May 27, 2002

REMARKABLE 9-11 PIECE FROM THE

REMARKABLE 9-11 PIECE FROM THE NYT

Well done journalism, here.

Posted by BruceR at 12:42 PM

DEFENCE MINISTER SACKED In a

DEFENCE MINISTER SACKED

In a surprise announcement, the Prime Minister sacked minister of national defence Art Eggleton yesterday, because he gave a $36,000 contract for a flaky report on PTSD to his flaky blonde girlfriend. The PM had a choice between breaking his nine-year record for not losing a minister, or defending the handing out of government money without tender to a woman the defence minister cheated on his wife with.

Translation, for the Americans out there: Art Eggleton was a "feel your pain" politician in the classic Clintonian mold. He has been replaced by John McCallum, a well-known economic historian, banker, and liberal intellectual: I remember reading his work on agriculture in early Canada when I was an undergrad and being very impressed, believe it or not. He knows less about defence than Eggleton did, however. The U.S. equivalent would be Robert Reich, or 40 years ago, a J.K. Galbraith. Improvement? Can't possibly make things worse.

Posted by BruceR at 09:31 AM