Roundup: In danger of losing the plot

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As Nigel Wright’s testimony wrapped up in the Duffy trial yesterday, I am going to confess that I have pretty much lost the plot at this point. I’m having a hard time seeing what the point of Donald Bayne’s cross-examination was, and how anything Wright did somehow excused Duffy either claiming those expenses, or accepting the cheque in the end. Trying to establish a broad conspiracy that may or may not include the prime minister’s current chief of staff is salacious political gossip, which may or may not go to the prime minister’s judgement in the people he surrounds himself with, but for the life of me, I can’t see how this is relevant to the trial. Yes, people lied and covered up what happened – politically relevant, perhaps, but legally? I’m still having a hard time following where Bayne is going in this. Meanwhile, Aaron Wherry offers some ideas about what may constitute political scandal in the whole ClusterDuff affair – seeing as some are starting to express doubts that there is one – while Andrew Coyne expresses faux sympathy for Harper, who has been deceived by those closest to him for so long.

On the campaign:

  • Stephen Harper promised further cuts to red tape, never mind his previous legislation on the topic was largely symbolic.
  • Thomas Mulcair promised funds for more RCMP officers, though there’s no real evidence that we’re under-policed currently.
  • Justin Trudeau promised flexible hours and parental benefits for federally regulated workplaces, but no real guarantee employers would grant it.
  • Here is the Wednesday campaign roundup.

Good reads:

  • In the Duffy trial, and we can look forward to former PMO lawyer Benjamin Perrin today. (Cobb and O’Malley here).
  • Perrin, incidentally, is regarded as a “hero” by the US State Department on the subject of human trafficking.
  • Apparently Peter Penashue is contemplating another run, which may indicate the state of the party in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Here’s a look at third party groups registered by Elections Canada to advertise through the writ period.
  • Senate Speaker Housakos has checked in with the Senate Ethics Officer about the investigation into Senator Meredith, which is proceeding according to set timelines.
  • Aaron Wherry writes about stage managed campaigns and partisans heckling journalists.
  • Paul Wells writes about Harper’s Duffy problem, and his deeper problem of his style of government.

Odds and ends:

Here are exit interviews with MPs Ted Hsu, and Irwin Cotler.

Thomas Mulcair defended his 2001 praise of Margaret Thatcher as “good public administration.”

CBC dug through their archives to find campaign hecklers of elections past.