David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Methinks folks should watch the circus in Ottawa that CBC is promoting right now and imagine Mr MacDonald's next opinion piece N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/03/trudeaus-verbal-porridge-and-serene.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/trudeau-talking-points-1.5044266
Trudeau's verbal porridge and serene smile have carried him along. Until now: Neil Macdonald
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
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Jessica Ma
Canadians need someone they
can respect representing them to the world, not a narcissistic boy that
has poor communication skills and twisted ideals.
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Neil Gregory
Neil Gregory
@Jessica Ma
True! Unfortunately he isn't that much different from Harper or Scheer or their counterparts at the Provincial level, Ford and Kenny.
True! Unfortunately he isn't that much different from Harper or Scheer or their counterparts at the Provincial level, Ford and Kenny.
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mo bennett
mo bennett
@Jessica Ma look Ma, no socks either.
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M K
M K
@Jessica Ma
Vast majority of Canadians are still taking a back seat to rural riding voting structure.
Conservatives would not even be taken seriously as party if the Canadian vote represented the population.
Vast majority of Canadians are still taking a back seat to rural riding voting structure.
Conservatives would not even be taken seriously as party if the Canadian vote represented the population.
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John Sollows
John Sollows
@Jessica Ma
Stephen Harper?
Andrew Scheer? Doug Ford? Jason Kenney?
Justin isn't perfect but please!
Stephen Harper?
Andrew Scheer? Doug Ford? Jason Kenney?
Justin isn't perfect but please!
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Taylor Sutherland
Taylor Sutherland
@John Sollows
That’s what worries me the most... as bad as Trudeau is, the alternatives are downright scary.
That’s what worries me the most... as bad as Trudeau is, the alternatives are downright scary.
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Brandon Hoffman
Brandon Hoffman
@M K oh, that would be
amazing, Quebec and Toronto deciding everything that happens in Canada.
They'd probably come up with a plan to tax Canada into being taken
seriously, haha
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Daniel McKay
Daniel McKay
@Jessica Ma I'm interested to
see what round 3 will present. Bernier's timing may turn out to be
impeccable - no trust in the Cons or Libs, the Dips are run by a man who
won't publicly place his religion behind his politics, the Greens are
still trying to be taken seriously by non-greennecks.
The PPC is a clean slate, unproven to be the same old party. My gut tells me they will prove to be the least unpalatable choice on the ballot, for many voters.
The PPC is a clean slate, unproven to be the same old party. My gut tells me they will prove to be the least unpalatable choice on the ballot, for many voters.
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Kevin Delaney
Kevin Delaney
@Jessica Ma
I often wonder who Team St Petersburg or Team Trump would like to see as Canada's PM. Team St Petersburg does not care really as Canada is just a nothing burger to Vladimir, more a training ground for his pro / con pot stirring posting team. Now, team Trump & his brand of Republicans... that is a different matter. That lot has issues with Nations who do have a socialist attitude towards the welfare of its citizens and Team Trump can only wish for an ultra Conservative Canadian government... which is... Never Going To Happen.
I often wonder who Team St Petersburg or Team Trump would like to see as Canada's PM. Team St Petersburg does not care really as Canada is just a nothing burger to Vladimir, more a training ground for his pro / con pot stirring posting team. Now, team Trump & his brand of Republicans... that is a different matter. That lot has issues with Nations who do have a socialist attitude towards the welfare of its citizens and Team Trump can only wish for an ultra Conservative Canadian government... which is... Never Going To Happen.
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Louren Organzo
Louren Organzo
@Daniel McKay
"My gut tells me they will prove to be the least unpalatable choice on the ballot, for many voters."
Maybe so but I think that all that will do is ensure the Liberals make it back in
"My gut tells me they will prove to be the least unpalatable choice on the ballot, for many voters."
Maybe so but I think that all that will do is ensure the Liberals make it back in
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Tony Walters
Tony Walters
@Jessica Ma "Canadians need someone they can respect representing them to the world"
Surely you can't be talking about Andy, so who did you have in mind?
