Indeed. Go over to the Blogging SupposiTories and choose pretty much any given blog and that’s what you’ll see. Comments below these blogs equally sure to amuse. All taking a page from Tom Lukiwski’s play book. What an ass!
Hell, last night, after watching Don Martin interview Iggy on Power Play, he pretty much egged Iggy on to admit or at least imply a coalition is being cooked up of sorts and even demanded him to flat out denounce it right there and then on his show. Disingenuous to say the least.
Yes, it is widely believed that if that ‘coalition’ is formed, it would be after the election; more than likely if the result were yet another Harpercon minority. Too bad it’s more than likely false.
Allow me to explain.
While they’re all off half cocked, they’re all forgetting something important. The Governor General would have to agree to such an arrangement. They’re all assuming that Mr. David Johnston would acquiesce. I’m not so sure about that. For openers, let’s not forget that as a Stevie Spiteful appointee, he has to be a rabid partisan. He just happens to be one in sheep’s clothing.
Also, I’m about to eat crow here, perhaps.
In Lawrence Martin’s Harperland, in Chapter 14, “Surviving the Coalition” , where Martin talks about that fateful coalition formed in 2008, Stevie Spiteful opted to prorogue rather than face a non-confidence vote back then. What is not discussed in the usual media circles though is what would’ve or could’ve happened had then GG Michaelle Jean not granted his prorogation demand? According to Harperland, there was a tenative Plan B. I will quote directly from the book:
Her word, if it was no, would not necessarily have been the final word. The fight may have been far from over. The PM had warned that he intended to use every means at his disposal to stop the takeover of his government. When he got public opinion on his side, he felt there were options available. (Pg. 187)
So much for the idea of the GG’s word being etched in stone and whatever he/she decides goes.
One such option was basically stoking public outrage to the point where thousands would’ve been marching to Parliament Hill. Given the reaction I’ve seen from folks, even the most apathetic, I believe Stevie Spiteful could’ve achieved that. However, it didn’t seem like the most desirable for a plan B.
Martin reminisces about an interview John Baird the pitbull did with the CBC’s Don Newman back then:
“What we want to do,” he declared, “is basically take a timeout and go over the heads of parliament, go over the head, frankly, of the governor general, go right to the Canadian peopl. They’re speaking up loudly right across the country, in a way I’ve never seen.” (Pg 187)
I don’t know if anyone remembers catching this interview on the boob tube back then. Surely, it should bring back memories. If it hasn’t, perhaps it should. As Martin explains, never has one been so blatant, so candid in describing just how much disrespect Stevie has for Ottawa’s institutions and their laissez-faire attitude toward checks and balances in the system. He spilled it all in that interview.
Anyway, the option Harper was considering had Michaelle Jean not granted him his prorogation demand, according to Baird’s suggestion, was this:
If the governor general had refused his request, he could have replaced her with a more compliant one, making the case to the Queen that the people of Canada were opposed in great numbers to a coalition replacing his government. (Pg 188)
I really don’t know if the Queen would’ve given Stevie Spiteful what he wanted back then if Ms Jean had refused the demand. Some of my friends say the Queen would’ve probably refused the request. Some say she would’ve told Stevie that this is an internal matter; that he should sort it out himself. I’m not sure. Given that Stevie has a flare for venturing into the unprecedented, I wouldn’t put anything past him.
No one knows exactly what transpired in a two hour meeting between Jean and Steve when he was demanding his prorogation. It was never said why she granted him the prorogation. Did he threaten her with going over her head to the Queen? Did he threaten to have her replaced? It’s all speculation, but those are good questions to be asked.
My conclusion is that the GG is as expendable in the world according to Stevie Spiteful as public servants of any stripe have proven to be. David Johnston likes living it up at Rideau Hall and probably knows what he has to do to stay there. Sure he may have researched coalition governments and other such matters, but when it came out that he was doing that research, did Stevie or any of his flunkies rush off to Rideau Hall with some vile threats? However, that may appear to have been for naught.
It is also the reason why I believe the GG would grant Stevie Spiteful his election call before the non-confidence vote come Friday, if he decided to pull the plug on his own government without providing a compelling reason to do so.
No, even if the Liberals and the NDP wanted to form a coalition after an election result yielded another Harpercon minority, it probably couldn’t be done.
Given Harper’s character, ck, I can understand your worries about David Johnston. But my hunch is that Johnston is too good a constitutional lawyer to be rolled by Harper. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if my theory was put to the test.
ck Reply:
March 23rd, 2011 at 6:27 PM
It’s not just my worries, Owen, Baird talked about this to Don Newman in an interview on the CBC. All this was quoted from Martin’s Harperland. I would count on your theory being put to the test.