Ok, a reality check on the elbow jab felt around the world.
Justin Trudeau’s inexplicable actions yesterday were not a criminal assault or gender-based violence. They were not comparable to the actions of a drunk driver, an abusive boss or Vladimir Putin.
And to suggest, as one NDP MP did, that the prime minister’s actions makes women feel unsafe in the House of Commons seems a severe stretch, particularly for MPs who know real fear having survived a gunman shooting outside their caucus doors.
Yet all of those were allegations leveled against Trudeau for his hotheaded, profane, over-reaction to silly games being played by the NDP, who were clearly obstructing the Conservative whip from doing his duty.
For hours they ranted today, blasting away and revving up each other’s anger and angst to demand penance and punishment beyond all proportion to (the) Trudeau’s bizarre transgression.
Even so, there’s cause for concern as a line was clearly crossed beyond the territorial division in the House of Commons.
To dash into enemy territory to grab an opposition MP so the MP could perform a ritual which was not actually required for the vote to proceed, signals Trudeau’s undisciplined impatience.
To do it with such gusto that the prime minister accidently delivered a sharp elbow jab to a female MP, suggests anger in need of better management.
Combined, it’s at stark odds with the smiling selfie Trudeau personality being projected to the world. His brand has clearly taken a hit, at least for the short term.
But there were positive developments as the government rushed to throw in the towel on the thrilla on the hilla.
Liberals who elected to channel sunshine into the toxic political environment created by Harper era control freaks, had planned to bring in dark procedural arts to run roughshod over opposition voting and Commons adjournments. They humbly cancelled that controversial motion this afternoon.
And I’m betting that their nasty habit of regularly cutting off debate will be saved for emergencies from now on.
So as Trudeau’s third round of sincere-sounding apologies gushed forth today, opposition forces would be wise to accept his contrition and declare the procedural retreat as sufficient punishment.
Ironically, Prime Minister Trudeau defeated his own government’s big plans as he recklessly over-reacted to win a meaningless vote.
That’s the Last Word...