Surely you can't be talking about Andy, so who did you have in mind?
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Daniel McKay
Daniel McKay
@Louren Organzo That's entirely possible, we'll see how far the Liberals fall before election day.
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Gorden Feist
Gorden Feist
@Jessica Ma "Canadians need
someone they can respect representing them to the world, not a
narcissistic boy that has poor communication skills and twisted ideals."
But I'm guessing you would be fine with Trump.
But I'm guessing you would be fine with Trump.
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David Amos
David Amos
@Jessica Ma Methinks that Mr
Macdonald can claim that Trudeau's charm carried him along but everybody
knows his buddy Gerry Butts carried the weight and pulled his strings
N'esy Pas?
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David Amos
@John Sollows "Justin isn't perfect but please!"
Methinks your point is that its ok to be corrupt because the others are worse N'esy Pas?
Methinks your point is that its ok to be corrupt because the others are worse N'esy Pas?
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Jan Böhmermann
Jan Böhmermann
@Jessica Ma
And who would that be?
And who would that be?
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David Amos
David Amos
@mo bennett YO MO Methinks you are enjoying the grilling of Gerry Butts as much as I N'esy Pas?
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David Amos
David Amos
@John Sollows Methinks its too bad so sad folks can't read my reply to you N'esy Pas?
JOHN CHUCKMAN
"Trudeau's verbal porridge"
My God, that's a strikingly accurate phrase.
My God, that's a strikingly accurate phrase.
Tom McLean
@JOHN CHUCKMAN
Porridge is good for you
Porridge is good for you
Albert Rising
@Tom McLean
Too much porridge just results in a lot of crap.
Too much porridge just results in a lot of crap.
Albert Rising
@Tom McLean
I’d hate to be at one of your dinner parties.
I’d hate to be at one of your dinner parties.
Tom McLean
@Albert Rising
Doubt it.. we have lots of fun
Doubt it.. we have lots of fun
Robin Trower
@JOHN CHUCKMAN
I love it when Neil unloads with both barrels.
More please.
I love it when Neil unloads with both barrels.
More please.
Guy Stone
@JOHN CHUCKMAN i appreciate
CBC for this article. Fairness is important - mix up positive and
negative viewpoints of all political parties
John Dirlik
@Robin Trower
Neil did a masterful job as CBC’s foreign correspondent in Jerusalem, earning him in Canada the wrath of that lobby that doesn’t exist, for that country that cannot be criticized.
Neil did a masterful job as CBC’s foreign correspondent in Jerusalem, earning him in Canada the wrath of that lobby that doesn’t exist, for that country that cannot be criticized.
David Amos
@John Dirlik I agree
David Amos
@JOHN CHUCKMAN I liked this
one obviously because methinks that lawyer and her buddy Joly will be
the nest to bail on Trudeau N'esy Pas?
"A few hours later, at a rally in Toronto to gin up support for a carbon tax, Trudeau made a manic entrance, grinning and high-fiving and flesh-pressing and trying to look happy, before grabbing Environment Minister Catherine McKenna in an awkward hug, and, puzzlingly, yelling, at a Liberal rally, "Are there any Liberals in the house?"
"A few hours later, at a rally in Toronto to gin up support for a carbon tax, Trudeau made a manic entrance, grinning and high-fiving and flesh-pressing and trying to look happy, before grabbing Environment Minister Catherine McKenna in an awkward hug, and, puzzlingly, yelling, at a Liberal rally, "Are there any Liberals in the house?"
Adam Gajewski
@JOHN CHUCKMAN
Justin Trudeau simply doesn't have the intellectual acuity to cope - that is coup de grâce.
Justin Trudeau simply doesn't have the intellectual acuity to cope - that is coup de grâce.
Jan Lenova
@JOHN CHUCKMAN
anything is better that the sludge "porridge" of Scheer and the 3 Little Bears, from the Conservatives.
anything is better that the sludge "porridge" of Scheer and the 3 Little Bears, from the Conservatives.
