Dignity

I'll have more to say about Rae stepping aside, but for now I'll simply say that the first word that came to mind was, dignity. His announcement today was gracious, considered and I'm sure very difficult.

I trust his supporters will heed his request and move forward to better the party. I know I think the party is better for having him and I look forward to him being a key player.

Finally...Transparency

Did you see Harper being interviewed by Peter Mansbridge this afternoon or tonight? We finally got some transparency from our PM, meaning that you could see right through him.

My first reaction was, what the hell was that? I don't actually know who initiated this interview, but if it was Harper, it's yet another mistake on the master chess player's part. If you missed it you can watch it here .

He was nervous, visibly uncomfortable, testy and defensive. He also smiled at odd times, suggesting to me that he'd been somewhat coached again, as he was prior to the debates during the last election. Given that, no one should be fooled, because he was anything but contrite. I saw a man that knows he is in a really bad place and he is there because of his own doing. He's aware that he's done damage to his image and to his party and he hasn't been able to rely on his usual propaganda machine to quickly change that, because he has been exposed. He looked almost frantic, trying to regain control by rewriting history and shaping the future into a mold of his liking.

Some telling observations:

Stephen Harper is reaching out to the Liberals in an effort to drive a wedge into the opposition coalition and save his tottering government.

Not very conciliatory of him, is it?


...., Harper repeated his invitation to the opposition parties to offer specific suggestions for managing the economy.
"We have a right to that input. Some of the opposition parties are saying they want to run the government. That's fine. Precisely what is it you want to do?" Harper asked.

They have the right to that input? He went on to say that the government could then determine whether or not the plans of the opposition were wise. Wise? He's in a position to determine what is wise in this economy?

Harper suggested Tuesday that the coalition had little to do with frustrations over his approach to the economy, but was in fact a conspiracy on the part of opposition parties to bring down the recently elected Conservatives.

"I think, frankly, after the election — if not before the election — the opposition parties decided that they would work against the government as an essentially unified front," Harper said.

He went on to accuse NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe of backing the Liberal party into a corner where it was forced to either vote against the government or be "condemned as sellouts."

Yes folks, it was all a conspiracy. Even though Harper and his minions have been screaming that the opposition really only cared about the party financing provisions in the Financial Update, what he really meant to say was...they were out to get me all along! It's obvious!

This was an interview given by a desperate man who hasn't changed one iota. He'll try to convince everyone that he's willing to play nice, but the qualities required for that simply do not exist in this man. His interest is power and his belief is that he is infallible, but the back pedalling and panic were there for all to see. Harper is who he is and not a sweater vest, not a recession, nor the sudden shock of almost losing power is going to change that.

Anyone who believes otherwise really hasn't been paying attention.

Could We Keep Our Eye on the Ball?

Yes, the target I'm referring to is the guy in the photo. Remember him? He's the guy who came within centimetres of losing power, just last week as a matter of fact, yet no one seems to be considering what might be going on in his party or what his next strategy might be.

The media aren't focusing on it. That would require work, thought even. No, they are content to continue their serial on the Liberal party and it seems that there are quite a few party members out there that are only too happy to provide them with fodder for their never-ending narrative.

Really? This is what we want to do at this particular moment in time? This is what we need right now?

I understand that some Liberal bloggers (and others associated with the party) are less than pleased with the process we have in place, but people, that is what the delegates voted for. If we want to change their decision, then let's work toward doing that. If you don't like what they chose, e-mail them. In the mean time, it is my understanding that the party is doing it's utmost to consider options in spite of the constraints they are faced with. Railing against a 'yet to be decided' process seems a bit futile doesn't it?

The leadership of the party is important. I get it. Democratic choice is important. We all get it, but could we focus on putting forward positive solutions, while recognising that we have rules in place and leave the melodrama to those who are incapable of providing anything else?

We have a real opponent here and we will require real commitment and unity to defeat him.

A Coward - Unfit for Office

Do you still recognise Canada? It became a little murkier today and having heard the PM, his appointed attack dogs and sycophants, it's clear to me that he is not about to change course for anyone.

A precedent was established today and while I have no way of knowing whether or not Michaelle Jean had but one choice, or chose the lesser of 2 evils, it matters not at this point. The country is now different and Harper managed to get away with turning his back on a long established democratic practice. He avoided a vote of confidence in the House because it did not serve his political agenda.

What Harper accomplished today should suggest that he is done. It should all add up to his days as PM being numbered and following that, he should be out of politics for good. However, we all know that Harper manipulates the system in ways we've not seen before, indeed perhaps in ways we never expected and maybe that is how he has gotten away with as much as he has. He's has taken so many turns in his quest to change this country, it's difficult to determine what direction he will now take to achieve his end. One think is clear however. He will continue to strive for his goal, in whatever way he can. He was emboldened today, that much was obvious. To believe that he will now play the game straight is beyond naive.

Media are trying to tell us that he will play it fairly straight though and of course they are pouncing all over the coalition and proclaiming it's demise because of a few ill advised comments by some of it's members. I know there are polls out tonight that would underscore their proclamations and while I dismiss nothing at this point, I think it is too soon to accede to the media's reading of the tea leaves.

What is being missed is the anger and frustration that brought the coalition together in the first place. Consider where those emotions lie on a scale of 1 to 10 right now. Having not seen the desired result today with the decision of the GG, those emotions and intentions may have been difficult to articulate, but it's my feeling that the PM will not be alone in being emboldened. I think there will be a forceful desire to keep the coalition strong, get it and it's messaging right, and fight back with a vengeance.

It's time to make clear beyond a shadow of a doubt what Harper intends for this nation and to provide the alternative that Canadians recognise and depend on. He's distorted so much of what we take for granted (in the best sense of that phrase) that the work will not be easy, but this is a fight for our country. That's not hyperbole or melodrama. That's fact.

Donate, rally, join others, do whatever you can to destroy Harper's deranged dream and focus on the vision of Canada the majority of us want restored.

Waiting...Waiting...

Good sign or bad? Open thread.