NEW FROM THE HARPER INDEX:

CASEY AT THE BAT:

Despite statements by Peter McKay that the vote of former Conservative MP Bill Casey against the federal budget was a "surprise" the Harper government's policies have been challenged by this independent minded MP before. Casey even gave statements that implied that other Conservative MPs tried to stall him in a committee room so that he would have no chance to register his disapproval of what most Maritimers see as a renunciation of the Atlantic Accord. In power the record of Steven Harper has shown him to be the precise opposite of what he advocated as a reformer. The party now controls the MP, and the leader controls the party.

Twice before Casey has criticized Harper's policies. The first time was when Liberal turncoat David Emerson was welcomed into Stevie's Cabinet, showing the sort of opportunism and graft that the Conservatives had criticized in the Liberals mere weeks before. Last February Casey also got on Stevie's bad side for awarding aerospace contracts to Quebec instead of to Casey's riding. It used to be standard Reform rhetoric that the MP should actually represent their constituents and not bow to party demands. I guess that that is just another thing that is only said in opposition.

Drop on over to the Harper Index at http://www.harperindex.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=0052

to read more about Stevie's latest failure to make his MPs into a flock of sheep.