CBC Radio, The Current, May 19, 2005
The Voice

"It's Thursday May 19th. Poor Peter, poor poor Peter, standing there in his potato patch. A pitchfork in hand...the guy looked like he just pulled it out of his back. Ouch. That's gotta hurt.

"Currently, you know Peter, if you're feeling blue, feeling betrayed, maybe like you don't know who to trust anymore, there is someone you can talk to, someone with a shoulder you can cry on, a guy who knows exactly how you must feel. Give David Orchard a call. You've got his number. This is The Current."

Globe and Mail, May 24, 2005
The art of betrayal

When Conservatives try to portray the Peter and Belinda story as a re-write of the Adam and Eve story, they would do well to remember that Adam did not betray the orchard before Eve was offered the apple.

Eric Mendelsohn, Toronto

Victoria Times-Colonist, May 21, 2005
Orchard could help MacKay

Perhaps David Orchard would be willing to assist a forlorn Peter MacKay rebound from the flight of his lost love, Belinda Stronach. After all, Orchard does have some experience, having recently been betrayed himself.

David Noonan, Victoria, B.C.

Winnipeg Sun, May 21, 2005
Dizzying observation

The first thought I had when I saw your front-page picture of poor Peter MacKay on Tuesday was, "Maybe now he knows how David Orchard felt." What goes around comes around.

Heather Groom, Winnipeg, MB

Daily News (Halifax, N.S.), May 24, 2005
Scant sympathy for MacKay

It's pretty hard to have any sympathy for Peter MacKay after the way he sold out the Progressive Conservative party to Stephen Harper and lied to David Orchard at the PC's leadership convention. He's a hypocrite who deserves neither trust nor sympathy. Someone ought to remind him that the way he feels now is likely how Orchard felt the day after MacKay betrayed him. Stay on the potato farm, Pete. It's about the only field you're likely to be outstanding in in the near future.

Allan Nielsen, Halifax, N.S.

Toronto Star, May 19, 2005
How it feels

Now that Belinda Stronach has left Peter MacKay behind, perhaps he will know just how David Orchard felt when MacKay did the same to him. Brings to mind the saying "What goes around comes around."

Jon Taylor, Toronto

Beacon Herald (Stratford, ON), May 24, 2005
New Conservative party no stranger to hypocrisy

... The new Conservative party was born on betrayal… or have they forgotten Peter MacKay's betrayal with David Orchard and other PCs. As a result, Conservative Leader hen became their second choice as leader. And he has dug his own grave with his outdated ideas, his ambition, his passive/aggressive rage and his shoddy treatment of Ms. Stronach, his main rival for leadership. Remember his childish tantrum at the convention when he kicked a chair across the room when he got angry at Mr. MacKay… a real statesman indeed.

As for Mr. MacKay, he could call Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger for advice… he married a Democrat, the woman he loved.

D.A. Hansen, Stratford, ON

StarPhoenix (Saskatoon, SK), May 26, 2005
Rhetoric, name-calling hurt credibility of Conservatives

... What struck me in particular was the behaviour of Stronach's former Conservative caucus colleagues. The tone of their comments went from political to the personal and vulgar, with words such as "prostitute" and "whore" flying from loose lips of various Conservative MPs. After being called on it by media, the best defence they could offer was that the despicable words are equally applicable to both males and females. ...

As for Peter MacKay, his broken heart is not newsworthy, since it is a personal matter. His repudiation of a written agreement with David Orchard at the Conservative leadership convention – that was strictly business.

Chris Antonopoulos, Saskatoon, SK

Times-Colonist (Victoria, B.C.), May 21, 2005
A taste of his own medicine

Belinda Stronach gave Peter MacKay just what he deserved. MacKay set up and lied to David Orchard to get himself the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives. Now he's on the receiving end. Good for her.

Les Saul, Thetis Island, B.C.

Vancouver Sun, May 20, 2005
This time, MacKay's on the other end of the betrayal

Ah, romance. It seems that Peter MacKay knew not what his romantic partner was about to do. Belinda Stronach jumped ship to join the people that MacKay and his boss Stephen Harper are now referring to as thieves and scoundrels. It seems that poor Peter feels spurned by her action, as thought she did an about-face on some unspoken commitment.

Changed parties, did she? Perhaps MacKay now understands how David Orchard feels. It doesn't seem that long ago that MacKay did his own about-face with Orchard, breaking a verbal agreement to leave the Progressive Conservative party intact.

Jerry Coulson, Gibsons, B.C.

The Province (Vancouver, B.C.), May 19, 2005
MacKay had it coming

...Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper is bemoaning how Stronach unceremoniously "dumped" MacKay through her change of allegiance. Yet, MacKay himself became a traitor when he he promised in writing to David Orchard that he wouldn’t seek unification with the Alliance Party in order to gain the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party.

