The Problem with Peter
October 21, 2006 · By Aaron Unruh
Now that CTV has outed ThePolitic.com as a “Defend MacKay at all costs!” blog, let’s revisit the addendum I added to the post in question long before the CP story appeared:
All wittiness aside: MacKay is an undisciplined idiot and, apparently, is playing fast and loose with the truth.
“The early draft version of Hansard, the official transcript of the House, does not record the McGuinty-MacKay exchange. However, the muffled off-mic words can be made out on an audiotape.”
The government doesn’t need this sort of petty distraction from its program. I’d like to see MacKay demoted in the next shuffle (perhaps to amateur sport) if not removed from the cabinet altogether.
So what’s the important issue here? Not the fact that the CP reporter was dishonest and/or lazy in reporting on this blog (although it has led to an indirect and rather disappointing swipe at this site as a “c-list blog.” Not the fact that Belinda is a disingenuous home-wrecker who has unjustifiably turned this personal spat into a partisan issue.
The important issue is Peter.
The same Peter who threatened to break up the Conservative Party over a delegate selection scheme that would not have benefitted the leadership candidate that was his girlfriend at the time. The same Peter that disingenuously invited a photographer to capture his grief after the break-up with that same girlfriend by taking solace in his “loyal” dog – a dog that wasn’t his. The same Peter that has consistently under-performed as a minister. The same Peter who has, as a minister, contradicted the prime minister. The same Peter who has determined Canada’s foreign policy during interviews with reporters, without reference to or in direct contradiction to the prime minister. The same Peter who has now ignited a firestorm of idiocy from the Liberal Party and the national media over an undisciplined comment to an old girlfriend.
Damian states the obvious:
The media and opposition always have a field day when a Conservative MP says something that can be construed as “insensitive,” so Peter McKay should have thought before opening his mouth.
Yet that didn’t occur to Peter. And what we have as a result is likely another week or two of a petty distraction from the government’s agenda. A CTV ad last night actually asked, “Is the Conservative Party sexist?” Worse still, it is becoming obvious that Peter was untruthful about the incident, denying that he said anything when it is clearly audible on tape. Now he’s waffling by pointing out that he didn’t use the word “dog.” This is the stuff of amateurism.
Peter and Belinda aren’t that different. Both are undisciplined. Both were handed their political careers by their fathers, Elmer for the former and Frank for the latter. The difference is that Belinda is no longer a liability to the party or to the prime minister. Peter has always been and continues to be a liability.
We can handle the loss and subsequent whining of a back-bench buffoon. What we can’t handle is an undisciplined loose cannon in the cabinet. It’s time for Peter to go. And sooner rather than later too.
philosophy, that it doesn’t matter if we get elected as long as we’re right. Then again, Brooks disagrees and says he’s a disciple of Oakeshott too. So, whatever. A good read. Anyway: Brooks’ Law. Reductio ad Falwellum and all that. I like it. (Via thepolitic. I feel bad that they feel bad that I caught them in my “C-List” dragnet. However, I still don’t think “insult to dogs” level jibes are up to their usual standards of commentary. It’s too bad that was the line CP chose to focus on, given all the
Peter needs to be fired or demoted at the next shuffle. He brings nothing to the table, and is now radioactive.
Rona Ambrose needs to be demoted. It is quite clear she is way out of her league. Prentice will need to concentrate on Indian Affairs, and would need to be moved out of Operations.
Harper needs to bring in Ablonczy and Reid into cabinet. Solid, dependable, and discrete. One of these two could take over the Operations Cmte Chair.
This government badly needs a relaunch. Brodie and Buckler will have to be re-assigned as a first step.
I wouldn’t go that far. Buckler seems to have a good relationship with Harper and from what I hear, Brodie has been very effective.
I think that Harper thought that Ambrose would be able to absorb criticisms in the environment portfolio better than she has. I’d prefer to see someone like Ablonczy in that position: She’s a good communicator and she wouldn’t take any shit from the media or opposition. Rona’s kind of a push-over. James Moore should also be brought into the cabinet.
But Peter’s a zero. It’s ridiculous to have him in the cabinet when there’s so much talent on the CPC backbench.
Brodie has been effective?
He is the Chief of Staff – it is his job to foresee problems, and steer the ship away from them. It is obvious that he has failed in this key aspect. Harper is acting as his own Chief which cannot last.
Buckler is despised by the Press. Why do you think the government is getting absolutely no breaks on the press front (except from the Canwest papers)?
I would not bring in Moore yet, because there would be too many from BC, and Rajotte, Kenney etc would also have to be brought in.
Yes, Peter has been a bit of a dipsh*! But this latest kefuffle has been blown all out of proportion. The opposition parties have jumped all over this like it was something important – get over it, it’s not.
As far as cabinet goes, I would love to see James Moore in cabinet. Moore is a hard working young MP and is going to be a Conservative star in the future. The only question is how long before he is allowed to shine.
Personally, I would put him into a junior ministry right away and get him some experience, then move him up the ladder to a more senior position after a term or so.
Ok , let me see if i got this straight. Peter MacKay had the unmitigated gall to allegedly insult an empty chair and the whole freakin world is goin nuts . Must be a slow week.
Its all about me me me me me me me me
Oh please talk about me, put me on the news put me in the papers I represent all women in the world me me me me me me me me me me me
After having a taste of what Peter is like, I am so mad I just could spit
Don’t be angry with Kathy.
Thanks to her
your ‘c-list blog’ got at least one new reader.
I’m not mad at Kathy. In my view, she’s the best blogger out there. Which is why that post stung.
[...] It is nice to see that these former Progressive Conservatives (you know, the caring and loving half of the marriage) are contributing so much. It’s times like this that I wish that Harper, Toews, Day and the rest of the Alliance had gone it alone. As Belinda, MacKay, Turner, and now Chong have demonstrated, the PCs are little bomb-ombs walking amongst us. [...]