Ottawa Citizen: Harper plays to people's worst instincts

[tuvor]

Having spent the last four years being amazed and appalled by Stephen Harper's style of governance -- cynical, ruthless, controlling, unprincipled, and proudly ignorant of basic facts -- I thought I had seen the worst. But then the news of Graham James's pardon broke.

In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Stephen Harper was so angry after hearing of the pardon that he called Toews on Good Friday and ordered him to lower the legislative boom. In another government, that might be information Toews himself decided to give to reporters. But this is the Harper government. Ministers do not breath without permission. And so it's safe to conclude that the prime minister's office not only wants Canadians to know it's getting "tough" on pardons, it also wants us to know it's getting tough because the prime minister heard about James's pardon and got angry.

Whether the pardon system is broken or not, whether new legislation is needed or not, this is an atrocious way to run a country. More consideration goes into the average letter to the editor. If Stephen Harper and his cabinet had a clue about good governance, they would hang their heads in shame, but they are clueless and shameless -- and bragging to anyone who will listen.

Let's start with something no one is talking about. How did Graham James's pardon become public information years after it was granted?

...

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/Harper+plays+people+worst+instincts/2771060/story.html

[ZeitgeistObserver]

1. Harper is the worst PM we've ever had.

He governs solely by whim and temper tantrum, there is no logic or reason involved.

[Lucy Goosey]

2. "He governs solely by whim and temper tantrum" = Awesome. And, true.

Can I steal that line from you?

[ZeitgeistObserver]

3. Go right ahead!

:)

I find it hard to believe that in reasonable rational Canada this man is still in charge, but according to the latest poll we aren't impressed with any of the parties. It just seems so odd that we came to a screeching halt, and now seem to be moving backwards to toddler-hood.

[Metric System]

4. That's a question I've been wondering since the story came out. From the start I've assumed it's a

Con leak.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

5. Probably is, and I assume the purpose of it

is another distraction from the Afghan mess, and Helena's house. Plus of course it makes Harper look better than the pope.

[shockedcanadian]

6. I was watching The Hour last night...

And one of the guests was Mr. Paul Martin. When questioned about his opinion of Harper he danced around it somewhat, then he said something that was somewhat of an epiphany; though it was quite simple.

In an underhanded attack on Harper, without specifically mentioning it was directed to him, Martin suggested something to the effect that "if you don't believe in the institution of government, why become a politician?" It was such a simple, yet beautifully stated remark. As a guy (me) who is almost always on the fence, it was a comment that encapsulized what I was never able to fully express and really swayed my view. And so I ask it, Why IS Harper in politics?

[ZeitgeistObserver]

7. Those who don't believe in govt can't run one.

And Harper certainly doesn't and can't. However perhaps that's the plan.

[daleo]

8. You do it to wreck government

It's a ploy picked up from U.S. Republicans.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

9. I'm waiting to see if the new GG choice

makes a mockery of that office. Harper doesn't seem to care for the position existing, so that would be a step towards convincing Canadians that it shouldn't.

[daleo]

10. I am thinking he will appoint a seal

It would have a nice Caligula touch, plus the EU couldn't prohibit Canadian sealing if our head of state was a seal. (Ok that was facetious, except for the Caligula part).

[ZeitgeistObserver]

11. I'd prefer even that to Don Cherry!