Garth Turner: a fast learner

Garth Turner seemed like an odd fit with the Liberal caucus when he first crossed the floor. But it seems he’s learning.

He’s already mastered the first principle: abandon all consistency (foolish or otherwise).

Garth (21 May 2007):

This process [of enervating committees] started early in the Harper mandate.

…

[E]nraging Mr. Harper was the refusal of some opposition MPs to allow committees to die. Within six weeks one of them rebelled, disqualifying Mr. Harper’s friend, oil baron and EnCana CEO Gwyn Morgan, as head of a new secretariat overseeing government appointments. PMSH spoke of this incident with uncharacteristic open anger in caucus, vowed revenge on committees and announced his vaunted appointment process would be immediately abandoned.

That’s an interesting take on it. Particularly because at the time, I read this:

Garth (16 May 2006):

I would say the PM is using [Morgan's rejection] as a very pubic [sic] example of why he wants a majority government – to get the muscle needed to clean up the bueaucratic [sic] process in a way he thinks is appropriate. It’s political brinksmanship. — Garth

So was the Gwyn Morgan episode an example of Harper’s authoritarian streak and love for oil tycoons? Or was it an example of Harper’s righteous frustration at seeing important accountability reforms frustrated by the opposition’s intransigence?

It can’t be both, Garth — so which is it?