Rumours (picked up over a couple too many pints yesterday afternoon and evening):
• Friends of Rick Hillier have already made it known (to Harper’s political team) that his ‘old friend’ Gordon O’Connor’s former career as a defence lobbyist might make it difficult for him to be a visibly effective defence minister. The national media is already picking up on O’Connor’s lobbying; and
• Despite their absolute joy at the demise of Pierre Pettigrew (I heard it said that he was both venal and incredibly lazy as well as being shallow, rude and nearly impossible to brief), the foreign affairs mandarins (including some old friends of Derek Burney) are expressing reservations about Stockwell Day. The gold standard in foreign ministers, they point out, is Condoleezza Rice and Day’s lack of formal qualifications etc will be spread about by a generally hostile media and that will reduce his effectiveness. Surely, they ask, there are good, solid choices within the upper levels of the Conservative caucus who will enhance Canada’s standing in the world, etc, etc, etc.
The thinking here abouts is:
• Defence: Day
• Foreign Affairs: Stolberg, or Peter MacKay if he asks for it
• Veterans’ Affairs: O’Connor
For what it’s worth and, I emphasize, all rumours.
Edit: Changed to "Friends of Rick Hillier have ..." which is, I think, what I really heard