Perhaps you caught Prime Minister Paul Martin's address to the nation this evening. If you didn't, he addressed the nation with his thoughts and feelings about the Sponsorship Scandal, the Gomery Inquiry, and the Liberal plan of action to rectify the situation.I think the accompanying image pretty much sums up how I feel about Mr. Martin's address.
I find it incredible that the former Finance Minister had no knowledge of the misappropriation of countless millions of taxpayer dollars. I also find it convenient that he fired those he thought responsible for the scandal, on his first day as Prime Minister. I am further ashamed that Mr. Martin has not swallowed his pride and resigned -- yet. In the world of business, when something goes terribly wrong, the fault ultimately lies on the management; in this case, the former Finance Minister, Paul Martin. Why is he still trying to run this country, when he should have been shit-canned?
Canadian politics at the federal level has been a bloody mess since Jean Chrétien stepped down as Prime Minister in late 2003. In fact, things weren't even going so well at the time of his retirement. But since the election of a minority government last spring, no good has come out of Parliament Hill. No progress has been made on any major issue, including same-sex legislation, or the BSE crisis. Sure, the Liberals tried to re-introduce the marijuana bill, but not like that's going to do much good. We aren't all a bunch of lit hippies who wear mood rings, drive VW vans and listen to Simon and Garfunkel. While marijuana decriminalization will solve some societal problems, it will leave the door open to a whole pile of others.
It was quite apparent that Paul Martin's address to the nation was merely begging for a stay of execution. He promised he would call a federal election within thirty days of publication of the Gomery Report. Big Whoop. That report isn't due until December, which means the soonest we would see a federal election would be February 2006. Martin is obviously hoping that the smoke will clear by that time, and allow him to clear his name, and save the Liberal Party from near-extinction.
It was obvious by the responses from the leaders of the other political parties that they aren't buying Martin's shit-burger deal. I hope to see an election be called within the next month. I want Martin out of the PM's seat, out of Parliament, and out of politics.
What then? Prime Minister Stephen Harper? Prime Minister Gilles Duceppe? Prime Minister Jack Layton? Every one of these alternatives chill me to the bone. Perhaps that's how Paul Martin managed to squeak in the PM's seat the last time.
When you are in the polling booth, sometimes you have to choose the lesser of four evils.
