology, that I have ever seen. Note the reflection of the flag.

Quelle suprise.