Jan Lenova
@JOHN CHUCKMAN
wow, the most liked Con post, is also the least deepest. -no surprise.
wow, the most liked Con post, is also the least deepest. -no surprise.
Trevor James
@Jan Lenova strawman argument, article is about JT
Jan Lenova
@Trevor James
so any "porridge" is a meaningful discussion.?
Article is about JT, your's is just more deflection and pomp.
so any "porridge" is a meaningful discussion.?
Article is about JT, your's is just more deflection and pomp.
@Jan Lenova "just more deflection and pomp.deflection and pomp."
Speaking of deflection I am watching Trudeau's buddy Gerry taking to parliament right now if he says 9000 jobs anymore methinks he will set a record about deflecting an issue N'esy Pas?
Speaking of deflection I am watching Trudeau's buddy Gerry taking to parliament right now if he says 9000 jobs anymore methinks he will set a record about deflecting an issue N'esy Pas?
Andrew Hillman
@Jan Lenova "the least deepest"?
With grammar like that, you must have been in one of JT's classes. At least he wasn't trying to teach you math - how to add a series of numbers to the closest "decibel"
With grammar like that, you must have been in one of JT's classes. At least he wasn't trying to teach you math - how to add a series of numbers to the closest "decibel"
André Carrel
@JOHN CHUCKMAN
How about this sentence featured in this report:
"Most, though, are just syrupy, unmemorable banalities about values and optimism and respect and caring for one another."
Would syrupy, unmemorable banalities apply to most media headlines as well? Word assemblies crafted for attention grabbing effect and little else?
How about this sentence featured in this report:
"Most, though, are just syrupy, unmemorable banalities about values and optimism and respect and caring for one another."
Would syrupy, unmemorable banalities apply to most media headlines as well? Word assemblies crafted for attention grabbing effect and little else?
André Carrel
@David Amos
What does n'esy pas mean?
What does n'esy pas mean?
Anton Pavlenko
@André Carrel
It's Davy's banal little signature.
It's Davy's banal little signature.
Mark Walen Cooper
@JOHN CHUCKMAN - What will be
the phrase to use for smiley? Sheer the insurance broker and waiter,
the kid who is not even 40 years old, with a BA to bang in history.
Len Evans
@JOHN CHUCKMAN
Verbal porridge would describe most political statements. What turns me is that he always tries to appear contrite. It seems to soft for my taste. I would prefer he stood strong behind the thought that his actions were what he felt were in the best interests of Canada. That I could support. I cant accept another teary eyed apology.
Verbal porridge would describe most political statements. What turns me is that he always tries to appear contrite. It seems to soft for my taste. I would prefer he stood strong behind the thought that his actions were what he felt were in the best interests of Canada. That I could support. I cant accept another teary eyed apology.
Claire Shellvick
@André Carrel I wish I could 'like' your question 100x; it is irritating to see it in almost every one of his comments.
Richard Sharp
No PM in the history of
Canada has offered himself up more often to Canadians at public events
without controls on entrance or questions, and without the assistance of
notes or a teleprompter, than Trudeau. He’s been asked thousands and
thousands of questions without knowing what they will be, and Neil
thinks they’re all covered off by memorized speaking points.
Neil piles on Trudeau like a hundred other corporate media journalists the past few weeks without the slightest interest in due process or all the facts, exposing their sometimes extreme anti-Trudeau biases. Too bad NONE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE and all will be right there reporting on the election this fall. How fair will they be? Not very.
Neil piles on Trudeau like a hundred other corporate media journalists the past few weeks without the slightest interest in due process or all the facts, exposing their sometimes extreme anti-Trudeau biases. Too bad NONE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE and all will be right there reporting on the election this fall. How fair will they be? Not very.
Moira Wilkinson
@Albert Rising
Like the conservative, Reform, Alliance Party?
Like the conservative, Reform, Alliance Party?
