Tipping Point

I find it quite telling, that the Conservatives have managed to alienate their most "friendly" media outlets. In the past, no matter the issue, the Conservatives could count on some cover from certain sources, which tended to blur reality. With that in mind, it must be quite concerning for the PMO, when they see editorials in the National Post, basically arguing that the Conservatives are WORSE than the dirty Liberals:

It's easy to argue that this government clutches information even tighter to its chest than its predecessors. This is an ongoing disappointment. But this week, the non-disclosure instinct produced farce.

Yesterday, Sun Media's Greg Weston ripped into the Conservatives for being controlling, secretive, the ANTITHESIS of accountability and openness. Today, we get a rare critical editorial from the National Post. Basically, we have reached unanimity on this score, the idea that this government shuts down dissent, fires or belittles those that dare challenge its assertions, willingly avoids disclosure, rules with a Stalinesque manner. It's an extremely dangerous gelling of opinion, and one that could ultimately send the Conservatives into opposition.

This latest debacle over access to information is something of a tipping point, from which the government's reputation isn't easily recouped. You often hear the "death by a thousand cut" analogy, and in this instance, it is probably true. The Conservatives have done so many things during their tenure, that one can present an almost irrefutable thesis, to argue otherwise bordering on the absurd. The fact that apologist sources are now jumping on this thesis, speaks to the overwhelming presentation.

In the past, many of us have wondered when people would "clue in" to how this government operates, a frustration that they acted with impunity, preying on apathy, that allowed free reign. All the controlling measures, the lack of access, the "one day story" moves, it all seemed to go unnoticed, emboldening the Conservatives. Finally, now, it looks that the consistent pattern is starting to catch up with the government, and they are framing themselves in the worst possible light.

When you've lost the public trust, when people see you as sneaky, secretive, controlling and actively suppressing dissent, it is representative of final days for any regime. The fact that the media conduit is now in rare agreement speaks to the gravity, it shows how pervasive the erosion in moral authority has become. History offers no repreive for the Conservatives, if past examples hold true, these are ultimately fatal wounds.