March 31, 2006 - TDH sources have just provided us with audio recordings obtained secretly from within 24 Sussex Drive on Wednesday evening. Here are the transcripts, word for word:

Stephen Harper (SH):"Honey, did you wash my vest?

Laureen Harper (LH):"Which vest?

(SH): "You know, the camouflage one that I wore to Kandahar."

(LH): "Oh, it's in the hamper...you wore it the other night when you played war and pretended that reporters were storming the house. You were quite sweaty."

(SH): "Gosh darnit, you know I'm going to Mexico tomorrow. I still have to remain unseen by the press, plus Bush likes the army fatigues. Can you put in a wash for me?"

(LH): "I don't have time, dear, and neither do you. I'm teaching the new chef what meals you like so he doesn't get fired too, and before you finish packing, you have to give the kids a handshake and tuck them into bed."

(SH): "Fine. I'm going to have to get the other one. How about my khaki pants?"

(LH): "Honey, you know that you don't fit into those. I haven't had a chance to go shopping yet, so you're just going to have to grab the brown pants...they're the only ones you can put on anymore."

(SH): "Are you sure it will go? I don't want to look silly."

(LH): "Well, that didn't stop you last summer in Calgary."

(SH): "You just had to bring it up, didn't you."

So when reporters write articles like this or this, they should have a little sympathy for a man who ended up looking like this:

in Mexico yesterday.

March 30, 2006 - A little due dilligence is going to be needed before going into specifics with the following information.

However, let's say a current federal minister's former parliamentary aide, who has just left government to become a lobbyist, not only owns property with that minister, but also curently lives with him as a roomate.

Would Stephen Harper then continue to say that only ministerial aides are eligible to be considered in conflict of interest?

March 30, 2006 - It is very hard to argue with this decision by the Conservatives, particularly with the reasons that were provided for doing so:

"We cannot send any direct aid to an organization that refuses to renounce terrorist activity, refuses to renounce violence."

to a government that "has not addressed the concerns raised by Canada and others concerning non-violence, the recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the road map for peace."

This is a refreshing sign of strength and pace-setting by the Canadian government, as evidenced by the United States following suit with a similar announcement just hours later. Supporting the plight of the Palestinian people is completely different issue from relinquishing formal ties to a government (democratically elected or not) that advocates for terrorism and the denial of Jews' right to exist, let alone to have a homeland; they are not mutually exclusive.

This kind of of action is indicative a larger picture emerging on the Canadian political landscape; decisiveness is something that will win a government support. Period. Check out the latest national poll which shows that the Tories have risen three percentage points, in spite of the Emerson/Fortier controversy, the all-out war that has been waged with the media, ethical breaches in the revolving door between the private and public sector, and the cancellation of billions in past Liberal funding promises.

And yet, we hear Liberal leadership candidates and the party faithful continue to profess that Stephen Harper is in trouble, and that it is a matter of time before his government will be defeated.

That is exactly the kind of attitude that is going to ensure a 5-6 year Tory reign, at the very minimum. Liberals have to wake up from this current political stupour.

People have hungered for an agenda for many years, and the absence of anything defined over the past 2 have given Harper a perfect platform to appear as a confident, visionary leader.

Unless this leadership contest turns into something a little more substantial than personality showdowns, vague policy platitudes, and party hackery, we are going to be in big trouble for some time to come.

March 29, 2006 - This kind of hair splitting is sickening:

"OTTAWA - Two Conservative staffers have already left jobs working for cabinet ministers to lobby the federal government, despite Prime Minister Stephen Harper's pledge to bar former ministerial staffers from lobbying for five years.

The two, Kevin Macintosh and David Salvatore, left their government jobs this month and started signing up private clients, but the Tories say they broke no rules because they worked as parliamentary aides, rather than ministerial aides, for cabinet members Rob Nicholson and Monte Solberg."

This is particularly troubling because of what Stephen Harper said during the election campaign:

"If there are Hill staffers who dream of making it rich trying to lobby a future Conservative government, if that's true of any of you, you had better make different plans, or leave."

Next we're going to hear that when Harper told staffers to leave, he didn't specify when.

Even us Liberals had high hopes for Harper's "Accountability Act" to really do some good for governance as a whole, regardless of party affiliation.

But after only 2 short months, Stephen Harper has demonstrated his deft ability to ride his high horse with hypocritical perfection.

