• William Johnson, Ottawa Citizen: “A coherent image emerges of Mulroney as a leader of Canada who chose to wallow in sleaze. But no coherent scenario can be discerned to explain all the strange events, documents, testimonies and lies.”
• The Globe and Mail: “THE INAPPROPRIATE LEGACY OF BRIAN MULRONEY…It is now a matter of record that he acted inappropriately in many ways. And in the end, what was it all for?…Judge Oliphant also urges ethics training for public office holders, but the dishonour Mr. Mulroney has done himself may be lesson enough. A former prime minister took cash-stuffed envelopes while he was an MP and in private life soon afterwards. Even to Judge Oliphant, it is unclear why, except that he knew it was inappropriate.”
• The Times-Colonist: “MULRONEY’S POLITICAL TAINT…The first casualty of the Oliphant inquiry is Brian Mulroney. His reputation, already tarnished, is severely damaged by the report on his relationship with German businessman-felon Karlheinz Schreiber.  The greater damage has been inflicted on all politicians as images of cronyism, privilege, dishonesty and cash-filled envelopes are burned into the public’s mind… This has been a sordid, disheartening spectacle.”
• Edmonton Journal: “And so ends Brian Mulroney’s bid to haul his reputation out of the mud of tawdry business dealings at the close of his political career. What a sad coda to his nine years as Canada’s 18th prime minister…What should Canadians conclude? Clearly, that we have a right to expect better of our politicians.”
• Hubert Bauch, Montreal Gazette: “[Oliphant] judged that Mulroney’s transactions with Schreiber violated just about every principle of how honest folk do business and that in effect – though again he doesn’t use the word – Mulroney gave deceitful testimony in a court case about his relationship with Schreiber…Mulroney’s line is that he wasn’t asked the right questions [in his libel action] by government lawyers, and that had he been he would have told all. In uncouched terms, Oliphant called that “patently absurd.”
• London Free Press: “MISTAKES WILL OVERSHADOW ALL ELSE IN MULRONEY LEGACY…the mistakes Mulroney has admitted will forever be how Canadians remember him — rather than for his leadership, two massive majority governments, efforts at national unity, free trade, environmental initiatives and other significant contributions. In fact, Mulroney’s legacy will be one that stoked the flames of voter apathy, distrust of politicians and government. That is a sad legacy.”
• John Ibbitson, Globe and Mail: “MULRONEY’S LEGACY WILL BE FOREVER POISONED…The incredulity and anger that any reasonable observer must feel over the former prime minister’s conduct is the highest price Mr. Mulroney will have to pay. He is a man who cares deeply about his legacy. That legacy is stained at the least; for many, it will be forever poisoned…to a large chunk of the population, he was Lyin’ Brian – too smooth, too slick, not to be trusted.”
• Kelly MacParland, National Post: “MULRONEY’S REPUTATION IN SHREDS…If Brian Mulroney had a reputation left, Justice Jeffrey Oliphant shredded it today…Mr. Schreiber didn’t have any reputation to speak of when the proceedings began. Mr. Mulroney was holding onto hope he could salvage what little he had left. He might as well forget that now.”
• Ian Austen, The New York Times: “FORMER CANADIAN P.M. TOOK ‘KICKBACKS’…A Canadian inquiry has found that former prime minister Brian Mulroney acted inappropriately when he accepted ”cash-stuffed envelopes” during three meetings with a German arms and aviation lobbyist.”

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“This Inquiry provided Mr. Mulroney with the opportunity to clear the air and put forward cogent, credible evidence to support his assertions that there was nothing untoward about his dealings with Mr. Schreiber. I regret that he has not done so. I express this regret on behalf of all Canadians, who are entitled to expect their politicians to conserve and enhance public confidence and trust in the integrity, objectivity, and impartiality of government. Mr. Mulroney’s actions failed to enhance public confidence in the integrity of public office holders.”

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…and, with it, speculative stories about Liberal leadership that (in this case) contain one (1) anonymous source who advises against a change, and one (1) former member of the Liberal Party given front-page treatment for his views on the, um, Liberal Party.

Summer must be imminent.  Silly political coverage is upon us.

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It’s only been hours.  But as someone who has been a devoted supporter Israel for many years, it seems to me that the attack on that boat carrying supplies was an act of profound stupidity.

If, as has been reported, the people on the ship were unarmed, I cannot see how the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can survive.  If they were unarmed – if – Netanyahu has recklessly plunged Israel into a downward spiral of instability and further isolation.

Coverage here and here and here, from sources that can’t be seen as highly critical of Israel.

Your views are welcome, but keep it calm.  I won’t hesitate to delete anyone who gets out of hand, on either side of the divide.

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From the new Against Me! album, out in a week or so:

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A much, much younger me; a bit of Ras Pierre Schenk’s head; and then-girlfriend Paula Christison, at a party somewhere in Calgary circa 1979. Photo by Fee, sent via Virginia on FB.

I need a drink, now.

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Meanwhile, characterizations of Marin’s “oppressive” workplace continued to flow into the Toronto Star, with 11 current and former employees calling to question his suitability for the watchdog job.

…a Star investigation found that three former employees and one current staffer say Marin and his trusted managers are petty tyrants with bizarre and strict rules on office etiquette. In letters to government officials and in two complaints to the Human Rights Tribunal, workers allege racial discrimination by the Ombudsman’s Office, which has denied discrimination against employees.

After the story appeared, the Star received calls from people identifying themselves as current or former employees, all requesting anonymity for fear of being fired or other reprisals. A former manager said he could not be identified due to terms of a separation agreement.

“There was an oppressive atmosphere,” said the former manager said, who said unwritten but understood rules discouraged employees from walking the hallway in front of Marin’s office, or placing personal effects on their desks.

Personally, I’m all for the NDP and the Conservatives endorsing this guy. He’ll have about as much credibility as John Gomery, by the time this thing is over.

Maybe less.

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Holy smokes.

And just wait until the Reformatories announce that part of their platform will be an elimination of the election subsidy. That’s coming, too.

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The Reformatories are getting silly, again.  They don’t mind demanding committee appearances by backroomers (like me) when they were in Opposition – but now that they are in government, it’s a different story.

Jane calls them on it, here.

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Youngest son, just now: “Daddy, have you asked Dalton McGuinty if I can be home-schooled, yet?”

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