To Prorogue, Or Not To Prorogue
We in the bunker are humbled by the benevolence, nay benevolence is not a kind enough word….. the complete and absolute selflessness of our Prime Minister who, word has it, may prorogue Parliament, not out of any sort of scheming to hold power, but to allow us poor, beleaguered, Canadians, to ponder the ramifications of a “Bloc-supported NDP-Liberal coalition while they eat their Christmas dinners and/or get together for their holiday parties” – statesmanship of this nature is not often displayed now is it?
I’m at the Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner right now and a quiet rumour among a small number of the gathered people here is that Prime Minister Stephen Harper may prorogue Parliament until the new year.
This would provide some breathing room for the government and let Canadians consider a Bloc-supported NDP-Liberal coalition while they eat their Christmas dinners and/or get together for their holiday parties.
Is it too early to elevate him to Sainthood?
The hypocrisy of the Tories still leaves me breathless. If Stephen Harper gets the (Socialist!) NPD and (Separatist!) Bloc to support him in his attempt to form a government in 2004 that’s OK. But if it’s the Liberals then the sky is falling and hell is freezing over.
The opposition may have a way around this. I read somewhere that the opposition parties could all three send a letter to the Governer General stating a loss in confidence and requesting a change. This WOULD likely precipitate a constitutional crisis however.
I know Harper the political chess master does not need our help,
Please forgive me helping him play his game.
Honestly I think it would be best for the Conservatives not to prorogue.
If the Conservatives prorogue and an election is called. The Conservatives will only lose Seats. The people who didn’t vote Conservative a few weeks ago are not going to vote Conservative in an election a few weeks after the Conservatives show that they are only good at political games.
If the Conservatives do not prorogue and an election is called. The Conservatives will lose Seats, but perhaps less. After all the Conservatives played one less political game.
If the Conservatives prorogue and an election is not called. The coalition might fall apart and Harper lives another day. But this would be the end of the oposition Parties. Oposition Parties all know if they let Harper live, he will come back and get them. So this will not happen. If the Conservatives prorogue and the coaltions falls apart, they will ask for an election. See first case.
If the Conservatives do not prorogue and an election is not called. The coalition will form. This coalition will be fragile and if it falls apart in a short time, the Conservatives have good chance at a Majority Government. However the coalition might in shrine the existing election laws and strengthen Elections Canada and the Judicery Independence, forever preventing the Conservatives or anyone else from attacking the parilmentary system in the manner Harper has.
I guess my advice to the coalition, is don’t form a coalition unless you hang together for a couple of years.
If he prorogues, the CPC needs to call for an immediate leadership review and replace him before parliament returns.
If he doesn’t and lives to fight another political battle, then that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
Thoughts on the NDP/Bloc agreement to overthrow the gov’t before Parliament had heard the Throne Speech?
I doubt proroguement (is that a word) will happen as the House is only supposed to sit until the 12th anyway.
Calendar here
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/ChamberCalendar.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=1
I smell a trial balloon.
Harper knows that if he prorogues, he risks cementing his image as that of a uber-partisan vindictive bastard. The opposition (especially Iggy and Rae) will go to town all over Harper over the holidays – and Liberal fundraising will go through the roof to make it happen.
No…no proroguing methinks – I’ve been wrong on these things before, but not often. (I do owe someone a few bucks because I was betting on Kennedy, though).
Good call, Throbbin. With them only sitting until the 12th (and a possible auto bailout to be debated) and returning only one day before the budget, proroguing would be a pretty pricey play.
Prorogue.
Isn’t that a short, explanatory narrative delivered to the audience before Japanese drama?
I just love the narrative that Harper is some political genius; the “strategist” the “chess master”.
The facts of this one are pretty clear: He tried to soil the economic legislation by making a ham fisted attempt to bankrupt the Liberals. Tom Flanagan hinted at this desire in a Globe editorial several weeks ago. He fool heartedly rolled the dice and was caught completely flat footed by the Opposition trying to come together in a coalition.
The real narrative here is that Harper showed his true vindictive colours at a time when the country could least afford to see them. Economic crisis is now being met with political instability and a very likely constitutional showdown. We needed leadership on the economy and instead we got a Prime Minister who values trying to settle a deep seated grudge more than trying to steer the country through this difficult time. Having few options in front of him now, he wants to take his ball and go home for Christmas early. This leaves a big pathetic question mark over the stewardship of the country at a very volatile time in the global and Canadian markets. Its going to hurt the value of our dollar and sink the equities market into an even darker cloud. That’s some brilliant strategy for sure. [/sarcasm]
Harper and the blogging Tories appear to share a delusion: that Canada is voting for them for some reason OTHER than a desire to punish the Liberals before restoring them to power. Like the ugly fat kid with the really rich parents, who truly believes “they love me for who I am.”
I’m not exactly thrilled with any of the parties in this fiasco.
So: if I was a voting person, and if the choice is really between the Harper Conservatives or a Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition, then let’s put *that* to a vote and let the chips fall where they may.
As predicted, the TSX is down over 700 pts this morning and the CDN dollar is falling too. The ineptitude of Harper and his petty bunch is remarkable.
Well, it appears I was wrong on this one.
I really thought Harper would have known better. From his perspective, it would seem better to go down gracefully and at least have a chance of coming back to power if the coalition failed.
Harper is either a Genius, or a Moron.
Guess which one I lean towards?