Then again, it's hard to walk around when you don't have a leg to stand on.

March 29, 2006 - Politics, at it's finest, is like poetry:

"As the oil and gas are in the ground,

the wind is in the air.

The sun is in the air.

They're there.

Use it!

We use the stuff in the ground,

Why don't we use the stuff in the air?

It's there."

Profound, but the tapestry of words has just begun. Click the link, rise above political spun...er spin.

OK - so we're no Ken Dryden.

March 29, 2006 - While his boss was making Canadians laugh in an EXCLUSIVE interview (if CTV says that one more time...) containing non-sensical, pot calling the kettle black comments like this:

"What I'm concerned about is that protectionist tendency and isolationist tendency that could emerge in both our countries, as well as in Mexico, which would make it harder for us to realize the benefits of collaboration together, make it harder for us to kind of grow together,"

White House Press Secretary Scott Mclellan reemphasized Canada's top-of-mind importance for our largest trading partner:

"The President had a good discussion with Prime Minister Martin yesterday. That was the call that Prime Minister Martin had initiated really to thank the president on behalf of the people of Canada for the efforts of our coalition forces."

This will be the President's first meeting with Prime Minister Harper since he took office. He had met with him briefly previously when he was the Opposition leader.

The President looks forward to visiting with Prime Minister Martin and strengthening our relations."

March 27, 2006 - If the party of former Ukranian Viktor Yanukovych (who was driven from office by the Orange Revolution after a fraudulent election victory and indirect involvement with the poisoning his opponent) can recover after only 15 months in the political wilderness, then there may yet be hope for the Liberal party in this country after all.

Apparently, the team which emerged from the Orange Revolution split into competing factions following a power struggle. Sounds familiar, particular with the likes of Peter McKay and his gloomy band of dissidents demonstrating increasing disdain for Stephen Harper's leadership style. McKay is especially pissed off at the moment after Harper's office stepped in to block his choice for chief of staff.

This is only the beginning.

March 24, 2006 - Forget for one moment the obsession with the rebirth going on in the Liberal party. How about the fortunes of the NDP?

Reading this opinion piece in the Toronto Star brings forth a question that TDH Strategies has been contemplating since election night: Was it worth it?

Remember, it was Jack Layton that enthusiastically joined in with the BQ and the Conservatives to topple Paul Martin's government. Sure, the NDP gained 10 seats - but at what cost? They have become an irrelevent presence in Parliament because of the fact that the Conservatives will rely heavily on Gilles Duceppe to bring them the necessary votes to pass legislation.

Don't forget the fact that Layton used every ounce of political capital he had by asking Canadians to "lend us your vote." So, come next election, many people are likely to go back to the Liberals, who will be the only viable alternative to the Conservatives. Mark these words - the NDP will lose seats in the next election.

This is a case where misguided political leadership has doomed the future prospects of a very important component of the Canadian political landscape. And as a result, the NDP will be shopping for a new leader in about 2 years.

Pat Martin, get ready to step forward.

March 24, 2006 - Maybe Ralph Klein now has some sympathy for what Jean Chretien had to go through in his final stretch in office. Incidents like this are bound to continue over the next 17 months.

March 24, 2006 - Last night at the King Edward Accord, Michael Ignatieff spoke about the Liberal party and his chances in the upcoming Liberal leadership race:

"Can we herd these cats? Yes, the question does occur." When asked if he can, he smiled and said: "Oh sure. These are great cats. These are the best cats there are."

Reactions to the former Harvard academic were mixed, with some Liberals spontaneously coughing up hairballs every time Ignatieff approached with hand outstretched, while others anxiously rubbed up against his leg to mark their territory.

March 23, 2006 - From the same online forum that signs up members who post things like this:

"Imagine if we got rid of our IUD's, Oral Contraceptives, condoms, Norplant, Depo Provera, etc, etc, etc,.....the savings that would be made financially and in suffering as women experience reduced breast cancer , cervical cancer, blood clots, etc....related to contraceptive use.

With the possibility of procreation, men and women would be encouraged to be less selfish and more responsible with their sexuality. Reduced promiscuity would lead to less disease and tools could be given to young men and women to teach them to be more responsible parents.