Moira Wilkinson
@David Amos
Codswallop
Codswallop
Moira Wilkinson
@Jan Lenova
I seebthe Merchant of Venom was in the room today.
I seebthe Merchant of Venom was in the room today.
Craig Sweeney
All virtue, no substance. This whole fiasco is devolving into a huge embarrassment for this Country. In the end we all lose.
Tom McLean
@Craig Sweeney
You are so wrong, its hard to think of where to start
You are so wrong, its hard to think of where to start
Ed Norton
@Craig Sweeney
Of course, the big question is whether Andrew Scheer is prime ministerial material.
And of course, their is the issue of whether Conservative policies and ideology are palatable to the majority of the Canadian electorate.
I am self-defined centrist but lean progressive. I am not, and may never be ready, to vote for the Conservative party.
Of course, the big question is whether Andrew Scheer is prime ministerial material.
And of course, their is the issue of whether Conservative policies and ideology are palatable to the majority of the Canadian electorate.
I am self-defined centrist but lean progressive. I am not, and may never be ready, to vote for the Conservative party.
Mike Scott
@Ed Norton I will take him over the clown show in town now.
Travis Ladwin
@Mike Scott
Don't pretend like it would have been different no matter who was leading the Cons.
Don't pretend like it would have been different no matter who was leading the Cons.
Kevin Delaney
@Craig Sweeney
The virtue was a sham.
The virtue was a sham.
Gorden Feist
@Craig Sweeney "In the end we all lose."
We certainly will if the end result is another Conservative government.
We certainly will if the end result is another Conservative government.
David Amos
@Craig Sweeney "In the end we all lose."
Methinks as an Independent candidate who has lost in 6 elections thus far I have the right to say that democracy and justice are not about political party leaders losing their masks of virtue N'esy Pas?
Methinks as an Independent candidate who has lost in 6 elections thus far I have the right to say that democracy and justice are not about political party leaders losing their masks of virtue N'esy Pas?
Mark Walen Cooper
@Craig Sweeney - What would that be? You want embarrassment look south.
Richard Sharp
@Craig Sweeney
Maybe today’s testimony demonstrating that JWR has been caught up in a dozen or more lies and exagérations will begin to change Canadians’ minds, despite the best efforts of Trudeau haters who will NEVER relent in their attacks.
Maybe today’s testimony demonstrating that JWR has been caught up in a dozen or more lies and exagérations will begin to change Canadians’ minds, despite the best efforts of Trudeau haters who will NEVER relent in their attacks.
John Chow
@Richard Sharp
Was she?
Was she?
Glen West
@Richard Sharp The biggest
exagération caught up today was the claim by the PMO and the Clerk of
Privy Council that a DPA was warranted due to the 9000 jobs at stake to
be lost at SNC Lavalin. A number that neither of them could say where
the source of the number came from or whether it was assessed or
verified by the Government of Canada. Most of the rationale to continue
to suggest the AG reconsider her decision not to pursue a DPA was based
on potential job losses that are apparently not real. I wonder how
many Canadians will see this as a scam engineered by the government?
Paul Reed
Trudeau started with an open floor, and has painted himself into a corner. It’s just a matter of time now.
Tom McLean
@Paul Reed
Its always a matter of time
Its always a matter of time
Jack Cochrane
@Paul Reed soon after he was
elected I told many friends and relatives to give him enough rope and he
will hang himself and that's exactly what happened. He was never
qualified to handle a majority government and Canada really, really
needs to look seriously at it's system of government that lacks the
checks and balances necessary to allow such a system of democracy. Far
too much power given to a group far too unqualified.
Michael Flinn
@Paul Reed Not true - Trudeau was the problem from the beginning - and we elected him anyway - out of pique.
Kevin Delaney
@Paul Reed
Agree. A personal lack of political depth and a failed PMO got him to a self-dug-hole that he cannot dig himself out of. In fact he will most likely dig it deeper. So where does Canada go from here??
