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Lies, and Damn Lies: Stephen Harper addresses the nation
I'm going to make this brief, because I've caught the mother of all cold viruses and I'm due for a spell of unconsciousness in about five.
Steven Harper asked the national networks for some time today, to speak to Canadians, and explain why the new coalition could not be allowed to govern. What did he give us? Lies, and damn lies.
Throughout question period and during his remarks tonight, he characterized the coalition as being 'separatist' and 'dangerous' for Canada. This in direct contradiction of facts: the Liberals and NDP have signed an agreement to form a governing coalition, and the Bloc Quebecois have agreed to support this government on confidence votes. For the purposes of the agreement, confidence votes have been defined as a throne speech and two budgets. After that, they can either continue to support the government, or ally with the Conservatives to bring it down. They would be free to vote however they like on any other measure, and would have NO SAY in the nitty gritty of the legislative agenda. They have agreed to support this coalition, based on the broad outline which the Liberals and NDP have developed. That's it.
Steven Harper and the Conservatives keep asking, What's in it for the separatists? What's in it for them, is a rollback of all the budget and program cuts you've dropped on them. What's in it for them is an economic stimulus package. There's no mystery here. In an effort to prop up his sinking government, Harper is trying to play the nationalist card, in one of the few, non-hockey-related ways you can: by invoking the spectre of separatist Quebecois, out to destroy our country. The only trouble is that he's been working with the Bloc for years. Now, after all his cozying up to Quebecers, he's ready to demonize legitimately elected Members of Parliament. He is willing to provoke a unity crisis, in order to hang on to power.
He is burning every bridge to the Quebecers that he built. He is appealing to the worst instincts of every Canadian. He wants to kindle in our hearts base fear of those who think differently, by invoking the bogeymen of old, socialists and separatists. But in truth, there's no basis to this appeal - don't forget, the Bloc and Parti Quebecois' nationalist rhetoric has been toned down in recent years, by necessity. While the spirit of Quebec nationalism remains strong, the actuality of it has become unpopular. The imperative to form a country of their own has fallen by the wayside of sovereignty associations, or nations within a state. Harper is stirring up fears of the Bloc at a time when we have very little to fear from them.
Tomorrow we will find out the result of his meeting with the Governor General. Most likely he will ask her to prorogue (ie suspend) Parliament. Most likely she will grant his request. In spite of everything else, he still remains the sitting Prime Minister, and the Governor General would have a hard time taking an activist stance in the 21st century.
I do think the coalition can survive a prorogation, but the Liberals and NDP will have to fight tooth and nail, with the incredible political machine that is the Conservative organization. I want the coalition to survive, because I think that Harper, has finally demonstrated that he is incapable of accepting the role of the opposition. He is incapable of accepting opposition, period. Of any kind, in any place. He is a bully and a coward, and unfit for the office of Prime Minister.
Moreover, there's potential in the idea. Jack Layton, leader of the NDP said that the coalition represented a new kind of government, and that's something that I think a lot of Canadians would welcome at this point. Especially if it meant a renewal of civility and democratic dialog.
In any case, I'm to bed, with the help of a heavy dose of NyQuil. If I missed your comment, or responded late, I apologize. I worked a double yesterday, and have spent today napping and watching CBC Newsworld - I'm dead tired.
Steven Harper asked the national networks for some time today, to speak to Canadians, and explain why the new coalition could not be allowed to govern. What did he give us? Lies, and damn lies.
Throughout question period and during his remarks tonight, he characterized the coalition as being 'separatist' and 'dangerous' for Canada. This in direct contradiction of facts: the Liberals and NDP have signed an agreement to form a governing coalition, and the Bloc Quebecois have agreed to support this government on confidence votes. For the purposes of the agreement, confidence votes have been defined as a throne speech and two budgets. After that, they can either continue to support the government, or ally with the Conservatives to bring it down. They would be free to vote however they like on any other measure, and would have NO SAY in the nitty gritty of the legislative agenda. They have agreed to support this coalition, based on the broad outline which the Liberals and NDP have developed. That's it.
Steven Harper and the Conservatives keep asking, What's in it for the separatists? What's in it for them, is a rollback of all the budget and program cuts you've dropped on them. What's in it for them is an economic stimulus package. There's no mystery here. In an effort to prop up his sinking government, Harper is trying to play the nationalist card, in one of the few, non-hockey-related ways you can: by invoking the spectre of separatist Quebecois, out to destroy our country. The only trouble is that he's been working with the Bloc for years. Now, after all his cozying up to Quebecers, he's ready to demonize legitimately elected Members of Parliament. He is willing to provoke a unity crisis, in order to hang on to power.
He is burning every bridge to the Quebecers that he built. He is appealing to the worst instincts of every Canadian. He wants to kindle in our hearts base fear of those who think differently, by invoking the bogeymen of old, socialists and separatists. But in truth, there's no basis to this appeal - don't forget, the Bloc and Parti Quebecois' nationalist rhetoric has been toned down in recent years, by necessity. While the spirit of Quebec nationalism remains strong, the actuality of it has become unpopular. The imperative to form a country of their own has fallen by the wayside of sovereignty associations, or nations within a state. Harper is stirring up fears of the Bloc at a time when we have very little to fear from them.
Tomorrow we will find out the result of his meeting with the Governor General. Most likely he will ask her to prorogue (ie suspend) Parliament. Most likely she will grant his request. In spite of everything else, he still remains the sitting Prime Minister, and the Governor General would have a hard time taking an activist stance in the 21st century.
I do think the coalition can survive a prorogation, but the Liberals and NDP will have to fight tooth and nail, with the incredible political machine that is the Conservative organization. I want the coalition to survive, because I think that Harper, has finally demonstrated that he is incapable of accepting the role of the opposition. He is incapable of accepting opposition, period. Of any kind, in any place. He is a bully and a coward, and unfit for the office of Prime Minister.
Moreover, there's potential in the idea. Jack Layton, leader of the NDP said that the coalition represented a new kind of government, and that's something that I think a lot of Canadians would welcome at this point. Especially if it meant a renewal of civility and democratic dialog.
In any case, I'm to bed, with the help of a heavy dose of NyQuil. If I missed your comment, or responded late, I apologize. I worked a double yesterday, and have spent today napping and watching CBC Newsworld - I'm dead tired.