And then he realized he was wearing pants and it wasn't a dream
It looks like Gord the Invincible has just become the untouchable. He goes through these cycles – a few years back there was the unfortunate episode involving a few friends and the Hawaii state patrol. It resulted in the a now commonly used photo of our illustrious premier with a shit-faced grin holding up a little board with the booking numbers used by the police…I think it’s called a mug shot…
Well, now he has gone one better. After winning the election last year and with two more years ahead, he has banked on the electorate having short enough memory to forget by the next election he has brought forth upon this province a new sales tax, the euphonically named Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
I suspect he was hoping his Federal buddy Stephen would run a lot of interference on this one for him but, while chipping in a few bucks to help out with the public relations budget, Mr. Harper has left the heavy lifting to the provincial dudes. Most of this lifting consists of shoveling away the truckloads of rotting fruit and veggies being tossed at any provincial liberal daring to raise his/her head in defence of the HST.
you didn't think I'd let a chance like this get by me, did you?
It is pretty much a foregone conclusion that this tax will go into effect despite the heroic actions of the former premier Bill Van Der Zalm; an effort fueled as much by sheer joy at loosing arrows of vengence into the throats of those who plotted his downfall ‘lo those many years ago as by any self-righteous zeal to avenge injustices against the defenseless serfs/voting public.
It is an equally foregone conclusion there will be no Gordon the Magnificent to lead his Liberals to a 4th majority in the election that glows but faintly on the horizon. Much like another famous Canadian political leader who brought his party out of the wilderness forging them into a fearful engine of power only to leap from the driver’s seat mere months before it drove off the cliffside of the GST (Goods & Services Tax), Mr. Campbell will undoubtedly give his successor a firm handshake before climbing into the escape pod. The new leader (traditionally female) will have the unenviable task of striking a memorable pose while the waves close over the sinking ship.
There will be vengence and it will wreak itself upon the party but it will be without that famed fluffy white hair at the helm.
Already other party members are fighting over parachutes in an attempt to appear noble – not sacrificing themselves so much as falling on their swords to appear creatures of conscience. I should point out that I firmly believe the vast majority of politicians on both sides of the house are there with the intention of serving their electorate. They are not corrupt used car salesmen but professionals who have chosen the public calling with good intentions. On the other hand, they’re not stupid and can read the writing on the wall. Nor are they, for the most part, suicidal in their devotion to any leader (although some party leaders do have an ability to convince their caucuses to a surprising degree that compliance is essential to staying on the island).