680NEWS

Oh, it’s easy to be a cynic isn’t it? All you really have to do is be opposed to everything and to point to ulterior motives as a basis for everything. 

I’m not going to be as cynical as a lot of those who are musing that the appointment of CTV’s Mike Duffy to the Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper is proof that he has been kind to Conservative governments in his professional role. 

It is at least understandable that some people would come to that conclusion given the historical practice of all governments that have used Senate appointments to reward political hacks and real warriors, but Duffy can hardly be accused of slanting positive coverage or commentary in return for anything. Anyone who claims he has, reveals more about what they would probably do if they had his job for the last 30 years, than what he (and those of us who cover politics) has come to learn you can’t do if you want to last 30 years in the job.

Duffy has challenged every government and Prime Minister (count them)  since Pearson. He’s held dozens of cabinet feet to the fire without fear or favour.

There is only one way to become as good and as respected as Duffy has been at his craft, and that is to know a lot of people in the political game, people from all political parties and from all levels of power, those in the back rooms and those in the front room. To know how they think when they are in power, to know intuitively what they would do to get or retain power, to know what they learned about the power they had before they lost it, etc., etc. Yes, the Duffer is connected (as many of us who cover politics are), but there is a big difference between being connected as a distinguishing added value to the role of reporter/analyst/commentator, and purposely connecting one self to a political ideology or party in pursuit of perks like Senate seats. The latter is called selling your professional soul.

I have no idea why the P.M. decided to ask Duffy if he was interested in becoming a Senator. A cynic my conclude that Harper was afraid of Duffy’s astute understanding of Machiavellian parliamentary tactics and wanted him out of the analysis game.

As for Duffy, he was as candid as one could be on Tuesday morning, telling Canada AM that he thought for a minute about turning it down before coming to his senses and the reality that he is only two-and-a-half years away from retirment at CTV and didn’t want to be bored (maybe he could add close to broke if this market continues) .

How many people in their right mind would turn down a job that pays $134,000 a year plus expenses till age 75? 

Merry Christmas Mikey! There is a Santa Claus.