In my opinion Canada's best outcome is a minority government coming out of Oct 2019. Force a Leadership change in all 3 Parties. Force a policy review in all three Parties. Our smaller political Parties are narrowly focused and incapable of total perspective government. Our 3 larger Parties are a mess.
The NDP are fractured beyond a national unified platform hope.
The Conservatives need to find the word... Progressive again.
The Liberals need to find truth and honesty.
Canada needs a re-boot re our politics.
Agree. A personal lack of political depth and a failed PMO got him to a self-dug-hole that he cannot dig himself out of. In fact he will most likely dig it deeper. So where does Canada go from here??
In my opinion Canada's best outcome is a minority government coming out of Oct 2019. Force a Leadership change in all 3 Parties. Force a policy review in all three Parties. Our smaller political Parties are narrowly focused and incapable of total perspective government. Our 3 larger Parties are a mess.
The NDP are fractured beyond a national unified platform hope.
The Conservatives need to find the word... Progressive again.
The Liberals need to find truth and honesty.
Canada needs a re-boot re our politics.
David Amos
@Kevin Delaney I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir
Brad Mercier
@Kevin Delaney
Hey, a pretty good if somewhat bleak assessment.
Hey, a pretty good if somewhat bleak assessment.
Richard Sharp
@Paul Reed
Not so fast. The tide is turning in the interests of right and fair play over the one-sided anti-Trudeau and anti-Liberal attacks to date. A hundred corporate media “journalists” have been exposed for their extreme prejudices but, don’t worry. Not one will be held accountable. They will all be there misreporting the next election.
Not so fast. The tide is turning in the interests of right and fair play over the one-sided anti-Trudeau and anti-Liberal attacks to date. A hundred corporate media “journalists” have been exposed for their extreme prejudices but, don’t worry. Not one will be held accountable. They will all be there misreporting the next election.
Gordon Kent
@Richard Sharp I’m probably
going to regret asking this, but here goes. What do you think turned
the media against the governing party?
Stephen David
His arrogant smirk is gone lately....I guess reality is sinking in hard.
No majority for you!!
No majority for you!!
Juergen Hesse
@Stephen David
No majority for the Conservatives, because they are going to be hammered in Quebec for the next 10 Years.
No majority for the Conservatives, because they are going to be hammered in Quebec for the next 10 Years.
M K
@Stephen David
In reality, conservatives would never ever win anything even remotely close to a majority if Trudeau would have made sure the Canadian popular vote represented our country...as it should. Unfortunately Canadians have to take a back seat to the usual foreign lobby the conservatives kiss up with promises of moving an embassey for, like puppet Trump.
In reality, conservatives would never ever win anything even remotely close to a majority if Trudeau would have made sure the Canadian popular vote represented our country...as it should. Unfortunately Canadians have to take a back seat to the usual foreign lobby the conservatives kiss up with promises of moving an embassey for, like puppet Trump.
Mike Scott
@M K haha that was a broken promise by your hero.
David Amos
@Stephen David Heres hoping
Ric Ferriby
the endless verbiage goes
with the constant channel changes and Canadian peoplekind are getting
tired of being fed meaningless political mush.
David Amos
@Ric Ferriby YUP
Al Kap
I always cringe when I hear Trudeau speak. Reading this article brought back to mind much cringing.
David Fraser
@Al Kap CBC radio news,, a.k.a. the Liberal Cheerleaders, gets turned off in this house when St Justin comes on.
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David Amos
@Al Kap "I always cringe when I hear Trudeau speak."
Methinks a lot of his peoplekind are are cringing as his buddy Gerry Butts speaks to parliament right now N'esy Pas?
Methinks a lot of his peoplekind are are cringing as his buddy Gerry Butts speaks to parliament right now N'esy Pas?
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David Amos
David Amos
@Al Kap "Reading this article brought back to mind much cringing."
Methinks if folks could read all the comments they would cringe even more N'esy Pas?
Methinks if folks could read all the comments they would cringe even more N'esy Pas?
Elisa Hurb
@David Fraser
You too?
You too?
