Abusing Military Assets
He's just avoiding confrontations. And unfair accusations. As a Minister of the Crown he can do that, evade uncomfortable queries, particularly when he is of the opinion that it's all been settled. Suppose it has; except that these things have a nasty habit of popping up again when they're least expected to. Perhaps that's reason enough to behave with complete rectitude at all times.
Particularly when it comes to the delicate option of sparing unnecessary tax dollars in support of an unhealthy ego. Whatever is done in the public sphere does, sooner or later, come to the attention of the public, thanks to a open media that loves to indulge its penchant for digging up stories that will be of interest to the public, and by contrast, of pain to the oblivious.
The question is, why should someone of the stature of Defence Minister Peter MacKay feel oblivious to the fact that he can feel entitled to being handled with expensive kid gloves by the military because he is their political overseer? Well, the public is Peter MacKay's political overseer; voted him in, and scrutinizing his performance from every angle, finding him dodgy.
The angle of entitlement to spend $16,000 of scarce tax dollars by demanding he be flown to Gander airport from a private fishing lodge at Gander River in Newfoundland did not come as particularly thrilling news to those who find it inappropriate for someone in public office to indulge their every whim at everyone else's expense.
There were messages sent back and forth with military officials recommending a negative response to Minister MacKay's insistence that a search-and-rescue helicopter be dispatched to pick him up, rather than that he seek alternate methods of taking himself off to a conference. In his own defence he painted a picture of diligence to duty, the need to save time.
Minister MacKay was not impressed with the suggestions that using a helicopter for that purpose might turn out to be a political hot potato if it was ever divulged. And he's engaging in juvenile tit-for-tat, turning in a Liberal for having taken a similar flight; on the way 'forgetting' that his office ordered that flight to expose said liberal to the military's search-and-rescue capabilities.
Sadly, it's too late to rescue Peter MacKay reputation as an astute and honest man, although he has turned out to be an able and capable politician.
Particularly when it comes to the delicate option of sparing unnecessary tax dollars in support of an unhealthy ego. Whatever is done in the public sphere does, sooner or later, come to the attention of the public, thanks to a open media that loves to indulge its penchant for digging up stories that will be of interest to the public, and by contrast, of pain to the oblivious.
The question is, why should someone of the stature of Defence Minister Peter MacKay feel oblivious to the fact that he can feel entitled to being handled with expensive kid gloves by the military because he is their political overseer? Well, the public is Peter MacKay's political overseer; voted him in, and scrutinizing his performance from every angle, finding him dodgy.
The angle of entitlement to spend $16,000 of scarce tax dollars by demanding he be flown to Gander airport from a private fishing lodge at Gander River in Newfoundland did not come as particularly thrilling news to those who find it inappropriate for someone in public office to indulge their every whim at everyone else's expense.
There were messages sent back and forth with military officials recommending a negative response to Minister MacKay's insistence that a search-and-rescue helicopter be dispatched to pick him up, rather than that he seek alternate methods of taking himself off to a conference. In his own defence he painted a picture of diligence to duty, the need to save time.
Minister MacKay was not impressed with the suggestions that using a helicopter for that purpose might turn out to be a political hot potato if it was ever divulged. And he's engaging in juvenile tit-for-tat, turning in a Liberal for having taken a similar flight; on the way 'forgetting' that his office ordered that flight to expose said liberal to the military's search-and-rescue capabilities.
Sadly, it's too late to rescue Peter MacKay reputation as an astute and honest man, although he has turned out to be an able and capable politician.
Labels: Government of Canada, Human Fallibility
posted by Pieface | 6:19 PM
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