Look over here! Shiny!

Besides it being incredibly dumb, I’m not surprised this whole ordinary family nonsense was started by the Deceivin’ Steven’s First Blogger the evening of the budget vote. It practically screams out ‘hey, forget what incompetent boobs we’re being right now and look over here!’

I think Ted and the others he has linked to have done a good job of exposing the stupidity of Taylor’s ‘thesis.’ Rather than pile on, I’d like to keep the focus on the incompetent bunging (ed: should that be competent bungling? because they seem so good at it.) of Deceivin’ Steven’ and company.

Last night the budget vote passed with the help of the separatist Bloc Quebecois. Voting no was the exiled Bill Casey, kicked out of the Conservative caucus for standing on principle. Harper was able to bully the less principled Gerald ‘unsteady’ Keddy into line however (impressive given he'll be sleeping on the couch now) and as for his other Nova Scotia MP, well Peter McKay and principles haven’t been mentioned in the same sentence for years.

So while the earthquake may have passed (the Senate may bluster but they won’t mess with a money bill) the aftershocks will continue, and the damage won’t be clear until the next election

Interesting observations though today in the Post from John Ivison who, while he thinks Harper is right on the facts, thinks the man once hailed (ed: by his supporters) as a master political strategist couldn’t have handled this worse:

The question is -- armed with such a compelling case -- how has the Prime Minister contrived to come across like a schoolyard bully, threatening lawsuits against all dissenters?

Conservative MPs, staffers and supporters are united in their condemnation of the way the issue has been handled by the Prime Minister's Office. "The people in PMO communications meant to help MPs understand the audience don't get them. They don't get the pride, the passion and the tribalism of the East," said one source.

"Dropping a sledgehammer on two of the provinces that endorsed you at the last election is not exactly the way to say 'thank you' on a file that clearly touches a chord in Atlantic Canada," said another senior Conservative.

This government's obsession with secrecy and control will be its downfall. The Conservative party has a front-bench overflowing with natural communicators and a strong story to tell, yet it seems either reluctant or unable to do so. It takes a real organizational talent to fritter away that advantage.

Rather than consider the advice, I suspect the Harper PMO is instead about to launch a mole hunt for the anonymous staffers. And let me say, as a partisan Liberal, it sure is nice to see anonymous senior Conservatives talking smack about their party in the media for a change. Not a leader, yada yada.

Meanwhile, I’m going to Las Vegas next week but I suspect it’s too late to clean-up with a long odds bet on Elizabeth May to take Central Nova. Should have put some cash down a few months ago, as I bet the oddsmakers have already adjusted the line, as the mood in Nova seems ugly:

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, Nova Scotia’s embattled representative in the cabinet, has kept a low profile since the province’s Conservative premier and one of its Tory MPs started denouncing the federal budget as an abject betrayal.

But in his riding of Central Nova, local residents had plenty to say Tuesday about their MP and his chances for re-election.

“I voted for Peter MacKay, but I would have a hard time voting for him anymore,” said Linda MacDonald of Westville as she sat in a local coffee shop.

“I have watched him on many issues turn about face.... That’s a real issue with me right now.”

Her friend, George MacDonald, said he was impressed by the stand taken by maverick MP Bill Casey, who was thrown out of the Conservative caucus last week for voting against a budget implementation bill.

I’ll give the last word to 2004 Deceivin’ Steven (not to be confused with 2007 Deceivin’ Steven):

"What is at issue is very simple. It is the honour of the Prime Minister, and all he has to do is keep his word."

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