Saturday, February 11, 2006

No Way Out

Emerson resigning has moved from a question of if, to a discussion of when. Garth Turner will keep the heat on:
Despite a tongue-lashing from the Prime Minister, Conservative Garth Turner says he will proceed with a private-member's bill that would force MPs such as Trade Minister David Emerson to resign and run again when they switch parties...

The Toronto Star has the headline, "Emerson Might Quite, Sources Say":
Speculation is rising, even among some senior Tories, that International Trade Minister David Emerson could soon decide to resign.

Though Emerson made no public comments yesterday — a day after a scheduled conference call with journalists was called off because "the minister is caught in traffic" — highly placed sources within the Tory caucus were privately musing he may be considering calling it quits.
"Let's put it this way: I wouldn't be at all surprised," said one source

Conservative MP, John Reynolds living in a parallel universe:
He said he doesn't buy into speculation that Emerson may consider quitting politics this weekend, assuming Emerson returns to Vancouver to discuss his future with his wife Theresa and their children James, 14, and Elizabeth, 12.

"No, I don't think so. I'm sure everything crosses through your mind when people keep on hammering at you," Reynolds said, before noting that even Wayne Gretzky is getting pilloried this week even though there is no evidence he is directly linked to a gambling ring.

"I said to David, 'Listen, you have to look at it very simply. The premier of this province, every key business group and person has been on the phone, on the radio, to the media, saying, 'Hey, this is a great move.'"

Reynolds, calling the Liberals hypocrites for slamming Emerson even though they shamelessly convinced former Tories like Belinda Stronach and Scott Brison to cross the floor, advised Emerson: "Don't listen to the [Liberals] and it'll go away."

The problem with Reynold's theory, is the crux of the outrage isn't coming from the Liberals. In fact, the Liberals have been relatively silent, this is not a partisan story. Talk of private member's bills, investigations, protests, petitions and a general unease are all making this an impossible situation for Emerson. Emerson can't survive, this issue is not going away. If Harper remains stubborn, Emerson will continue to be an albatross around the government's neck. Conservative insiders must know that it is time to cut their losses and move on. Emerson must know that he can't be effective with this cloud over his head. I predict he resigns within days, and if he doesn't, it will serve as one more example of a government that doesn't understand the landscape.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whether the Premier and business leaders favor Emerson is irrelevant. Actually Reynolds highlights the issue of powerful infuence over ordinary people. Reynolds needs a lesson in democracy.

Anonymous said...

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Reynolds, calling the Liberals hypocrites for slamming Emerson even though they shamelessly convinced former Tories like Belinda Stronach and Scott Brison to cross the floor
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You know, that might fly if it weren't for the fact that the entire Conservative campaign was telling Canada that the Liberals were a corrupt and dysfunctional regime with nothing but power on their minds.

Then you go and justify your move by saying, "They did it too!"? Please. That's weak.

Jeff said...

...Reynolds said, before noting that even Wayne Gretzky is getting pilloried this week even though there is no evidence he is directly linked to a gambling ring.

Nice John, nice. "Sure we're flipfloppers, but at least no one is accusing us of having mob ties!"

Anonymous said...

Emerson needs to resign to re-establish Harper's priority as being government "ethics". If he does not resign (and by not resigning by NOW) it shows little responsibility to this new government.

Steve V said...

brad

That is a great point. The entire Conservative platform was predicated on the notion of cleaning up government. It is for this reason that this appointment, not to mention the Senate angle, is so outrageous. It is the equivalent of Jack Layton getting elected PM and immediately announcing a plan for private health care clinincs.