Dispatches from the Civil War

Sheila Copps has been one busy little correspondent. The former Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister during the Chretien years has found herself gainful employment as a scribbler (or key pounder I guess) for the Sun newspaper chain. Which is an unusual alliance if ever there was, but I digress.

Ms. Copps has weighed in on the topic on most Canadians minds these days, the corruption scandal explored in the Gomery Commission and the Civil War raging anew in the Liberal Party of Canada.

Sheila put out three columns since October 30th, each one exploring a twist in the Gomery debate. Her October 30th column suggested that the outcome of Gomery would be that of a finger of blame being pointed at her old boss.

The November 2nd column laughed out loud at the concept of PM the PM not having a clue as to what had transpired in the advertising program, during his days as Finance Minister. Copps finds it hard to believe that Mr. Martin was so uninformed during that period of time. She outlined many of the talking points used by Jean Chretien in his speech in rebuttal of Gomery, the use of a Mulroney aide as lead counsel in the investigation, the link to Gomery's daughter at a law firm and other similar points as made by Chretien. You can almost see the courier from Eddie Goldenberg's office with the Coles Notes for Sheila. My favourite line in this column was "Four years later, we still do not have the whole story behind this huge betrayal of the values of the Liberal Party." Well Geez, Sheila maybe share some remembrances of your time around the Cabinet table, surely you must have heard a rumbling or two while you were busy ordering Canadian flags.

The most recent article from November 6th examines the backrooms of the Liberal party. A place where apparently long time Liberal loyalists are on the verge of burning their party memberships, so shocked are they at the machinations of the Martin crew. She suggests that Canadians are more than cynical about politicians, (well who would have thought that, hell during Sheila's time that cynicism probably took quantum leaps) and wonders how that will play out in the next election. Of that election she says that many of the True Grits, may end up sitting out the battle. She wonders aloud how the Prime Minister might win an election if he's busy blowing up half of his party. Which would be a valid point if it came from someone else.

Copps' dislike of the Martin management style is well documented, her battle with Martin loyalist Tony Valeri set a new standard in blood feuds. Now with her new platform Sheila has a chance to revise a bit of Liberal history. Martin forces bad, Chretien people good, seems to be her short hand for the masses.

Those people that are worried about Jean Chretien's reputation getting tarnished over the next little while, have nothing to worry about. As long as Sheila has access to a word processor program and an internet connection, the little guy from Shawinigan has a rewrite gal on hand ready to deflect the storm back into the face of Paul Martin.