The Quest for Apolitical Political Journalism

Reading Paul Samyn’s blog increases my respect for…. Curtis Brown. While I get the sense that Curtis has Liberal leanings, he is always quick to point out the follies of any political party. He conversely has no qualms about congratulating the opposing team on a game well played.

I just don’t derive that same sense of apolitical insight out of Samyn’s musings. When reading his articles or blog, I envision a person that gets every bit as excited at the mere utterance of the word “Liberal” as my dog does when my wife or I mention the word “W-A-L-K” (even in print, I am loathe to string those letters too close together for fear of the havoc it may well create). When he occasionally concedes that Harper has the upper hand, it strikes me as more of a lament than an observation.

Perhaps my impression is tainted by the likes of comments from posters like IMHO who assert on The Paper Boy blog:
'1. Steven Harper once again proves he’s an idiot by stating “the gun registry would not prevent this kind of occurrence”.
Exactly WHAT would “prevent” this kind of occurence 100% of the time Mr. Harper? I’m sure everyone would like to know so we can stop all the murders in the world.
The fact that Bill Graham didn’t clue in and challenge Harper on this idiotic statement is almost as disappointing as having this embarrassment as PM.
Unfortunately we’re stuck with this Bush-puppet until the other viable party gets its act together and stops floundering around.'

As an agnostic social Liberal and fiscal Conservative, rest assured I do not see eye to eye with Harper on every issue. However, calling Harper a Bush-puppet and/or an idiot is a bit simplistic and extreme. I’m not suggesting that Samyn is frothing at the mouth like IMHO but it does give you some indication of the audience that is receptive to Samyn’s work and feels emboldened to debase the conversation after perusing his underlying article.

In his Free Press article today, Samyn states:
‘The Afghanistan question is a tricky one for the Liberals, who committed Canadians to the mission when they were in power and are now are in the midst of a leadership race that has revealed a deep divide within the party.
But interim Liberal leader Bill Graham left no doubt that the mission today is far different than the one he envisaged when he was defence minister.
"It is a much more challenging mission than originally thought," Graham said.’

If Graham is indeed truly surprised at the mission, then he must be oblivious and/or inept. Prior to Canada assuming the reigns of the Afghan mission, one of the members of Canada’s finest indicated to me that the upcoming months would lead to increased casualties and negative public perception. If this was the view at a grassroots level, were the top brass (with Graham at the apex) so oblivious as not to see what lower level soldiers knew prior to Harper getting the top spot? Samyn by transitivity either happily tows the Liberal party line or else blindingly accepts whatever Graham spoonfeeds him. Either option is unbecoming of a political reporter.

Reading Samyn leaves me less with an inkling of what’s going on Ottawa and more with the impression that Paul is counting down the days until the Liberal machinery is reinstated in its rightful place as stewards of our country. As Samyn is articulate and intelligent, I hold out hope that my opinions change as he continues down his path on the blogosphere. After all, he did eventually soften his stance on the PPG/Harper row….