Canada would have more marriages and greater commitment. We would have more babies born in wedlock. This would lead to more new life and vitality in our great country. The Conservative Party of Canada could make a prophetic statement in the promotion of openness to life, marriage and fidelity. The CPC should not be afraid of calling babies a gift from God. Maybe Canadians would stop and reconsider the selfish and hedonistic values which are bringing childlessness, abortion, homosexuality and death. I say the CPC should say no to contraception and yes to life!"

comes newfound support for the Liberal leadership race:

"Would you join the Liberal Party?

I'm considering it in order to vote in the leadership contest. I have never ever voted Liberal for anything in my life. However, I figure for $10 I could pick the next Opposition Leader. I already picked the current Prime Minister (twice, Alliance & Conservative).

This is my thinking. (Add your comments.) The last 3 election campaigns have got more and more anti-Christian. The tone of language and the rhetoric is going way over the top. It is on the verge of disenfranchising me and all social conservatives. This leadership campaign could purge so-cons out of the LPC. Ultimately, I think that is bad for democracy and public discourse and debate. (That's why I was disappointed that Frank McKenna dropped out of the race.)

If Paul Zed or Dan McTeague ran, could they keep the Liberals from going over the edge? Could they keep some social conservatives policies in the LPC?"

Word is that Mr. McTeague has already offered the poster known only as "PlaidShirt" the position of campaign manager for his upcoming and very serious leadership bid.

Another leadership frontrunner Hedy Fry is said to be extremely concerned about McTeague's acquisition of such high level talent.

March 22, 2006 - From the King Edward Accord:

"We pledge to Canadians that we will do our best to reach out to all Canadians in every region of our country, to be inclusive, to be respectful, to treat others the way we wish to be treated ourselves.

Let's remember no one should be left behind...It's time to renew our party, to rebuild our party. The Liberal way...where everybody wins."

New approach - from this point forward, we're going to try and do our part.

March 22, 2006 - Thanks to a regular reader for passing on this article about Gerard Kennedy from the most often blatantly right wing Toronto Sun.

The man sounds like an earnest visionary - and one that could appeal to those Liberals who are ready to truly listen to what he has to say:

"...reforms are quite essential for the progressive, practical outlook that I believe in."

"These renewals don't happen on anybody's timetable, they happen as a result of a larger circumstance."

"I guess that's why these are probably once-in-a-generation chances, particularly this particular circumstance where there is a period of confusion about direction (of the party)."

"I would be taking the Liberal party back to being Liberal. I think it has been Liberal in recent times, but it hasn't necessarily found a competent expression of that."

Where are we going, what do we represent, a chance to make a real shift for a generation - those are the kinds of statements that haven't been spoken by any of the other candidates so far. Plus, for the first time in a long time, we have a guy that is ready to take on the private health care abuses that are happening under the calculated watch of Ralph Klein, who at the moment has carte blanche to do whatever he wants.

These are the values that seem to be attracting many progressives into the Kennedy fold.

March 22, 2006 - Martin Cauchon was a brave Minister of Justice who would have been a great addition to this race. His commitment to his family, and a political assessment of the already crowded field, however, has made him decide not to throw his hat in the ring.

Cauchon is young, and will be back in the future - that is a given. Because with the exception of the one candidate that this website has openly shown any interest in, this race is full of individuals who upon winning, would likely have to continue to use the word "interim" as Liberal leader, based solely on their likelihoods of electoral success.

March 21, 2006 - This call to bloggers is a brilliant move by the organizers of the Sheila Copps inspired King Edward Accord.

Quite a sign of the times, and an affirmation of the positive state of political debate in this country.

March 21, 2006 - This column by Jim Travers is completely on point, and should have been read by every national executive member before they imposed their shortsightedness on a wayward party without an anchor or a defined future course.

The longer Liberals try and convince themselves that Stephen Harper isn't doing well, or that he is a short-lived phenomenon that will evapourate within two years, the longer this party will remain in the barren wasteland that is the opposition benches.

It is the Liberal membership that should have had the ability to choose distinct policy directions and truly figure out where things went wrong IN ADVANCE of this hasty leadership race.

It was always so easy to adopt ideas from the left and steal a policy or ten from the right to inhabit an ideological middle that was too expansive for anyone to compete against. Unfortunately, that luxury is now gone, as the Reform split that crippled the right has now been eliminated. The centre is no longer solely Liberal territory.

