Since that came up during yesterday’s hearings, and I wrote about it at the time, I didn’t think to repeated what I said there, but to save you scanning through all that text: There are many, many reasons why a return could be held for review, of which expenses – particularly advertising, or any kind, really – is only one. In other words, just because a campaign return has not yet been finalized, it does not mean that candidate is being “investigated” – for in-and-outing, or anything else.

Finally, a quick list of Conservative MPs whose filings are also still under review, but who were not (as far as we know) amongst the candidates involved in the so-called “regional media buys” that have resulted in the current dispute with Elections Canada: Tony Clement, Jason Kenney, Helena Guergis, Tom Lukiwski and Nina Grewal.

See http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/12416

- JV

Yet no one is talking about the only real news made yesterday. Mayrand backtracks and says other parties candidates also under investigation!

How does the Liberal braintrust of commenters around here feel about Janke’s observations:

http://stevejanke.com/archives/270744.php

Huh? Huh? Love to hear the spin on it.

You can watch the moments yourself:

http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/parlvuen-ca/admanager/asxgen.asx?url=StreamLogger/2008/2008-08/0000D7C9.wmv

Watch from 2 hours 13 mins to 16 mins
and watch around 2 hours and 56 mins.

Comments?

Between Lowry’s on-the-record admission that he was told not to attend and Goldstein + Mommy gong show yesterday, how could the press NOT cover this story?

Stephen Harper latest widely reported theme: Parliament is dysfuntional. We should have an election. Which diverts attention nicely from who is causing the dysfunction and those pesky Ethics hearings. And the Occasional Goldstien screaming match is definitely more titillating the substance of the hearing which looks bad for the CONs…

So many issues to try to get ahead of, so little time. Harper is realizing IN-OUT isn’t going to get any better, more downside than up. He thought the next election was going to be a green-themed. Wrong.

Boy o boy I sure hope that ‘Being a good CONservative MP 101: How the disrupt parliamentary committees” handbook doesn’t surface after Harper tells us all about an unworkable Parliament. OK maybe I do hope it shows up. But at the right time and place. On national media outlets from coast to coast would be good.

Harper side note: Fixed date elections are a good idea, just not for moi. PS We love you NL, no matter when you joined Confederation.

In, and out! In, and out! In, and out!

That he hasn’t been dragged into the fray itself might help to explain why he’s being so wreckless. He just nailed one of the party’s feet to the floor.

As they should be. Their sabotaging efforts have severely backfired given the negative coverage that followed.

Interestingly, he wasn’t on the scene at all this week – in the committee room, that is – which is odd, because he sat through all the preceding meetings. Sometimes he and I were the only ones in the audience, even. But now, when it involves hearing from actual witnesses, and not just listening to government members filibuster, he’s MIA. Like I said – odd.