This is just a very brief diary -- a pointer, really, to the excellent Canadian bloggers who have been covering it and exploiting it, and who deserve all credit.
Yesterday, the leader of the NDP was asking questions in the House of Commons about Canada's involvement in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Harper is besotted with playing soldier, often wearing uniforms and insignia to which he has no right, and there have been rumors that he was going to try to keep Canadian forces in Afghanistan past their announced date of departure. You know, just so someone could feel like a Great Military Leader. But the questions were far more polite than that.... banal. Canadian, you might say.
Harper's response? For that, go below the NDP-orange cast iron Art Nouveau bear trap.....
Instead of answering the question, Harper accused the NDP of being on Hitler's side in the Second World War.
I kid you not. That sound you just heard, the echoing boom, was Godwin's head exploding with megaton force.
And what was the basis for this, er, very original charge?
That when Canada declared war on Germany in 1939, the leader of the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), J. S. Woodsworth, who was a cleric and an absolute pacifist, had voted against the resolution, although he released CCF MPs to vote their consciences and they all voted "for." Since the CCF is one of the ancestors of the NDP (which was not founded until after the Second World War), therefore the 21st Century NDP is a Hitlerite organization.
QED!
Well, not quite.
Canadians have been left with the distinct impression that their Dear Leader is losing what passes for his mind.
Of course, it doesn't help that polls are showing he'd have trouble being elected dogcatcher if there was a vote today. Only 20% of the people in the country are willing to tell an anonymous pollster that they trust Harper, which perhaps not by coincidence is about the same percentage as think The DaVinci Code is a history text.
And some naughty person started up a Twitter tag, #HarperHistory, to investigate what other "crimes" the NDP might be chargeable with, at least in Harper country:
The #NDP fiddled while Rome burned. #HarperHistory
Greg Burrellivanvector
the NDP bought Nero his first fiddle. that's what happens when you support arts & culture. #HarperHistory
Dorianneheadonist
Innocent Eve and the apple? NDP snake. #HarperHistory
leppyleppy
The NDP were completely useless in the War of 1812. #HarperHistory
Chad ForrestC_Forrest
#HarperHistory. The NDP faked the moon landing
Jeremy Wallacetwiggets
7 hours ago
"The NDP refused to come to the aid of men when Mordor invaded Gondor." #HarperHistory
Karl BélangerKarlBelanger
Harper's nucking futz. So far round the bend now that I can see a palace revolt in his future, by Conservatives who don't appreciate the chance of being tarred and feathered by enraged mobs.
And thank you to my source for the above information here and to all the other Canadian bloggers who are presently wondering what zoo this fellow escaped from.
PS: I can't resist reproducing from the above source what the Prime Minister of Canada said about Woodsworth's vote against the war:
"There are few men in this Parliament for whom I have greater respect than the leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. I admire him in my heart, because time and again he has had the courage to say what lays on his conscience, regardless of what the world might think of him. A man of that calibre is an ornament to any Parliament."
Those were the days.....