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>>>Colin Powell has since expressed public contrition for his role in that. He didn't use these words -- ever the diplomat -- but it was clear he felt he had been used as a stooge. Knowing Powell to be a proud, capable man, for me that was the last nail in the coffin of this ridiculous administration. To the neocons all around him Powell was "weak" for wanting to exhaust diplomatic means before invading. Imagine that!
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>>Yes, and I sure feel sadness for the guy every time I see him now.
>
>What are Canadian politics like? I never hear anything about it.

It's a lot like politics in the U.S. Our politics used to be more civilised than lately, but we have our fair share of corrupt politicians, opportunists, backstabbers, mudslingers etc. We appoint committees to create panels for deciding on how to set up committees to look into things that the government doesn't want to look into. We have our share of stupidity at high levels. We once had a health and wellfare minister who advised the poor to buy dented tins of tuna because they would be cheaper. In the health department and never heard of botulism.

We just got through the first part of the 'Gomery commission' report on how our politicians set up a fund for sponsoring events in Quebec supposedly to show Quebecers how good it is to be part of Canada. Most of the money went into the pockets of the administrators and their good friends to the tune of something like $350,000,000.00 Canadian. His final conclusion is pretty much that the previous prime minister and his small cadre of cronies well and truly ripped off the Canadian public.

Now two of the other parties, the Conservatives (previously known as the Reform Party, previously known as the Social Credit party) and the Partie Quebecois want to bring down the current government (a minority government) on a non-confidence vote thus causing a new election around Christmas,for which they believe the citizenry will thank them. The Partie Quebecois stands to gain seats in a new election, but according to the latest polls, the Conservatives stand to lose seats. Why do the conservatives then want a new election? I guess they think it'll be fun.

The NDP (New Democratic party) is willing to back the current government on the promise of certain concessions. I think the technical term is 'blackmail'.

The great thing about Canadian politicians is that no matter what happens; no matter how bad something is, we at least have the satisfaction of knowing without doubt that it was somebody else's fault (usually the previous administration - even if the previous administration is still the current administration).