Security is for the Stock Market

Admittedly, I don't know very much about VIP security, but I'm thinking it is probably a bad move to disclose the Prime Minister's travel plans to a dangerous and volatile region of the world.

"The Prime Minister's Office said Thursday that no official plans or dates have been set yet for a visit to Afghanistan, but several high-ranking sources in a pair of government departments, along with Conservative Party political staff and officials involved in security operations, all confirmed that a trip is in the works."

Some turkey - probably a political staffer - has gone ahead and blabbed to a reporter the intimate details of how the PM will fly in to Afghanistan. I don't think they could have made it easier for the terrorists to plan an attack by disclosing even the type of plane and from where the PM will arrive from.

I understand there may be unbridled enthusiasm on the part of some to have the PM show his support for our troops in person, but they may very well have compromised the trip. Further, where was our newly-minted Director of Communications to convince the reporter not to run with the story?

It is understandable amateur mistakes will be made during this first few months of forming government. People expect it. But, they also expect common sense - use your head! Why on earth would staff think it is acceptable to disclose details of the PM's travel plans?

If Prime Minister Harper is looking for a few more people to fire, I have a couple of suggestions.

You're Dead to Me

Further to my earlier blog entry:

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Ian Brodie, is pleased to announce that Sandra Buckler will be joining the Prime Minister's Office as Director of Communications effective Tuesday, February 21.

"Sandra brings a wealth of communications experience to her new post. She has advised national and international companies and agencies on communications matters for several years. Before that, she worked as a communications advisors to several cabinet ministers," said Mr. Brodie. "During the recent election campaign she worked as a spokesperson for the Prime Minister."

Mr. Brodie also took the opportunity to thank William Stairs for his excellent work and personal dedication to the Prime Minister. "William played an important role in the creation of the Conservative Party and the recent campaign." Mr. Brodie looks forward to continuing to work with William as he moves on to new opportunities.

-30-

Stairs had a PhD in Political Science and decades of experience on the Hill....which will no longer be called upon. Any normal employer would have chalked up the poor media coverage of the Cabinet announcement as a learning experience not to be repeated while continuing to stand behind their staff.

This will also not help the Tories recruit new staff with experience. Who would want to work as a political staffer knowing that at any moment you could be fired for the slightest misfortune and not have any career options as a lobbyist or a public servant afterward? (Which by the way are the two main alternate career paths for political staffers. Sadly, not too many become truck drivers.)

Who's the Boss?

Who really is the boss of the Liberal shop? Tony Danza?

With Martin making an attempt at a 'scathing attack' on Emerson, it makes you wonder who really is leading the Liberal Party. I thought Bill Graham was given the responsibility of leading the Liberal Party?

Then again, with Graham making comments about his party's unwillingness to prop up the government, he very well may need help. If the Liberals are responsible for unnecessarily defeating the government, they will only help the Conservative cause. Voters would punish the Liberals even further and likely reward the Conservatives with a majority. So I say, bring it.

Dance, monkey! Dance!

Is it just me, or is the national media becoming REALLY annoying?

Gloria Galloway, the Globe's media pitbull, is one of many among national journalists complaining about the availability of the Prime Minister to the media. Prime Minister Harper has not even been in office for two weeks yet, could it be he may be busy with other matters, like running a government?

Journalists can be SO lazy. You practically have to spoon feed them stories. Back when I was in the communications business, I would e-mail my press releases to help journalists with their arduous task of cutting and pasting. Bless their hearts.

Canadians elected Prime Minister Harper to look after the affairs of the nation. If they wanted their Prime Minister to pose for the cameras, they would have elected someone better looking.

Word.

Grouchy

Okay, I've tried my very best to shed the best light on the Conservative's selections for Cabinet and did my very best not to talk about the Parliamentary Secretary positions - but I can resist no longer.

I don't know what fire the PMO was rushing to put out by announcing the ParlSecs so quickly, but it was obvious not a lot of thought went into the selections. The most glaring error was putting Ted Menzies into a portfolio for Official Languages when he can only speak English! Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but this is too much. He will be eaten alive at committee. My other favorite? A white male in the portfolio for multiculturalism. Nice.

Another major issue are the people who were left out altogether. Namely, Bob Mills and James Rajotte. Bob worked his tail off to formulate an environmental policy for the party, where did it get him? Oh, but if he's lucky, he may get to be the Chair of the Environment Committee!!

While I'm ranting, another issue. Staff. They can make or break the career of a politician. The Conservative Caucus is notorious for treating their staff like garbage. I know too many staffers who have been thrown to the curb like yesterday's trash. So many good staffers have been shunned, the party now seems left with 20 year old staffers who want to be a Chief of Staff in a Minister's office. Sadly, they probably have a really good shot.

Everytime an MP makes a dumb remark, it's likely because their staff was not doing their job. This past week for the Conservatives was evidence of either poor staff OR advice of staff being ignored. So many Conservative politicians believe they don't need any guidance from advisors because they were "smart enough" to get elected. Right.

Operation Transition

Congratulations to the Conservative transition team on a job well done. Canadians have successfully transitioned from bitching about a Liberal government to a Conservative one. I never really quite realized how much we love to complain about their federal government until now. Yowsers!

I am very impressed with Prime Minister Harper's Cabinet selections. David Emerson would have been a wasted talent in Opposition. Appointing Michael Fortier to the Senate was a very brave move, but a smart one nonetheless. Critics shocked at the apparent hypocrisy will eventually quit hyperventilating - if they haven't already.

My only complaint and grave concern is with the appointment of Gary Lunn. This is a huge mistake. Without going into the details, the PMO had better put their best Chief of Staff into his office. I just hope the lesson they learn from this error in judgement will not be too hard to take.

*Grin*

Cabinet Contenders

The Superbowl may be this Sunday, but it will also be when select Conservative MPs will get the nod to make their way to Rideau Hall to be sworn in as a Cabinet member.

Sports fans may have their fantasy football teams, but I much prefer a fantasy cabinet. I have not been able to assign a portfolio for all my picks, but my guess is they will make the real list in somehow. Here goes:

British Columbia:
Jay Hill (House Leader) - Probably the only job he could handle.
John Cummins (Fish!) - He's high maintenance, but knows his fish!
Stockwell Day (Treasury Board)
NOT Gary Lunn

Alberta:
Rona Ambrose - a smart cookie, could handle a high profile portfolio
Monte Solberg - not finance
Diane Ablonczy (Immigration?)
Jim Prentice (Indian Affairs)
Rahim Jaffer (Infrastructure)
Longshots (due to limited room): James Rajotte, Jason Kenney, Ted Menzies, John Williams, Bob Mills

Saskatchewan:
Carol Skelton
David Anderson - because every government needs a David Anderson.

Manitoba:
Vic Toews (Justice)
Brian Pallister
NOT Steven Fletcher

Ontario:
Tony Clement
John Baird
Rob Nicholson
Bev Oda
Jim Flaherty
Garth Turner
Pat Davidson
Diane Finley
Barry Devolin
Helena Guergis

Quebec:
Josee Verner
Lawrence Cannon
Jean-Pierre Blackburn

Atlantic Canada:
Peter McKay
Loyola Hearn
Rob Moore