Tim Hudak, electrifying speaker
Hebert (and Wells): Ye reap what ye sow (updated)
Hebert:
A great friend in Ottawa asked me this morning if I am “an elder statesman.” I’m elder, I said, but not much of a statesman.
But Chantal’s observation is the truth, nonetheless: if the people in Ottawa had listened to Chretien and Broadbent, they’d be in much better shape by now.
Anyway. Whatever; we tried, we failed. Stephen Harper must be a very happy man, indeed.
UPDATE: And now Paul Wells has commented on Hebert’s comments. It’s a groundswell! Anyway, as one of those “currently [and happily – ed.] largely discredited,” I urge you to read Wells’ column, and not just because I agree with it. My take, of which I’m living proof: things in politics are usually not as complicated as they are made out to be. It’s so simple, in fact, it barely merits saying: uniting warring progressives makes them stronger. Also simple: your main opponent – you know, the guy who united warring conservatives to successfully win power – will do everything he can to prevent such a progressive union. Like Wells says: “[Harper] needs to scare Michael Ignatieff off the structural-realignment dime if he is to hold power. Fortunately for him, the prime minister’s task is not particularly difficult.”
Anyway, it’s not going to happen anytime soon. It took the Right three election cycles (1993, 1997 and 2000) to get together, and win. It’ll take at least three more election cycles, over almost as many years (2006, 2008 and maybe 2011 or 2012), for the Left to realize, what Pogo famously observed so long ago:
Helen Heller, literary agent par excellence
My uber-literary agent of 20 years, Helen Heller, has a cool new web site. Check it out, here – but don’t send her tons of unsolicited manuscripts. Send only really good ones.
In today’s Sun: the WikiLeaks divide (updated)
Power and Politics, Dec. 13: The Reformatory erase-the-border plan
Start the week right
She was quiet, but she listened loud
My God, what a beautifully-written story this is, about something so extraordinarily sad.
Say a prayer for this man and his daughter.
Electionile dysfunction
Here’s something to rouse you from your Yuletide slumber:
Several Liberal MPs told The Hill Times their caucus will vote against the bill even if Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) declares its defeat means the government has lost confidence of the House and an election is required. The move, if it occurred soon after the Commons resumes sitting and all three opposition parties maintain their positions, would allow Mr. Harper the opportunity to hold an election essentially on the timing he might want, prior to a bad-news budget in March.”
What do you think, dear readers? I know it’s Monday morning and cold and all that, but this web site is nothing – nothing, I tell you! – if not a safe harbour for fact-free speculation and wild-eyed prognostication! Step up to comments, and let ‘er rip!