And so faced with the aftermath of the worst federal campaign this country has ever seen, and a leader whose dithering took away any and all definition from a political dynasty, the Liberal braintrust fell back on the path that has become the most familiar to this party - self-indulgent leadership politics.

Every Liberal should get involved to give the party a full accounting of the diversity of voices, opinions, ideas and preferences that are housed within the Liberal tent. That being said, with the way things have been set up, the extent of internal debate and inflection in the coming months will be constrained by deep discussions on whether people want to pay for their party membership by cash, cheque or credit card.

March 21, 2006 - As leadership teams begin to organize around different candidates, it is fascinating to see former or even current arch-enemies within the party be forced to work together.

Already, internal discussions are warranting surprised or concerned reactions from people not particularly excited about working under the same umbrella as certain individuals (TDH Strategies falls into this category from both points of view).

How the top guns within each leadership camp manage these potential conflicts will go a long way in how each respective candidate is perceived by others who haven't made their minds up. This early stage of selection for key positions will establish a brand in the minds of many with political wounds that haven't yet healed.

On the other hand, the supporter who continues to carry grudges at the expense of the candidate they are supporting is a selfish presence that's of no benefit to anyone.

With the cult of Paul Martin dead and buried, the true characters of people are going to come through loud and clear. It's going to be interesting to see if we can all just get along.

March 20, 2006 - One of the most encouraging developments in the parameters set for the Liberal leadership contest was the fact that only 53 Young Liberal clubs passed the test of legitimacy laid down by the Young Liberals of Canada national executive last week.

This means that literally dozens upon dozens of campus clubs across the country have essentially been eliminated from sending delegates to the convention. This includes up to 15 here in British Columbia which didn't stand up to the new scrutiny.

Have any doubt about how TDH's coverage from the UBC Young Liberal scandal inspired this development? Then take a listen to the Liberal press conference yesterday, where Macleans columnist Paul Wells asked party president Mike Eizenga about Young Liberal "paper clubs," which he called "sham organizations" (at 7:38 in the video).

March 20, 2006 - What's the slogan going to be for Ashley MacIsaac's leadership campaign? Perhaps "Canada's Golden Boy"??? Or maybe "Don't piss me off!"???

March 20, 2006 - Gerard Kennedy Should Think Long and Hard Before Jumping In.

As most of our readers are already aware, the Liberal leadership convention has been announced for the first weekend of December in Montreal.

There shouldn't have been an urgency. An election is most likely 2 years away, the Liberal party with Bill Graham as interim leader is holding up respectably in the polls, and time is a crucial factor in attracting new and fresh blood into a race that already seems tired and pedantic.

And yet, the Liberal national executive in all their wisdom felt that they needed to pull a rush act because according to Mike Eizenga, the Liberals' national president:

"Stephen Harper got off to a very, very bad start...it's one of the worst beginnings that any government has ever had."

"We feel we need to be ready to go as soon as possible."

So amidst the premature predictions of Harper's downfall, the Liberal party is prepared to cut many potential exciting candidates out of the process because of a very short window to sign up new members. With the convention falling in December, the delegate meetings will be held the weekend of September 29th. This means the membership cut-off will be July 1st.

Out of all the candidates that are rumoured to be running, Mr. Kennedy is the one that would be giving up the most to throw his hat in the ring. A wildly successful minister in Dalton McGuinty's government, Kennedy is a prominent figure in Ontario whose profile will only grow in the Liberals' second term. Running for the federal Liberals brass ring would mean that he would have to give up everything he has built.

It is for this reason that we are not actively encouraging the candidacy of Gerard Kennedy. His decision is of the most personal in nature, and out of respect, should be left solely to Kennedy's family to help him make up his mind.

That's not to say we don't find Kennedy appealing - in fact, TDH Strategies is far and away the most intrigued by the possibility of Kennedy entering the race. He is young, dynamic, progressive, and distanced from all the baggage that the current crop of elected Liberals carry with them.

Like it or not, the federal Liberals have announced to the country that they are only interested in candidates that already have some kind of a foothold in the party. They could have given time and levelled the playing field by setting a date for next spring - a year long contest where ideas, debate, and new faces could have incrementally spurred interest.

But alas, so convinced that the Liberal party is headed back to government regardless of the leader, the national executive showed how truly shortsighted their logic is.

Gerard, you're going to be a star no matter where you end up. But at this point, time is on your side, and your future is bright. Give this a lot of thought before you make a final decision.

