Harper Tries to Con Quebecers

With Conservative party poll numbers dropping in Quebec thanks to Steve's endorsement of Israel's so-called 'measured' response to the capture of two of their soldiers which set off this war that's now obliterating Lebanon, the PM is trying to con les Quebecois by trying out a kindler, gentler line.

CORNWALL, Ont. (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper stepped back from his initial assessment of Israeli attacks as "measured," telling a Quebec television station Friday that things have changed and such judgments are more difficult.

"Frankly, we were talking about three weeks ago when Hezbollah took Israeli soldiers hostage, and an initial response," Harper told the TVA network.

"But now we have a completely different situation from three weeks ago, as I've said many times. We have a full-blown conflict, almost a war, and it's hard to say whether a response is proportional to another. It's a war."

'Almost a war'. 'It's a war'. Which is it?

And, just how much denial can Steve live in before it all comes caving in on him? Does he not realize that there are international laws that define proportionality and that Israel's reaction was inappropriate right from the start? Apparently not.

Harper repeatedly pointed to a resolution by G8 nations at their meeting three weeks ago, which condemned Hezbollah for its attacks against Israel and thereby igniting the latest conflict.

But it also called on Israel to show the "utmost restraint" in dealing with the crisis. Harper did not refer to that part of the resolution.

Well, of course he didn't because he's counting on his new friendship with George and his sockpuppet Tony to get him through this. The only problem with that strategy is that neither of those buddies can actually vote in Canada and most Canadians oppose Steve's support of Israel.

So, while he may think that going on TV in Quebec, trying to convince Quebecers and the rest of the country that he actually knows what the hell he's talking about or thinking that this farce is somehow a winning strategy, just wait until the next elections roll around. Then he'll find out what a 'measured' response to his refusal to face reality is really all about.