HARRIS: Here it comes: Trudeau Derangement Syndrome

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HARRIS: Here it comes: Trudeau Derangement Syndrome

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By Michael Harris | Dec 10, 2015 8:59 pm

It’s nice to see that Rona Ambrose managed to keep her word about a new tone in Parliament … for about a week.

‘Nannygate’ is for nincompoops. The new PM has shuffled responsibilities in the official household to add two nannies to help with the young kids. No additional cost to the public. Even the Canadian Taxpayers Federation affirmed that, without additional costs, this is not only a dog that won’t hunt, it’s a dead dog.

But the Conservatives couldn’t resist the urge to exploit this non-issue — and why would they try? They spent ten years in power playing smear-and-fear politics against anyone opposing Stephen Harper. The facts never mattered then and they don’t matter now. Trust me — whatever Ambrose says, this is still the party of Steve and it will stay his until they wrestle the remote control out of his cold, blue hands and change the channel.

One can already see the familiar attack lines emerging from the Official Opposition. They’re personal, hitting everything from borrowed baubles to glossy glam shots. Is Nannygate the first sign of Trudeau Derangement Syndrome? Do they really think they can skewer the new PM as a rich and entitled hypocrite for spending the same amount of money on his official household as his predecessor?

But wait … isn’t this the party that wanted to spend billions of taxpayers dollars on the doomed “cash for kids” program — even for rich people who didn’t need the help? And didn’t they backdate that election bribe by six months so that when the cheques showed up just before the election, opening the envelope was an unforgettable experience?

Nobody was surprised to see the newly-downsized Cons chirping about Trudeau’s recent spread in Vogue. Justin and Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau could be the world’s new political power couple. The point of attack against “the hottest first lady in the world” and her “hot” hubby could be the dress Sophie was wearing in the photo — an Oscar de la Renta creation. Someone will almost certainly ask why she wasn’t wearing a Canadian designer. You know, someone with the big issues in mind.

The Cons also would like to remind people about Justin’s Reefer Madness. But since Stephen Harper found time to pose for photos with a former crack-cocaine user during the dying days of Election 2015, maybe that wouldn’t be such a good idea. Still, we should expect a torrent of anti-marijuana fear mongering as legalization approaches from the same people who were (with the exception of Jason Kenney) stone-silent about Rob Ford’s crack use. Family values, you see.

And then there’s the excitement that Trudeau’s election is causing in the United States. He has hearts fluttering everywhere from The New York Times Magazine to the White House. Other world leaders say he’s already making a big impact. Not bad for a guy who ‘just wasn’t ready’. Beats the hell out of locking yourself in the bathroom, right?

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