Stephen Harper Comparing His Losing an Election to the Japanese Tsunami Sums up His Five Years in Power

When Stephen Harper first compared the possibility of an election and his losing power, to the horrible Tsunami in Japan, I was livid. I posted a rant on my blog that I later deleted, feeling that it was a little over the top. But then I was mad at myself for deleting it, because it reflected my anger over the arrogance of a man, who would try to turn a tragedy into a political talking point.

As Aaron Wherry so succinctly put it: This is no time for democracy

I've since realized that Stephen Harper's response to this disaster sums up his five year hold on power. There is one thing, and one thing only, that drives this man, and that's his love of self. Everything those around him do, must be to the benefit of Stephen Harper.

If there is nothing in it for him, then there's nothing in it.

His reaction speaks to his narcissism, in the same way that his removing all historic portraits in his surroundings on Parliament Hill, and replacing them with photographs of himself, does.

It speaks to his contempt for those less fortunate, that allows him to blatantly ignore recommendations to help alleviate poverty in Canada. His party recently lost another high profile candidate who claimed that "... there's no humanity, no soul, there's no kindness, there's no femininity — the things that give people the greatest pleasure in life are absent. Feeling acknowledged, feeling understood, feeling respect, they're just not there." And what were her crimes that earned her a stripping down from the party elite? She spoke to the media without permission and advocated for the homeless. Two cardinal sins in Harper's world.

His crass comments also speak to his disinterest in helping Canadians abroad. From Brenda Martin to Suaad Hagi Mohamud. And now he is also failing Canadians living and working in Japan, by refusing to help evacuate the stranded. "The situation is very critical, ... we are probably going to die here unless the Canadian government gets us out."

And in a more literal sense, this also speaks to the imminent danger imposed by Japan's nuclear stations, where safety warnings had been ignored. When Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission president Linda Keen warned the Harper government of safety concerns at Chalk River, she was fired, and there are now traces of nuclear waste in the Ottawa River. Of course, his allowing companies to dump it there doesn't help.

Which speaks to his commitment to profits coming before people, and makes us wonder just how safe our own nuclear stations are, especially in light of the small earthquake this week, where tremors were "felt from Ottawa to the Greater Montreal Region".

So maybe the current political situation in Canada is like a Tsunami. A huge wave is exposing this government's corruption, secrecy and disdain for democracy. And there is a loud thunderous roar from the disenfranchised while the sirens are blaring.

Time for Stephen Harper and his gang of thugs to head for higher ground.

I hear the Himalayas are nice this time of year.

Stephen Harper is Becoming Even More Frightening

I must admit that when I heard about the Harper photo gallery, where paintings and such of former prime ministers were removed and replaced with photos of the big guy, I was scared.

Citizens who really want a national portrait gallery in Ottawa can rest easy. The government already has one. All you need to get in is a Commons security pass, a Conservative party membership and a keen desire to view exclusive pictures of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, exclusively ... "When you walk in the door, all you see are pictures of Stephen Harper," said Ms. May "I'd say between every window, in every available space of the wall, at eye level, every available space has a photo of Stephen Harper."

"You've got photos of Stephen Harper, but not of previous prime ministers," she added. "Photos of Stephen Harper in different costumes, in different settings, dressed as a fireman, in Hudson Bay looking for polar bears, meeting the Dalai Lama, even the portrait of the Queen had to have Stephen Harper, but in a candid, behind her."

When I just learned that he is using OUR money to make phone calls, rallying support for Israeli military action, I was frightened.

But this next story is absolutely terrifying. From Jeffrey Simpson:

In the Prime Minister’s Office, under officials working with House Leader John Baird, the most publicly partisan of all ministers, a review is under way of the nation’s honours system. The aim is to associate the Prime Minister with more national awards, perhaps at the expense of the Governor-General, with whose office so many awards are now associated. All honours and awards, up to and including (if you can believe it) the Order of Canada, are under review to see which, if any, might be more closely associated with the PMO, and which new ones might be created that are tied to that office and, by definition, to the occupant of that office.

He claims that too many Canadian things are identified with the Liberals. Funny. When I see the flag or sing the national anthem, I don't think Liberal. I think Canada. Reminds me of the flag flap that Harper's pal Peter Brimelow bought into.

