A Self Unmade Man
In his review of Paul Wells’ book, The Longer I’m Prime Minister, Crawford Killian writes that Stephen Harper has a history of political misjudgement: One of Wells’ key points is…
Owen Gray
Living in Ford Nation
Mitchell Anderson writes that we’re all living in Ford Nation now: Mayor Ford’s puzzling popularity in the face of one salacious scandal after another seems to be propelled by his…
A Rogue State?
Noam Chomsky writes that the United States has become a one party nation and a rogue state: The U.S. is still a one-party state, the business party. But it only…
Burning The Bridge
Conservatives are congratulating themselves. They believe that — having disposed of Senators Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau — they have achieved a great victory. But, Michael Den Tandt writes, it was…
False Populists
Stephen Harper posed as a populist last weekend, claiming that he and Laureen didn’t go to Ottawa to join an elite. That line, Lawrence Martin writes, doesn’t ring true: The…
It’s Only The Beginning
After attending last week’s Conservative convention, Tasha Kheiridden wrote that the party was “a party under lockdown.” In fact, the public was not welcome at the event: Canadians, unfortunately, saw…
Behold The Conservative Base
On Friday, Gerry Caplan wondered whether the Conservative faithful, meeting in Calgary, would experience a dark night of the soul. They faced at least two significant questions: Which is true:…
Standing Firmly By The Wealthy
Ten anti-union resolutions were passed at the Conservative convention in Calgary. They are aimed at making Canada a “right to work” nation. It’s wise, therefore, to examine what has happened…
When Will He Turn On Them?
Some of Stephen Harper’s most perceptive critics are on the right. This week, in the Sun newspapers, John Robson called for Stephen Harper’s resignation: Unless it is OK for the…
The Quaint Notion Of Responsibility
While Rob Ford insists that he has no reason to resign, and the prime minister’s story changes everyday, Andrew Coyne writes that the concept of responsibility has become a quaint…
His Luck Is Running Out
There’s a scene in It’s A Mad, Mad World where Jonathan Winters destroys a gas station and two of its attendants. As the Senate debacle unravels, the prime minister —…
Abolish The Senate? You’ve Got To Be Kidding.
Mike Duffy’s speech yesterday should have reminded all Canadians why we have a Senate. Mitchell Anderson writes in The Tyee: Harper’s response to Mike Duffy’s disloyalty has been thermonuclear: essentially…
Abandonment
Stephen Harper has abandoned three of his senatorial appointees — including the man he once called “my most valuable senator.” Abandonment defines the man. And in foreign affairs, Joe Clark…
The Reverse Midas Touch
In 2008, when Stephen Harper cut public funding for political parties, the opposition rose and threatened to take down his nascent government. He prorogued Parliament and bellowed that the other…
It Takes One To Know One
Jim Flaherty brought forward his third omnibus budget bill this week. And, as in the past, it is full of all kinds of things which have nothing to do with…
‘Til Death
Yesterday, in the Postmedia papers, Andrew Coyne wondered why Stephen Harper would risk so much over Mike Duffy’s expenses. He ended his column by paraphrasing Thomas More in A Man…
Neither Our Best Nor Our Brightest
Two days ago, Mike Duffy took aim at Stephen Harper. Yesterday, Pam Wallin framed the issue: The Government, through Senator Carignan, has truly put the cart before the horse –…
From Contempt To Contemptible
In 2011, Stephen Harper was found in contempt of Parliament. At the time, he defined contempt as “being outvoted.” And, having won the subsequent election, he proceeded on the assumption…
That Big Mouth
On the day Stephen Harper returned to Question Period, planning to crow about his new trade deal, Donald Payne crashed the party. Mike Duffy’s lawyer took direct aim at the…