Roger Andrews
Nailed it!!!
Very insightful article.
Very insightful article.
Taylor Sutherland
@Tom McLean
I’ve been a liberal all my life, but I can’t call myself a Liberal these days. Neil’s article sums up the reasons for that. Verbal porridge indeed.
I’ve been a liberal all my life, but I can’t call myself a Liberal these days. Neil’s article sums up the reasons for that. Verbal porridge indeed.
Jack Russ
@Taylor Sutherland
You can be a Liberal and believe that Trudeau isn't the right man for the job.
You can be a Liberal and believe that Trudeau isn't the right man for the job.
David Amos
@Jack Russ True
Sam Spade
@Jack Russ Some hope that JWR
can ride momentum to create a new leadership. Otherwise, I wonder what
other party will carry a platform that she will like.
Wilfred Craig
The worshiping liberal press has carried Trudeau along.
M K
@Wilfred Craig ....
I see the Harper infiltration of CBC is still going strong.
I see the Harper infiltration of CBC is still going strong.
John Dirlik
@Wilfred Craig
Forty four out the the 45 largest English newspapers in Canada (including that allegedly “lefty” G&M) repeatedly endorsed the Conservatives at election time.
The “worshipping liberal press” is sheer fantasy.
Forty four out the the 45 largest English newspapers in Canada (including that allegedly “lefty” G&M) repeatedly endorsed the Conservatives at election time.
The “worshipping liberal press” is sheer fantasy.
Jake Swan
@John Dirlik even the national post openly endorsed Trudeau (presumably because Conrad Black also wanted a DPA).
John Dirlik
@Jake Swan
Opinions are one thing; sheer fabrication another.
Opinions are one thing; sheer fabrication another.
James Stanton
@John Dirlik Scheer fabrication?
David Amos
@Wilfred Craig Oh So True
Albert Rising
Not a big fan of Neil but he nails it here.
David Amos
@Albert Rising Methinks you
should watch the circus in Ottawa that CBC is promoting right now and
imagine Mr MacDonald's next opinion piece N'esy Pas?
Trudeau's verbal porridge and serene smile have carried him along. Until now: Neil Macdonald
He either doesn't think the public deserves a straight answer, or just isn't capable of delivering one
If you're looking for some instructive reading, go look up an aggregation of utterances by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Some are already famous for their loopiness: budgets balance themselves, the government shouldn't call honour killings barbaric, we need to rethink the definitions of space and time, we should say "peoplekind" instead of "mankind" (he may actually have been making fun of himself with that one).
Most, though, are just syrupy, unmemorable banalities about values and optimism and respect and caring for one another.
Like
this masterpiece of tautology the day he was sworn in as prime
minister: "The diversity that makes this country so strong is a
diversity of views that will carry us forward."
Trudeau's happy blather was digestible enough at first, particularly after nearly a decade of Stephen Harper. Like tapioca after heartburn. But as it kept coming, picked up and amplified by his cabinet ministers, it began grating on the nerves, the way retail Christmas-carol Muzak does by late November.
Eventually, it became clear that our prime minister didn't really have much else to say. He relies more heavily on talking points than any Canadian leader in my memory (40-plus years), his answers swollen with extraneous words and catchphrases crafted by his messaging experts.
He and his ministers are capable of answering nearly any question with some vow of support for "the middle class and those who are working so hard to join it," an annoyingly meaningless phrase that's become a banner for his government.
In any case, this verbal porridge, delivered with a serene smile, has carried him along. Until now.
With his government sinking into a self-inflicted crisis, it's beginning to appear that Justin Trudeau simply doesn't have the intellectual acuity to cope.
Look at his response to the testimony of Jody Wilson-Raybould last week. She had just finished delivering a measured, unambiguous indictment, accusing him and his staff of attempting to pervert justice for political gain.
Trudeau gave no substantive reply last week to Wilson-Raybould's remarkably serious accusations. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
He
could have answered his former justice minister fact for fact. Instead,
Trudeau appeared a few hours later in Montreal, two rows of nervously
smiling party volunteers arranged behind him, a newly elected MP
standing haplessly to the side. His statements were as stilted and
contrived as the optics.
