Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

How democracy in Canada is like Gilbert Arenas

by Aaron Wherry on Thursday, January 7, 2010 11:54am - 47 Comments

A not-disinterested observer—which is to say, for the record, someone who works for a political party that has some interest in this matter—passes along the January 6th issue of the St. Albert Gazette, which includes an interview with Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber, during which he apparently said the following, a gem that should surely be repeated no matter the source of the tip.

“Democracy and Parliament are not being sidestepped — they are only being suspended.”

Tags: Afghanistan, Brent Rathgeber, detainees, house of commons, Parliament, prorogation, Prorogue, torture, transfers

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http://intensedebate.com/people/LynnTO LynnTO

That's even better than Peter Kent calling the first week back in Parliament in September 2009 "silliness".
http://intensedebate.com/people/tedbetts tedbetts

Oh my.
http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

So is the PM David Stern or Javaris Crittenton.
Jan

'Suspending democracy.'? By George, he gets it!
http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

You would think Harper and his brain trust would have given better talking points to their caucus because that answer is pathetic. I think I would prefer democracy and parliament being sidestepped, rather than suspended, but I am not certain.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Oh, don't worry, Joylon, they did. Hence why nobody can use the word prorogue.

Rathgeber will find himself in serious trouble for not reading the Talking Points of the Day, however.
Bailey

I also enjoy the part where says about closing parliament because the questions about detainees "will not create the kind of reputation that I think we want our international visitors to depart with."
http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

"Hence why nobody can use the word prorogue."

I have been wondering about this. Why not use the word prorogue – who the hell knows what it means and it sounds official – but most Canadians know what suspend or sidestep mean.

Canadians politics is a freak show, it really is. No one seems to know how to do it properly anymore – Cons can't read talking points so instead mention they are going to suspend democracy for the time being and Libs/NDP are trying to galvanize electorate with Harper Holidays while their leaders are on hols and Harper is doing interviews from his desk.
Jan

That's because the International Press knows nothing about Canada until they get here – is that the theory the Conservatives are working on?
Okkolo

Our international visitors already have opinions of their own. Here is what The Economist has to say about our little 'break': http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaySt…

and while we're at it, our allies in Germany have a very different view of the mission in Afghanistan: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5058360,00.h…
http://intensedebate.com/people/Ricard_S_Argent Richard_S_Argent

They might want to rethink that one…I'm not sure they were expecting on losing the int'l fiscal conservative/economic liberal press.

http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displayst…

tobyornottoby

FYI Richard … I'm pretty sure he meant TV, not some elitist magazine with long words in it.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ClareQuilty ClareQuilty

Rathgeber isnt the sharpest knife the drawer.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

Does anybody wonder what could be so bad about the detainee issue that even people coming for the Olympics would find it overshadowing?

No wonder they don't want those documents getting into anybody else's hands.
http://intensedebate.com/people/charlesh Charles H.

For those who wish to read the whole article, but don't want to download a 40MB PDF, there's an HTML version here: MP defends prorogation.
http://intensedebate.com/people/craigola craigola

A pretend newspaper for a pretend city.
Dave

I find it cute how St. Albert is alphabetized, though I think I would have preferred the Dewey Decimal system. Or maybe Library of Congress.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

I drove through St. Albert recently. My reaction: "Hey, this place is like an upscale version of Airdrie".

John D

Ha!

http://intensedebate.com/people/craigola craigola

Mmmm, that's nice!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

One half of one Canadian? ;-)
http://intensedebate.com/people/Nich Nich

St. Albert, Ontario produces much better cheese.
Wascally Wabbit

Brent Rathgeber
Remember the name now – because in 15 minutes his glory will flame out.
It may take a few minutes longer for his leader "the Dictator" – but I'm sure the end is nigh…
jay

In effect, a member of this government sees no difference between parliamentary prorogation and martial law.
Kevin

Nail. Head.
http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

and yet he's not in the cabinet…………
http://intensedebate.com/people/doug_rogers doug_rogers

Suspended? Like, with a noose?