March 09, 2000
Liberals, Why? - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- One may or may not be surprised that the Liberal Party has been in power in Ottawa for a good part of the 20th century. (A century, if I may add that has not ended yet.) From Laurier at the dawn of the 1900’s to Jean Chrétien now, the Liberal Party has actually been in power for almost three quarters of the past hundred years. With this current HRDC debacle and the other things that endear this party to us, it baffles me that they manage to get re-elected and re-elected again.
The Liberals are a funny bunch. They manage to get themselves into binds that no one would wish on the enemy, but they seem to get out unscaved, as well as highly popular. Even with this stink with Jane Stewart’s billion-dollar boondoggle, Jean Chrétien, should an election be held tomorrow, would win. It’s a remarkable thing how these Liberals operate. For example, imagine the noise made by everyone if Brian Mulroney were to be “invited” to testify at the APEC inquiry?
Jean Chrétien was not given a subpoena by APEC Inquiry commissioner Ted Hughes, he was simply “invited”. An invitation that Mr. Chrétien has declined. There is an ounce of arrogance that these damned Liberals have that just doesn’t sit well with me. Maybe it dates back to the time when Pierre Trudeau occupied 24 Sussex Drive. It was a time where he practically ruled over this country in an ever-so arrogant and demeaning way. Not only has Mr. Chrétien tried to emulate that, it seems to be inherent throughout that party, importantly this current administration. With this current APEC Inquiry business, Mr. Chrétien has not only shown his contempt for the law of the land, the processes of this country and the people of this nation, he’s shown he’s a bloody hypocrite.
The issue at hand is whether the PMO was directly involved in issuing directives to the RCMP during the APEC Conference in this town in 1997. He’s denied it, but the evidence is there. He’s been “invited”, and I say “invited”, because Commissioner Hughes is being rather hesitant in ordering the PM to testify. With a pansy invite like that, of course the man will skirt the entire commission.
The difference between Trudeau and Chrétien, besides the former’s superior grasp of both official languages over the latters, is that Trudeau was arrogant and assholish in his own stylish way. It was a way that, even I’d admire. Chretién on the other hand reeks of it, he tries to disguise it, but he ends up flaunting it. In his mannerisms and in his demeanour, he fails to make it endearing. Trudeau, would scrap with you. he’d punch and kick you repeatedly and do it in a way that folks would cheer for. Chretién on the other hand would choke you and make him look like a thug. Both instances, by the way did occur publicly.
Pundits across the country, including this typer, plead with Canadians across Canada to vote these buggers out. Because, we’ve had enough.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .