Thursday, December 04, 2008

For the record

I disagree with the Governor General's decision, but the person at fault here is not her: Stephen Harper should never have made this her call. It was Harper, not Michaelle Jean, who decided that he would try and prorogue rather than face a confidence vote. I don't blame Jean for choosing to defer to her PM, as almost every precedent suggested she should. Again, I disagree with it, but I disagree more with the whining I'm seeing on our end.

I believed that there was ample reason for the GG to not prorogue Parliament until the PM had demonstrated he had the confidence of the House of Commons. But my beliefs don't make it so. And neither do yours. Harper put Jean in a terrible position, and she made a "safe" decision, as was her right.

If you believe, as I do, that the GG's decision sets a bad precedent, surely it's the precedent that the Prime Minister has initiated. There's nothing about this that the GG wanted to have any part of.

So, Harper: still a jackass, whose jackassery puts other people in impossible positions, and now a coward to boot.

7 comments:

Mark Richard Francis said...

MPs need to go to the Hill and protest around the clock.

MrvnMouse said...

The MPs need to continue meeting regardless of the will of Harper.

Mike said...

Exactly. Don't put this on Michaelle Jean - it was Stephen Harper who asked for this.

Who knows the kind of bullying and brow beating she went through this morning or the kind of doom and gloom hand-wringing, pearl-clutching lies Harper told her...

From the beginning this has been about Harper and his poor judgment. Keep it that way.

Anonymous said...

I agree that MPs have to continue to meet and debate economic policy. To retreat to their ridings at this point is to let Canada fall into the economic abyss.

Greg said...

That's what I wonder. What level of coercion was involved that it took so long for the G.G. to agree?

To me it looks like a small town mayor, knowing he's lost the vote count, asking the R.O. not to announce the count.

On the other hand, it has to be seen as a victory when the best you enemy can do is retreat.

Zack said...

There's nothing about this that the GG wanted to have any part of.

I agree, she probably would have been much happier going to costume balls and shopping, or whatever it is she does to spend tax dollars over there in Europe

Anonymous said...

November 28, 1977...Richview Collegiate, 8am. Stephen Harper, an ambitious member of the Young Liberal Club has once again forgotten his jockstrap. He curses his decision to appear well-rounded by signing up for intra-mural floor hockey. Impulsively, he pulls the fire alarm.