After slamming Patrick Brazeau many times in the past I have to say that, for once at least, the embattled Senator has finally impressed me. In an essay titled Time To Throw Harper Under The Bus and published August 25 on the Loonie Politics website he hit the nail on the head. Brazeau starts off with “Stick to the lines, repeat the message, don’t expose any weaknesses with the hope of believing that anything Canadians don’t know won’t hurt them. That’s been Harper’s strategy in the first three weeks of this election campaign.”
It’s a harsh analysis from someone who was seen as being in Harper’s back pocket until the scandal over Senate expenses erupted two years. Then Harper threw Brazeau out of the Conservative caucus. Brazeau quotes former Senator Hugh Segal who said, “Some folks think the best way to deal with these problems is to throw everybody under the bus… well guess what you’re going to run out of buses and you’re going to run out of people.”
And yes, Brazeau was tossed under the bus and even though he denies having a personal agenda we can all understand if he has an axe to grind. He acknowledges that Canadians don’t have much sympathy for him and the rest of the Senate given the rash of scandals in the past few years. However, Brazeau states that Harper has ignored the rule of law and has acted “like a judge, jury and executioner,” adding, “I trust Canadians have strong views on principles of natural justice, the presumption of innocence and democracy – three concepts Harper ignores.”
Given Harper’s heavy handedness with legislation affecting Aboriginal peoples without consulting us, we can see how Brazeau arrives at this conclusion.
Another telling dig at Harper is the fact that over 40 Conservative MPs are not seeking re-election. It may be as Brazeau claims: “One thing is certain; from what I know, Harper is a control freak. When I was in caucus, very few challenged him. Those who did were shut down, those who had differing opinions were silenced.”
Brazeau even goes further, stating, “When you contradict, shame or make the PM look bad regardless of its significance, watch out because some of his soldiers are coming after you. Is that “PROVEN LEADERSHIP?” No, it’s “PROVEN DICTATORSHIP” and it scares me and it should scare you. I’m afraid of what Harper and his entourage will do to achieve their ends because I have lived it…”
The question we have to ask ourselves is simple. Is this a glimpse into the inner workings of the administration under Prime Minister Stephen Harper or just the chaotic ramblings of a disgruntled and turfed former Conservative? For a change I would give back some of the credibility that Brazeau lost in the past because whatever motivations he does make a case and he has nothing to lose. But you should judge for yourself. The essay in its entirety can be found at: http://looniepolitics.com/time-throw-harper-bus/. It’s worth a read and may help you to decide where to cast your ballot. Knowledge is power.