This website will back you regardless of whatever it might be.

March 20, 2006 - Like other receptions already held at the houses of prominent Liberals here in British Columbia (Scott Brison, Stephane Dion, John Godfrey), and one announced to take place next weekend for Belinda Stronach, now Michael Ignatieff is getting into the act. The best marksman in the race will be a guest in the home of Kilby Gibson, wife of former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Liberal MLA Gordon Gibson, on Saturday, April 1 from 6 - 8 pm.

March 19, 2006 - Here are the basic rules for the Liberal leadership convention. We will offer comments in tomorrow's commentary.

March 18, 2006 - TDH Strategies will be appearing on the Public Eye Radio program with Sean Holman tonight at 7:30pm. Feel free to listen if you don't have anything better to do on a Saturday night.

March 17, 2006 - Setting The Rules Should Be Simple

With regards to the Liberal leadership rules that will be laid down tomorrow, TDH Strategies doesn't think that it is rocket science confronting national executive members. Without the burden of fixing the race for any one particular candidate (unlike last time around), the rules should reflect the simplicty of a wide open competition that anyone has the possibility of winning.

As such, the following suggestions are brief, easy to understand, and grounded in common sense:

° Everyone is eyeing the locations of Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal or Vancouver as locations for the actual convention. Instead, we should look to a new city of consideration, one that is in the middle of the country. Our vote is for Winnipeg (something fresh, something convenient for everyone).

° The membership rules should be standardized across the country. It is ridiculous that someone in British Columbia can pay $20 per membership and be limited to only 10 at a time, when in Ontario you can receive 25 and pay different amounts depending on which riding you are purchasing for. Provincial executives should be overruled in this particular situation. Our suggestion is that membership forms cost $10, and everyone should have access to 25 forms to sign up new members.

° Financing and disclosure rules are already set out by Elections Canada, so all parties are now governed by the same parameters. That being said, the party should keep the fee for admission at $50,000, and set spending limits at $3 million per candidate (with a such a large field of contenders, money is going to be hard to come by anyways, unless your name is Belinda Stronach).

° Set a a limit for youth delegates from each province. The party has no will nor mechanism to really determine which campus clubs are active, and which aren't. Therefore, paper clubs should not be able to dominate delegate numbers. It is reasonable that each province has a different limit based on student populations, but that might prove to be too complicated.

C'est tout! We're sure that we will receive emails stating that we have oversimplified the process. Well, that's the way it should be.

As soon as TDH Strategies finds out the decisions made on Saturday's conference call, we will post them on the site. So, keep tuned over the weekend.

March 17, 2006 - This mind control that Stephen Harper is demanding from his ministers is an utter embarassment.

All the way through the election campaign, Harper told everyone who would listen how proud he was of the men and women that made up the "Conservative team." In fact, here is one of the first quotes from his election night victory speech:

"There are no individual victories in politics. Politics is a team sport."

And yet, none of the fine individuals he chose for cabinet are allowed to open their mouths when it comes to government policy, without first consulting with the unelected, unaacountable, hidden bureaucrats of the PMO. Instead of asking Monte Solberg how he hopes to reform the immigration system, or speaking with defence minister Gordon O'Connor as to how long Canada is planning to be in Afghanistan, reporters might as well talk directly to the Clerk of the Privy Council Kevin Lynch, and his senior official in charge of government communications, assistant cabinet secretary Dale Eisler, who sent out the marching orders to all government employees.

Never again will Mr. Harper be able to trumpet the virtues of his cabinet colleagues, because in essence, none of them have the ability to speak freely and display their own talents and abilities.

Apparently, their boss has absolutely no faith in any of them.

March 17, 2006 - Chantal Hébert hits it right on the head in her column this morning. If the Liberal party is trying recreate the brand, maybe it is time for a generational change.

Yet another reason why Gerard Kennedy is such an ideal candidate for this leadership contest.

March 16, 2006 - In our opinion, Kevin Chalmers has become little more than a pest.

So TDH Strategies was contacted by a well-known and respected journalist yesterday looking for Mr. Chalmers contact info. Not having a cel phone number easily accessible at that moment, we passed along another number and an email, to which the reporter replied:

"I suspect he'll respond to my email as he strikes me as rather drawn to the media... :)"

Chalmers' act is getting old to everyone, who see the real motivation behind his actions: unadulterated self-promotion. This is particularly reinforced by the fact that Chalmers is not even a resident of David Emerson's riding.

