Irving Gerstein, chair of the Conservative fundraising arm, the Conservative Canada Fund (he used to be chair of the Progressive Conservative fundraising organization too) is never shy to contact me and countless others whose names and personal dossiers live, without their express approval, in the monstrous invasion of privacy the Conservative Party of Canada conducts using a software system called CIMS.

As is usually the case, the appeal letter suggests the country is about to be run over by some horrible "liberal" types and only my donation of $100, $200 or more can possibly save the country from ruin. One imagines they hope the appeal letter is read with the following tone in mind: The communists are coming, the communists are coming! Here is part of the latest plea for funds, arriving today in mailboxes all across the country:

As you read this letter, the Liberals are holding secret negotiations with the socialist NDP and the separatist Bloc Québécois to overturn the wishes of Canadian voters and take power.

They want to take power and impose on Canadians a Prime Minister without a personal mandate, a Liberal-NDP Coalition not one voter has ever endorsed and have it all backstopped by the separatist Bloc Québécois who simply want to destroy the country.

We need your help to ensure that they do not succeed!

I am asking you to make an emergency donation of $200 or $100 - whatever you can afford to protect Canada's future and protect Canada's democracy from being hijacked by politicians who care about nothing more than power and entitlements.

PS: We also need you to write letters to the editor, call Talk Radio and let the Liberals and NDP know what you think of their plan to overturn the Government without seeking the consent of Canadians. Irving Gerstein,C.M., O.Ont Chair, Conservative Fund Canada

Of course when Stephen Harper wanted to play by the same coalition rules book, he too entered into "negotiations with the socialist NDP and the separatist Bloc Québécois" to take power, the result of which was a formal request of then Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, signed by all three opposition leaders - Layton, Duceppe, and Harper, that she consider handing power to their parties working as a coalition:

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated. Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Stephen Harper, September 9, 2004

While searching for the actual letter to the above I ran into A trip down memory lane (Macleans) which cites a 2004 CBC interview transcript of Stephen Harper where as Official Opposition Leader he lambastes the current government of the day for being arrogant:

Solomon: Would you describe this government's position because of its lack of consultation as precarious?

Harper: I'd describe it more as arrogant. And I think the real problem that we're facing already is that the government doesn't accept that it got a minority.

It's safe to say the shoe is indeed on the other foot now. Harper also goes on to shove that foot firmly in his mouth:

Solomon: So why did you write that letter to the Governor-General with Gilles Duceppe and Jack Layton saying in the event of a confidence vote situation do not call a snap election - are we to assume that therefore you're working to form a coalition?

Harper: There seems to be an attitude in the Liberal government - that they can go in, be deliberately defeated and call an election - that's not how our constitutional system works. The government has a minority - it has an obligation to demonstrate to Canadians that it can govern. That it can form a majority in the House of Commons. If it can't form a majority, we look at other options, we don't just concede to the government's request to make it dysfunctional. I know for a fact that Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Layton and the people who work for them want this Parliament to work and I know if is in all of our interests to work. The government has got to face the fact it has a minority, it has to work with other people.