On opposition (I)

Right after Lorraine Michael made her debut in the House of Assembly, ODP wasted no time in flattering her, if only as a way of needling his nemeses in the Official Opposition:

PREMIER WILLIAMS: That is why that will be the effective Opposition down there. Those two people who sit in those seats will be the effective Opposition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: That is why you will be the ineffective Opposition. It is quite obvious.

Within a year and a half, when Lorraine Michael, having outgrown a period of almost embarrassing support for the Premier, actually did what a political party leader is supposed to do in opposition — question, critique, and oppose — ODP’s opinion of her shifted dramatically:

MS MICHAEL: I am really concerned about the effect of what you said has had on the women and the families who have been affected by this whole issue. I am wondering, Mr. Speaker - I am asking you, actually - if you will stand and make an apology to the women and the families for the rash comments.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: There is pure, raw politics at its very best, what you are playing over there now. I would expect a lot better from you; I really would. You disappoint me so much when you go there.

I would have expected it from the previous Liberal government, the previous Liberal Opposition, because they stoop to that all the time. It would not have happened in Jack Harris’ day, I can assure you of that.

A political party leader engaging in raw politics?

Say it isn’t so, Danny! Oh, Danny, oh, Danny, tell us it isn’t so.

And never one to forget a slight — real or imaginary — ODP’s unusual performance in front of the assembled scrum on Thursday included yet another searing attack on a political party leader who has the temerity to politick, and an opposition leader with the gall to oppose:

The political games are being played here, first of all by the leader of the New Democratic Party, who, when she started in politics, she got out on the right foot, but, the political games that she’s playing now are absolutely disgraceful, it’s sensationalism, it’s political opportunism, she is grabbing at a headline and not looking at the facts. In fact, what she stands for now is non-disclosure. She now stands for what the Cameron Inquiry was all about, and that’s keeping information non-disclosed to the public. That’s basically what she’s saying. I mean, Igottatellya, for a great party like the New Democratic Party, and the hard-working people like Jack Layton and Ed Broadbent and Jack Harris and other leaders in this province, Lorraine Michael disgraces those people.

If anyone would know from disgraces…

Remember, always, the rule of opposites. In Dannystan, NOT(X) = X.

Danny is not upset at Lorraine because she’s disgraceful, sensationalist, opportunist, or grabbing at headlines. Danny is upset at Lorraine because she has the twin annoying habits of being right, and of gainsaying him.

In the increasingly cloistered world of the Premier and his tight circle of yes-persons and acolytes, with traitors and other assorted Enemies of the People lurking in broom closets and on letters pages, there are no greater sins than those two.