With Chalmers leading the charge against Emerson, it almost makes you feel sorry for the turncoat minister.

Alright...not quite.

March 16, 2006 - Liberals Should Not Be In A Rush

It is baffling to comprehend the sense of urgency that so many Liberals seem to feel with regards to choosing a leader.

The Liberal party has a natural constituency in this country that no amount of Paul Martin blunders, sponsorship scandal slimeballs, or Belinda Stronach utterances will ever be able to tarnish. Take a look at the latest Decima poll, which clearly indicates that a leaderless Liberal party at least 2 years away from another election is in no real danger of falling off the radar (particularly in Ontario).

Let's be honest - the list of rumoured candidates that are prepared to lead the Liberal party is to be kind, lacklustre. The national executive needs to give more candidates a reason to consider taking a shot, and timing is going to be crucial. If a November date is set, the cutoff for membership signups will be in mid to late June, not nearly enough time to give an equal playing field to new faces.

Tomorrow we will advise on the rules that should guide this leadership campaign.

March 16, 2006 - Gerard Kennedy, like just about every other rumoured candidate in the Liberal leadership name game, is holding off on making a decision until Saturday, when the Liberal national executive will set the rules and a date for the campaign and convention.

In our view, Kennedy is the only individual that has any excitement, intrigue, or hope for the future associated with his potential candidacy. Everyone else is an outsider and/or doesn't have anything close to the intangible quality necessary to lead a nation.

Here's hoping that we have something to be inspired about in this upcoming race.

March 15, 2006 - A bunch of things to cover this morning:

° It is so very interesting to see this guy appointed as the new GTA minister for Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty. The first and last time we met with Joe Cordiano in 1999, he proceeded to give a 10 minute rant on why Mr. McGuinty was an uninspiring leader who was never going to become premier. He then went on to say that his staff were expected to voluntarily help out his cousin and former MP Tony Ianno, who at the time was heavily involved in organizing for Paul Martin's leadership campaign. Not surprisingly, the job that was offered was quickly turned down.

° Delving into Peter McKay territory, Stephen Harper first told Canadian reporters in Islamabad that there won't be a vote in the House of Commons on the extension of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan ("We're not going to have votes on commitments already made"), before hours later stating in Kabul that opposition parties would have the chance to vote and potentially block the mission extension ("These things obviously will be put to votes in the future. That's a commitment we've made"). It's comforting to know that Canada's foreign policy is in the hands of such decisive international policy experts like McKay and Harper.

° Congratulations to our long-time friend Marko Dekovic for his new position with Minister David Emerson. Better get your shovel ready buddy.

° This story is troubling on so many different levels - a) the military had no idea about the auctions until it was brought to their attention by CBC news b) it is too similar to the incident where over 1,000 security uniforms and badges disappeared from airports across the country in 2004 c) we have absolutely no idea who bought them or why - and the government had better act quickly to change policy and protocol

° This support for Stephane Dion's leadership bid, if true, is a major surprise, and quite refreshing. It is nice to know that not all of the Martin heavyweight players are so easily bought off by the blonde auto parts magnate or coaxed by a former Progressive Conservative leadership candidate who is apparently an expert on income trusts.

° Just penned this article for The Tyee

That's all for now...will check back in later today.

March 14, 2006 - UPDATE: The law firm in Toronto that has hired Erik Bornman as an articling student is McCarthy Tetrault.

March 14, 2006 - A fascinating column by Zerb this morning.

The "God Bless Canada" thing still makes TDH Strategies very uncomfortable, and spouting the Bush lines of reasoning when it comes to the role that Canada playing in Afghanistan is disconcerting for the future.

On the other hand, and from a staunch Liberal point of view, there is something so much more sincere when Stephen Harper speaks about our armed forces than when Paul Martin did.

Was the trip an exercise in brilliant public relations? Absolutely, as evidenced by the numbers Zerb relays from the CTV viewers poll.

But just because it was a popular move with the Canadian public, however, does not inherently make the appearance manipulative or based solely in the art of politicking. For a man that is often described as the coldest fish in the pond, Harper espoused some genuine warmth when kibitzing with the troops yesterday.

