A lot of people love to hate Ezra Levant and his loud-mouthed ways, but on some things you must admit, he’s not wrong. And when he has been talking for years about “the Media Party,” he’s not wrong.
Nowhere has this been more evident than the minutes since the polls closed in Atlantic Canada and the gobsmacked anchors realized the Liberals had just swept the entire region. The lovefest began in earnest. In the two weeks since, I haven’t seen such positive press about an incoming politician since the 2008 election of Barack Obama.
Obama’s early days could have been mistaken for the second coming of you-know-who. He was even given a Nobel Peace Prize, a nomination made when the length of his term could still reasonably have been measured in hours. (You think I’m kidding? The nomination deadline was February 1, 2009. Obama was sworn in January 20, 2009, roughly 250 hours before his nomination for highest honour on our planet.)
Obama apparently got the award due to a speech he gave on Islam in 2009, his efforts on nuclear proliferation and climate change. Given the rise of ISIS, the questionable recent Iranian nuclear deal and lack of progress on climate change during his tenure, I would say he failed to reach expectations.
Similarly, the Canadian press’ Trudeaumania didn’t start until after the election was over and it was clear that he would win. But man, has it hit. There have been next to no negative articles about the incoming prime minister. Compare this to when Stephen Harper was elected. One might have thought the world was going to end and the Devil himself was moving into 24 Sussex Drive.
Certainly all those CBC folks must be tickled pink, as they no longer have to fear pink slips. I would doubt if any CBCers voted blue over the past 10 years.
At the Globe and Mail, Jane Taber wrote of Trudeau, “Why not start his mandate with a bold gesture of co-operation by inviting all seven former prime ministers to attend his Speech from the Throne? And then, why not call on all of them to play a role like their American counterparts?”
Ah, yes, such a gallant gesture that would be. I wonder if Taber would have ever have suggested that to Harper, any of the multiple times his Speeches from the Throne were offered?
Such sunny, sunny days.
This is not to say that the Conservatives didn’t work to defeat themselves. Niqabs? Really? That was an issue of national importance? Or a report-your-neighbours hotline? Clearly the cupboard was bare on new, worthy ideas.
New governments traditionally get a honeymoon period. This is in part due to the wonder of democracy, the idea that perhaps we can vote the bums out and start anew. This is also due to fact the newly elected government has not had a chance to do anything yet, rightly or wrongly.
But you just watch – this honeymoon period Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will receive will likely be brighter and longer than any in recent memory. If, in the next six months, he gets half the bad press Stephen Harper did in his first six months, I’ll eat my hat. I’ve got an extra fedora, just in case.
You know the old joke about newlyweds putting a quarter in the jar for the first year, every time they act like newlyweds? Well, Trudeau and the media that has crawled into bed with him better get a big jar.
When will the Media Party crawl out of that bed and start holding Trudeau to account? When will they realize he doesn’t walk on water?
Now might be a good time to set up an office pool. My bet is 16 months from now.