For decades, the office of the Governor-General has been the place where honours and awards are organized, and with which they’re associated. Why? Because the office is above politics, represents the entire country and can’t be accused of having ulterior motives, let alone political ones. The Governor-General usually doesn’t even sit on the selection committees for the honours and awards, but simply presides over the ceremonies. It’s the same in the United Kingdom, where awards and honours are made in the sovereign’s name for service to the country, not to the prime minister of the day. The Queen, not the prime minister, hands out the major awards and honours.

But this is the Harper government, controlling all as none before it, eager to find political advantage in everything the government does.

I guess it's just a matter of time before we officially become Harperland. With a new flag, on which his mug is emblazoned, and a new national anthem.

Oh Stephen Harper, you scare the hell out of me
You are such a goon
But you'll be leaving soon
We voters have had enough

We want Canada
Put back the way it was
Not about guns and fear
So your time is drawing near
Don't let the door hit you ....

Ah. It needs work. But you get the idea.

This isn't the first time he's tried to take control of the Governor General's duties. I think the man might be mentally ill.

So It All Started With That Cowby Picture. Right.

Narcissists are known to distort reality and it is imperative that they do whatever it takes to sustain the delusion. - Definition of a narcissist

In Lawrence Martin's new book, Harperland, he writes of Harper's disdain for the media and cites two incidences, that were apparently the cause of it all.

One was a photograph taken of him in 2005 at the Calgary Stampede, decked out in traditional cowboy costume. The photo ran everywhere and portrayed Harper as a bit of a doofus.

What I see when I look at that photo is a man from Toronto trying to play the role of a man from Calgary. A misguided attempt to "sustain the delusion".

But he posed for that photo. It was not a candid shot. What did he think they were going to do with it? And does he really believe that he was the first politician or the last to have unflattering photos published of them? It's part of the job. But you move on and hope the next one is better.

The other incident was during the 2004 election campaign, after the Harper team released a statement suggesting that Paul Martin was soft on child pornography. A classic Harper strategy, as we've seen more recently with the ten per centers suggesting that the Bloc was supportive of pedophiles.

Naturally, after making such a bombastic remark, the media wanted an explanation, but Harper typically refused to give them one, or to apologize.

An avalanche of criticism followed, but Harper was reluctant to issue an apology. At one point, the media surrounded his campaign bus ... Inside, Harper stewed. He couldn't get out without facing them. After the campaign, still bitter about the incident, he told a visiting newspaper editor, "They surrounded my goddamn bus. I couldn't get off my goddamn bus." Then, in a screw-them tone of voice, he vowed never to allow journalists to treat him like that again. (1)

Nonsense. The real problem for Stephen Harper was that he had lost control. When he was with the Reform Party and later the NCC he used the press to his advantage. He even leaked "news" that Preston Manning was skimming money from the party. And when Tom Flanagan was writing a book about the Reformers, he snuck out documents and things for him, manipulating the story.

He does not have reporters beaten up, or threaten to ruin their careers if they dare ask him a question, because of journalists not letting him of his "goddamn bus". He should have made a statement and issued an apology. It was his pig headedness that had him cornered.

Sources:

1. Harperland: The Politics of Control, By Lawrence Martin, Viking Press, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-670-06517-2, Pg. 23-24

The Politics of Conceit: "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better"

A CULTURE OF DEFIANCE: History of the Reform-Conservative Party of Canada

In September of 2009, journalist and author, Murray Dobbin, wrote for the Tyee:

It seems irrefutable to me after 20 years of analyzing the career of Stephen Harper that he is incapable of providing democratic governance. Harper arguably shows some traits of what psychologists refer to as malignant narcissism, a dangerously heightened sense of self importance. Otto Kernberg, a leader in the study of personality disorders, describes malignant narcissism as "extreme self-absorption and insensitivity that often result in a trail of victims -- emotional wreckage left in the narcissist's wake." The victims Kernberg refers to are, of course, individuals, but in our case the principal victim is the Canadian nation -- its humanist accomplishments, its art and culture, the foundation of its science, its international standing and its democratic governance. (1)

At the time I agreed with his analysis, but only superficially. Harper's arrogance was revealed in everything he did, but I didn't really view it as a possible illness.

Then I came across a piece by Green Party leader Elizabeth May, that showed Harper's love of self in a different light. She had been acting as Speaker of the House for the Queens University Model Parliament, and had an opportunity to visit the Government Lobby.

