The lack of inspiration, motivation, and recreation to complete a blog entry with any degree of analytical thought prevents a lengthy post. Rather here is a summary of thoughts on recent topics.
Guergis and Jaffer - the power couple we love to hate:
I am sick of this news story. The salacious gossip has news media drooling, almost to the preclusion of all other stories. For the time being there is much ink wasted on this story. I suspect that there will be more scandalous tidbits that will be revealed in due time, but that will come out through investigative journalism (as we saw with the Toronto Star's piece on Rahim dinner with a questionable financier and busty hookers) or the RCMP investigation and not the up-to-the-minute coverage-of-nothing-much-new. As far as I am concerned, this is in the RCMP hands and they will review it.
So far, this is what has struck me on this tale of woe.
- Harper, unlike past prime ministers, does not generally move to demote a Cabinet Minister at the first whiff of a scandal. For all of his faults, Harper tends to be loyal to his MPs (why else would he select Pierre Poilievre as his Parliamentary Secretary?). Thus his request for Guergis' resignation is a stand out.
- He would have needed a credible source that he trusted to suddenly request her resignation, give her the boot from caucus and bring in the RCMP.
- Whatever the source told him, must related to information that Guergis herself had omitted to inform the Prime Minister and his staff in, likely, any number of opportunities since Jaffer was pulled over and found to be possession of cocaine.
- Her allowing Jaffer to use her driver, her phone and her office all suggest that there may be some form of influence peddling going on that she was associated. At worse this may involve the sharing of Cabinet secrets. At best this shows incredibly poor judgment on her behalf.
- While she was a useful lightening rod for the party, the Status of Women will likely be better served with a new Minister. While her friend may give Guergis praise for the work she has done on getting funding for violence against women, the Women's Secretariat is a mere shadow of itself as the Conservatives have turned their back on the idea of equality and focused on the narrow (although quite serious) topic of abuse.
Good causes and Rod Anders:
When Jack Layton announced that he was suffering from prostate cancer and that he would be stepping back, I questioned what that meant for the energizer bunnie to step back. The cynic in me dreaded the fundraising letter saying "Hi, I am Jack Layton, the Leader of the NDP and I suffer from prostate cancer. Please donate." However, it does not appear that he has slowed down, he does appear to be using his position to bring attention to this disease. Prostate Cancer Canada has given MPs blue scarves and ties and symbolize their solitary with Jack and other individuals suffering from prostate cancer.
Perhaps the most shocking revelation was the Rob Anders still lives and works on Parliament Hill. The man who has been gagged longer than Cheryl Gallant, is apparently allowed to roam freely on Parliament Hill - even when a camera is around.
GG speculation:
During the luncheon put on by the Canadian Club in recognition of friendly ties between Canada and the Netherlands, it was announced that the speaker for the May luncheon, had cancelled without rescheduling. The individual concerned - Rick Hansen.
Could it be that he will have more important things on his plate by then? After all, B.C. has yet to have a Governor General. And who better than Hansen? Except for perhaps Pamela Anderson - whose selection would likely continue to divide Canadians on their support for Harper.
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