Thursday, June 05, 2014

His Way



Much has been written about Stephen Harper's increasing isolation. Michael Harris writes that isolation was in plain sight when Harper chose Canada's new privacy commissioner:

The man named as Canada’s new privacy commissioner, Daniel Therrien, placed dead last in the competition for the job in the opinion of the selection committee that interviewed all six candidates.
He was considered by the panel to be a work-a-day deputy minister — competent, not brilliant.

Therrien was not even interviewed by the panel at the same time as the five other competitors — all of whom had direct experience as privacy advocates, while Therrien had none. His interview came two weeks after the others, and after the panel agreed that the top candidate was Lisa Campbell, a lawyer and rising star at the Competition Bureau.

On top of that, Therrien had zero experience in the private sector, a shortcoming the panel thought was vitally important. There were reservations about his language skills — was he fully bilingual?

In the end, Tony Clement said, Therrien was chosen because he was someone the prime minister would be “comfortable with.” That's it. Therrien works for Mr. Harper, not the people of Canada. And that's what people like Kevin Page, Linda Keen, Marc Mayrand, Pat Stogran and Munir Sheik forgot. They work for Harper -- not the people of Canada.

Only a man who lives in a bunker could believe that balderdash. It's no secret that Harper has a soft spot for old Beatles tunes. But, these days, he must be walking in and out of the rooms at 24 Sussex singing Paul Anka's signature tune, "My Way."

That's how it's got to be -- his way


16 comments:

Lorne said...

It's always been about what Dear Leader wants, Owen. It would never occur to the megalomaniac that what he wants is not coincident with what Canadian's want or need.

Owen Gray said...

He is the reincarnation of Louis XIV, Lorne.

The Mound of Sound said...

When you choose as your PMO chief of staff some kid found sleeping in the rooms atop the garage at Sussex Drive (yes Ray, that would be you) you're not apt to be fretting over someone whose services you don't value anyway, especially a privacy commissioner. The only privacy Harper values is his own privacy, his ability to operate in the shadows, secretly. Your privacy? He's got CSIS and CSEC to handle that.

Owen Gray said...

And that's the point, Mound. It's about Harper's privacy, not ours.

Dana said...

What are the chances this kid in Moncton might make it all the way to Ottawa.

Owen Gray said...

There are too many dark angels on the loose already, Dana.

Dana said...

Not yet, Owen, not yet.

Do you think the NEB forcing the City of Burnaby to let Kinder Morgan push their pipeline under a mountain will result in sweetness and light?

How about when Northern Gateway starts going thru territory where it is really, really not wanted? Close 3 part harmony?

Lots of dark angels yet to come if something doesn't change pretty quick. The Harperites are pretty sure Canadians are passive, cowed and terrified of confrontation. So far they're right.

But this guy in Moncton isn't.

Anonymous said...

I lived in a country which promoted mediocrity over merit. Needless to say, the bright and intelligent ones who had the opportunity emigrated.

Seems to get ahead these days you only need to be a Cons and be willing to be Harper's running dog. If this goes on a few more years, we will start seeing an efflux of bright young Canadians too, guaranteed.

And also many running dogs, especially around Parliament too. Lol

Owen Gray said...

There have always been organizations which require you to genuflect before entering the Inner Sanctum, Anon.

Owen Gray said...

I suspect that Harper hasn't a clue about the firestorm he is provoking on the West Coast, Dana.

And it's certain that no one in his inner circle is going to tell him about what awaits.

Dana said...

I'm not certain he isn't provoking that firestorm in full knowledge of what it could mean.

Owen Gray said...

He lives to get get even, Dana. That's his mission.

Anonymous said...

I'm not so sure that Anka beats the Beatles:

Day after day,
Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,

...

And nobody seems to like him,
they can tell what he wants to do,
and he never shows his feelings,

....

And he never listens to them,
He knows that they're the fools
They don't like him,

The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down,
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning 'round.

Owen Gray said...

Perhaps you're right, Anon. But something tells me you won't hear Harper sing that one.

It cuts too close.

Anonymous said...

Harper and his Cabinet mull, a massive Chinese resource project in our High Arctic.
Dec 27/2012
www.theglobeandmail.com

The quiet parade of Chinese Military Brass has been visiting Canada
03/26/2014
www.embassynews.ca

Harper knows very well, how much the people on the west coast despise him and Communist China. BC people are livid, Harper is giving thousands of Chinese mine jobs for, Harper's Northern BC mining plans.

Harper knows there will be trouble when? The Canadian citizens realize, Harper has handed our High Arctic to China. NATO wanted to have troops, protected the High North from Russia. Harper point blank refused. He will have China's Red Army up there.

Petro-China also put in a bid to *help* build the Enbridge pipeline, no doubt with their own cheap labor. I would think Harper will want China's army to protect those, who will be working on the Enbridge too.

Harper rips into Russia, for annexing the Crimea. However, Harper says not one word about Communist China, doing the same damned thing. Communist China is provoking and menacing other countries and that is just fine with Harper.

Owen Gray said...

When Harper looks at the world, Anon, he sees what we wants to see, not what is actually there.