There's cold and then there's COLD!

[altivo]

There was a young man from Quebec,
Who stood buried in snow to his neck.
  When they asked, "Is you friz?"
  He replied "Yes, I is.
But we don't call this cold in Quebec."
[Vague reference to the befuddled political tangle in Canada, in which the prime minister who is about to get tossed out of power by a Parliamentary vote of no confidence has been

Comments

[altivo]

I really don't think the designers of the Parliamentary system ever intended to allow a PM to suspend Parliament in order to avoid a vote of no confidence either. They mistakenly assumed that no gentleman would ever take such a sleazy action.

Impeachment in the US is not the same as indictment under criminal law. It is a mechanism for exercising the vote of no confidence. It does make the official being impeached eligible for criminal prosecution if appropriate, but that action must be taken separately and only after the impeachment has succeeded.

Yes, I realize that the sequence of events in Canada just now is entirely within the realm of the legally permissible. That doesn't, however, remove the stench of perfidy from it. There was a time when a PM confronted with such a situation would have simply resigned to avoid the national embarrassment of a no confidence vote, rather than looking for a loophole to retain power.

[altivo]

I did say "rather like" and I'm referring to the ethical and practical issue, not the nature of the consequence. However, the impeachment process only parallels indictment, trial, and conviction in the sense of process. "Conviction" in an impeachment proceeding has only one literal consequence: removal from public office. If there is to be an actual criminal charge and trial, that must follow separately. No US president has ever actually been convicted and removed from office, though several have been threatened with impeachment and two have actually been forced to face the Senate trial process.

Yes, I think the move by the PM in this case is slimy and unethical, even though it seems perfectly legal in the technical sense. And I think the GG failed to take the appropriate action. Her decision is impeding what should be the normal consequence of the Conservatives' boneheaded actions subsequent to the election, and worse, suspending democratic process to let Harper run the country without checks and balances for possibly longer than

[alaskawolf]

yum prime beefsteak :D

[altivo]

Not very healthy stuff to eat, but I agree it's tasty.

If we're going to eat such bad stuff, we'd rather have it grilled over real charcoal too, which is even less healthy. So it gets saved in the freezer until spring...

[altivo]

We usually get a few days this cold each winter, but normally they come in January or February. New Mexico is a pretty place, at least the part I've seen. So you've graduated now?

[altivo]

Well, a belated congratulations on graduating. It's a rough time to be job hunting, so I'll send some favorable energy your way for whatever it's worth.

I was last in New Mexico a long time ago (1973) but I really enjoyed the desert scenery and the mountains. Santa Fe and Albuquerque's "Old Town" were also great to visit, at least for me.

[avon_deer]

Do you know who gave you the steak?

[altivo]

I haven't found a gift card, oddly enough, but it has to be from my brother and sister-in-law. They've sent similar gifts in the past, and at least for the moment can afford such extravagance. (Though I'm always a bit embarrassed at receiving these things. He's a corporate VP with a net worth many times my own.)

[soanos]

Well, it is not always the money that measures a person's worth. You have made my life more tolerable already. :) *nuzzles and hugs*

[altivo]

Aww, I haven't done that much. I'm too far away.

I'm glad my little bit helps though.

[cabcat]

Who gave you that delicious present? :)

[altivo]

Has to be my brother and sister-in-law, though there was no gift card.