The Government Lobby was a frequent work space when I was Senior Policy Advisor to the federal Minister of Environment back in the mid-1980s ... [but] it did not strike me until I walked into the Government Lobby to await my turn as Speaker that I had not been in there since Stephen Harper became Prime Minister. It used to have some paintings on the wall. Past prime ministers, certainly a formal portrait of the Queen. Landscapes. I know there was the occasional photo of current Prime Ministers, but when I walked in this time, I felt chilled to the bone.

Every available wall space had a large colour photo of Stephen Harper. Stephen Harper at Alert. Stephen Harper in fire fighter gear. Stephen Harper at his desk. Stephen Harper meeting the Dalai Lama. Even the photo of the Queen showed her in the company of Stephen Harper. None were great photos. None were more than enlarged snapshots in colour. They didn’t feel like art. The student with me said it was the same in Langevin Block, the Prime ministers Office. Photos of Stephen Harper everywhere. I will advance no theories as to what this means. ... The one thing I know is that it means something. (2)

This was later confirmed in the Ottawa Citizen. (3)

I bring this up often, because it kinda' freaks me out. I'm a fan of shows like CSI and Criminal Minds, and it reminds of a stalker's lair. Only he's stalking himself. Creepy.

I just finished chapter two of Lawrence Martin's new book, Harperland, and while he is doing a very good job at keeping balance, there are some revelations that help to unravel the complexities of Stephen Harper.

And what's interesting is that the most compelling statements come from insiders. People left in the "emotional wreckage [of] the narcissist's wake", but remain for the most part supportive.

Martin says that Stephen Harper has tried to emulate Pierre Trudeau, not politically, but by replicating the things he used to stay in power for so long. He fails to understand that we liked Trudeau in spite of those things, because he was moving us in the right direction. His legacy is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

But even with those whose politics he agrees with, Stephen Harper has always been more concerned with how they achieved and held onto power. In William Johnson's book Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada, he speaks of Harper's fondness for Margaret Thatcher.

And yet the story was not "let's study her policies and adopt them". But instead he and his friend John Weissenberger, read all of her election speeches looking for the right phrases to "win". (4)

But there is something else that goes back to the notion of Stephen Harper being the clinical definition of a malignant narcissist.

His friends and colleagues when speaking to Lawrence Martin, used terms like "cold", "He doesn't have human warmth", "sunless", "an emotionless robot". A former classmate called him "aloof" and said that "If there was a social event going on, he'd be the guy in the corner; pen and paper in pocket, looking at us in a kind of condescending way." (5)

The Encyclopedia Britannica defines narcissism as a:

Mental disorder characterized by extreme self-absorption, an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and a need for attention and admiration from others ... narcissism is characterized by an unusual coolness and composure, which is shaken only when the narcissistic confidence is threatened, and by the tendency to take others for granted or to exploit them.

Stephen Harper is his happiest when he's at a photo-op. You can see it. He's not acting, so his robotic nature is gone. He's in his element. All of these people focused on "him". All dedicated to making "him" look good. All paying "attention" and filled with "admiration" for "him". His "unusual coolness and composure" are gone, even if only for that brief moment in time.

And we've seen him "shaken" when his confidence was threatened. Look at how he acted in the House of Commons during the coalition threat. Or when Michael Ignatieff was challenging him and he suggested that he had been pouring over old tapes. His confidence was gone and it was visible. What we witnessed was panic.

And there's no argument that he has a "tendency to take others for granted or to exploit them". A common complaint from insiders. Look at how easily he can exploit religion, or the immigrant population for political gain. A man who is not religious and has referred to multiculturalism as a "weak nation strategy", can turn himself into a supporter so easily. He's like a Chameleon, changing colours to suit the situation.

So while he learned the art of the attack ad from Arthur Finklestein, and was indoctrinated by the anti-liberalism, anti-communist crowd; his real passion is power. The ultimate aphrodisiac for the malignant narcissist.

And with that I've come to realize something else. While he does follow the neoconservative principles adhered to by people like Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Roger Douglas, I also sense a bit of contempt.

While all three of those people did a great deal of damage, and widened the gap between rich and poor irrevocably, they also had something else in common. They all failed to finish the job they started.

I think that Stephen Harper believes in his condescending, narcissistic way, that he will win. That he will be the first to reach the ultimate goal. He will no longer be a "follower" of Thatcherism, Reaganomics or Rogernomics. Future neocons will follow him, and "Harperism" will be their battle cry.

He may be delusional, but no one has ever accused him of being sane.

And who knows. Maybe if he can hold onto power long enough ....

