Stephen Harper and the Crimes of the Punditocracy

After the way Stephen Harper has treated the media over the years. After the way he has humbled and humiliated them.

Or treated them like stooges.

It's hard to believe that some still worship at his feet. 

Or that some like Paul Wells would think that we could learn ANYTHING from that foul leader. 

For not only is it bad enough that Wells doesn't see anything wrong with Harper spending millions of dollars of OUR money to make himself look good.

Canadian prime ministers have had official photographers for decades. The photographers’ cameras these days shoot video. It would be weird if a government passed up the chance to tell its story with moving pictures, an option that is, after all, easily within the technical grasp of most Canadian schoolchildren. 

But let me make a grander claim for Harper’s videos. His political opponents had better be watching every instalment, because if Harper’s Conservatives win in 2015, it will be because he routinely does the sort of thing 24-Seven chronicles.

Preening for his propaganda machine, instead of answering questions from the media.



Not only is it bad enough that Wells would dismiss Harper's disgraceful record so lightly.

There are always two stories to tell about any government. Any government is a parade of cock-ups and lousy judgment calls. Any government is also an army of people working hard to improve the life of Canadians. We’re loaded for bear when it comes to telling you the first story, as reporters should be. 

But in an election campaign, the Conservatives will get to talk about the things they’ve gotten right, or tried to. The tale Harper tells at the next election will have a lot more to do with autism research, safe texting and maternal and child health than with Nigel Wright’s cheque to Mike Duffy.

Or suggest that Canadians will forget his outrageous behaviour and his crimes against democracy so easily. 

It's what Wells doesn't mention that is equally outrageous. For where in that giant puff piece does he mention Harper's crimes against science and the environment? 



And at a time when climate change is the greatest threat humanity faces, does he really think that Canadians shouldn't hold his criminal behaviour against him?

And why does he praise Harper's economic policies so effusively? When they have been clearly demonstrated to have helped only Alberta, and have destroyed good jobs all over the country.

Are we supposed to forget that he flooded the country with foreign workers to drive down wages, and steal our jobs?

And does Wells seriously believe that Harper's foreign policy has been successful?

Instead of a shabby farce...



That has made him look ridiculous, and shamed us in the eyes of the world.

And what about his depraved assault on the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice?



Is that also to be forgotten? Or seen as just another "cock-up" instead of a brutish attempt to undermine our legal system?

Where is the moral dimension in all of this? For its absence beggars belief, and is simply unforgivable.

But then as Kev at Trapped in a Whirlpool points out, it's becoming clearer by the day that the punditocracy in this country is becoming more and more right-wing. 

That it has swallowed the Con Kool aid, or the Gospel of Austerity, and would treat us all as FOOLS. 

Some have gone so far as to label Ontarians as cowards and fools for shying away from making the tough choices the Punditocracy has declared necessary, when in fact it is the Punditocracy that is unable to face up to reality. 

The economic and social philosophies that they hold so dear have been thoroughly repudiated by the evidence before us, yet they cling to these beliefs with ferocity, dismissing those that point this out as idiots and trolls.

Or with the contempt they obviously believe we deserve.

And all I can say is that contempt is now mutual.

For history will record that at a time when our country needed them most, they failed it most miserably.

And when the monstrous maniac goes down.

As he will go down.

He will take them all with him...



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