I don't get many opportunities to sing the praises of Michael Ignatieff but I will give him full marks for turning his back on the private investigator behind the Guergis scandal.
It seems that PI Derek Snowdy had second-hand information that a Jaffer business associate said that three companies had been set up in Belize to hold cash for Guergis and Jaffer. Snowdy shopped his story to the Liberals first but was promptly given the brush off.
Snowdy then took his information to Conservative party lawyer Arthur Hamilton who was more receptive and saw to it that it got straight to the prime minister. Harper didn't seem to quibble about 'benefit of the doubt' but accepted what would have been third-hand hearsay that originated from a dodgy source and, acting on that, booted Guergis clean out of the Tory caucus.
For my money, the Liberals did the right thing but Harper, it seems, finds a bit of good, old-fashioned sleaze irresistible. Yeah, he does have an appetite for all things sleazy. The past four years have taught us that.
14 comments:
If you aren't capable of going for the jugular then you shouldn't be in politics. I agree that Ignatieff shouldn't have met with this guy but someone should have. Ignatieff's inability to thrive at the political side of politics is what is killing us.
In the right circumstance, I would agree to an extent, with your first point, Anon. I just don't believe this soap opera warrants it. Whether it be the leader of the party or not. Let's focus on things like selling out our country. The torture cover~up, etc. That's where they should dig in, imo.
Hey Mound.
I'm with Christian, Anon. "Hookers and Blow" are not the stuff to make Mikey look prime ministerial. The media are doing a fine job at pumping up the sordid aspects of this, no need for Ignatieff to jump in after them. It's enough that he keeps pressing Harper over his secrecy.
Unfortunately, though, it's reflective of a greater inability on Igantieff's part to give and take the blows that politics demands. One might argue that his deficiency did him well in this case; one might also argue that it is actually the DUTY of the Official Opposition to dig into these matters to see where they lead. For my two cents I'd say have someone meet with the PI and see where the information leads, don't just turn a blind eye to it.
I'm with Anon on this.
This makes Iggy look like he is okay with this amount of incompetence....
Even after all the ineptitude of Harper, the Liberals under Iggy are not doing very well...
If Iggy was taking the high road why did he just sit on this information. I think this is going to blow up in his face. I mean how can you not mention this information this at least to the Ethics Commissioner when it involves a Minister of the Crown? How can you know of these allegations and do nothing?! Doing nothing was not a sign of leadership.
I still think Iggy was right to stay above the lurid part. After all the media are on this like hounds. Belize, mystery bank accounts - TorStar has a piece about Helena and Rahim vacationing there recently.
Meanwhile Iggy can still beat Harper over the head with his secrecy in the House.
But I agree CWTF that, unless Iggy can turn around the Liberals sad fortunes soon, it's time to start shopping around.
I think the Liberals were absolutely right to let this pile of stinking doo-doo come out on its own.
Anon, trust me when I say I have been disappointed with many of Ignatieff's blunders as leader of the party, however, I simply don't see this as one of them.
Yes, one could argue his "deficiency" did him well in this case. One could also argue he made the correct call in an otherwise meaningless tabloid story that would have no impact on getting rid of stephen harper.
Is it your opinion this would be the issue to pursue?
Perhaps someone could have met with the P.I, though I still fail to see how jumping on this gossip would help when there are so many other (important) issues to attack this government on. If we're reduced to this, we're in bigger trouble than I thought. Let the media do it's thing, it'll suffice.
How can any of us know just what Iggy already knew when this "investigator" came calling?
When I was a reporter (when I began we were still using manual typewriters and carbon paper) I learned to treat volunteer sources with plenty of caution. It's easy to slip up and get manipulated by these characters. Some will feed you just enough verifiable information to be believable and a load of disinformation in the mix to make it all backfire on you.
Those of you who are faulting Iggy on this would demand his head if it went sideways and blew up in his face.
He did the right thing.
You're all assuming Iggy; and he all by his lonesome, decided to snub the PI of sleaze.
From everything I've hear and read thus far is that it was actually the staff like Donolo, Lague and hell, even a receptionist who refused the likes of Snowdy. After all, Part of this staff's job is to protect their leader.
Remember, Iggy,until today, had been constantly after Brother Steve in Question Period over the happily disfunctional couple.
I hope that Iggy will take a cue from his staff and concentrate his energies on going after Brother Steve for really important matters and concerns that have been shelved in favor of this scandal.
The happy disfunctional couple, after all, do serve a purpose for Steve; it keeps the media and the opposition from the big bad more substantial items Steve has been avoiding.
It's up to Iggy to not go into that trap
Point well taken, CK
It would be very foolish for MI to try and dig into this sorded afair regarding Guergis and her husband. I wonder how the Libs would handle something like this if they were in power. It's best to keep some decorum lest this sort of thing should visit the Liberals sometime in the future. This whole Guergis thing is chortle like a bunch of adolescents in snickery mode.
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