Polls and pundits

I've only just finished reading Greg Weston in today's SUN .

Greg, I know polls are exciting numbers that it's hard not to write about because they are soooo important. They are like a snapshot in time -- and they make you feel like for a brief instant you 'get it.'

That said, I know how much you like to point out the flaws of Stephen Harper. You're very good at it --- you'd almost think you wrote for the Star. Well, it might have escaped your notice -- but those polls reflect just about the time when the Liberals started chanting 'Doctored tapes! Doctored tapes! Doctored tapes!' and the media said 'oh! If the Liberals say so . . .' then ran and did some analysis of those tapes -- well, not those tapes-- because they don't have them -- details, details.

Sooo then, the media started announcing the results of 'expert' testing of those tapes. It's true! A few radio guys, a musician, and a guy who might or might not have a degree from somewhere all analysed, well no, not the real tapes -- they're with the RCMP -- but copies that were either of the originals, or maybe from the Internet. Either way, it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Stephen Harper is standing up for a liar when he supports Grewal.

In the meantime Mr. Weston, I know it's just another detail -- but nowhere have I seen an angry Stephen Harper -- except your columns and Don Martin's.

People are inclined to forget Paul Martin's minor indiscretions (and big fat blunders!) -- do you suppose it could be because once it's happened, and Paul squishes those little fists together and laughs -- you all forget to write about it again?

Like I seem to have missed your column about how the PM keeps lying in the House. Last week he said that Grewal solicited an offer from his Chief of Staff. He ignores that when he answers questions and now, he's getting Tony Valeri to get up every day like a broken record and say 'no deal was offered. No deal was made. If you have any information for the RCMP . . . ' That isn't the question. Tony knows it. Paul knows it. You know it. Funny you haven't mentioned it.

Personally, I feel like going to Ottawa, grabbing the Hansard from any of day last week and hand delivering it to the RCMP.

No point really. It seems they are really, really, really understaffed. They might not even get a chance to look into the Grewal thing for a long, long time. Maybe they could hire an expert from the Globe or the CBC . . . But their lagging doesn't matter when you media types already have the goods on Harper. Once you can nod and say 'it was Harper!' you don't really have to even look into it anymore. Everyone is happy just to say 'figures.' And move on. Funny how the Libs get 'due process' and Harper just gets slammed.

No Greg, Harper isn't the problem. The problem is you and your pals. You've been having beers with Liberal insiders and forgetting all about their news this week. Instead you've been busy drudging up things from a month and two months ago on Stephen Harper -- things that wouldn't have been news then, except you decided they were.

It's too bad you aren't as dedicated to recalling the nasty deeds of the Liberals and their leader as you are to remembering that Stephen Harper was 'inappropriately' angry over a huge corruption scandal and the Prime Minister's televised act of contrition.

I can just see Greg Weston's wheels churning: "Can you imagine? Stephen Harper gets angry when the government lies, cheats and steals. What nerve! How vile! Better write a column about it -- no not about the Liberals lying, cheating and stealing -- about that nasty temper of Harper's. That's news. After all, we've come to expect the worst for the Liberals, it just doesn't ressonate."

When the pundits get off their barstools and start writing about what matters, newspapers might start being relevant again.

canadianna