The Third and the Fifth

Day 1,290, 09:42 • Published in Canada Canada • by Sperry


The Third

Today Canada sees yet another Impeachment vote on the table for its rookie President, Kazuo Leblanc. For the third time in less than a month, Kazuo has aroused enough frustration in Congress to have someone suggest he be removed from office.

As with the first Impeachment attempt (rejected here 7-25), this proposal was illegal under Canadian External Law. While attempt #2 was legal and sanctioned by the Speaker, it also fell short (here, 14-20). This third attempt has seen more support for impeachment than either previous effort. Congressmen have publicly stated their apathy toward the laws that call for due process on Impeachment, which is why the current vote stands at a rejectable 20-17. With a 66% majority required for the vote to pass, Kazuo's position is already secure. He cannot be removed from office by Congress.

Two weeks ago, I listed 3 factors that would determine if Congress would Impeach, and when. They were:

1) Who the new Speaker of Congress is.
2) Which parties succeed on the 25th.
3) How Kazuo behaved while in office.

Chochi, the former Speaker, remains in Congress - but as the only DAL present, the office of Speaker has gone to MOO representative Kevin Cooper. Kevin was neutral on this front - he did not push for an Impeachment, and his comments on the current proposal have been few except to condemn its illegal nature.

The makeup of Congress served to keep Kazuo in a safe position after election day. His detractors knew (and on the 26th, stated publicly) that they did not have enough support in Congress to throw Kazuo out simply because he's Kazuo. This bought the President some time.

Ultimately, as most of us knew, Factor #3 brought this vote upon the House. While the personal vendettas are as clear as day, Kazuo's absence from Congress discussions became far too notable for many Congressmen to sit idle.

But, because 5-time Congressman Gherk could not wait for due process, what Wally Cleaver described as a 'likely Impeachment' is now doomed to failure. Would it have succeeded, in the end? Hard to tell. Yes-voters, obviously, will shout that it clearly would have. They are probably right. But now, as Kazuo has removed himself from the running for June 5th and will finish his term intact, all of those arguments are pointless speculation.

A presidential term that started with firey controversy has ended with this last 'pop', a mere echo of the enthusiasm that was once there. Interesting how things work out like that.



The Fifth

Each month, a wide range of candidates put their names into the hat for the Presidency. And, without fail, most of those names fall by the side as either impossible to elect, or so unpopular as choices that their running would simply be pointless.

In the past few days I have quietly watched each of the would-be candidates (I'm creepy like that). Some of them continue to impress me with their usual them-ish behaviour. Others disappoint me severely with their treatment of Canadians, especially those who supported them as little as a month ago.

I am not sure who will lead our country on June 5th. Regardless, they inherit a seat that has lost much of the respect that it carried under Everyone-Loves-Him Jacobi from the month before. In part - a large part - this is because of the schism that Kazuo drew between himself and Congress. Kazuo will not be our President in June, but this gap still needs addressing.

Canada has come under fire internationally for its behaviour over the past month. Our 'interesting' behaviour has been noticed, and often not in a positive light. In order for a new President to fix this, they must have a strong relationship with Congress. The two need not love one another, hold hands, or sing songs. But they must be able to work together to pass laws and fight wars. A divided government helps no one, and makes us look incredibly ridiculous. Failures like this can be avoided with trust, discussion, and professional respect. In my unimportant eyes, anyone who cannot bring all 3 of those things to the table does not belong in government.

To our next President, whoever you are: Please, do your job. Understand that talking is necessary in a social game. If you want to blow stuff up, play Call of Duty. Congress is not a Bunker.

Cheers;
Sperry