Harper hands off to MacKay

As a political junkie and an active citizen - I always like to review the term/s of any Prime Minister or Premier.

Usually there are good and bad policies in all governments regardless of stripe. Then again - usually in Canada the mainstream parties Progressive Conservative, Liberal, or New Democrat are just left or right of center. They are not right or left wing zealots attempting to change the very soul of the Country.

Then came Stephen Harper - one half of a deceitful duo - with Peter MacKay. These two politicians were supposed to "unite the right". In truth - it was the Reforms effort to mask itself enough and form government and for Peter MacKay it was a lazy and selfish way to bring his Progressive Conservatives back from near extinction.

For PC's like David Orchard and Joe Clark the merger represented the greatest act of treachery in the party's history.

The right wing extremist Harper and the self-centered MacKay had no problem moving on - each with their own agenda. Harper is not a stupid man and understood immediately that he was smarter than the lazy selfish MacKay. As long as Harper kept MacKay happy - Harper could keep the ideologically fractured caucus in check.

Satisfying Peter meant just that - satisfying Peter. He could have the portfolios he desired, the travel he desired, and the prominence he desired. Little by little Harper changed our Country - right under the nose of MacKay who give in little by little on ideology if it meant progressive improvement for himself.

MacKay did not care if the Country was being stripped of democratic principles, stripped of judicial values, stripped of its Constitution as long as he - Peter MacKay - was upwardly mobile. Mackay became more and more arrogant - more and more aloof - more and more deceitful.

The Harper era was - I believe - based on an agreement. That is to say - he and his political partner - set rules for each other and more importantly time-frames. I have no doubt that the merger of the parties came with an opportunity for both to lead it.

The red-carpet send off for MacKay by the Prime Minister was unprecedented and quite unusual. The political love-in was scripted by both and in my opinion written a decade earlier. All of this was pulled off because an ever weakening media answered the call. Sure MacKay leaving was a story - but that news was not important enough for live coverage of every word.

Shifting away from the extreme right will be the reason to elect MacKay sometime in late 2016 or early 2017 - it will be determined as "necessary" to lure the public back with moderate social policy.

Peter in the meanwhile will be a free agent - but very accessible to an adoring press. He's already begun playing them like a fiddle.

Harper did considerable damage to the "free" press - they became the propaganda delivery team - trained like a circus animal - through continued punish and learn exercises. The odd journalist that delivered news had to do so very carefully or with the blessing of a boss through commentary.

There were media rules and deals that we the public did not see during the election - we seen the result but not backroom agreements.

Have you ever watched a flock of hungry starlings upon the discovery of food? If not - all you had to do was watch our national media question the hours old Cabinet - to envision what the starlings are like.

As many of you know - I - as one citizen - insist on freedom of the press. I am unforgiving as a voter to a leader or MP who demands full control of media. I did not expect or need particulars about what the Ministers were going to do in their new portfolios on day one. I would expect them to tell me their priorities and any urgent and immediate changes within a week or two. The "Hill" reporters were savages on Wednesday - they even giggled  - (watch the video) if there is one. Justin Trudeau said they were important and should be able to ask tough questions - and as if Trudeau was Pavlov - he rang a bell.

For the past five years at least - they were obedient - if they complained it must have been at a virtual kitchen table - we never heard it.

They have become so irrelevant that when Trudeau opened the access and advised them they were important again - they fed like piranha.

Let me be clear dear media - before you increase your dislike of me - you demonstrated it again in spades when you "interviewed" Ms. Ambrose. You were respectful of the rules Harper put in place for you.

Without considerable determination of journalists - the next couple of years will be high-energy focus on keeping Trudeau "accountable" while allowing MacKay and Ambrose to play by Harper media rules. Peter will become the heir apparent and will demand of the media - respect and boundaries that will be set by him.

The media continues to let Harper off the accountability hook and unless this changes - Trudeau's commitment to revitalize the CBC will only mean a license for journalists to investigate and report on Liberals - while letting MacKay and the CPC go unchecked into the next election.

Ready - set - go....