Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Odious Oda . . .

MACLEANS.CA has a great piece by Scott Feschuk, "Bev Oda is trying SO HARD". Apparently Bev is doing The Weasel, and Scott is not impressed:

You have to admire the grade-school panache with which Oda tried to pull this off. The little up-arrow. The word NOT all in caps. SO ADORABLE. It’s just how the climactic scene of In the Loop would have played out if the brilliant British spin doctor had been replaced by an eight-year-old boy, or a clever parakeet. (Also: it’s weirdly endearing that she wrote – or had written – only the word NOT, instead of DO NOT. I not approve of her grammar!)

Yesterday, Oda said: “The way in which this case has been handled, including by myself, has been unfortunate.”

That’s a spectacular quote. It appears to be an apology of sorts, or at least an admission of… something. It’s benign enough that at first you pass right over it, accepting it for what it seems to be. But let’s parse it a little more closely.

“The way in which this case has been handled…”

Nice use of the passive voice there. Effectively distances Oda from responsibility even as she pretends to attempt to take it. The passive voice: the official voice of those up shit’s creek!

“… including by myself…”

Here’s the money clause. By saying “including by myself,” Oda again appears to take an element of responsibility. But wait: Isn’t this “case” ENTIRELY about herself?


6 comments:

MikeAdamson said...

Not to mention the callous disregard of proper date decorum displayed by the Minister and the mandarins.

The oughta be a law I tell ya.

UU4077 said...

If that's the document - and it has been changed - where are the signers initials at the change to signify approval.

double nickel said...

UU, You make it sound like there are "rules" about this sort of thing. Didn't you get the memo? Steve make the rules.

croghan27 said...

Indeed UU4077 - I do not believe it is even valid unless it is at least initialed and dated.

Alison said...

"But wait: Isn’t this “case” ENTIRELY about herself?"

Well not entirely. I would bet that Harpie had a whole lot to do with it.

Southern Quebec said...

Interesting that the other two signatures signed TWO months before Bev the Buffoon...