Musings on Liberal party "ancient history"
Let's face it. Up until a few months ago, Canadian politics was just about as exciting as watching the weather network. Imagine my surprise then, when the federal election race turned out to be just that... a race. Never in a million years would I have thought that the Conservatives or the NDP would be giving the Fiberals (sorry, can't help myself) a run for their money. (read: our money funnelled through their ad firms)
My husband predicted, Cassandra-like, at least a year ago that Paul Martin was going to seriously disappoint. The "great white hope" of the Liberals, per se, was going to turn out to be just another ho-hum politician. To his credit, the hubby was dead on.
Think back, if you will, to last October or November, the last few months of the Chretien reign. The anticipation in the air of the future crowning (read: not-so-friendly coup) was palatable. You could almost taste it. Riding high on ten years of Chretien rule, the Martinites in the Liberal Party were licking their lips at the thought of finally taking over.
So, what happened? What went so terribly wrong? Simply put, Jean Chretien's final "screw you" to his usurper, was the timing of his "retirement" and the official release of Auditor General Sheila Fraser's report on Adscam.
Now I'm certainly no Paul Martin fan, but to be completely fair, the guy got royally screwed here. Some would argue that he got what he deserved, in that he engineered his predecessor's swan song and his own coronation, but, in my opinion, the scorn and anger of Canadians about the Liberals' intrinsic mis-management of taxpayer funds should be placed firmly at the feet of the lil' guy from Shawinigan. HRDC, inflated costs of the gun registry, adscam, etc... all happened during Chretien's watch.
And, as a sidenote, for all those of you who don't think that the mismanagement of $250 million is that big a deal, I ask: how many hot lunches for inner city kids could that money have purchased, how many more teachers in our schools, etc...? Wasted money is wasted money. Period. Money that could have stayed in taxpayer pockets, gone to shorten hospital waiting lists, etc.
June 28th is our chance not to reward bad behaviour. What kind of message does it send any political party when flagrant disregard for the electorate is rewarded with a fourth term in office?
Now, many people will say that the new Tories are nothing more than wolves in sheep's clothing. But let's not forget that a vote for Team Martin is basically a vote for Team Chretien. New dog, new cabinet, decidedly old tricks.
With that, on June 28th I encourage you to "choose change", in the words of beleaguered Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. Whether the Dippers, Tories or Greens are your party of choice, exercise your right to vote on Monday.
Ta ta for now.
With that, pass the Stoli sweetie. While you're at it, maybe a ciggy too.
Love, Pats
My husband predicted, Cassandra-like, at least a year ago that Paul Martin was going to seriously disappoint. The "great white hope" of the Liberals, per se, was going to turn out to be just another ho-hum politician. To his credit, the hubby was dead on.
Think back, if you will, to last October or November, the last few months of the Chretien reign. The anticipation in the air of the future crowning (read: not-so-friendly coup) was palatable. You could almost taste it. Riding high on ten years of Chretien rule, the Martinites in the Liberal Party were licking their lips at the thought of finally taking over.
So, what happened? What went so terribly wrong? Simply put, Jean Chretien's final "screw you" to his usurper, was the timing of his "retirement" and the official release of Auditor General Sheila Fraser's report on Adscam.
Now I'm certainly no Paul Martin fan, but to be completely fair, the guy got royally screwed here. Some would argue that he got what he deserved, in that he engineered his predecessor's swan song and his own coronation, but, in my opinion, the scorn and anger of Canadians about the Liberals' intrinsic mis-management of taxpayer funds should be placed firmly at the feet of the lil' guy from Shawinigan. HRDC, inflated costs of the gun registry, adscam, etc... all happened during Chretien's watch.
And, as a sidenote, for all those of you who don't think that the mismanagement of $250 million is that big a deal, I ask: how many hot lunches for inner city kids could that money have purchased, how many more teachers in our schools, etc...? Wasted money is wasted money. Period. Money that could have stayed in taxpayer pockets, gone to shorten hospital waiting lists, etc.
June 28th is our chance not to reward bad behaviour. What kind of message does it send any political party when flagrant disregard for the electorate is rewarded with a fourth term in office?
Now, many people will say that the new Tories are nothing more than wolves in sheep's clothing. But let's not forget that a vote for Team Martin is basically a vote for Team Chretien. New dog, new cabinet, decidedly old tricks.
With that, on June 28th I encourage you to "choose change", in the words of beleaguered Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. Whether the Dippers, Tories or Greens are your party of choice, exercise your right to vote on Monday.
Ta ta for now.
With that, pass the Stoli sweetie. While you're at it, maybe a ciggy too.
Love, Pats
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