A little thin on the ground, Steve?

I think it may be going too far to suggest Harper actually looked through the Conservative caucus for cabinet material and came up wanting. Even by sticking with the same old gang there isn't much talent on the government front benches.

Jeff makes a good point.

the need to move michael fortier to international trade reminds us of how woefully limited harper's caucus remains. he simply doesn't have the talent to promote an elected conservative.

Perhaps the best description of Harper's rearrangement of the line-up for the limited barbecued bratwursts at 24 Sussex Drive comes from Don Martin. He didn't approach it gently. He simply pulled the blade from the scabbard, thrust it into the abdomen and lifted it. It's difficult to pick a "best line" from that column because they are all so good, but here's a taste.

... Mr. Emerson was arguably the best selection from a shallow gene puddle of Cabinet-ready MPs ...

It's all good and a must read.

If anything stands out however, it is Harper's own judgment. He was forced into this cabinet shuffle (if you can call it that) by his own hand. Having gone for optics over substance in selecting Maxime Bernier to sell the Afghanistan war to Quebec, he is most responsible for the mess that was made. He set aside the imperative to govern in favour of getting his own way. He didn't choose wisely; he attempted to paint a pretty picture.

He's done it again with the selection of Christian Paradis as Public Works Minister. Maybe Paradis can handle such a huge ministry without much past parliamentary or cabinet experience, but then that would make him an exception we haven't seen in the Harper government.

And as pictures go, this is the one Harper painted for everyone today:

Pale males with a gag for a brain must be the preferred credentials for anyone joining Stephen Harper's Cabinet.