A wave of anger engulfs poor Harper

Closing down parliament for nine weeks to try to save Peter MacKay’s head was not political brilliance.

It wasn’t so much closure as the lame excuse he gave for doing it – that he needs time off to prepare a throne speech for March 3 and a budget for March 4.

He called it his "recalibration" and covered himself with ridicule.

Like he has to stop Parliament while he thinks?

What? This guy “can’t walk and chew gum at the same time,” asked The Economist, the respected British conservative economic weekly read around the world by 20 million people.

Ouch! That must have hurt Harper who values his international reputation most highly. ”Naked self-interest” The Economist added. MacKay has been up to his ears in trouble over the torture of Canadian prisoners in by police in Afghanistan.

The closure ended a parliamentary committee investigating torture in Afghanistan and what MacKay knew about it.

The Economist could have called Harper “Mr.Long Vacation.” Pairs up nicely with the “Mr.Just Visiting” label on Michael Ignatieff. Great leaders, these Canadians.

Nine weeks is 63 days off just to write a throne speech and a budget. It adds up.

Harper's next move? Close down Parliament completely every year. So who needs parliament? Let Harper run everything out of his office. He would like that.

Conservative backbenchers didn't help Harper by approving the extended vacation so they can go to the Olympic Games in Vancouver. ”When I heard it, I though it was a good idea, said Stratford Conservative MP Gary Schellenberger. “If we are sitting, how do MPs get to those events?”

Someone could have told him: “Very easy, Gary. You just fly out on your free air pass and use your free Olympic tickets.” “We’ve got the Olympics coming up, which is very significant’” said MP Dean Del Mastro of Peterborough, another of the shining lights on the Conservative benches. “It makes good sense to be focussed on that.”

It’s backbenchers like this pair who help Gordon O’Connor and Vic Toews keep their cabinet jobs.

Harper Parliament shutdown scheme was denounced by every newspaper in the country. The Globe and Mail ran a front page editorial.

Even his faithful National Post turned against Harper.

The public anger has gone viral. A Facebook protest group called Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament started by Clarence White, has been picking up 1,000 members an hour. At last count they were up to 173,000. “We are just asking MPs to get back to work,” said White. a University of Alberta student.

The Opposition decided to do just that. They plan to reopen the Commons on Jan. 25, whether Conservatives show up or not, to hear budget experts, and debate regular Commons business about veterans affaires, the war in Afghanistan, and crime legislation.

The rogue re-opening could be a turning point for Harper. The latest EKOS poll showed 53 % of Canadians want their MPs at work and only 18% support Harper’s closure. The rest haven’t decided, or say they don’t know much about politics.

The poll showed Harper has dropped out of majority government territory, eight points away from his magic 40% number, and only four points away from losing power to a minority Liberal government.

Let’s hope MacKay is at least appreciative of what Harper is risking for him.