Canada Free Press -- ARCHIVES

Because without America, there is no free world.

Return to Canada Free Press

Editor's Desk

Giving voters the bird

By Judi McLeod
Tuesday, February 21, 2006

You know it's got to be bad when Globe & Mail writers weigh in to defend Stephen Harper.

"Politics is supposed to be the art of the possible, although you would never know it from Stephen Harper's first horrible week," writes Geoffrey Stevens.

"Finding himself short of the lumber he wanted to construct his cabinet, Harper did what any sensible leader or carpenter would do: he went foraging."

Problem is Harper is neither carpenter nor pig. He's minority new guy in the PMO.

"From the Liberal benches, he plucked David Emerson, who had been industry minister in the former regime, and installed him as minister of trade in his Conservative cabinet, Stevens continued.

"Then, reaching into his own backroom, he took Michael Fortier, the Conservative election co-chair, made him a senator and installed him in the cabinet as a minister of public works.

"There was a time when both moves would have been applauded as smart, even inspired politics.

"Not this time, however.

"Let's get real, folks."

ah, Mr. Stevens. If only it were that easy, but you see there's the little matter of Emerson's abused constituents in between. Emerson ran under a clearly perceived Liberal banner, and voters marked their ballots for the Liberal of their choice on Jan. 23–likely never expecting to have their candidate "foraged" by Harper and morphed into a Conservative by Jan. 24.

When Harper went out foraging, he cheated unsuspecting Canadians, who thought they were voting in a Liberal.

Cheating is cheating whether you're a foraging Liberal or Conservative.

although there is no known antidote against it, politicians should not be permitted to rearrange elections after the votes are in.

Finding one's self short of the lumber one needs to construct a cabinet is inconvenient, but shouldn't make cheating an option. When you discover that the wife you married only a year ago isn't quite as appealing as the new blonde across the street, cheating only makes you an unfaithful husband.

When university students, who burn the midnight oil carousing around campus, cheat on exams, honesty flies out the window.

according to the Stephen Harper sympathetic Geoffrey Stevens, "The object is to provide Canada with the best government possible, given the available options."

Depends what the available options are. and writing that kind of advice to politicians is likely to be taken straight to heart.

In his column, Stevens asked if we "remember" Winston Churchill, who twice crossed the floor.

…"Elected to Westminster as a Conservative in 1900, he crossed to the Liberals in 1904 (over free trade) and became a senior cabinet minister (including secretary of state for war).

"after a spell in the wilderness, he re-crossed to the Conservatives and became chancellor of the exchequer.

"as he commented wryly at the time, "anyone can rat (change parties), but it takes a certain ingenuity to re-rat."

"Churchill, of course, went on to become Britain's greatest prime minister (as a Conservative)."

When our friend Winnie crossed to the Liberals in 1904 over free trade, it was also over three years since first being elected to Westminster as a Conservative.

But blimey, how anyone--even a Globe & Mail type--could compare the likes of David Emerson to Churchill, makes a perfect textbook case for freedom of speech.

The fact remains that in the space of a proverbial New York minute the same Stephen Harper, who campaigned on honesty and government accountability, deprived constituents of Vancouver Kingsway their democratic vote–all because it suited his purpose.

Giving the voters the bird one day after election is giving voters the bird whether you're Paul Martin or Stephen Harper.

Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Views are those of authors and not necessarily those of Canada Free Press. Content is Copyright 1997-2018 the individual authors. Site Copyright 1997-2018 Canada Free Press.Com Privacy Statement