Politics can be fun, right?

The IncomeTrustProbeOfFun!

I'm not usually one to start breaking out conspiracy theories (in fact, I’m a sceptic if anything), but one has to question the timing of the latest leak of another Liberal party “scandal”. Dubbed the IncomeTrustProbe (I’ve taken out the spaces for originality and dramatic effect), it is alleged that information about increases in taxes was leaked to traders before the announcement. While I am by no means trying to find excuses for the Liberals, the public has not been presented with any evidence implicating the party at all, and we have been told that the RCMP is “investigating” the matter and it therefore cannot be discussed.

Can’t be discussed? Has somebody informed the RCMP that there’s a federal election coming up in two weeks? The mere mention of a second Liberal scandal has suddenly made a Conservative majority government possible, and the public needs to know the evidence behind this case now. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Conservatives win the election, only for the Mounties to set up a press conference a couple of days later completely clearing the Liberals of any wrongdoing.

While it’s completely possible that the Liberals were indeed responsible, I question the motives of the RCMP as they conduct their “investigation”. This is starting to look like shades of Bush’s win over Gore in 2000.

The Debate: Another Two Hours Wasted

I just wanted to thank Mr. Harper, Mr. Layton, Mr. Martin, and Mr. Duceppe for wasting two hours of my time last night. You know, I could have been doing something more constructive like smoking weed or looking at Internet porn, but instead, I was treated to listening to the same one minute speech from each candidate on repeat for two hours straight. Fun!

But seriously, something needs to be done about these debates. I and one of my housemates made the suggestion that every question should first be answered with a “yes” or a “no”, and then each leader should be allowed to give their one minute speech. If the first word coming out of their mouth isn’t “yes” or “no”, then they should promptly have their microphone cut off. Seriously. This way, if the leaders still insist on bullshitting their way out of every question, at least it’ll save the viewers some time.

In a particularly hilarious exchange, the candidates were asked about what needs to be done to encourage a higher voter turnout, and once again, the shit began to flow. I was anxiously waiting for one of the camera men to walk on the stage and point at the leaders saying, “THIS is why people don’t vote!”