Michelle Rempel's Bizarre Political Marriage of Convenience

Well we all knew Michelle Rempel was desperate, and I mean desperate to become the interim leader of the shattered and shell shocked Cons.

Her late night boozy woozy Twitter monologues have made that only too clear. 

But who knew she was so desperate that she'd enter into a bizarre political marriage of convenience with of all people Denis Lebel?

Many of you have committed to supporting a joint interim leadership bid led by Denis Lebel and myself. This aligns with precedent in 2004 where our caucus selected a joint interim leader.

We would bring depth in talent in political management, vigor in communication, and represent gender and language balance to this role. We will provide you with more information on our managerial, communication skills, and party activist activities.

It's not the idea that's so weird. As Rempel points out that's what they did just before Harper became leader. One Con became the Leader of the Opposition, while the other one became the party leader.

What is truly bizarre is that after going on at length about all the things that need to be done to renew the Cons, she would hook up with an old hoofer like Denis Lebel...



Who is best known in Quebec as being the guy who trotted behind Stephen Harper carrying a big bag of money, to try to buy the love of the province.

The one who kept beating the bigot drum on the niqab issue until the very end of the campaign, long after other Cons had moved on to other subjects.

And of course as the Minister of Transport who beat a hasty retreat from that portfolio very shortly after the Lac Megantic disaster...



So Rempel needs a renewal partner like that one, like a drowning man needs an anvil. Or a burning one needs a gas station.

Or for that matter, like Jason Kenney, who is lusting after the position of permanent leader, needs Rempel reorganizing what he now considers HIS party...



So there will be trouble.

But what I find so striking is that there are now eight Cons pursuing a position that would disqualify them from running for permanent leader, and that all of them are so mediocre.

Which tells me two things:

One, the only thing that can explain this unseemly stampede must be the perks that come with the position. 



The official Opposition leader gets an $80,100 boost to the MP’s $167,400 base salary. The interim leader would also get the car, driver and right to live in Stornoway, the Opposition leader’s official residence in Ottawa’s tony Rockcliffe neighbourhood.

Which raises the interesting question, if Rempel is chosen will she share Stornoway with Lebel?

And will that make her feel secure in her bed as she once did when Big Daddy Harper was still around?



Or even more secure?



Secondly, it also tells me that Harper never prepared them for a future without him...



So the surviving Cons are having trouble dealing with their new freedom, and the new reality.

And thirdly and most importantly it tells me that the party is badly divided along regional, ideological, and other lines.

And that while Stephen Harper held those factions together by pure terror, like Saddam Hussein once did before he was toppled.

Now that he is gone it could all fall apart...



And isn't that a nice thought?

The dictator has been brought down. 

Steve has just two days left to go before he gets the heave.

His Cons are preparing to tear themselves apart.

And after ten nightmare years we can all sleep securely in our own beds, I think...



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