Thursday, August 13, 2015

One Man Is Responsible

                                                         http://www.cbc.ca/

It's clear from yesterday's testimony that Nigel Wright is a good soldier. He will do his best to ensure that, during the course of Mike Duffy's trial, Stephen Harper will remain -- literally and legally -- hidden away at the North Pole. Michael Harris writes:

Wright will defend both his class and his party. His class is Bay Street, his party is the boys in blue. He will do nothing heroic on behalf of the Canadian people, and he will do nothing to damage the prime minister for whom he once worked as a “wheel dog” — a coinage Stephen King fans will recognize.

That’s why on Day One of what could turn into a marathon stint on the stand, Wright revealed little more than his reflexive generosity as a public servant. The rich and well-connected have a way of turning everything they do into a virtue. Even their philanthropy is strategic. It remains to be seen how Wright’s philanthropy can be Duffy’s criminal act.

And that's the rub. Duffy has been charged with accepting a bribe. Wright calls his $90,000 cheque an act of charity. What is clear is that cheque was meant to buy Duffy's silence. However, when Stephen Harper appointed Mike Duffy to the Senate, he bought his mouth. It was a travelling mouth that journeyed from coast to coast to coast, whipping up support for individual Conservative MP's and the party in general.

But, when Duffy leaked emails to colleagues, it became clear that his silence couldn't be bought. It will be up to Donald Bayne to prove that Duffy is not guilty of criminal wrong doing. Or that someone else is. And, if that someone else is Wright, the trail leads directly back to the prime minister.

Regardless of the outcome, it's clear that the PMO was thoroughly infected by a culture of deceit. And one man is responsible for that.


6 comments:

Mogs Moglio said...

See how Harper's minions control from behind the scenes? If Duff is charged with accepting righteously Wright MUST be charged with offering. Crimes of this nature are not a one-way street. It is as illegal to accept a bribe as it is to offer one. This is where Duff's defense can turn the case on. If they are clever they can bring down the whole house of cards and expose the man behind the curtain and send him packing before the election, a stretch and wishful thinking...

ron wilton said...

With all of the intense media coverage of this trial and obviously large public interest in it, one would conclude that a great number of Canadians would like to see this trial bring down harper once and forever.

Surely harper's people grasp the significance of all of this media and public interest and are in the process of 'encouraging' great unpopular leader to step down.

harper on the other hand is no doubt revelling in the contempt most of us have for him and will do everything left in his arsenal to show us that his contempt for us is the greater.

This crazed madman should become a lesson to us all.

Owen Gray said...

Harper has made it clear to his enablers that their prime directive is to protect him, Ron. It's strange that they continue to follow that directive, even when it has been clear for years that he throws enablers under the bus once they become inconvenient.

Owen Gray said...

It's still a stretch, Mogs. Wright's testimony reveals how dishonest -- but how effective -- Harper's spin machine has been.

the salamander said...

.. Hope the Harper 'Base' don't connect Nigel, PMO thuggies, Joe Oliver, Peter MacKay, Peter Kent or gawd forbid Duffster or Arthur Hamilton et al as the EPITOME of Urban Elite .. Presumably the Judge or Duffy's lawyer will point out that Ray Novak, Harper's live in political nanny is and was quite capable of being the 'cutout' or firewall between #cpcJesus Harper and Nigel Wright & all things Duffy Senate Scandal. Would it not be a scream if Ray Novak does not appear on any emails..? Following Mainstream Media it would appear Ray does not exist, communicate or have a shred of concern. Even Stephen Lecce seems to remain in the email shadows along with Arthur Hamilton, that great evangel 500/hour partisan patriot. Seriously.. just how completely have evangelical christians penetrated our current Government & Parliament ? And how many, like Arthur Hamilton, even Bible quoting Nigel Wright.. believe Stephen Harper 'owns their next breath' ..... ......

Owen Gray said...

An excellent question, salamander. Which, in turn, raises another question. Does Harper have a Messiah complex? And are his minions determined to make sure he doesn't get crucified?