Politics, the Second Oldest Profession

Monday, February 06, 2006 06:19 PM

-Ben Meisner

I wonder if David Emerson was singing that song, “What a difference a day makes “ when he got on the plane to head to Ottawa?

One day he was saying that he would hold the feet of those pesky Conservatives to the fire as an opposition Liberal member, the next he was slapping the back of his new boss, Prime Minister Stephen Harper as he was sworn into Cabinet .

I wonder what all of those Liberals in the lower mainland were thinking when they turned on their TV’s and saw Emerson heading to the front of the Conservative pack?.

It is after all politics, and Emerson who was formerly the head of Canfor, knows how to pull on the fish net stockings and put on that little red skirt to make his way around Ottawa. It’s a classic case of saying one thing but really being able to change at the flick of a switch.

I thought that Harper would bring a very bright young guy, James Moore, into the Cabinet. Moore, after all, will be a shinning light well into the future given his youth today. To add to that, he is a very bright young fellow, who filled in for me on the talk show and who by the way did a very commendable job.

Emerson may have been the reason he didn’t make the cut. I had thought that Jay Hill, who has been a trusted and loyal supporter of Harper, and who got kicked out of the fold for being that way, would have snagged a perch on the big round table, but it didn’t happen.

Dick Harris was not going to make the cut; he knew it and has suggested all along that he didn’t want a Cabinet post.

So what did we really get in BC?

Well, we got a guy who can jump the fence faster than you can say Belinda Stronach.

We got a peak yesterday of where the power is about to unfold in the Conservative government and what a surprise, that Golden Horseshoe is once again flexing muscle in Ontario, and Quebec is also capable of pumping some heavy iron.

We may have been a big part in putting Harper into the Prime Minister's office, but in the end, the game of politics rules against us.

I’m Meisner and that is one man's opinion.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 06:19 PM in Views by Ben Meisner

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: Don Mackenzie on February 6 2006 6:49 PM

RAT...That is David Emerson,getting off the sinking Liberal ship (Just a lowlife) THERE SHOULD BE A.. BY ELECTION

Posted by: Palopu on February 6 2006 6:52 PM

Politics make strange bedfellows. Harper has to do what he thinks is right to get in a position to elect a Conservative Majority. We all know that cannot realistically be done without Ontario and Quebec, and of course having some support from Vancouver, and Vancouver Island would be a big help. In any event when the peanut butter jar is almost empty and you have lots of people to feed you have to learn to be a good spreader.

The question of whether this is a good/bad thing will be determined over the long haul and not by shooting from the hip a few hours after the decisions were made.

He got to be Prime Minister by using (his) brain and I suggest he will continue to use (his) brain to go forward from here.

Posted by: camoose on February 6 2006 9:15 PM

In this case I'm not so sure that politics doesn't rank right up there with the "Oldest Profession". Emerson has prostituted himself for power. If I lived in Vancouver-Kingsway I would be right PO'd at him after he was elected as a Lieberal and 14 days later he becomes a Conservative. Classic case of why recall is necessary. I watched Mr. Dosange on the TV news taking a swipe at Emerson for changing parties. This from one who jumped from the NDP to the Libs to become health minister.

Posted by: ammonra on February 6 2006 11:40 PM

That's true about Dosanjh, and I was very upset when he did that. However, there is one huge difference. He changed parties before an election and ran as a Liberal. He presented himself to the voters honestly, and can't be accused of misleading the public. Emerson ran as a Liberal, then jumped ship when it was a personal convenience for his own career, and without regard for the voters. I think those two are very different in the respect they show for democracy.

Posted by: Percy on February 6 2006 11:55 PM

One would think that Mr. Emmerson just changed his political idealology to something else when he dropped the Liberal flag and decided to raise the Conservative flag.

I would like to suggest that he hasn't changed anything at all except his ability to influence others and have more input into the running of this country.

Good on him and good for PM Harper for leaving that door open for him.

This is about experienced, seasoned, mature people governing this great country. Why should we criticize PM Harper for wanting to include such a high profile, high quality person in his cabinet? Percy

Posted by: ammonra on February 7 2006 12:24 AM

Throughout this campaign Harper repeatedly stated that the election was about ethics and respect for the voters. The Conservatives kicked up such a big fuss over Grewal, that the ethics commisssioner investigated. Now harper gets a Liberal to switch parties by giving him a cabinet seat. Will that be investigated by the ethics commissioner? What's the difference? Where's Harpers respect for the voters? Where are his highly self-touted ethics? It may well be a good whack in the face for the Liberals, but it's also insulting to those who voted for the Liberal Emerson and got the Tory one.

Posted by: camoose on February 7 2006 12:10 PM

Sorry Percy, but i can't agree with you. If Emerson is so smart and good for the country let him run for the Conservatives. He didn't though, people elected him as a Liberal and 14 days later he all of a sudden is a Conservative. Why did the people of Vancouver-Kingsway even bother to vote. Pure political opportunism, nothing to do with being a good man for the job. He prostituted himself for power.

Posted by: diplomat on February 7 2006 1:33 PM

camoose: "He prostituted himself for power."

Who is the John in this alleged incident of "prostitution"?

Posted by: ammonra on February 7 2006 1:44 PM

Harper!

Posted by: camoose on February 7 2006 6:48 PM

Harper was the John. He seduced Emerson with the offer of power (cabinet post) and the voters of Vancouver/Kingsway got the screwing.

Posted by: Percy on February 8 2006 11:40 PM

Well folks, do you think that there might be some other benefit behind this little strategy?

An inclusive approach to other people from other parties. What's wrong with getting a few more people on your team? Who cares where they come from. The goal of this government is to govern the country. I would be trying to make as many friends as possible. Who wants another election in 6 months? Not me and not Harper. If there weren't so many doughheads in BC, maybe he wouldn't have to resort to attracting members from other parties to make up his cabinet. BC finally gets an opportunity to carry some weight to Ottawa, and we purposely reduce the number of Conservative seats by 4. Duh. It's nice to see that we are consistant anyway. Percy

Posted by: diplomat on February 9 2006 3:17 PM

Percy: "If there weren't so many doughheads in B.C...."

Well, there you go!

Wonder how so many people can be so wrong!

Today's news carries a tidbit about Schreiber/Mulroney/AirBus.
Very interesting!

Posted by: Percy on February 11 2006 7:19 PM

I'm sorry Diplomat. Maybe I have been seeing things from a different perspective than you. Your comment made me snicker though.

How long have you been living in BC?

Maybe I just don't understand human behavior.

I know that I don't play the game well, so, I don't pretend to either.

Strategies?? Maybe, possibly, there are other agenda's that I just don't understand.

Oh well, forgive me for my ignorance if I have misunderstood things. I'm just a simple, hard working person born and raised in PG. Percy

Posted by: diplomat on February 12 2006 9:04 AM

Percy: "How long have you been living in BC?"

All my adult life. i.e. since I turned 18. I am enjoying my retirement now.

Well, we are all different and entitled to arrive at our own opinions via different experiences.

Your opinion is as good/bad as mine, considering that often both of us could be wrong because of lack of information!

I know one thing though, as far as politicians are concerned: "Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on me."

Stephen Harper's honeymoon never got off the ground. Whose fault is that?

Cheers!