So what do you think? Should “Under Zeus Allah Thor God” be in the Pledge of Allegiance?

 Try this poll.

I’ve now heard from several sources the Symington campaign described as the “worst” campaign in memory. Many, by extension, ask what the campaign staffers thought they were doing, describing it as “the worst run” campaign in history.

I have a nearly-unique perspective on the charges, as my last job in electoral politics was in the campaign previously dubbed “the worst” by many of these same observers: the Clavelle for Governor campaign. I was the Field Director. It wasn’t loads of laughs, as you might imagine. There are times when I’m tempted to defend what we did from some of the commenters even on this very site, while there are other times I feel like jumping on and escalating the criticism. What I have done in the 3 years of this blog however, is shut up. If there’s any type of commentary/venting that needs to be done freely on a site like this, its commentary of our election efforts.

But I want to say something about the Symington effort – specifically, the Symington staff. I was not privy to any of the inner workings. I got some glimpses, sure – enough to draw my own conclusions in some cases, but you never know everything.

But one thing is for sure. It was pretty clear at the time, but its something that it never does any good to tell oneself at the time. Symington never had a chance. As a public speaker and a debater she was problematic, despite her improvements earlier in the year.

But more than that, she was hamstrung by her own choices. She started way too late in the game, and despite all the mocking dismissals of that charge from Governor Kunin at the time (Kunin, reportedly, was instrumental in convincing Symington to make the leap), this was possibly an insurmountable hurdle in itself. Add to that her more idiosyncratic self-limitations, such as her unwillingness to release her full family financial information (can we all agree, once and for all, that if you’re not willing to fully disclose your family’s assets, maybe executive office should be somebody else’s gig?). There were also reports of campaign opportunities simply left to die on Symington’s desk from inaction or indifference.

My point? Maybe Symington’s campaign staff was the worst in existence. But maybe it was the best. Frankly, we’ll never know, and that’s because this particular candidate at this particular time starting this particular campaign in this particular way was doomed from the start.

I used to teach Canadian Con Law at York U. in Toronto.

It is perfectly legal and constitutional for a new government to be formed in a sitting Parliament.  All the talk you may read about it being undemocratic and a coup d’etat for the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc to unseat the Conservatices is dangerous and dishonest nonsense.

The question to ask is this: does the government of the day enjoy the support of (a majority of members of) the House of Commons?

Usually if a government loses a vote of confidence (or a vote which is tantamount to confidence like a budget vote), the Prime Minister asks the Governor-General for a dissolution of the House and an election.  

The Governor-General has the reserve power to refuse that request if there is an other government which would enjoy the confidence of the House in the sitting Parliament.  

The fact that the Parliament is new (only six weeks since the election) also strengthens the case for not dissolving the House.

The best book on the subject, and it is definitive, is The royal power of dissolution in the British Commonwealth by Eugene Forsey.

Background

The term ‘constitution’ in the British Commonwealth means more than just the written documents but includes the traditions, customs, usages, and understandings surrounding any written documents.

The Governor-General is the Queen’s representative and has the same role as does the Queen.  Since Canada and fifteen other realms within the Commonwealth are independent nations, the term Queen refers not to the Queen of the United Kingdom, but to the Queen of the realm in question.  Thus, she is the Queen of Canada.  The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of the realm over which the G-G will serve.

It is said correctly that the G-G holds the power but can’t use it.  The Prime Minister can use the power but does not hold it.

The current Conservative Party is a very different animal from the late Progressive Conservative Party which was a moderate party.  In particular, the current Prime Minister, Mr. Harper, is a genuine wing-nut who has been somewhat moderate since he has never had a majority of in the House.

Current Party standings

Liberal 77

NDP 37

Bloc Quebecois 49

Conservative 143

Independents 2

total 308

LIberal Party is not exactly like the Democrats.  It has had serious opposition on its left as well a right.  It has left wing and right wing Liberals within it.  Historically, it has been the pro-American party as well as the French Canadian and Catholic party.

The NDP is a social democratic party which has not moved right as has the British Labour Party and other social democratic parties.  At the same time, it has moved past the issues that defined ‘old Labour.’  

The Bloc Quebecois is a social democratic separatist party based entirely in Quebec.  More and more it is less and less really separatist.

The late Progressive Conservative Party was the Protestant Party as well as the party of the British connection.  Interestingly, the supporters of this party would view the NDP (a sister party of the British Labour Party) as the party to vote for if they were angry with the PCs.

Harper has moved the Opposition Day a week back from Dec 1 to 8.  

If the coalition plan works, Canada will have a new government well before Christmas.

Cross-posted at Beyond Vermont State Hospital:

Louis Porter has an investigative piece in today's Rutland Herald/Times Argus. The information is suggestive at this point, but it could be that publishing this first story will help to get more information out. There is no question that the CIA was running a clandestine program called MK-ULTRA that involved giving drugs to mental patients; what is yet to be known is whether Vermont State Hospital was involved.

By Louis Porter Vermont Press Bureau – Published: November 30, 2008

The patient, Karen Wetmore, is convinced that Hyde and other researchers subjected her and possibly other patients to experiments paid for by the CIA at the Waterbury facility.