Vindication or Resignation!

PM the PM went to the media dogs again today, appearing on CTV's Question Period in the morning and CBC's Cross Country Check Up by the afternoon/evening. Press conferences, television shows, radio call in sessions, such is the life of a leader facing a question of credibility. Mr. Martin, who has been earnestly portraying himself as the sheriff best able to clean up Dodge, faced a rather well versed audience on the Rex Murphy gabfest. He listened intensely, as caller after caller expressed shock, disappointment and well expressed outrage over the latest financial mess out of Ottawa.

His energetic agenda, that of those halcyon Bono days at the Liberal convention, has seemingly been tossed into a back corner of the PMO, as he struggles to gain the high ground in the all enveloping scandal. He offered the suggestion that this current situation offers up a window of change for his party, the government and the country. About an hour into the two hour session, he invoked the memory of his late father, Paul Martin Sr., the much respected Liberal statesman of days of yore. Providing the opinion that like his father, he believes strongly in the spirit of public service, for the good of the nation. Expressing the sentiment that he didn't get into politics to play the kind of games currently being discussed by the nation, played by an elite crew, on a business as usual basis. He said, if he can't change that culture then, he would get out. Pretty strong words, but ones which you may be inclined to give him a bit of acknowledgment for.

Some callers questioned his comments about the integrity of Jean Chretien. Early on in the interview, Martin expressed admiration of the former Prime Minister and said he was a man of great integrity. Now one wonders if he truly believes that in his heart, or was taking the high road of debate in this tense time. Only he, himself will know. However, you must wonder just how he long he might wish to defend the regime that created this crisis. If indeed, he was on the outside looking in on the shenanigans, it would serve him well to let the "chips fall as they will" a comment he stated during the interview.

As a regular follower of A Town Called Podunk would know, I have been trying to finish off the book Juggernaut by Susan Delacourt. My tardiness on completion, is no reflection of Ms. Delacourt's talents, rather it's my consumption with this blog. But, what I have digested thus far from it, shows almost a parallel governance system in place over the last five years or so. Truly, it's not hard to believe, that he may very well not have had any hard proof, of the skullduggery happening in the advertising world of Quebec. Surely he must have suspected that things weren't particularly transparent, but he may not have been at the table when he cheques were cut.

The book paints a disturbing picture of petty bickering and churlish behaviour from the troops of both men. In his press conference of a few days ago, Mr. Martin suggested that things were not particularly rosy between he, Prime Minister Chretien and his circle of advisors. If you skim the chapters of Juggernaut, you'll have that little tidbit flushed out in full for you. While not wanting to become a shill for an author, heading to your local bookstore or library and picking it up, will give you some excellent background on the animosity that percolated in both camps in the last five years.

The Prime Minister says that the accountability of the issue is his and his alone to solve. Having faced the wrath of the callers he expressed his personal anger, shock and dismay at the situation and vowed that he would get to the bottom of the scandal. As the talk show wound down, Martin expressed the belief that anyone found to have had knowledge of falsifying documents, kiting cheques and such, should resign, he or anyone else. The country he wishes to continue to govern will be taking him at his word, playing his words back to him at some time in the future, if we don't get the answers we are demanding today.