Harpers tenure as PM is already proving to be interesting

[Harper_is_Bush]

He is not a world leader. He's an amateur.

With is very first move he's earned the title of "hypocrite".

Fasten your seatbelts, this will be a short minority government peppered with embarassing moments for poor Stephen! He whined about being "demonized"...but I think everyone suspected all along that he's more idiot than demon.

[Telly Savalas]

1. I'm actually a bit surprised that the nonsense is coming with such speed

and intensity.

If Harper continues along this course, we'll be looking at a fall election at the latest, despite the fact none of the parties are anxious to hit the campaign trail anytime soon.

[ClusterFreak]

2. Did you catch the CBC clip of him and his motorcade today?

A cameraman was filming the motorcade pulling up to a parliament hill entrance. The cars almost rolled to a stop, then decided to speed up and keep going, trying to pull around to a side entrance. You could see Harper sitting in the back seat. The cameraman wondered what was up so decided to follow the motorcade on foot. He got a shot of the cars stopped at the other entrance, but no one got out. A minute or so later, the motorcade pulled up again and Harper finally got out. It was just sooo weird. The guy just didn't want to get out the first time because some press people were there, and thought about sneaking in around the side. Day two on the job. I agree, I see this minority blowing up sooner rather than later.

[Harper_is_Bush]

3. Missed it! I wish we had a Canadian canofun! n/t

[CHIMO]

4. Harper chose a good cabinet, but ...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper may have received a gift horse in the person of David Emerson that he will live to regret.

Part of the balancing act of a minority government is keeping every caucus member on side. With a cabinet post for Emerson, that leaves other long-time Conservative loyalists seething in the back benches.

But that's not the only problem. By elevating someone who has so little loyalty to Conservative values, Harper risks being tarred with the same opportunistic brush that he plied on the Liberals when they accepted Belinda Stronach.

In minority government, it's going to be critical for Harper to avoid personal political damage. In making a politically risky appointment in one case and avoiding it in another, he may just have sown the seeds of next summer's discontent.

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Copps_Sheila/2006/02/07/1429427.html