Previous:

The Politics of Contempt: The Nixon-Harper Ticket

The Politics of Hate: Where Will it Lead?

Sources:

1. Stephen Harper, Unfit to Govern: Few are thrilled to have another election, but we must put it to good use, By Murray Dobbin, The Tyee, September 10, 2009

2. Model Parliament, By Elizabeth May, Green Party, January 26, 2008

3. Harper gallery leaves MPs speechless: Citizens who really want a national portrait gallery in Ottawa can rest easy. The government already has one, By The Ottawa Citizen, January 29, 2008

4. Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada, by William Johnson, McClelland & Stewart, 2005, ISBN 0-7710 4350-3, Pg. 49

5. Harperland:The Politics of Control, By Lawrence Martin, Viking Press, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-670-06517-2, Pg. 8

I Would Like the Parliamentary Budget Officer to Cost Out Stephen Harper's Photo-Ops

When Stephen Harper visited Canada’s arctic and was transported to the HMCS Toronto by helicopter for those ridiculous shots of him in an orange jumpsuit with a Star Wars helmet, the Nunavut’s Newspaper called it “The most expensive photo op you’ll ever see.”

He's had many of those. Including this one:

The whole thing was a beautifully staged act of geopolitical theatre. On the waters of Allen Bay, near the High Arctic community of Resolute Bay, beneath brilliant skies, Stephen Harper watched from a Zodiac on Wednesday as Leading Seaman Deidre Dorian dived into the crystal-cold Arctic Ocean. She talked to him by comm link from the ocean floor about seven metres below.

What would something like that cost? These photo-ops go beyond baby kissing and ribbon cutting. They are carefully staged and professionally choreographed. But what is their purpose?

From a Letter to the Editor in the Globe:

This week’s Stephen Harper High Arctic rendezvous and the meticulously staged photo-op with our military is further evidence that the Conservatives appear to be more interested in fluffing up Mr. Harper’s image than they are in dealing with the real issues facing Canadians.

I think that nails it.

His entire tenure has been one long stream of photo-ops. No questions. Few statements, except for partisan nonsense. Just photo-ops.

And his appearance after Hurricane Igor in Newfoundland, raises many questions. While he was pictured walking around the area, he failed to address what should have been addressed.

As Galloping Beaver wonders, after Harper claiming that he'd never seen anything like it.

I'm certainly not going to dispute it. However, first we have Harper telling us where the flood waters were, even though he wasn't there and secondly, he fails to acknowledge what actually happened. A politician chose to take the spotlight and act as a spokesman for somebody else. He doesn't know where the flood waters were; someone else told him. And since Harper was being so authoritative in his assessment and analysis why didn't some reporter simply nail him right then? Question: Isn't it a bit odd for mid-latitude Newfoundland to take a direct hit from a tropical Atlantic Category 1 hurricane? Since you're providing details would you explain how that meteorological event evolved?

Igor did not visit Canada to provide another photo-op for our prime minister. Shouldn't he question that maybe this is not a natural event?

This is what happens when your entire governance is 'focused' on 'camera friendly' events. You ignore the events that need your attention.

Like Global Warming.

I think it's time all those photo-ops were costed out. It's not up to taxpayers to fuel this man's narcissism. Taxpayer funded psychiatric help on the other hand. Now that's something I'd get behind.

Just How Badly Does Harper Want His Fox News North?

Kind of a stupid question. A television station devoted to him? Stephen Harper? A man who plasters his walls with pictures of himself? He would kill for it.

And he might even bribe a CRTC official with a plum new job.

As horrible as it will be, we might as well get used to the idea that we will be paying for this crap whether we like it or not. Harper knows he'll never get a majority, but is still determined to pull Canada to the right, and he might just do it.

Fox News is helping the Republicans ruin American politics. It is so bad that apparently even George Bush is starting to look good. This is very sad.

Bush thinks that history will be kind to him, but that is unlikely. The war cost America more than 4,000 lives, at least a trillion dollars, and a serious loss of world esteem. And it left behind a country with no ruling government and an ever stronger Iran.

And yet, at the same time, the former president is enjoying a mini-moment of grudging acceptance, if not affection, in America. He doesn’t dare take note of it himself, at least publicly. Were he to swagger back onto the stage, Republican friends say, the mellowing mood would evaporate — and complicate the GOP’s effort to win back Congress. But it’s real.

Probably, hands down, the worst president they ever had.

