Next step: interviewing himself.

This is great.  Fucking hilarious, in fact.  Like it was written for a sit-com where the main dude thinks he’s the only one who knows what’s going on when really, he’s the only one who doesn’t.  Makes you want to story-board it.

The Prime Minister of Canada blew into central Vancouver Island Wednesday afternoon to tout facilities being built with federal dollars and provide some photo ops for local media and MPs.

"Did they tell you this is all oyster shells?" Stephen Harper said to the media, assembled behind a make-shift partition 10 metres away at the Deep Bay Field Research Station.

He paused a moment, holding a crushed shell…The dozen reporters present, surprised he'd even acknowledge them, said nothing.

So far, Harper true to character, everyone exactly where the master strategist wanted them...But then -

His security men, looking the part in dark suits (with bulges) and sunglasses, kept looking our way and beyond, into the trees. His handlers, who had been busy imposing the rules of the game ("I want you over there, sir, with the rest of the media"; "Remember, no questions. Do you have a problem with that?") kept poker faces also. The people with him, MP James Lunney (Nanaimo-Alberni), VIU president Dr. Ralph Nilson and project manager Brian Kingzett, stopped chatting with the Prime Minister and waited.

Sorta like when everyone except the emperor, so wrapped in his ego he’s oblivious to all else, realizes he has no clothes.  But the serfs keep right on pretending, acting as though every journalist there hadn’t just ignored the Prime Minister of Canada’s question.

Since nobody else said anything, Mr. Harper finished the thought himself. "It is," he said. Then he returned to face his hosts and continue his banter with them, just out of earshot.

Well, many Canadians are beginning to suspect he talks to himself because he’s the only company he really enjoys.

And you have to think that Mr. Harper might ultimately be the loser in this game he's playing, setting himself apart from the media rabble. Because while it may be safer in some ways, it also has its risks: being seen as lacking courage is one of them, and failing to address local concerns is another.

Hmmm…lack of courage.  Proroguing Parliament rather than face the consequences of his actions; hiding behind the troops, behind public servants, behind his own MPs; never, ever, ever admitting he made a mistake.  I think old Steve is past that tipping point.