Thoughts on the Shenanigans in Ottawa

So, the Conservatives and their newly found allies, the Bloc Quebecois, have decided to shut down any useful business taking place in the House of Commons. (Is there ever such a thing as useful politics?)

In what must count as one of Harper's longer, and more vile speeches, he accused Prime Minister of "slaying democracy". That's quite an accusation coming from Harper, who has made his contempt for the voting public rather clear on numerous occasions in the past.

I'm not sure that Martin is slaying democracy so much as Harper and Duceppe are busy making a mockery of it.

One has to wonder just how well Harper's antics will play outside of Alberta (where a shaved chimpanzee could run as a Conservative and win a seat). The ridiculous spectacle of the leader of the opposition in the house the last few days must surely be making a few people look in askance.

We have a minority government, and instead of using his position as king maker, Harper has instead chosen to abdicate that and hand the crown to Jack Layton of the NDP. The history shows that minority governments can - and do - succeed, but only when there is a spirit of negotiation and compromise.

Harper and Duceppe have shown themselves for the drooling horrors that they are. Harper is lusting after the coveted 24 Sussex Dr. address; Duceppe is anxiously anticipating a sweep in an outraged Quebec. Neither man has shown the requesite maturity to make agreements that advance their agenda. The only two people in Ottawa doing that are Harper and Martin.

Makes one think for a moment. If Harper manages to get the keys to the PMO, will he have the maturity to make compromises? Will he have the wisdom to look beyond his ideology and contempt for the voters?

After some of his hysterics in the last election, I feared that Layton was going to demonstrate yet again why the NDP is forever relegated to "third party" status in the House. After what I've seen lately, I have to think that Layton is not only far more shrewed than he's been given credit for, but just maybe he deserves a more prominent role in the next parliament.

Some of the noises about the Gomery Commission that Conservative MPs have been making make it quite clear that they want to shut it down. Either they want to hide something, or they know very well that by the time all the facts come out, things will not be the "black-and-white" that they are claiming. (Not to mention that by November, most of the public interest in the Gomery Commission will have long waned, meaning that an election would have to be held on actual issues and policy. Instead of degenerating into a referendum guaging public outrage over Chretien's last years in office.