Will Fox News North make Canadians love Harper, even if we boot him out? I don't know what to say to that. I never thought we'd be in this shape in just 4 1/2 years.

Machine Guns and Out Houses. Welcome to the New Canada

News from the "New Canada" just keeps getting weirder.

Apparently a Harper dictatorship means no questions from reporters, sub-machine guns on Parliament Hill and no bathroom breaks for women unless they can pee behind a tree.

I know all of this means something, but I've given up trying to figure out what Harper is doing.

I mean seriously. If you walked into someones office or their home and saw that every inch of wall space was covered with snapshots of themselves, what would you do?

a. Avert your eyes.

b. Call the doctor.

c. Run for your life.

d. All of the above

Reporters forced to hold it in during PM's visit
Mounties order female reporters out of the loo during Harper announcement

Washroom access at Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Wednesday announcement at an Ontario highway maintenance yard was so restricted, female reporters were at one point ordered out of the john while trying to relieve themselves. Later, a larger group of women were held back from the bathrooms until Harper had cleared the immediate vicinity.

And I wouldn't mess with the RCMP. They will no longer just rough you up, but they will now be packing sub-machine guns. You'd better start wearing Depends because seeing an RCMP with one of those guarding the loo, will make you pee in your pants.

The RCMP will give its Parliament Hill detachment officers some extra firepower, after deciding to bring previously purchased submachine guns back into service.

RCMP Sgt. Greg Cox confirmed to CTV.ca that the Mounties intend to bring their Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns back into service as "secondary weapons," ending weapons training for officers. He said the RCMP must also decide on how to store the weapons securely, while also ensuring that they are accessible to officers.

And if you think those stories are strange, we also learned that Stephen Harper personally approved of allowing a terrorist to visit the Rock.

I told you the "New Canada" was weird.

Harper approved planned stopover for Libya's Gadhafi

OTTAWA — A new document shows Prime Minister Stephen Harper personally approved Moammar Gadhafi's planned stopover in Newfoundland last fall. The green light came even as the Harper government was rebuking the Libyan leader for supporting a convicted terrorist.

Gadhafi eventually cancelled his planned Canadian stop in St. John's, Newfoundland, after the Prime Minister's Office said he would be scolded for throwing a party for a man jailed in the Lockerbie bombing. But internal emails obtained by The Canadian Press reveal it was Harper himself who gave Gadhafi's visit the go-ahead.

Gotta' love a dictatorship. I know I'm pretty pumped.

When Canada was a democracy I used to love this song. We didn't know how lucky we were.

Did You Ever Wonder Just How Narcissistic Stephen Harper Really Was?

Facebook group now at 202,063 members, and the numbers of rallies across the country is growing. There are also rallies planned in New York, Dallas and London, England. Guess they are concerned with the death of democracy in Canada too, so are lending their support.

One thing nice about the group is that Canadians across the country are sharing their stories, but I have to admit this next one kind of scared me.

Journalist Murray Dobbin once wrote:

It seems irrefutable to me after 20 years of analyzing the career of Stephen Harper that he is incapable of providing democratic governance.

Harper arguably shows some traits of what psychologists refer to as malignant narcissism, a dangerously heightened sense of self importance.

Otto Kernberg, a leader in the study of personality disorders, describes malignant narcissism as "extreme self-absorption and insensitivity that often result in a trail of victims -- emotional wreckage left in the narcissist's wake." The victims Kernberg refers to are, of course, individuals, but in our case the principal victim is the Canadian nation -- its humanist accomplishments, its art and culture, the foundation of its science, its international standing and its democratic governance. ..

Well this next story certainly proves that theory. Did you know that he took down the art work and replaced it with pictures of himself? He is one sick puppy.

Model Parliament
By Elizabeth May
January 26, 2008

A week ago Friday I served as Speaker of the House for the Queens University Model Parliament. It was a wonderful opportunity to be with bright and engaged
young people – several hundred of them.

And, as often as I have been in the House of Commons, I have never before spent an hour in the Speaker’s Chair. The Queens annual model Parliament runs for several days in the period when the House is not in session. It was a "model" Parliament in many ways. About half of the MPs were women, as opposed to the 20.8% women in the real – and far from model – Parliament ....

..Why must the images of Stephen Harper be ubiquitous. Is he afraid his caucus will forget who is in charge? Not likely. Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols. Someone can figure out what it means that these images dominate. The one thing I know is that it means something.