I commented a few weeks ago about how I figured the federal Conservatives could benifit from trying to outflank the Liberals when it came to playing the nationalist card and standing up for Canada. Maybe the Tories have been reaching the same conclusion. Stephen Harper's recent comments in Halifax--that we should re-consider our position in the Free Trade Agreement if we could not get the U.S. to abide by its provisions--were a departure from the 'we're always wrong and they're always right' tune we usually get from Conservatives in this country.

Is he just blowing smoke? Maybe. But it's good politics, and likely to prove no more insincere than any position taken by the Liberals, who first denounced the trade deal (John Turner), and then vowed to renegotiate it (Jean Chretien). Instead they've given us what amounts to a Gumby foreign policy; hold your middle finger in Uncle Sam's face while simultaneously bending round to kiss his ass.

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Harper said something else interesting this week in response to a poll showing him trailing Paul Martin in popularity:

"Look, polls will always reflect the views of papers that sponsor them."

Really? I'll keep that in mind next time I see a National Post poll claiming growing support for privatizing health care, or a CanWest poll showing broad public support for Gordon Campbell.