In his column, Parliament's week that was, Rex Murphy considers recent events surrounding Garth Turner as "who remembers it now ... lined up and shot ... over in a flash ... a brief spasm of interest ... blown away by the clean air act ... etc."  with Mr. Murphy concluding the only real news of the week revolved around who let the dog(s) out. No, not the song by the Baha Men - although?

Should his pocket-watch carry both the time and the date, Mr. Murphy might wish to note we turned back time only an hour this past weekend, not a generation.

At first, I wondered if Rex and I consume the same Media and that's when it hit me. We don't. At least not in the same quantity and quality.

It surprises me not, therefore, that an issue arising out of the blogosphere didn't catch Mr. Murphy's attention in the same way as most everyone else. And that's squarely the point. I don't expect Al-Qaeda will revert to traditional forms of military attack either. Indeed, Mr. Murphy's observations of the traditional Media's irrelevance is duly noted.

Far from being a "moth to the red light of every on-camera,"  the cameras seek out Mr. Turner, not so much the other way around. Although it's also true, that in a previous incarnation the man had a career in Media and knows how it works and how to work it. Not surprising therefore that respectful past colleagues are perhaps more than just mildly interested in what the man has to say, or isn't afraid to say. It's also true that while the rest of the sheep are doing what they're told, there is at least one veteran who more clearly sees what's happening, accurately perceives what's at stake, and because he cares - deeply - doesn't scurry out the back door.

Mr. Murphy is bang-on, however, that Stephen Harper and Doug Finley have had their sights set on Garth Turner for quite some time, and recent attempts to squeeze the trigger were most assuredly carried out, not once, but a few times these past few months. Mr. Harper's tough-on-crime gun law apparently doesn't apply to figurative ones.

As for the shot fired on October 18, Mr. Murphy makes as costly an error in judgment, as does Harper-Finley, if he measures the impact and legs of what's happening by what's pushed-out on a print-press, a radio wave frequency, or a picture tube, as opposed to what's interactively pulled-in via millions of digitally interconnected flat screens. Does Rex Murphy really believe David Emerson is going to be re-elected, under any banner, in Vancouver-Kingsway or anywhere else, just because a few months later he is no longer on Peter Mansbridge's teleprompter?

Who does Mr. Murphy believe will get re-elected, or will even run, in the next election? David Emerson who on night 1 declared he was going to be Stephen Harper's worst nightmare and on night 2 spread himself to a private ministerial dinner at 24 Sussex? Or, the man who his constituents are only too proud to boast, "Garth Turner may be a little prick, but at least he's our prick!" ?

Dare I suggest, the nightmare Harper-Finley are living, as evidenced by enormous efforts to pay attention and cover-up the strategy oversights, is most certainly not playing itself out in the Media Rex Murphy believes has already tried, juried, and hung Halton's "feisty" MP. More to the point, I disagree the Media has even done such a thing, let alone those involved and lurking virtually.

One certainly wonders, if Harper-Finley aren't now focused and worried about the medium in which they are most vulnerable. Maybe this is a good thing. Could this mean the PMO is finally starting to notice and take stalk of the digital democracy? Umph! Maybe Garth should consider sending them yet another invitation to join the only caucus gathering that matters.  

In fairness, Mr. Murphy is correct that Mr. Turner does indeed inform on that which "isn't perfect in a Stephen Harper world...". Also in fairness, however, Mr. Turner more often preached what he, and his constituents, also as perfect, not just the imperfections. Either way, I am not sure any of us signed-up for a world according to Stephen Harper, much less that of his chief political operations strategist.

"So," [sing along if you like] "if Garth Turner is wrong" -- for doing via the most effective manner possible, the digital democracy -- highlighting a floor-crosser, a religious zealots' control over the state, $85 Million rescuing non-Canadians, a tax system that discriminates against families and pensioners, and a Clean Air Act that is just that - an act - "then baby, I don't want to be right." 

October 29 2006

The clocks turned back only an hour, Rex, not a generation

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading Rex Murphy as much as the next person, maybe even more. I had to giggle, however, wondering what Mr. Murphy sees in the mirror if in his opinion Garth Turner is "cantankerous."