Spinning and counter-spinning

The PMO goes to great lengths to:

1. Assure us that the Afghan detainees issue is "old news". If that's the case, why don't they hand over the documents that the opposition has demanded?
2. Assure us that it's normal for Parliament to hold Throne Speeches. There's no mention whatsoever of proroguing the current session.
3. Assure us that because Chretien may have prorogued Parliament for cynical reasons, that it's no big deal for Harper to do so to "focus on the economy".

There are some good op-eds and blogs though, including conservative-leaning journalists like Andrew Coyne.

Kady O'Malley - CBC - - ProrogueWatch

John Ibbitson - G&M - Proroguing Parliament – a travesty, yet clever

Globe & Mail Editorial - Democracy diminished, accountability avoided

Andrew Coyne - Macleans - The Short Parliament - A fun read with lots of historical links.

Haroon Siddiqui - The Star - Harper acting like an elected dictator
James Travers - The Star - Harper happy to play games with Parliament
John Ivison - NP - Stephen Harper, renegade in power
John Baglow - NP - Canada's Cromwell (Dec 18)

Andrew Potter - Ottawa Citizen - Power and privilege
Editorial - Ottawa Citizen - Cynical, sad leadership