There are more than a few opinions on this whole sordid affair. Many have spoken at length, sometimes borderline long-winded, about it. That said, as far as I'm concerned, the Gomery Report and the Sponsorship Scandal is the best thing to happen to Canada since the invention of maple syrup!

Some people claim PM. Martin was exonerated by Gomery, but he wasn't, not really. On pg. 25 of the report, Gomery states clearly that all members of the Liberal cabinet at the time the sponsorship program began (being finance minister, Martin was the most powerful Cabinet member then) had at least some knowledge of it, therefore share the responsibility.

But that's really irrelevant. The country today is more divided than it ever was in the past. Not much would change if an election were held tommorrow. The west would stay Tory, the Conservatives would lose a few seats in Ontario, and the Grits would lose a few in Quebec. Maritimers would mostly go Grit because they'll support any party that promises to keep the welfare culture going. And diehard Liberal supporter's like Derby, Iceowl and Rev Blair will always turn a blind eye to Liberal corruption or mismanagement because they like the party.

That's the difference between Liberals and Conservatives. Conservatives, because they are made up of a certain political ideology, are possessed of a strong enough moral compass that ensures they will to punish governments who become lazy and corrupt. That's what happened to Mulroney in 1993 when many of us true Conservatives decided his government had to go. Liberals (the party not the ideology) by their very definition are devoid of integrity, and will hold their nose and vote the same way regardless of the quality of their party, it's candidates or their ideas.

Regardless, I'm pretty happy. The commission's criticisms of Chretien and his vigorous defence against them have ensured the civil war within the Liberal party will flourish. Boy, it's going to be pretty hard for Paul Martin to lead a standing ovation in caucaus for Jean now! Especially since the current Prime Minister has stated unequivocally he accepts the findings of the Gomery Report. Expect lot's of nasty articles in the nation's press from the Warren Kinsella's and Sheila Copps' of the world!

Second, although Martin's useless and weak, I don't despise him. I don't despise Chretien either. I am starting to dislike him. And watching him mumble and try to string together a bunch of barely coherent sentences as he blamed Gomery's report and the Sponsorship Scandal on Mulroney was almost insulting! And the findings of this report ensure that he'll be remembered in history as the MOST CORRUPT PRIME MINISTER IN CANADIAN HISTORY!

Thirdly, as a devoted fan of irony in all it's forms, I'm savouring the delicious irony that the main effect of the sponsorship scandal (which was designed to combat Quebec Separatism) has been to re-ignite the fires of Quebec separatism! Given the current state of the Jean Charest Government, we may be fortunate enough to see another referendum before the end of this decade. God willing, Quebecer's won't suck out and vote for the status quo this time, because given modern demographics this may very well be their last chance to go!

It's also going to be fun for Conservatives to sit back and throw spears at Jack Layton for supporting the corrupt Liberals. Everyone knows there won't be an election before next year, so Harper and the boys have free reign to sit around and lump the NDP in with the corrupt Libs for supporting them. That must stick in Jack's craw. After all, he sold his soul to support the Libs in order wrestle some spending out of them. Despite that, he's actually lost support in the polls since. Sucked in!

Yep, should be a fun winter. I'm loving it! It'll be fun watching you Grits try to defend themselves in the run up to next spring's election as they lurch from crisis to crisis. After all, it's only a matter of time till the next David Dingwall controversy erupts!