An honest politician

While most Conservative MPs hypocritically attempt to rationalize Harper's appointment of David Emerson and Michael Fortier to the cabinet -- or else maintain an embarrassed silence -- there is at least one caucus member with integrity. Garth Turner, MP for the Ontario riding of Halton, has spoken out against the undemocratic moves. And he's prepared to pay the price.

Speaking of offices, after today I’m expecting the Whip will be assigning me a renovated washroom somewhere in a forgotten corner of a vermin-infested dank basement in Ottawa. That should go well with my seat in the House of Commons that will be visible only during lunar eclipses.

Uh-huh. That kind of a day. This one MP came face-to-face with the party machine in a series of unhappy meetings including one tonight with the prime minister. I think it is now safe to say my career options within the Conservative caucus are seriously limited.

On the night of his election, David Emerson promised that he would be the Conservatives' worst nightmare. I'm not the first to point out that this is one election promise he's fulfilling. Meanwhile, a new word has entered the Canadian political lexicon: Harpercrite -- which seems to have been invented spontaneously and independently by people all over the country.