It took him only a few weeks to break that promise. So, he had it coming.

Ernie Schreiber, Ottawa

Ottawa Citizen, May 25, 2005
No sympathy needed

Regarding columnist Charles Gordon's observation that "every time the Peter MacKay heartbreak interview plays on TV, the Tory sympathy vote goes up." I think any sympathy for Mr. MacKay is sorely misplaced.... I'm sure David Orchard vividly remembers the promise Mr. MacKay made to him to win Mr. Orchard's support for Mr. MacKay's bid to lead the Conservatives. Mr. MacKay solemnly promised Mr. Orchard not to merge with the Canadian Alliance.

In a way, he kept his promise; he didn't negotiate a merger with the Alliance so much as a takeover by it. If he had kept his word on this, it's doubtful that Ms. Stronach would now be a Liberal. It was Stephen Harper's Alliance tactics that she couldn't accept.

It isn't sympathy that Mr. MacKay deserves but a reminder that what goes around comes around. He should control his quivering lower lip.

Oli (?) Cosgrove, Ottawa

Toronto Star, May 20, 2005
Betrayal a theme in national politics

I find it amusing that Canadians are still shocked by political betrayals judging by the uproar over Belinda Stronach's defection. In fact, betrayal has become the main theme in Canadian politics. The Conservative party that Stronach brokered into being was based on a betrayal of David Orchard. In 1984, the Brian Mulroney government betrayed the Canadian people when it pushed a free trade deal that before the election they said they opposed. Mulroney was thrown out of office by the Chrétien Liberals who campaigned on their Red Book, but then betrayed Canadians once again by systematically junking it after being safely elected.

John Williams, Toronto

Globe and Mail, May 18, 2005
Heights of illogic

Peter MacKay (Tories Unleash Attack Ads -- May 17) says "people need to know the facts about what's happening [at the Gomery inquiry]" but then adds that they "don't need to wait to hear [the final report] to make up their minds."

Mr. MacKay does have a history of having it both ways -- witness his broken deal on uniting the right -- but this time he's scaled new heights of illogic.

J. E. Mullin, Frederiction

Edmonton Journal, May 21, 2005
Now it's MacKay who feel betrayed

... I suggest that MacKay get away from Ottawa for a while and come out West where the sky is clear and huge and there are vast spaces to quietly reflect and mend the soul.

I am sure that David Orchard's farm near Borden, Sask. would be a good place for MacKay to cure his soul of the sting of the broken word and the humiliation of being betrayed in public.

Bob Borreson, Bon Accord, AB

Adam Radwanski, Thursday, May 19, 2005
If only Agony Elsie was still writing...

I feel for Peter MacKay. Honestly, I do. Much as I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him after the whole David Orchard mess (even if you think Orchard’s an oddball, a signed agreement is a signed agreement), he’s a pretty likeable guy. And having your high-profile relationship ended on national TV is pretty humiliating.

But seriously, man:. Suck it up. Don’t have Stephen Harper explain you’re too devastated to show your face in public, which conjures images of you locked in your bedroom eating Haagen Dazs straight from the container. Don’t turn up the next night talking in hushed tones, looking like you’re about to burst into tears, about how hurt you are. And for the love of God, don’t have your dad go on TV moments after to spell out the fatherly advice he’s been giving you behind closed doors.

If there’s been a more ridiculous moment in Canadian politics, at least in this lifetime, I can’t think of it.

(Oh, and kudos to anyone who got the headline on this post. Your Pundit t-shirt is in the mail.)

Send your comments to Adam Radwanski at aradwanski@nationalpost.com

Lethbridge Herald (Lethbridge, AB), May 26, 2005
It seems no betrayal goes unpunished

Misdeeds do come home to roost! It seems like just a few months ago with the proposed amalgamation of the Alliance and Progressive Conservative party that PC Leader Peter MacKay had given his word and promise to David Orchard that he would not give his blessing to the proposed political union. Shortly after their handshake, we all know Orchard was stabbed in the back by his political ally.

Mr. MacKay now feels the same betrayal. It's common knowledge now that David Orchard and his book on the fallacy and truth about the free trade deal was totally muffled and buried by this political assassination.

The farmers, ranchers, loggers and the many other industrial workers of Canada now have suffered untold billions of dollars of loss, pain and anxiety because of the Free Trade Agreement. The United States has reneged on most of their trade deals with us. Upon deep research into world trade agreements, the U.S. is guilty of the same betrayal worldwide trade agreements in forcing hardships on many poor countries. The U.S. political system, with its huge subsidies for farm and industrial products, is a fact. The ever-interfering geo-legal system with power to interfere on trade issues, really negates trade agreements worldwide.

We must not forget that Mulroney with his Conservative majority cajoled Canada into this one-sided deal with the U.S. He, of course, had been CEO for the largest U.S. company in Canada, namely Iron ore of Labrador.

