News coming out of Ottawa is not good for the Conservatives. Our great leader looks like a hunted animal and the hounds are closing in on him. So what to do? Rearrange the furniture maybe? In an attempt to offset the negative blow-back from his decision to prorogue, he’s shuffling around his cabinet . That's right when the house is on fire, start to redecorate and re-arrange the furniture! Despite the smoke and mirrors, it's all clear now . The man is becoming increasingly isolated, among his not- so- servile anymore acolytes . A paranoid leader is clinging to power before the final fall . This is emerging slowly . A man who's detached from reality and the pressing concerns of a citizenry aghast by the ruthless tactics he employs in silencing opposition to his rule. The grumblings in the bunker can't be heard but that does not mean there aren't any.
Never the less, “the night of the long knives” approaches. Dissent within his party is growing, and will continue to grow as long as his party’s poll numbers head further south (games or no games). By south, I don't mean Tampa-Florida, but down into the gutter. So what better way to keep his internal rivals off balance, than to shift them around like the potted plants in the PMO? Parliament may not be in session but the backroom machinations are proceeding apace. The decision to prorogue parliament for the third time, since out great leader has been in power (he did it in 2007, 08 and 09) has not gone down very well with the Canadian electorate it seems. The apathy and indifference, which allowed the last two shut downs to take place is no longer evident. The people want their parliament back in business. The country is faced with huge challenges: a slowing economy, a protracted war, a possible full fledged integration within a S.P.P (security and prosperity partnership) arrangement on a continental scale (North American- U.S- Canada-Mexico) and our M.P.s have been locked out of the House of Commons.
In order to resolve this prolonged parliamnetary crisis , it seems to me that our great leader has few options left now they appear to be these:
1) Simply resign before the house reconvenes as party leader. Then designate a likely successor who will assume a “care-taker” prime ministerial role a la Kim Campbell. Or better yet select a “right hand man” as interim prime minister who might be able to lead the ruling party, from now until the next election and perhaps return his party to power with a majority this time.
2) Stay on as party leader and risk a nasty self destructive internal power struggle which would further weaken and debilitate his party and inevitably be disastrous for him and the party in the upcoming federal elections. Meaning our great leader, would lead his weary troops to a Waterloo- style defeat a la Mulroney, and we’ll probably see a new era of Liberal rule for at least a decade.
3) Or the most fool-hardy for himself politically and self –defeating for his party and most destabilizing for the country option: remain in power as both P.M and party leader and risk being overthrown in a “hostile takeover” or "palace , PMO coup" by a potential power- hungry, soon to be party leader - rival and thus future P.M. designate.
4) Stay on and possibly be compelled to step down as P.M. by a majority "vote of no confidence," censuring him and his contemptible- dictatorial conduct towards parliament. Such a vote would likely be held in/during, the next session/opening of parliament.
5) Permanently suspend all future proceedings of parliament.
Only the last one of these options may be palatable for our great leader.
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