Non-Partisan Hack

and so it begins ...

- Questionable Wording in Question Period? -

Did former NDP BC Premier-cum-Liberal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh just demand, in response to a question put to him by wheelchair-bound Conservative MP Steven Fletcher, that the Conservatives "stand up and say it"?

Ouch.

- Shrinking Support -

CTV is reporting that an SES poll to be released tommorow morning shows the Liberal Party slipping a further 6%, with most of the Liberal loss showing up as NDP gain. No or little change for the CPC.

- Layton Feigns Perplexed -

I really wish NDP leader Jack Layton would stop using the word "arcane" to describe matters of common Parliamentary procedure. It sounds as though his party just can't get their head around things as routine as non-confidence motions, which we all know to not be the case.

Of course, Martin and Liberal attack dogs like Scott Reid are trying to portray Layton's "compromise" solution as convoluted and untenable. Layton does well to counter those allegations when he insists that his proposal is straightforward, simple and desirable. He comes off as reasonable when he reminds people that Martin has already chosen an election date, and that the united opposition parties are simply advising him - strongly - that it is the will of the majority of the house that the election date should be changed. But he looks bad when he acts as though the more conventional approach to securing an election is somehow difficult to comprehend, rather than simply not ideal. Canadians aren't confused by confidence motions. Layton shouldn't pretend to be, either.

- The Liberal Image -

Watching Ralph Goodale's mini-budget presentation yesterday, I was struck by how these people no longer seem like elected officials, but ruling party establishment men. You know, like in those countries where the ruling party has been the ruling party for decades, and the faces don't change, only the neckties and portfolios.

Ralph wasn't Ralph, anymore. He was Minister of Propoganda & Dollar Allocation for the Natural Governing Party of Perpetuity.

It used to be cute when Chretien would pull out pre-election non-campaign campagining, even while it was frustrating. Maybe it was just because the scrappy lil' guy had more charisma. Maybe it is just that it has been going on for far too long now. What used to seem cynical yet crafty, now just seems cynical.

Paul Wells reminds us that the Martin crew was upset when John Manley - former finance minister under Chretien and potential candidate as Paul Martin's successor - made economic announcements that projected too far into the future. Now Goodale, with an election looming, is making projections and promises that won't take place until 2010. I'm thankful for people who have longer memories than my own. Lovely.

- And The Other Guys? -

Stephen Harper wasn't feeling well today, and had the day off. Chicken soup, dude. It's good for the ....

Oh. Right.

Nevermind.

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posted by williamNPH @ 6:53 PM