I just had to do it.

I’ve been surfing through the comment pages, videos and miscellaney at Andrew Coyne’s website, looking for a cogent explanation as to why everyone is so desirous of a cogent explanation by the Blarnmeister and current father of Canadian Idol host, Ben Mulroney (historians may yet get you for that one, Mr. Former Prime Minister). While patroling for said evidence, I happened to watch the At Issue panel video — featuring Allan “the ad tested well in the focus groups”Gregg, Andrew Coyne, Chantal Hebert, and some other guy who made some silly points so I can’t  remember his name due to a cognitive impairment.

Chantal Hebert had the best quote of the evening:

“I think we’re drilling hard rock here.” The Hard Rock Cafe. Not bad.

Allan Gregg sounded dyspeptic and with the goatee and peculiar striped jacket, like a disgruntled Record Company exec complaining about one of his former recording artists who struck out on his own for cash and can’t sing the tunes like he used to.

Andrew Coyne sounded much more reasonable than he does on his blog, but give it another couple of weeks, a few more Maclean’s issues, and I think he and Chantal Hebert could be duking it out on Pay Per View. (My money’s on Chantal).

But the Oprah Award goes to Kirk Lapointe for this howler:

“Brian Mulroney had an opportunity to show that he had faith in Canadian’s judgment and ask for their forgiveness…”

That one screeched like my old phonograph when playing 78’s. Do these people not read? Allow me to submit, for the defense, Exhibit A — The Secret Mulroney Tapes:

“For a man who had once complained that “even f—— Hitler” got better press than he, Mulroney gave Newman wide latitude for his book. ”

…..

And, Exhibit B, A Needy Man:

People tend to see Mr. Mulroney in absolute terms, as they do Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Chretien: all good, or all bad. Both interpretations are surely wrong. As Prime Minister, his record was mixed, as it is for most. He will be celebrated, and rightly so, for his economic accomplishments, notably the free trade agreement and the GST. (I would include the conquest of inflation in that group, since without the government’s support John Crow could never have persevered as he did.) But he cannot erase the stain left by his government’s many ethical lapses, the patronage, the pork-barrelling, or what is truly unforgiveable, forcing the country through the Meech and Charlottetown ordeals, of which his foul personal attacks on Clyde Wells, caught on Mr. Newman’s tape, are an unpleasant reminder.

Was he unjustly reviled? Yes, indisputably. Could he be justly reviled? Oh yes.

So, there you have it. Mulroney isn’t being reviled for his deal with Schreiber; he’s being reviled for Meech Lake.

I’m just sayin’.