One year ago: Don Newman depants John Baird

As long as we're looking back to coalition anniversary moments, one year ago today was the day the Harper government went hat in hand to the Governor-General to beg her to prorogue parliament and save him from a confidence vote he was certain to lose.

And one year ago this morning, while we waited for the GG's meeting with the PM to play out, John Baird went live on CBC Newsworld with the great Don Newman, who proceeded to kick the crap out of him on national television, while Baird desperately looked around for an exit.

Vintage Newman, and certainly one of my favourite moments of last year's drama:

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(Video) Thanks for all the broooadcasts, Don

Even as a fairly nerdy politico, at times I just tune-out some of the political coverage we have on television in Canada. The MPs talking over each other with their talking-points, the screeching party strategists putting out spin that defies all logic, it could become like nails on a chalkboard. The reduction of what should be a serious and weighty thing, the debate over the best governance of our country, to something akin to professional wresting.

But the rare beacon of sanity, the rare bastion of journalism, in that sea of mediocrity was always CBC's Politics, and its venerable host Don Newman. While he'd still have the mandatory panels, he'd keep them in line and he'd make sure that, as the tag line went, the spin stops here.

But it went beyond that. While many hosts would just let the hacks or flacks spout their often ridiculous talking-points unchallenged, Newman always remembered it was the role of the journalist not to give a platform for propaganda, but to challenge, to question, so as to inform Canadians. And that he did, a velvet-glove concealing a steal fist as he challenged countless guests on their spin. Liberal, Conservative, NDP, it didn't matter, Don would call you on it if you tried to sneak one by him. That's all too rare in journalism these days.

And it wasn't just about the day-to-day melodrama of Parliament Hill on Politics. He'd tackle substantive issues, bringing-in experts to discuss an upcoming NATO conference, or trade policy, bringing substance to the often overlooked but very important stories that can impact our lives in a much greater way than who's hot and who's not this week, or what Laureen Harper's cat got up to last week.

Don Newman was a journalist, and I think that's the highest compliment that can be paid him. Thanks for all the broadcasts Don, and so long for now. You'll be missed.

(Here's some highlights from Don's last show:)



(And here's one of my favourite Newman clips, where he relentlessly grills a hapless John Baird during last winter's coalition/prorogation drama. The spin really did stop there that day:)

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Why I'll miss Don Newman ...

... and why I suspect John Baird won't: Kick-ass journalism like this:



CBC will have a tough time finding a journalist as tough, fair, and willing to cut through the political BS as Don. He was all too rare a talent in the sea of mediocrity that is political news shows on both sides of the border.

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(Video) Don Newman schools John Baird

On Thursday morning, Conservative transport minister John Baird joined CBC's Don Newman in the foyer of the House of Commons to deliver the Conservative talking points while everyone waited for Stephen Harper to come out of his meeting with the Governor-General.

Funny thing happened though. It seemed like Don had a little time to kill, so he decided to school this young whipper-snapper Baird and call him out on some of the ridiculous inconsistencies and factual inaccuracies he was spouting. Usually hosts tend to just let the lies slide, but Don seemed to decide not today, young fella.

The interview went on for over 10 minutes, and it was Live, otherwise I'm sure Baird would have ran for the exits. The video is a little long, but it's well worth the view to see a journalist standing-up for the truth for a change.

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The secret to good health and long life

I think it'd be safe to describe myself as somewhat of a political junkie. Heck, with the hours spent blogging about the stuff it be hard to claim otherwise.

As I read blogging coverage of Jim Prentice's appearance on CTV's Question Period today though, where the Harper minister (biggest spending budgets in Canadian history) tried to laughably paint the Liberals (eight straight balanced budgets), I'm reminded again of where I've decided to draw the line with my political interest.

I don't watch these sorts of shows anymore. Haven't for about a year now. No Question Period. No Mike Duffy Live. And no Politics with Don Newman either, I have to say.

And I've never felt better. Those shows are bad for you. Raises the blood pressure. Angries up the blood. Partisan hacks and talking heads spewing their talking points. Media "pundits" trying to sound important and informed. All flash, all intrigue, no substance. No debate of policy. No debate at all really. Rarely a challenging word from the hosts.

I used to tune into Newman's broadcast regularly, but it's all theater. A theater of the absurd, really. And it's all waste of energy, as no one is watching that doesn't already have their mind made up. I even mute the TV when Duffy comes on for his daily hit during the 6pm news on CFTO. He's aggravating. The only time these shows matter is when someone screws-up...beer and popcorn. Otherwise...

So as much of a political junkie as I am, as interested as I am in strategy and election timing and move and counter-move, I draw the line at watching these shows. I'll count on my fellow bloggers to let me know when something of interest occurs, but I won't be tunning in. And I'd advise them to take their Duffy, Oliver and Taber in small doses.

I went to see Cloverfield instead. Enjoyed it. I was concerned with the references to it being shot in a Blair Witch Project style, because that movie sucked, but it worked well here.

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