Democratic Deficits and Conspiracies?

I will leave the leader of the opposition, for the present, floundering and foundering in the Straits of Malacca. Gladstone, 1874

The Liberals, in their much-reduced numbers - but briefly joyful at the delirious prospect that they could command public demands for a reinterpretation of the last election and sufficient outrage at the presumed organized malfeasance of the Conservative party which enabled them to achieve a majority - are now foundering and floundering in their very own Straits of Malacca.

The chagrined, now sad-and-sorry Bob Rae, interim leader anticipating the achievement of full and unequivocal leadership of a strengthened party, whose vigilance on behalf of Canadians against the malevolent plans of the Conservatives would lead the Liberals back to victory and majority status once again, met his Malacca in the impetuously ill-advised activities of one of their own.

So, sigh, it's back to those robotic calls, but the fire has expired, and the outrage somewhat less outrageous because while it is still representative of underhanded and illegal activities in Canada disrupting an election campaign by misdirecting voters, it's a long haul to prove there was an organized conspiracy.

Even though the opposition has challenged Prime Minister Harper to prove that his Conservatives did not organize said underhanded activity. As though it is up to the prime minister to muster all his resources to investigate charges the opposition has laid at his doorstep, grossly inflating a situation that obviously occurred with no input whatever from official Conservative sources.

Although the Conservatives are accused of having hugely profited from the 'robocalls' it is not at all clear that they ever did. There are tens of thousands of polling stations all over the country. Elections Canada itself for whatever reason moved the location of several hundred polling stations. Who knows whether those moved stations are being used as examples by people thinking they were misled.

During an election, and closer to the election as the days close in, people receive numerous calls, many of them classified by most on the receiving end, as nuisance calls, wheedling volunteers attempting to sell their particular party to a would-be voter. Some come right out to demand to know for whom the householder will be voting, when it's none of their business.

These are all nuisance calls for those who do not wish to be bothered. Some ask whether people are aware where their polling station is located. People can later recall and misconstrue calls. All of which leaves ample room for questioning the veracity of many complaints. That some 'robocalls' did go out with mischief in mind seems undeniable.

That they were issued on direct orders from the Conservative campaign is beyond questionable. There are many unanswered questions. And there is the undeniable fact that the parties in opposition hunger after, salivate for, any and all opportunities to quarrel with and accuse the governing party of incompetence and activities harmful to Canada's best interests.

As though occupying Parliament with continual petty, bad-tempered and juvenile antics comprise instances where they are themselves are being accountable as Parliamentarians responsive to Canada's needs.