True, if Mr. Harper also back-pedals on Mr. Johnston's wheels set into motion in favour of an enquiry, Mr. Dion could cry fowl and try to make a political sandstorm over what increasingly appears to be a decades old dust-up between semi-private and semi-public interests.

So long as Mr. Dion is prepared for another round of Conservative attack adds with juxtaposing images of the Liberal leader relying on public opinion in one instance and ignoring it in another, then Mr. Dion will still be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

But inconvenient truth does not answer the question, do Canadians truly want to chance something possibly more untoward being swept under the carpet?

Pollsters probably have it right. Canadians do not want another long and costly enquiry that ultimately uncovers and fixes very little because of a technicality, or because of a morbid-like fixation with looking in rear-view-mirror instead of the road ahead.

With memories of Gomery still not fully digested, Canadians got a taste of what this latest enquiry may hold given one player (Mr. Schreiber) will say and do anything to remain in Canada, and the other player (Mr. Mulroney) will seemingly say or do anything to ensure Mr. Schreiber's extradition, or commit sufficient character assassination for Mr. Mulroney to appear, by comparison, saintly enough for legacy purposes.

Former US President Bill Clinton did not have the luxury of option. The eventual surfacing of the infamous stained blue dress made it impossible for Mr. Clinton to continue skirting the issue. As a result and to his eventual personal and professional benefit, Mr. Clinton's mea-culpa was much more complete and sincere, thus paving the way and serving as the clear and necessary ingredient in propelling the once embattled President to near rock-star status.

By contrast Mr. Mulroney gave the impression of being coy with definition and interpretation, not unlike the way "sexual relations" apparently does not include  . . .  or smoking pot doesn't count either if one doesn't inhale.

Much of Mr. Mulroney's Ethics committee appearance seemed 100% honest and heartfelt. He is after all the same Prime Minister who championed such tremendous efforts as the NAFTA, Meech Lake, Charlottetown, and the GST's role in eliminating the deficit. However, other segments of Mr. Mulroney's appearance before the Ethics committee seemed inconsistent and difficult for the average person to believe. And on this, the court of public opinion is unforgiving. A fact a man of Mr. Mulroney's fine quality should know.

By the same token do Canadians not want to know if the way government functions still has its share of closeted skeletons? Putting aside the reasons Canadians may rightfully have in coming to certain conclusions about Mr. Schreiber's credibility, the man at least appears informed and knowledgeable about a shadier side of the way wheels are greased between semi-private and semi-pubic affairs. It is highly unlikely that a methodologically sound poll would find Canadians don't want to enquire, or ensure, that today things are on the up-and-up.

Perhaps this kind of thinking appropriately becomes the terms of reference for the enquiry Mr. Johnston  will soon contemplate. The gory details of how 20+ years ago a few planes were purchased matters less to Canadians, but it may matter to Canadians a great deal why, according to the same opinion polls that measure Canadians distaste for enquiries, also reveal the Environment as Canadians #1 priority, but isn't the #1 priority of any government elected to date.

Would Canadians resist an enquiry into why, and who benefits, from an Environment file screaming for attention and yet largely has gone ignored by ALL parties in power for more decades than anyone ever knew about terms like Mulroney, Schreiber, Airbus ... Tarsands.

To be continued...   

Allegedly, the reason Mr. Dion did not force an election following the throne speech was "Canadians did not want an election."

This leaves one to wonder if the Liberal leader's rhetoric vis-à-vis calls for a Mulroney/Schreiber enquiry will change now that Canadians have been equally clear they do not want an enquiry either.

Mr. Dion, and others, have decisions to make that will shape the political landscape for 2008.