Saturday, December 29, 2007
Politician of 2007
Everyone likes to wind the year down by choosing a person to wear the "Politician of the Year" title.
Over at arch nemesis Calgary Grit, the honours fell to Jean Charest. This got Paul Wells panting heavily in agreement. Both of these fine Chretien-maniacs make two powerful arguments: (1) he didn't completely lose the Quebec election; (2) he's been around a long time. Fair enough, but a silly choice. On the election, modern Quebec has never tossed a government after a single mandate, the PQ has never been so diseased, the ADQ captured the interest of the electorate for pushing an agenda that was, basically, what Charest promised to do the first time around. The gains Charest has made on behalf of Quebec (and Canada, I might add) are all due to Stephen Harper, not Jean Charest. That said: keep an eye on Jean Charest in the coming years - the last months have seen him never more pleasant, energetic and confident.
Jason Cherniak awards the title to Dalton McGinty. This is absolutely crazy, as evidenced by the fact that Jason lauds the hike in the minimum wage as proof - give Jack Layton a chance and he'll hike it enough to make him Politician of the Century! Premier McGinty did win the provincial election - much better than Charest - so at least Jason has done better than Calgary Grit and Paul Wells on that front. However, Premier McGinty won it largely through the most repulsive attack on Canadian multiculturalism ever witnessed in a modern campaign. At least Jacques Parizeau said it once and was drunk at the time. McGinty hammered home Roman Catholic exceptionalism every minute of the campaign. It was ugly. It was gross. It was unforgettable, Dalton.
So, who really is the politician of the year? Oh, I know you all expect me to award the honour to the man who is, easily, the greatest politician of all - but let me surprise you. Nay, shock you. In 2007, the greatest politician was......
Jim Flaherty.
In the spring, he solved the fiscal imbalance. There were three flare ups that resulted. By the end of the year, they were quelled - leaving the Liberals alone along the walls at the dance when the band started playing "Stairway to Heaven". I could laundry list other points of the spring budget that impressed everyone*, but I'll just note that it passed the House easily.
Then, this fall, the Minister of Finance delivered an economic update that again, faced minimal opposition in the house, and brought with it tax cuts that we will enjoy the minute we file this February not to mention a fine payment of the national debt.
For setting Canada on a path of becoming a Northern Tiger, Jim Flaherty deserves credit and recognition as Canada's politician of 2007.
* Everyone here is defined as all Canadians whose names do not rhyme with Fandrew Loin.
Over at arch nemesis Calgary Grit, the honours fell to Jean Charest. This got Paul Wells panting heavily in agreement. Both of these fine Chretien-maniacs make two powerful arguments: (1) he didn't completely lose the Quebec election; (2) he's been around a long time. Fair enough, but a silly choice. On the election, modern Quebec has never tossed a government after a single mandate, the PQ has never been so diseased, the ADQ captured the interest of the electorate for pushing an agenda that was, basically, what Charest promised to do the first time around. The gains Charest has made on behalf of Quebec (and Canada, I might add) are all due to Stephen Harper, not Jean Charest. That said: keep an eye on Jean Charest in the coming years - the last months have seen him never more pleasant, energetic and confident.
Jason Cherniak awards the title to Dalton McGinty. This is absolutely crazy, as evidenced by the fact that Jason lauds the hike in the minimum wage as proof - give Jack Layton a chance and he'll hike it enough to make him Politician of the Century! Premier McGinty did win the provincial election - much better than Charest - so at least Jason has done better than Calgary Grit and Paul Wells on that front. However, Premier McGinty won it largely through the most repulsive attack on Canadian multiculturalism ever witnessed in a modern campaign. At least Jacques Parizeau said it once and was drunk at the time. McGinty hammered home Roman Catholic exceptionalism every minute of the campaign. It was ugly. It was gross. It was unforgettable, Dalton.
So, who really is the politician of the year? Oh, I know you all expect me to award the honour to the man who is, easily, the greatest politician of all - but let me surprise you. Nay, shock you. In 2007, the greatest politician was......
Jim Flaherty.
In the spring, he solved the fiscal imbalance. There were three flare ups that resulted. By the end of the year, they were quelled - leaving the Liberals alone along the walls at the dance when the band started playing "Stairway to Heaven". I could laundry list other points of the spring budget that impressed everyone*, but I'll just note that it passed the House easily.
Then, this fall, the Minister of Finance delivered an economic update that again, faced minimal opposition in the house, and brought with it tax cuts that we will enjoy the minute we file this February not to mention a fine payment of the national debt.
For setting Canada on a path of becoming a Northern Tiger, Jim Flaherty deserves credit and recognition as Canada's politician of 2007.
* Everyone here is defined as all Canadians whose names do not rhyme with Fandrew Loin.
Labels: And - that he's from Lachine doesn't hurt
Comments:
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I agree that Charest is not hot, but is ready to get very, very hot in the nearer future.
McGuinty is a terrible choice, and your criticism of him is just - his campaign was grotesquely wrong.
I think 2007 may have been a launch stage for Bob Rae - not Pol of the Year yet, but Bob Rae-nia could take off anytime, I think.
I must say, Flaherty has been deft this year - his ended up an Annus Maximus, it seems.
Not sure who I'd pick, haven't thought of it.
McGuinty is a terrible choice, and your criticism of him is just - his campaign was grotesquely wrong.
I think 2007 may have been a launch stage for Bob Rae - not Pol of the Year yet, but Bob Rae-nia could take off anytime, I think.
I must say, Flaherty has been deft this year - his ended up an Annus Maximus, it seems.
Not sure who I'd pick, haven't thought of it.
Yeah, squandering Canada's surpluses on a 2% GST cut is really brilliant. Now Canadians are supposed to tighten up our belts? Harper better lose some weight, pudgy leaders do not do well during recessions.
# posted by 
: Saturday, December 29, 2007 7:50:00 PM
: Saturday, December 29, 2007 7:50:00 PM
Anon, grow up. Actually lowering the GST was excellent by my standards. It now gives the provinces room to increase the PST so they can use the new funds for infrastructure. Wonder if the Premiers are ballsy enough to take the bait. Why wouldn't McGuinty announce a 2% increase in PST to fund health and environmental needs? Oh, the Premies are too used to whining to Ottawa and getting their way. Time for that to stop.
Ah, but rhymes-with-Loin was quite pleased with the Throne Speech. It all averages out -- the government has actually made all reasonable people (relatively) happy. [No-one should be made ecstatic by his government -- that usually is accompanied by someone else getting reamed by it.]
Very deft. As a reflection of Flaherty's skill, I'd actually forgotten all about the fiscal imbalance issue.
Very deft. As a reflection of Flaherty's skill, I'd actually forgotten all about the fiscal imbalance issue.
Did you see Jason's list of grievances? That's some special stuff there. He's rapidly marginalizing himself and becoming irrelevant. Might as well move to Europe and start blogging from there, like that other guy.
You didn't mention Elizabeth May, the red-tinged Green party leader.
Say something about her ... !!!
Say something about her ... !!!
# posted by : Sunday, December 30, 2007 4:20:00 PM
: Sunday, December 30, 2007 4:20:00 PM
Politician of 2007 goes to Lyin Brian Mulroney.
He has single handedly side tracked Harper's agenda for a "neocon" government in Canada.
In doing that, he has single handedly destroyed his own agenda as Prime Minister.
It is said, that whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.
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He has single handedly side tracked Harper's agenda for a "neocon" government in Canada.
In doing that, he has single handedly destroyed his own agenda as Prime Minister.
It is said, that whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.
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