Our So-Called Prime Minister, Liar in Chief

Well it sure didn't take very long to see how Stephen Harper deliberately kept voters in the dark. Less than 24-hours after winning his no-issue minority romp Harper unveiled Mr. Dion's economic platform, virtually item for item.

Then his aides told the press that they kept him from revealing what little he did have by way of a platform out of fear he would run off at the mouth and cost the party precious seats. There was a smart bet.

Now even the Americans warn that Harper's "no deficit" promise is so much smoke blown straight up the electorate's backside. From Bloomberg.com:

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper framed his re-election campaign around promises to avoid deficits and a costly rescue of the country's banks.

While his Oct. 14 victory left him with more Conservative Party seats in Parliament, the deepening global financial crisis may force him to backpedal on both pledges.

Throughout the 37-day race, he boasted that Canada's financial system was still sound as other countries bailed out their banks and said a rescue wouldn't be necessary.

"The Americans are bailing out their banks and financial institutions,'' Harper, 49, said Oct. 11 at a rally in the Montreal suburb of Longueuil. "We are investing in jobs right here in Canada.''

Harper Reversal

Yesterday, Harper reversed course, indicating taxpayers will probably need to cover the cost of ensuring that Canadian banks stay solid. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, 58, may increase deposit insurance beyond the current C$100,000 ($83,900) per person and guarantee short-term bank debt, the Globe and Mail reported on Oct. 14, citing people it didn't identify by name.

The Bank of Canada may let mutual funds and pension funds take part in its short-term debt purchases aimed at shoring up liquidity in credit markets, the Globe also said.

So, there it is. Harper conned Canadian voters so rapaciously that his lies didn't hold up for even 24-hours after the polls closed. I'm sorry but this guy has as much respect for the Canadian people as Parizeau had for Quebeckers in the last referendum when he described them as lobsters ready for the pot. Harper duped his way to a minority win and he deserves our full contempt for the way he did it.