The Cost of Defiance

It is never a good idea to be a Member of Parliament and have an active blogsite, as it provides rightly or wrongly unwanted information to detractors who will invariably used that as cannon fodder to misrepresent the truth no matter how benign the subject matter. It is one thing to have an open website when in opposition and critiquing the governing party's endeavors to run the Country, but it is quite another thing indeed to be a member of the governing caucus, and keep it the focus of each and everyone who wishes to use it as a source for leaks to slander and malign the Governments efforts. It is for just this reason that Monte Solberg, Steven Fletcher and John Baird all had the good sense to limit their own websites to a minimum of pertinent information, and not controversial opinion. It is just good judgment! The problem with having an active blogsite is that no one realy knows who will be reading it, and to what extent you may be unwittingly supplying the enemy with insight into the cohesiveness of that party's fortunes or turmoil, which may or may not be the case. In the case of http://www.garth.ca/ it was no secret that the member of Halton-Peel was no fan of the PM's from that of his first week of office, as it became quickly evident that he was to be disciplined for criticizing the Harper government for the acceptance of David Emerson's defection, and the appointment of Michael Fortier to the Senate. Turner has been aptly described by the mainstream media as having a death wish when it came to accelerating his expulsion from caucus and the party, talking openly to an antagonistic press gallery eagerly grasping at anything available, to rip the Prime Minister for not lauding them as the true king-makers they're under the delusion of being. The real question is why Garth Turner's defiance was tolerated for as long as is was, as everyone could see that the writing was on the wall since day one?