Toews, your Honour
Late last week, there was a flurry of stories about the future of federal Treasury Board president Vic Toews -- specifically, whether he was being considered for a judge-ship in his home province of Manitoba.
In Saturday's National Post, columnist Don Martin also let drop another, somewhat delicate angle to this whole line of speculation -- the fact that Toews may be looking to exit the Ottawa hothouse because of a messy divorce and a child born to a "much younger woman."
This was news to me when I first heard it on Friday night, but apparently it's the worst-kept secret in Ottawa.
Toews was asked about all of this today. Here's the video, in which he neither confirms nor denies a thing.
Note the careful, repetitive use of the word "intend to" -- a patented way of avoiding saying what he "will" do. Politicians often use the word "intend" when they haven't finalized their real plans.
Do you think he "intended to" get the young Conservative staffer pregnant also? Or was that a "will do"?
Watching him squirm in that interview, it was like he'd been taking evasiveness lessons from Peter Van Loan.
Posted by: Richard McGuire | May 20, 2008 at 07:41 PM
Oops Susan - your friend Don from the "Calgary Herald" not the "National Post" - at least not in your link - will no doubt be razzing you on Friday's Don Newman Politics for that...
But I digress...
Yup - I can see the PMO's communcations group polishing up the old Trudeau quote - and spinning it some - "Government should stay out of the bedrooms of the nation"...but they seem to think it means "Media should stay out of the bedrooms of government"....
Kudos to Don Martin for having the cohones to break that one...
Posted by: Wascally Wabbit | May 21, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Wow, a sex scandal involving a prominent government official! Haven't seen something like this in Canada's media since, oh... Thursday. Let me save everyone the trouble (and not a few trees in the process): 1. IT POINTS TO HIS BAD JUDGEMENT, SO IT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE!; 2. IT'S PERSONAL AND EVEN POLITICIANS ARE ENTITLED TO IRON OUT SUCH ISSUES IN PRIVATE. SO MOVE ON. 3. (An image of a pool of salacious drool, whatever the topic.) Pick one, but for God's sake, please don't feel obligated to tell us what it is. Thank you. Hope this helps.
Posted by: mikaru (apparently) | May 21, 2008 at 09:26 AM
What has become of the media, geez if I wanted coverage of "gossip" I'd get a subscription to frank mag.
keep up the great work .....er gossip
Posted by: bob ward | May 21, 2008 at 10:40 AM
A Second kick at the Toews can, if you please...Ms. Delacourt..
Bob Ward's point is well taken, but from another perspective..
Considering the topic, Michael Bate over at Frank must be kicking HIMSELF that Don Martin can smilingly claim "You heard it here first!"
Posted by: Wascally Wabbit | May 22, 2008 at 06:14 AM