Back By Popular Demand...

How did that line go, "Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in"

Truly, due to recent political events in Ottawa, I decided to resurrect my old blog. Although it wasn't really old. It's been barely a month and a half since I shut it down thinking that our elected representatives were genuine in their desire to make Parliament work.

Boy was I dumb.

Anyway, I chose to open the digital doors of this portal again today because over the last couple of days I've been developing thoughts, feelings and opinions about coalitions and prorogues and all that stuff and I've had no where to put them. And as much I was hoping to turn down the emphasis on political discourse to focus on matters a little more artistic... Well, you know...

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies." -Groucho Marx

Not only was Marx one, funny mo-fo, so to speak, he was also a very wise and astute observer of politics and human nature. Ever watch Duck Soup. If he hadn't died in 1977, Groucho probably would have been killed from a brain aneurysm stemming from the comedic possibilities presented in the last eight days of Parliament.

Here's how it stands now: Stephen Harper got up bright and early today and marched across the road to Rideau Hall spending two hours of what I can only imagine was some kind of grovelling to convince Governor-General Michaelle Jean to prorogue Parliament until cooler heads prevail, or something to that affect. Since Parliament won't be sitting again until January 26th, the country can take a breather with all confidence motions cancelled. In the new year, the Harper government will present a full budget, which will be a confidence motion itself, and then the chips will fall where they may.

In a political free-for-all, the likes of which that hasn't been seen since California's recall election in 2003, it seems that no one's come out a winner. Half the country is pissed that Michaelle Jean stopped the rise of a progressive replacement to Harper, and the other half of the nation is ranked because the threat to usurp the duly elected Prime Minister of the country was on the table in the first place.

Tonight in Guelph, a small group of dedicated protesters, including city councillor Maggie Laidlaw and musician James Gordon, held court in St. George's Square to talk about the "62 per cent majority." Here's what the press release said,

"Elected with the support of just 38% of Canadians, Stephen Harper's chosen to act as though he has 100% of the power. Instead of working with other parties to tackle the current economic crisis, Harper's opted for total inaction and political tricks. And now he's lost the confidence of Parliament.

"A 62% majority of Canadians didn't vote for Stephen Harper. They voted for a government that will kick-start our ailing economy and put their family first."

The sentiment was shared by the small crowd in the Square whose comments ranged from blaming the GG for not telling Harper FU about the prorogue to a little hate over Guelph MP Frank Valeriote's comments in the Guelph Mercury. "I believe in working toward a solution, not working toward a coalition," he told the paper in a phone interview. He added that Harper "was sent here, with us, to work together and right from the beginning it has been clear he was not interested in working with us."

Now, from my talks with Valeriote I know that he's not saying that he's all about propping up the Conservative government despite any alleged partisanship or douche baggery. I think he's just a guy that wants to get down to work, and I think that's what a lot of other Canadians want too. As for my own thoughts, well, I'll go into those at a later date. For now here are some images from tonight's gathering. And if you missed it, another rally will take place this Saturday at noon in the Square.