Prorogue - emphasis on the "rogue".

I had written a lengthy diatribe to assuage my political frustrations, but thought the better of publishing it. It was mostly cathartic, I guess. Anyway, I'm glad Her Excellency Mme. Jean acceded to the Prime Minister's request and prorogued Parliament today. (Note to G&M posters - the word is "prorogue". Not "parole" (although that has a Freudian attraction). I really do believe that Mr. Harper brought this crisis down on his own flat-topped head, and he ought to be booted in his political ass for it - but he is still the best choice to lead Canada through the economic mine field we now face, and the "coalition" (which is already being talked of in the past tense here in Ottawa) is/was a total nightmare scenario by comparison. Mr. Dion is about as credible as a cardboard cut-out of Dabney Coleman, and the NDP has the combined leadership qualities of a four-slice toaster. Maybe a two-slice toaster - the kind that can do bagels.

Anyone who thinks that the fact that the Bloc wasn't a part of the coalition matters a tinker's damn should stop drinking the Kool-Aid. Here's what those guys were up to: The "coalition" was between the NDP and the Liberals, but they agreed to establish and maintain a continual liaison with the Bloc. The Bloc agreed, in advance, to support the Throne Speeches and the budgets of the coalition. Now, think about that. A budget is normally prepared in great secrecy by the Government. It is presented to Parliament. Opposition parties respond to the Budget during debate in the House. But in the "coalition" scenario, the Bloc (NOT a member of the coalition, and therefore NOT a member of the "governing party") has agreed IN ADVANCE to support budgetary measures it hasn't seen. Suppose the NDP/Liberal coalition brought in a budget that was prejudicial to the interests of Quebec. Are you going to tell me that the Bloc would feel constrained to support it? Not bloody likely. The only way I can figure this out is that the Bloc would have considerable input on budgetary measures BEFORE the budget was introduced. This is completely outside the protocols of Canadian democracy. Either you are in the Government and make budgetary policy, or you are NOT in the Government and you comment on budgets through debates. Budgets are the most intimate reflection of the intentions of a Government. The coalition could NOT survive without the support of the Bloc on budget day. Ergo (not "herego", to all my Newfoundland correspondents) it is an inescapable conclusion that the Bloc would have direct influence on the drafting and content of the budget. That's cool if they want to be a part of the coalition - but not cool if they pretend to be independent. And the Liberals and the NDP couldn't survive a minute with the Canadian electorate if they made the Bloc a member of the coalition. We are actually too smart for that. Nice try, you nasty little men. Nice frigging try.

Meanwhile, I sincerely hope that Mme. Jean had the fortitude to tell the Prime Minister to knock it off already with the dirty tricks, to take the job of governing seriously, and to leave all that small-town partisan bullshit nonsense for another day. The country needs leadership - not watercooler gamesmanship.

The GG is taking a lot of flak (not "flack" - "flack" isn't a word - oh, wait. Maybe it is. As in "Political Flack") for her decision. People are getting little bits of white foam in the corners of their mouths as they try to say "precedent". (Another note to G&M commentators - it isn't "president". That confuses two different political structures entirely). What are they worried about? The GG has considerable discretion to make determinations based on the facts that are before her. The precedential relevance of this decision is directly related to the chances that the same scenario might be presented to another GG at some future date. And I mean EXACTLY the same scenario, including all the current economic circumstances, the personalities (or lack of same) of the players involved...everything. Her Excellency was required to weigh ALL of the information available before she reached her determination. The fact that she decided as she did means very little to a future GG who is asked to prorogue Parliament by a fraidy-cat PM. This is no threat to Canadian democracy, or the Parliamentary process. In fact it is the reverse, because it demonstrates that we are not hide-bound by process, and what is best for Canada on any given day is really the guiding light.

So lay off the GG. And I don't say that just because she's really, really cute. I would have said it in defence of Romeo (wherefore art thou) LeBlanc if he had made the same decision. And I think he would have.