That Sound You Hear

Is the sound of total panic, coming from the PMO. Jesus, the poll numbers must be falling through the floor. We can only hope.

Tuesday Update: And right on time, a new Harris Decima poll has the Liberals and Conservatives tied. Think about that. If Alan Gregg has the two parties tied nationally, the reality is probably much worse. The budget recalibration is probably happening right now. Gone will be the talk of belt tightening and in its place will be a happy story about ponies for all! I bet Harper is out shopping for a new, blue sweater, even as I write this.

Recommend this Post

A Trial Balloon

Norman Spector points the way for the Conservatives on the Khadr affair:

Sitting down with the Americans makes good sense. But suppose there’s no way at this time to reach a mutually acceptable framework to release Mr. Khadr into Canadian custody and control.

What then?

As the author of today’s Globe editorial correctly notes:

“The court refrained, wisely, from ordering Ottawa to try to bring Mr. Khadr, a citizen, home from the United States prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he has been for seven years. It was wise partly because the court lacks “institutional competence” in foreign affairs (as the court itself pointed out)… "

How would that incompetence disappear if the United States held to its position that Mr. Khadr will be tried by a military commission — notwithstanding knowing his age at the time he’s alleged to have committed the crime.

Answer? It wouldn’t in the least.

And why might we not be able to reach an agreement with the Americans at this time?

Consider President Barack Obama’s predicament in the wake of the Massachusetts surprise and upcoming mid-term elections in which the Democrats are likely to suffer huge losses.

Consider his vulnerability to Republican attacks on security matters: the underwear near-miss followed by additional errors in interrogating the alleged perpetrator; the terrorist attack allegedly carried out by Major Nidal Hassan at Fort Hood — which featured another series of huge errors by his Administration; the deteriorating situation in what candidate Obama had once called the good war; the mess he’s gotten himself into on his promise to close Guantanamo, including his recent decision to halt the repatriation of Yemeni prisoners back to their country for rehabilitation; today’s flip-flop on trying Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Manhattan… I could go on.

In other words, the Conservatives should make a show of talking to the Obama administration, but only after fixing it with their Republican allies so that a Fox News shit storm errupts. Given the weak as piss occupant in the White House, the Conservatives are betting they can roll the President, just like their right-wing American cousins.

Recommend this Post

Quote Of The Day

This is one for the ages:

The Supreme Court's moral authority ought to be enough to persuade the Canadian government to do the right thing on Omar Khadr. If it isn't, one shudders to think what is. The Chief Justice with a small cannon on wheels? Guns at dawn?

Recommend this Post

National Post To Harper

Listen to reason. Good luck with that message, National Post.

Recommend this Post

Quote Of The Day

From Don Martin:

If the justices believe their Charter violation finding will cause this government to squirm and reconsider its hands-off treatment of the Khadr case, they're severely deluded.

If you think he is joking, read the comments under the column. The Conservative base will not stand for anything other than Khadr's hide. As long as Harper is PM, Khadr's rights are to be knowingly violated by our so-called government.

Recommend this Post

Deconstructing Nicholson

“The Government is pleased that the Supreme Court has recognized the ‘constitutional responsibility of the executive to make decisions on matters of foreign affairs in the context of complex and ever-changing circumstances, taking into account Canada’s broader interests.’

Whew, I dodged a bullet there. I would have had to tell His Majesty the bad news if it had gone the other way and boy, I was not looking forward to that conversation.

The Supreme Court overturned two previous lower court decisions and ruled that the Government is not required to ask for accused terrorist Omar Khadr’s return to Canada. Omar Khadr faces very serious charges including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, material support for terrorism, and spying.

I am just going to ignore the whole substance of the ruling, the part where it says that Khadr's rights are still being violated and instead roll out my usual banal talking points.

The Government will carefully review the Supreme Court’s ruling and determine what further action is required.”

Khadr is to be tried (am I correct in using that word?) in July. We will get back to you after he is found guilty and say there is nothing we can do. If you can't wait that long, well you already know what I am going to say, so it won't be a surprise.

Recommend this Post

Shorter Supreme Court

Sure Khadr's rights have been violated, but our hands are tied. It's not like we are the Supreme Court. Note to self, the Charter of Rights isn't worth the paper it is written on.

Recommend this Post