"We will stand up and defend and create jobs, and we will always defend our institutions and rule of law."
The government has "consistently defended Canadian jobs while defending our institutions and the independence of our judiciary."
Stephen Harper was mean, said Trudeau, herding his predecessor into questioning about Wilson-Raybould's charges, and he did favours for the wealthy, while Liberals "invest in Canadians" (a favourite line, whatever it means). His central job as prime minister is to stand up for jobs and defend our institutions.
And so on. Not a spontaneous syllable, not a second of candour or actual reflection. Certainly no substantive reply to Wilson-Raybould's remarkably serious accusations.
This is a man who either doesn't think the public deserves a straight answer, or just isn't capable of delivering one.
And there was the flicker of condescension he's shown before; it was important, he said, that Wilson-Raybould be able to speak, and he was glad he'd allowed her to.
Uh-huh. He was glad.
It was much the same performance this week, after Jane Philpott followed Wilson-Raybould out the cabinet door, declaring she could not square her constitutional obligations as a minister of the Crown with the evidence she'd seen of political interference.
Philpott resigned as Treasury Board president Monday. (Patrick Doyle/Reuters)
A
few hours later, at a rally in Toronto to gin up support for a carbon
tax, Trudeau made a manic entrance, grinning and high-fiving and
flesh-pressing and trying to look happy, before grabbing Environment
Minister Catherine McKenna in an awkward hug, and, puzzlingly, yelling,
at a Liberal rally, "Are there any Liberals in the house?"
Then, more empty message track.
"In a democracy like ours and in a space where we value our diversity so strongly, we're allowed to have disagreements and debate, we even encourage it. This matter has generated an important discussion."
Oh, and also, he's taking it all seriously. So there's that.
Happily, the Commons justice committee actually is taking it seriously. Even as, at exactly the same time, Republican members of a congressional panel spent the afternoon childishly heckling former Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's efforts to testify – one of them erected a giant placard reading "Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire!" – the multipartisan panel in Ottawa behaved like adults.
As was the scoop by Globe and Mail journalist Bob Fife (along with Steven Chase and Sean Fine), who detonated this crisis.
The question now is whether Canadians are going to hear any real answers from their prime minister, if indeed he's capable of offering any.
Actually, there are more honest moments in the pantheon of Trudeau's quotations than in any of his performances in the past few weeks.
Back in 2013, former Global anchorman Tom Clark asked Trudeau about his intellectual substance.
His answer: "You know, I'm not going to go around reciting Pi to the 19th decibel or you know wave my grades, or test scores to people. I'm going to simply do what it is that I have to do." Most people can't recite Pi to any decibel, let alone decimal.
In another encounter with Clark a year later, this time jammed into the cabin of Clark's little airplane, he talked about the necessity of educating people (read: all of us).
"I am a teacher. It's how I define myself. A good teacher isn't someone who gives the answers out to their kids but is understanding of needs and challenges and gives tools to help other people succeed."
To the National Post's John Ivison, he declared: "Who cares about winning? We should focus on serving." (Actually, according to Wilson-Raybould, Trudeau cares a great deal about winning, to the point where he's ready to overturn a prosecutor's decision, if that's what it takes).
But it was to CTV that he was probably most candid.
"At one point," he told the program W5, "people are going to have to realize that maybe I know what I'm doing."
Or not. On the evidence of the past few weeks, I'm thinking not.
This column is part of CBC's Opinion section. For more information about this section, please read our FAQ.
Some are already famous for their loopiness: budgets balance themselves, the government shouldn't call honour killings barbaric, we need to rethink the definitions of space and time, we should say "peoplekind" instead of "mankind" (he may actually have been making fun of himself with that one).
Most, though, are just syrupy, unmemorable banalities about values and optimism and respect and caring for one another.
