Pearly Gates is...Quick ReferenceRecent postsLinksRichard's other blog:Hall Of Fame:
The "Real" Media:
Halosphere:
Minor League Affiliates:
Other Baseball Blogs:
Other Random Crap (in a good way):
Soccer:Archive
Blog*Spot ArchivesContactRichard Ceccarelli Josh Mandir |
Monday, April 04, 2005Controversy in the cold, cold, NorthStephen Green recently noted a historical trend, intended as a warning to Republicans: "I've always thought that corruption is unavoidable in ruling parties... it always comes, and it always (at least in healthy two- or multi-party democracies) leads to the end of the governing coalition." I'm starting to think he speaks the truth. The latest example of this phenomenon: a brewing scandal in Canada now threatens the stability of the Martin government. "AdScam", they've taken to calling it. Allegedly, the Liberal government of Paul Martin has been caught laundering taxpayer dollars into the party's own coffers. That would be a no-no. An independent panel known as "The Gomery Commission" is probing these allegations, which, if found to be true, could lead to jail time for some very prominent Canadians. In other words, this is a HUGE scandal - on the same relative scale as Watergate. AdScam would also have similar repercussions on the Canadian political landscape, as it would almost certainly spell the end of the Liberal Party's 12-year stranglehold on power. Naturally, such an event would hand control to the Conservatives (who, it should be noted, are far more receptive to several of the policies of the Bush administration). Unfortunately, the most incendiary testimony has been placed under a publication ban for a period of two months, meaning no media coverage of the proceedings. Whatever the justification for the ban, it serves the end of stifling the controversy at a time when many - on both sides of the border - have a vested interest in airing all of the Liberal Party's dirty laundry. Enter the blogosphere. You didn't think that a little thing like Canadian law was going to stop the blogosphere, did you? Of course not. Captain's Quarters has a man on the inside, and he's got all the details. It's a big, big story. Obviously I don't expect anyone in the States to be at all interested in Canadian domestic policy. I, for one, couldn't care less. I'm not going to root for the Conservative party simply because they're conservative (or at least more so than the current government). However, I am excited by the possibility that missile defense - which has been stonewalled by Martin - could get a jump start under new leadership. That's reason enough to watch - and hope. UPDATE: Now there are legal threats against Candians linking to CQ. This is the liberal paradise I keep hearing about? |