Blind partisans are often useless to have a political debate with, particularly when it comes to a topic as important as the deployment of our troops to one of the most dangerous regions on Earth. If Harper gains political points out of this trip, then so be it. But the decision to make the troops his first international excursion is something that should be supported wholeheartedly.

The debate on happens next with our involvement in Afghanistan? Well that's a whole new can of worms altogether.

March 14, 2006 - Erik Bornman Surfaces

So what happens when you are implicated in one of biggest political scandals in British Columbia history? Well, you become a lawyer in Toronto of course.

The word from Toronto political circles is that Mr. Bornman is now an articling student (still trying to track down the specific firm), and is popping his head back into Ontario Liberal politics. Well, just so people are aware of what they are dealing with, here is some of the history witnessed by TDH Strategies over the years.

Our first introduction to Bornman was the Liberal Biennial Convention of 1996, when not 2 months after a Young Liberal delegation of over 100 arrived back in Vancouver, unpaid bills to the tune of $30,000 started being received from the airline and hotel. Only one man was eventually charged with fraud, and in spite of his cheque signing authority over the Young Liberals' finances, Bornman never faced any repercussions.

Mr. Bornman used the Young Liberals between the 1997-1999 as his personal launching pad, helping to take over the provincial executive with youth delegates who never paid a dime for fees, accomodations or beer. Where the money came from was never fully revealed to anyone involved.

Bornman began to ply the same tactics within BC Liberal politics when Gordon Campbell's party was still in opposition. In one infamous incident, he traversed the wall in the Liberal Party of Canada office to break into the room containing all membership information so that it could be used in his BC Liberal recruiting efforts. This is how he earned the nickname Spiderman.

There is so much more that can be discussed, but obviously, some law firm out east deemed Bornman and all his connections to the Paul Martin regime (remember them?) as valuable.

We will name the firm that made this hiring decision by the end of the week.

March 13, 2006 - With David Emerson getting beat down like he did on Friday, and now his constituency office getting vandalized with manure overnight, Stephen Harper would be smart to roll out a new strategy when it comes to British Columbia.

Recent Prime Ministers have always had their favourite city mayors - Paul Martin seemed to find a friendly face for announcements with Toronto's David Miller, and Jean Chretien relied on former Winnipegger Glen Murry to provide a helping hand in his final couple of years in office.

With the star of Sam Sullivan quickly rising to international heights, Harper would be wise to form a strong partnership with the new Vancouver Mayor. The linkages between Harper's B.C. organizers and Sullivan's are plentiful (e.g. Colin Metcalfe, who is on the hottest political streak in Western Canada, having successively and successfully managed the Know Wards campaign, the Sam Sullivan mayoral campaign, as well as the B.C. communications of the most recent federal Conservative campaign), the political ideologies are very complementary, and Harper still needs to make inroads into the City of Vancouver.

Harper has yet to properly address the cities agenda, having been too preoccupied with the black hole known as the fiscal imbalance with Jean Charest et. al. So, assuming that they can come to some kind of working arrangement with the safe injection sites and progressive drug pilot programs taking place out here on the West Coast, Sullivan could turn out to be a huge asset if Harper plays his cards right.

March 13, 2006 - And in a Johnny Cochrane inspired moment, high-profile Quebec lawyer Claude Archambault declared:

"Find my client's spit, the car cannot be split."

March 13, 2006 - Is former Ontario premier Bob Rae set to announce his candidacy for the Liberal leadership in Winnipeg today? Has anyone else heard this?

UPDATE: Dan from The Dan Report provides the details for Rae's speech. First convince people that you really are a Liberal, then take a stab at the leadership.

March 11, 2006 - From the reports that TDH Strategies received last night, David Emerson was extremely uncomfortable at yesterday's ceremony kicking off construction of Vancouver's Olympic village. And, from this website, he will receive no sympathy, as he must now lie in the political bed that he made for himself.

That being said, in the opinion of TDH Strategies, the man leading the "De-elect Emerson campaign," Kevin Chalmers, is becoming an embarrassment. Sneaking into an Olympic-related event attended by international media so that you can make cheap political points is a disgrace. Chalmers seems more interested in the publicity he is receiving than the cause he is trying to advance.

Having met Chalmers last weekend at the Liberal president's council meeting, one could sense his smug sense of satifaction by glad-handing with all the elected officials and passing out his business cards. With his chest inflated with self-importance, Chalmers listened to little of the proceedings, instead preferring to makes his presence known by everyone in the room - whether they cared or not.

