This thing has legs

I am surprised how the David Emerson affair has dominated the Canadian news for the week's cycle and shows ever likelihood of being a dominant weekend story as well. The weekend papers should have been filled with a preview of the new government, assessment of the Cabinet and front bench, etc. in addition to reports of the opening of the winter Olympics in Turin. Instead, we are getting damming comments from Conservative backbenchers condemning their new colleague for crossing the floor and echoing the call-in-radio listeners' call for his resignation and a by-election. And reports of a brewing scandal involving the NHL and illegal gambling.Stephen Harper has squandered his first week in office and prematurely terminated what should have been his honeymoon period. He has evaded the media since Monday morning to avoid questions about Anderson and his appointment of M Fortier to the Senate. I thought it would be the latter action that would receive the most negative press but the Emerson story has been the one the public can really sink its teeth into. It’s has to be a better start than the Opposition could have hoped for and bodes well for a weak and short lived government – I hope.