Monday, September 08, 2008

Free speech and debate are like kryptonite to Conservatives

The Conservatives likely threatened to pull out of the debates if Elizabeth May were included. Read between the lines as to who the likely offender was:
TV network officials hinted that one or more of the other party leaders would otherwise pull out of the showcase election event, set for Ottawa on Oct. 1 and 2.

"The (network) consortium approached the parties to explore the possibility of including the Green party in all or part of the leaders' debates," spokesman Jason MacDonald said.

"However, three parties opposed its inclusion and it became clear that if the Green party were included, there would be no leaders' debates.

May has her view:
That's a fair assumption.

So let's recap, shall we?

The Governor-General went along with Mr. Harper's arguably illegal election call, as so termed by at least two leading constitutional scholars in the country.

The nation's broadcasters have caved to Mr. Harper's pressure not to include Ms. May, the leader of a party fielding candidates in virtually every riding across the country and whose party enjoys broad support by a spectrum of Canadian voters, including his.

Mr. Harper's vision of democracy is taking daring turns on a daily basis it seems...