Are the Harpers on the road to splitsville?

[JohnyCanuck]

Three weeks ago, a most extraordinary paragraph appeared in a column published in the Ottawa Citizen. It read as follows:

“In Ottawa, tongues have been wagging for two years about trouble in one political marriage. One of the partners is now said to have left the nest. It hasn't made the newspapers, at least not yet.”

The column was written by Andrew Cohen—who’s not your ordinary thumb-sucker—and you would expect that it would have elicited a reaction. For one thing, Mr. Cohen is President of The Historica-Dominion Institute, “the largest, independent organization dedicated to Canadian history, identity and citizenship.” He’s also an Associate Professor of Journalism at Carleton University—the premier school of its kind in Canada. For another thing, Mr. Cohen has a long and distinguished career as a journalist himself, including stints as a member of the Globe and Mail editorial board, and as foreign editor and foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Post. As to his political preferences, I’d simply observe from having followed his writings over the years that Mr. Cohen once worshipped at the feet of Pierre Trudeau. And that the same cannot be said of his views of Stephen Harper.

In any case, Mr. Cohen’s “tongue-wagging” column was subsequently picked up by only one other PostMedia paper, the Windsor Star—a thinner take-up than usual for his offerings. And then there was silence—at least on the record.

snip

These days, being as far away from Ottawa as one can get, it was only a few months ago that I caught wind of rumours that the first couple (to borrow an Americanism) were living separately (Mr. Harper at 24 Sussex, Ms. Harper at the Chateau Laurier). And, truth be told, I learned this startling news, dear reader, in the comment boards on this website. Intrigued, I checked out the rumour with two journalists in Ottawa. From both, I got the sense that it was likely true. And that it was not being reported because it was deemed to be a personal matter.

http://members.shaw.ca/nspector4/harpersinteview.htm

[CHIMO]

1. Smoke/Gossip?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=190x29793

[glarius]

2. I can't stand either of them but she'll go down in my memory as

the woman who was "first lady" for 5 years and she never once deigned to allow us to hear her voice.

[JBoy]

3. Somehow, it will end up being the Liberal's fault.

[JohnyCanuck]

4. Maybe Mrs. Harper just got freaked out at living

with a guy who liked to dress up as a character in a Star Trek movie.

:rofl:

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9c6b53f6-f0a2-4eca-93bb-559023144731