Crisis? What Crisis?

Some might look at a widespread disconnect between the ruled and the rulers as a crisis, but I suspect our prime minister does not. I suspect he considers it a feature rather than a bug. Democracy is much too messy for him. Better just to leave the driving to Steve. Don't look for any moves to reform the system that will close the gap in any meaningful way, from that quarter. Senate reform is a distraction. Giving MP's and committees more power and meaningful electoral reform is what is needed to reenergize our democracy, but somehow, I don't think Stephen Harper is interested.

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Conbots Activate!

Given the reaction to yesterday's events (read the comments here, or just about anywhere the rallies were reported), it is obvious that the PMO knows they are in trouble. Ridicule the rallies all you want. You are only digging yourselves deeper.

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Do You Think Steve Gets It?

From yesterday's news conference, when asked about the protests, Steve said:

"Let me just say the government is extremely occupied these days," he said.

"The government has a lot of work to do to get ourselves prepared for the upcoming agenda of Parliament. ... I would obviously simply urge our opposition to spend their time making constructive proposals."

In other words, I am too busy to deal with parliament. To Steve, democracy is a waste of his time. Oh, and just to set the record straight Steve, the opposition parties were bit actors in this drama. I know this message will have a difficult time penetrating the almost impenetrable carapace of your paranoia, but do try to assimilate that fact.

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Saturday In The Square

Well, I just got back from the rally in Waterloo. I nipped down on my lunch break and I don't have much time to post before it is over. Everyone was in a great mood and the weather was perfect. All of the 300 postcards they had produced to sign for the PM had been signed by the time I got there. The organizers reckoned they had about 500 people at the rally's peak. Not bad for a grassroots movement. Btw. I was glad I saw this on Kady's blog:

a pointed message for jack layton? just passed a sign that read, simply, 'NO PROROGUE - CAPP IS NOT NDP'. Let that be a warning to the various politicians on the speakers' list: Turn this into a stump speech at your peril. (On that note, I was chatting with a Liberal last night who predicted that any overtly partisan speech by his party's leader would likely result in a chorus of boom-mic-friendly boos -- or, in his view, it *should*.)

That is truly the feeling of this movement. Political parties had better tread lightly. You are welcome to suggest good ideas, but you are not leading this movement. Not by a long shot.

Afternoon Break Update: Pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/cms.picasa/NoProrogueProtestWaterlooRegion# Courtesy of the Twitter.

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Isn't It Funny

That El Presidente can come back to the House, invite the press, and give a speech, but he can't reopen Parliament on time? It's so funny, I feel like going to a group gathering, to share the joke.

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Saturday

I have to say, I am more than a bit ambivalent about Iggy, or any of the opposition party leaders, taking part in the protests on Saturday. This is a moment of pure, unadulterated, citizen action. I hope Iggy and the rest understand that. I hope that if they try to turn this into a unpaid political platform for their party, they are roundly booed. Saturday is about democracy and the primacy of Parliament, not an opposition political event. If the opposition leaders must take part in the protest and if they insist on speaking, they should come to the table with concrete proposals for restoring the power of the parliament. They should do so with an attitude of humility toward their employers and a spirit of cooperation with all parties, to get the job done. To approach the people, at this moment, with any other message, is an insult to those of us who believe this is a bigger issue than who is up or down in the polls this week.

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Be There Or Kindly Be Square

I have to work, but I will nip up on my lunch break. I am going to try to take some snaps if I can get my camera thingee to work properly.

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