Harper "Authoritarian"? Who Knew?

Furious Steve says that whether he’s an authoritarian thug is completely irrelevant to his defamation suit against the Libs. From the Toronto Star:

Harper’s lawyers will argue in Ontario Superior Court on Friday that the opinion of political scientist Peter Russell is irrelevant to the prime minister’s $3.5-million defamation suit against the Liberals.

Russell, a professor at the University of Toronto, argued the give and take of the Commons, and related arenas, is part of the cut and thrust of free political debate.

“This use of legal action to silence the opposition is characteristic of authoritarian governments,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Conservative party has already dismissed Russell’s affidavit as simply an opinion from an academic.

Relevant or not, I think any Canadian court can take judicial notice of the fact that our Furious Leader is decidedly authoritarian.

 

Is Harper Cracking Up?

Stephen Harper is going to sue Stephane Dion, Ignatieff and Goodale for defamation arising out of two articles published on the Liberal party website.

Well, if the Liberals needed something to keep the Cadman scandal front and centre in the public eye, our Furious Leader just served it up on a platter.

Apparently the articles, which I haven’t read but will now, offend Stevie because they claim he knew about a plan to attempt to bribe Cadman to vote to bring down the Liberal government of Paul Martin.

“These malicious and reckless statements impugn the reputation of the Prime Minister and meant, and were understood to mean inter alia, that the Prime Minister knew of a bribe of a Member of Parliament and was an accomplice to that bribe.”

Oh Steve, say it isn’t so. Harper’s lawyers apparently claim that the Liberal articles suggest Harpo is, “dishonest, unethical, immoral and lack integrity.” Suggest? C’mon, we all know he’s dishonest, unethical, immoral and lacks integrity. That’s like whining that Dion alleges the sun will rise at dawn.

Well, there you have it. If Dion is smart, he’ll play Harper’s game because it’s one that Harper won’t win in the public’s mind, no matter the outcome should it reach trial.

Within a couple of months the lawyers should be able to begin the Examinations for Discovery. Imagine Harpo, under oath, being put to discovery. Oh wait, wasn’t there another Tory prime minister who sued for libel and had a difficult moment or two under discovery? Too bad Harper isn’t taking Mulroney’s calls any more.