Rolling the Dice Again

I'm still shaking my head over what transpired over the last month. Three guys playing politics, scheming to get ahead, and all three showing themselves up as bumbling, irresponsible know-nothings who are playing with our country. They are:

1. Ignatieff who started this mess.
2. Harper who took the stakes up a notch.
3. Kennedy who played into Harper's hands.

I watched the coverage of the House of Commons on CPAC and CBC Newsworld tonight, and the thing that really got me was that none of its supporters has come up with a benefit of recognizing that the "Québécois form a nation within a united Canada." Harper went on about how "it's time for national reconciliation." Others in the House said that the motion will "reconfirm our commitment to Canada and to Quebec" and "allow Quebec to grow and to fluourish... and achieve its full potential." But that is all just rhetorical nonsense.

The effects of this piece of idiocy go beyond Quebec flexing its muscles to get more money out of Ottawa. There is also a toll taken on the rest of Canada to be put through another constitutional crisis, even a phony one like this one. Doing this has long-term repercussions, and they're not good.

So who possibly benefits? Ignatieff made a play to look like an important statesman. Harper made another stab at winning votes in Quebec, and had a little fun messing up the Liberal leadership convention, which starts the day after tomorrow. Kennedy gets a couple of days in the sun at a crucial time before the leadership vote.

But I can't help but think that all three of them acted in their own self-interest and not in the interests of Canada.

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