It's been said before, but can't be said often enough (in my view).  The Senate has not been "obstructing" government legislation.  One look at the Activity Index on my website tells that story.  In the meantime, many thanks to David Akin, Harper Bizzarro and Hill Queeries for helping set the record straight.

LOL, Dale SMITH, I'm so very, very sorry.  Who the heck is Dale Kirby and where did I get that from?

[blush]  I DO love your column even if I keep messing up your name (I think I've done it elsewhere, so thanks for the prompting).  Hill Queeries is a regular read for me.

Hey maitressedelouest - my last name is Smith, not Kirby.

And thank you both for the plug.

Yeah for Dale Kirby who always sums up the Hill antics nicely in his column.  Good for you for giving him a plug.  And David Aiken and Kady O'Malley and others are clearly reading (and reporting) the evidence too. 

The Senate catches the blame no matter what it does.  If the Senate passes legislation quickly, it is said to be 'rubber stamping' and when it takes time to reflect on legislative details, it is said to be 'blocking.' 

Here's an idea: Maybe the Senate is actually doing what it is designed to do and thoughtfully assessing legislation and its impact on Canadians?  Maybe, just maybe, the founding fathers got it right after all...

So happy to see the parliamentary press and the blogosphere not letting Harper's government away with blaming all of their ills on the Senate.  It worked for the first few times, but clearly 'Senate bashing' is no longer a free pass for Harper.

Rick Mercer summed it up well last night with his 'Harper Deflection Handbook" commercial.  Have a problem?  Deflect it (in 10 easy steps)....Works for Stephen!