Poor Defence Minister Graham looked like he ate the cat when interviewed on CBC Newsworld's Politics this evening. Don Martin, doing his best
Tim Russert impression, actually held MP Graham's feet to fire regarding past comments he made in support of BMD. Here is what he said in the fall.
..."This is not Iraq, this is not an engagement somewhere else. This is about North America. I think it's very important for us to be associated in any program that deals with the defence of North America," Mr. Graham told CanWest News in an exclusive interview at his Toronto constituency office. "I think Canada will regret it if we don't participate."
..."Whether it's Republican or Democrat down there, we want them to look us in the eye and say, we're your partner," Mr. Graham said. "In my view, it diminishes our sovereignty significantly by not being a participant."
..."It's not about American domestic politics. It's about North American security," Mr. Graham said. "We can't afford to draw a border between Canada and the United States when it comes to defence of the continent of North America. We're seamlessly connected and we have to reinforce that."
Watching Mr. Graham twist in the wind made me think about the leadership of PM Martin. First he orchestrates a palace coup and gets PM Chretien to resign. Then he punishes Sheila Copps from running against him. Some have speculated that Ken Dryden is a future leader candidate but the lack of firm funding for daycare has him twisting. PM Martin has decided to split International Trade and Foreign Affairs and simultaneously is doing the Foreign Affairs Ministers job...sorry about your luck Pierre Pettigrew.
Even Stephane Dion and Scott Brison have stand take a pounding on Kyoto and Sponsorship respectively. No potential new leader is going to get there unscathed.