Kevin Chalmers is becoming the 2006 version of Tony Kuo - parading for the cameras, and forgetting the real reason that he launched his campaign.

this bumbling, Inspector Clousseau clone should be fired. Immediately.

According to the logic of Ethics Commisioner Bernard Shapiro, a "preliminary inquiry" is necessary to "determine whether Mr. Harper has complied with his obligations under the Conflict of Interest Code for members of the House of Commons." Shapiro will investigate whether a benefit was offered that would constitute a breach of the members' code.

And yet when Belinda Stronach was enticed over to Paul Martin's cabinet from the Tories ONE DAY BEFORE a crucial confidence vote on a budget amendment, Shapiro never said a word.

If Canadians want to be able to properly judge future ethical conundrums that the Conservative government runs into, this incompetent buffoon must be relieved of his duties. Otherwise, Stephen Harper will always have a ready-made exit strategy due to a commisioner that doesn't have a credible leg to stand on.

And to those thinking that TDH is jumping on the bandwagon, check out our June 21, 2005 post on Shapiro before jumping to any premature conclusions.

March 2, 2006 - Many things to address this morning, so here goes a stream of consciousness:

° Had circumstances been different in terms of the composition of competitors for the Liberal leadership, TDH Strategies would have advided Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy to look no further than the 2007 provincial election for his immediate future. But alas, with names like Stronach, Brison and Rae (all non-Liberals), Ignatieff (a man lacking tenure in the party and the country) and Cauchon and Godfrey (both good men, but both without the necessary qualities to lead the Liberal party out of the forest) in the mix, there is a huge void that Kennedy could fulfill.

TDH worked with Kennedy peripherally in 1999, and was always impressed by his knowledge, his youth, his charisma, and his especially his perspectives. Kennedy would be able to pick up many Liberals who are currently without a natural candidate representing the progressive end of Liberal policy.

That being said, Kennedy would be the only contender who would have to relinquish his job to even enter the race. That is a decision that cannot be taken lightly, particularly for a provincial star cabinet minister destined for bigger things over the next mandate.

° There have been two distinct viewpoints that have been espoused by this website recently regarding Canada's health care policy. First, that the current system is completely unsustainable, and that the sacred cow must be opened up for honest debate. Secondly, that the Conservatives, both federally and provincially, are not the ones that are capable of directing this debate in the best interests of Canadians.

Ralph Klein's trial balloon is exactly the rational for this type of opinion. Klein takes a valid argument that health care, and more specifically accessibility, is being compromised, and ruins it by advocating for physicians to be able to practice in both the public and private system simultaneously, a concept that flies in the face of the common good.

Stephen Harper has an unusual opportunity after Klein's opening salvo. The new Conservative government seems to have struck common ground with regards to Quebec's new proposals on reform. Thus, Harper has the option of not having to offer blanket support to the Canada Health Act in its current form.

Klein is Harper's worst enemy on the health care front, if for no other reason than the "guilt by association" linkages because of geography (Alberta) and the political labelling (Conservative). Coming out swinging against the King Ralph would be a great political move, as long as Harper can at the same time demonstrate to his Conservative base that the status quo isn't acceptable.

More than ever, the Liberals had better update their health care positions to remain relevent in this emerging debate.

° The Federal Liberal Council here in British Columbia is meeting over the weekend to examine some proposals that will have major impact on leadership organizing in the province. Here are the 2 ideas that will be discussed:

1) The executive is proposing the rule that limits individual party members to five membership forms at any one time be relaxed to ten memberships. We want to ensure that in this time of renewal and leadership, people have fair and open access to forms. However, we do not want to repeat past mistakes that called into question the validity of our membership process with the media, the public and party members. I think this motion strikes an appropriate balance. It demonstrates openness, but also shows that we intend to continue to safeguard the integrity of our membership process.

2) The executive is proposing that membership fees rise from $5 to $10 for youth and from $10 to $20 for senior party members. This reflects a widespread desire I have heard over time to place a higher value on a Liberal party card. It is also, frankly, a much needed response to the significant drop in revenue the party will receive as a result of a big drop in per vote dollars through Elections Canada. Kim Haakstad and Guy Heywood will provide more detail on the party financial situation on Saturday.