It is imperative that Canada take a second look at our U.S. trade relationship and plan to stabilize economic benefits for Canada, even before the question of water is falsely taken away from our sovereignty with one-sided tarde deals.

Please call your politicians and demand withdrawal from the free trade agreement to protect our sovereignty and welfare.

Frank J. Toti, Milk River, AB

Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, May 28, 2005
Troubled MacKay no stranger to betrayal

Even the most hard hearted observer had to sympathize with Peter MacKay's personal pain last week when he learned of Ms. Stronach's defection to the Liberals from the Conservative party both he and Ms. Stronach were instrumental in founding and uniting. So his bitter comment about going home to walk his dog, because "dogs are loyal," was understandable.

However, Mr. MacKay is no stranger to betrayal. After all, to gain David Orchard's support for his own leadership ambitions, didn't he sign a letter that as leader of the Progressive Conservative party, he, Peter MacKay, would never unite with the Canadian Alliance?

No doubt in each instance of betrayal, both Ms. Stronach and Mr. MacKay convinced themselves that they were behaving in the best interest of their country.

So did Marcus Brutus when he stabbed his friend Julius Caesar. But instead of saving the Roman Republic, Brutus's actions led to several years of civil war until Augustus Caesar was able to to proclaim himself the first Roman Emperor.

Jim Foulds, Thunder Bay, ON

Orillia Today, May 25, 2005
Does Belinda owe David an apology?
By Trish McCracken, Washago, ON

In the past, under Chrétien, we saw big mistakes made by both Pierre Pettigrew, who did not have to answer to the public for the HRDC scandal, and Jane Stewart, who had to take the heat for those mistakes, and made others.

It shows great initiative on Paul Martin's side to put Belinda Stronach into that same portfolio, because she comes with HR experience.

I was a victim of the merger of the Alliance and the PCs, and feel like an orphan. I could blame Stronach, MacKay and Harper, but that wasn't the only thing that killed our progressive party. It was the members who "en masse" humiliated the committed progressives.

Belinda has been in the game now for enough time to listen to constituents, participate in a policy conference and get to know the thinking of the new party on public and intimate levels.

If you look at a media study, and look at Belinda's face, especially at the policy conference, you will see a very unhappy person. But 80 per cent of political (devotees) will not engage with you in a discussion of policy.

I am wondering if now that Belinda has seen the light of the 'red,' does she wish she had fought with David Orchard for the views of the Red Tories? Will she meet with David Orchard and make sure his money is returned and beg his forgiveness?

There was a middle ground between the far-right Alliance and the left-of-centre Liberals, but it exists no more. There is a new progressive party, which needs more support to thrive.

But the move of Belinda, a woman who thrives and is experienced in the corporate world, is creating a situation where the rights of women are being supported in the media. The boys of the new Conservative party need to mature, and I am sure the mature men and women of the party are trying to get them to shape up.

The man who has the job David Orchard should have had, is not a leader and that's the subject of a 3,000-word essay. (A Conservative MP used the term 'whoring' in relation to Belinda's shift.) That childishness was not weeded out in the selection of candidates who ran for that party last time - an element of leadership.

So I wish Belinda luck, although I did not support her ability to be an MPP or a party leader. I congratulate her on making decisions and look forward to seeing her political maturity evolve further.

I look forward to hearing that she has met with David Orchard to apologize.

The Sherbrooke Record (PQ), May 25, 2005
Commitment, opportunity, power
By Arthur Langford, Simcoe, ON

It is not surprising that many Canadians who follow the unfolding saga of federal politicians have increasing trouble separating political commitment and the drive for power on the part of the aspirants. Who is committed to what? Surely those seeking leadership committed to the groups they sought to lead, e.g., Scott Brison to the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada? Yes both are now Liberal cabinet ministers.

The press indicate that a romance has been shattered. Surely Peter MacKay could have managed this one by declaring himself as a born-again Liberal, moving smoothly to cabinet rank alongside his one-time competitor. He knows about commitment, about the lust for power and, indeed, about opportunity.

At the June 2003 P.C. leadership convention. Jim Prentice and Scott Brison did not want to see either Peter MacKay or David Orchard win (gain power). MacKay seized the opportunity for power by signing the now famous and well-known agreement with Orchard, a four-part commitment, a deal soon broken, before he made any comments in the House regarding the integrity of the Liberals.

Shed a tear or two for Peter MacKay. He took the opportunity to gain power through commitment to David Orchard, a pole star of unchanging principle since the '80s, but it was a hollow victory. Did MacKay miss an opportunity for power by not accompanying Ms. Stronach across the aisle into the arms of the Liberals without jeopardizing any approach to that cathedral aisle that he might have travelled?

Arthur N. Langford, Simcoe, ON

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