Trudeau's happy blather was digestible enough at first, particularly after nearly a decade of Stephen Harper. Like tapioca after heartburn. But as it kept coming, picked up and amplified by his cabinet ministers, it began grating on the nerves, the way retail Christmas-carol Muzak does by late November.
Eventually, it became clear that our prime minister didn't really have much else to say. He relies more heavily on talking points than any Canadian leader in my memory (40-plus years), his answers swollen with extraneous words and catchphrases crafted by his messaging experts.
Meaningless talking points
He and his ministers are capable of answering nearly any question with some vow of support for "the middle class and those who are working so hard to join it," an annoyingly meaningless phrase that's become a banner for his government.
In any case, this verbal porridge, delivered with a serene smile, has carried him along. Until now.
With his government sinking into a self-inflicted crisis, it's beginning to appear that Justin Trudeau simply doesn't have the intellectual acuity to cope.
Look at his response to the testimony of Jody Wilson-Raybould last week. She had just finished delivering a measured, unambiguous indictment, accusing him and his staff of attempting to pervert justice for political gain.
"We will stand up and defend and create jobs, and we will always defend our institutions and rule of law."
The government has "consistently defended Canadian jobs while defending our institutions and the independence of our judiciary."
Stephen Harper was mean, said Trudeau, herding his predecessor into questioning about Wilson-Raybould's charges, and he did favours for the wealthy, while Liberals "invest in Canadians" (a favourite line, whatever it means). His central job as prime minister is to stand up for jobs and defend our institutions.
And so on. Not a spontaneous syllable, not a second of candour or actual reflection. Certainly no substantive reply to Wilson-Raybould's remarkably serious accusations.
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This is a man who either doesn't think the public deserves a straight answer, or just isn't capable of delivering one.
And there was the flicker of condescension he's shown before; it was important, he said, that Wilson-Raybould be able to speak, and he was glad he'd allowed her to.
Uh-huh. He was glad.
It was much the same performance this week, after Jane Philpott followed Wilson-Raybould out the cabinet door, declaring she could not square her constitutional obligations as a minister of the Crown with the evidence she'd seen of political interference.
Then, more empty message track.
"In a democracy like ours and in a space where we value our diversity so strongly, we're allowed to have disagreements and debate, we even encourage it. This matter has generated an important discussion."
Oh, and also, he's taking it all seriously. So there's that.
Happily, the Commons justice committee actually is taking it seriously. Even as, at exactly the same time, Republican members of a congressional panel spent the afternoon childishly heckling former Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's efforts to testify – one of them erected a giant placard reading "Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire!" – the multipartisan panel in Ottawa behaved like adults.
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As was the scoop by Globe and Mail journalist Bob Fife (along with Steven Chase and Sean Fine), who detonated this crisis.
The question now is whether Canadians are going to hear any real answers from their prime minister, if indeed he's capable of offering any.
Actually, there are more honest moments in the pantheon of Trudeau's quotations than in any of his performances in the past few weeks.
Back in 2013, former Global anchorman Tom Clark asked Trudeau about his intellectual substance.
His answer: "You know, I'm not going to go around reciting Pi to the 19th decibel or you know wave my grades, or test scores to people. I'm going to simply do what it is that I have to do." Most people can't recite Pi to any decibel, let alone decimal.
In another encounter with Clark a year later, this time jammed into the cabin of Clark's little airplane, he talked about the necessity of educating people (read: all of us).
"I am a teacher. It's how I define myself. A good teacher isn't someone who gives the answers out to their kids but is understanding of needs and challenges and gives tools to help other people succeed."
To the National Post's John Ivison, he declared: "Who cares about winning? We should focus on serving." (Actually, according to Wilson-Raybould, Trudeau cares a great deal about winning, to the point where he's ready to overturn a prosecutor's decision, if that's what it takes).
But it was to CTV that he was probably most candid.
"At one point," he told the program W5, "people are going to have to realize that maybe I know what I'm doing."
Or not. On the evidence of the past few weeks, I'm thinking not.
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