On Such Things Do Governments Rise And Fall

The Globe and Mail on the shortage of vaccine for H1N1:

But the nationwide shortage has raised fears that more people might become sick before they get the vaccine, now that the country has seen a resurgence of the virus.

If these fears are realized, then Harper is royally screwed (until Iggy finds some way to save him, once again). If however, the government can step up and look competent, then Harper will get the glory. Either way, we will know in the next few weeks.

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Operation Point The Finger

Moves to a new level. Ottawa delivers less vaccine to the provinces than it promised and then stands back and lets the provinces take the blame for the shortage. Stay classy guys.

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Well Duh

Self-evident quote of the day:

“We would be extremely opposed to any kind of a carbon tax or some other kind of tax that would result in a significant wealth transfer from our province to any other province or area of the country,” said Saskatchewan Energy Minister Bill Boyd.

Tomorrow, on self-evident quote of the day, we will ask an Afghan drug lord to tell us what he thinks about western drug laws.

Of course, our government doesn't base its entire drug strategy on the opinions of Afghan drug lords, now does it?

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H1N1 Follies

I am sure the Conservatives will use this fiasco, to a) laud their communication strategy and/or b) helpfully point out that health delivery is a provincial matter. My guess is it will go something like this. "Yes, Mr. Speaker we have seen an inundation of H1N1 clinics over these last days. This proves that we on the government side have been effective in telling people to get their shots. Also, yes Mr. Speaker there have been a few isolated cases of problems at clinics. I am sure the provincial ministries of health involved will soon have these problems smoothed out."

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What The Hell, It's Not Their Money

Globe headline: Cost to keep Khadr out of Canada: $1.3-million so far . When it comes to spending on lawsuits, the Conservatives' have no limit. They are sure to be invited to the Ottawa bar's Christmas party.

Update: And why let Khadr's innocence stand in the way of a good legal tussle?

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A Modest Proposal

The House is a very uncivilized place these days. It has gotten to the point where Jack Layton had to make a statement about the lack of civility, yesterday. It made no difference, apparently.

MP's are able to get away with bad behaviour in the House because they are anonymous. The rules of the House forbid moving the single TV camera away from the member speaking at that moment. I propose that that rule be dropped. Instead there should be several cameras in the House and they should be able to switch shots at any time from speaker to any other part of the House. Let's see the yahoo's in action. I am willing to bet you a steak dinner that it would take about three days before the whips enforced a level of decorum we have not witnessed in the House in years. It is time our MP's stopped acting like pigs and grow the Hell up.

Update: Apparently, I am not the only one who thinks this should be changed.

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Have You Now Or Ever

Been a member of the NDP? It must be close to Halloween. The witch hunt is on. Does it really matter that a protester is also a member of a political party if there is no proof that the party organized the protest? No, but it does make for some salacious "news". Speculation is not proof, it's masturbation. The media is in danger of turning itself into the personification of Lionel Hutz: "Well your honor, I have plenty of hearsay, conjecture and innuendo. Those are TYPES of evidence."

Update: Of course the MSM is limp next to the self-love champs, Liberal bloggers.

Update: Perhaps Liberal bloggers should take a cue from Liberal MP, Paul Szabo, who said this in response to the government's question of privilege :

Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the references that the hon. House leader has made I am familiar with them but I simply want to point out to the House leader and to you, Mr. Speaker, that this is the party that brought forward a 200 page manual on how to obstruct the work of committees.

A former Deputy Speaker, Bill Blaikie, once said to the House that demonstration and filibustering are part of the democratic process. Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives Canadians the right to express their freedom of expression. That is what happened here.

Mr. Speaker, I would just indicate that freedom of speech is not just for parliamentarians. It is for all Canadians.

I realize Liberal bloggers like to tease the NDP (the psychology of that relationship could fill many textbooks), but they are in danger of looking like the Jay Hill's tool.

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