It seems, to paraphrase Will Rogers, that these days our federal government opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation. Lately, they pray for whatever and then turn their guns on Brian Mulroney. Heck, he only got a few thousands, the Liberals handed out millions of sponsorship dollars to their pals in Quebec. That one is still stuck in my craw.
The legendary American humorist also said, “The 1928 Republican Convention opened with a prayer. If the Lord can see His way clear to bless the Republican Party the way it's been carrying on, then the rest of us ought to get it without even asking.”
Many times I’ve been tempted to replace the year and the political party and rest my case. For three years, I had a seat in the front row and saw and heard things that turned my stomach. That’s why I have a hard time believing what I read and hear about matters political.
The sponsorship scandal and the Mulroney affair comes under the heading Big Potatoes. From the Small Potatoes category, I won’t comment on my feelings about Mark Patrone’s appointment to the CRTC. Mark and my son Paul were, until this week, co-workers and friends. Paul is a fiercely loyal person so I suspect he is, and will continue to be, standing up for Mark. I would be disappointed if it were otherwise.
I will, however, echo the thoughts of Mike Duffy who, in his weekly exchange on politics with Steve Murphy, chastised Mike Savage for his attack on Patrone, and reminded the Liberals of a similar appointment in the early 1980s. Old crocks like the Duffster and your scribbler can be of help by remembering the sins of the past.
Anyway, Duffy felt the kettle was calling the pot black, because Gerry Regan, wearing his federal minister’s hat, appointed his former press secretary Jim Robson to the same CRTC board. Jim, before going over to the so-called “dark side” toiled on Argyle Street as a Herald reporter. At least Patrone was an electronic journalist and not a print man. What cheek. What hypocrisy.
Even Peter Stoffer, who usually likes to cozy up to the media, let his guard down and said it “didn’t pass the smell test.”
If, Opposition members, as they are threatening to do, decide to lug Patrone before a committee in Ottawa, hopefully the PCs will ram the Robson appointment down their throats. As they say, be careful what you wish for.
Besides, I’ve always felt we should have an 11th Commandment; thou shalt not committee….
Rogers also observed that the movies are the only business where you can go out front and applaud yourself. If he were around today he might be inclined to amend the thought and add to it the policital arena.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist and a weekly contributor to Halifax Live)
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