Buckdog: Is Harper As Phony As He Seems?
Harper and his ministers would have
us believe that circumstances have changed over the three months,
morphing from a financial crisis to one affecting the real economy. But
most of that was predictable and was, indeed, predicted. No one really
believed the crisis could be contained to a few banks and insurance
companies.
On the other hand, the political circumstances have
changed, as Harper's government was almost toppled earlier this month
by a coalition of opposition parties demanding more stimulus in the
wake of the hold-the-line economic statement. That would account for
the shift by Harper since then. But how does it explain what he said in
Peru before the economic statement about the need for stimulus?
Some
have suggested that the answer lies in a split between Finance Minister
Jim Flaherty, who actually delivered the economic statement, and Harper
on how best to address the crisis. But that is hardly credible in a
government that is as centred on the PM as this one.
One is left
with the uncomfortable feeling that Harper, far from the steady hand at
the wheel portrayed in Conservative propaganda, is making up his course
as he sails along.
Harper and his ministers would have
us believe that circumstances have changed over the three months,
morphing from a financial crisis to one affecting the real economy. But
most of that was predictable and was, indeed, predicted. No one really
believed the crisis could be contained to a few banks and insurance
companies.
On the other hand, the political circumstances have
changed, as Harper's government was almost toppled earlier this month
by a coalition of opposition parties demanding more stimulus in the
wake of the hold-the-line economic statement. That would account for
the shift by Harper since then. But how does it explain what he said in
Peru before the economic statement about the need for stimulus?
Some
have suggested that the answer lies in a split between Finance Minister
Jim Flaherty, who actually delivered the economic statement, and Harper
on how best to address the crisis. But that is hardly credible in a
government that is as centred on the PM as this one.
One is left
with the uncomfortable feeling that Harper, far from the steady hand at
the wheel portrayed in Conservative propaganda, is making up his course
as he sails along.
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