Kory Teneycke, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Director of Communications, has decided to step down.

It’s a job that nobody has held for long and no wonder – Harper can be a tough guy to work for. I should know. At one time, back during his days at the National Citizens Coalition, I was Harper’s communications guy.

But somehow I don’t think I’m at the top of the line to replace Teneycke.

However, that doesn’t mean I can’t offer free advice to his replacement. So that’s what I will do.

I can’t predict when the next federal election will take place; I can’t predict who will win it. But there’s one thing I can predict with absolute certainty: it will be the most vicious election in Canada’s history.

Indeed, the election has not even been called and already the Conservatives are swamping the airwaves with attack ads vilifying Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff.

Ignatieff says he won’t respond in kind, but don’t believe it. I guarantee you the Liberals are preparing their own attack ads which they will launch the minute the election is called.

There’s an issue on the horizon which will definitely trigger an election this summer

That issue is Star Trek.

To see why this is so, you must first understand that Prime Minister Stephen Harper just happens to be a hardcore Star Trek ideologue.

As someone who once worked closely with the man, I can tell you he is absolutely committed to the original 1960s Star Trek series.

Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is in the news these days for all the wrong reasons.

But that’s what happens when you meet shady businessmen in hotels and accept cash-stuffed envelopes.

Of course, the Liberals will try to make some political hay out of Mulroney’s ordeal which is ironic given that they aren’t exactly as pure as the driven snow either.

Anybody remember Adscam?

What all this shows, is that unethical behaviour is not a function of which party is in power.

Indeed, corruption and government have gone hand in hand since the days before the Roman Empire.

On May 4th, fans of former British Prime Minister Margaret celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of her assuming office.

But for me the date in Thatcher’s career that should be celebrated is not so much May 4th, 1979, but October 10, 1980.

For it was on that day, Thatcher gave her famous “No U-Turn” speech, a speech which marked her as that rarest of all breeds – a politician of conviction.

Prior to that speech the Thatcher government was in serious trouble.

I was never a fan of former Liberal leader Stephane Dion, but I have to admit feeling sorry for the guy.

Not only is he just the second Liberal leader in history not to become Prime Minister, not only did he lead his party to its worst showing ever in the last election; not only did he become a political laughing stock after his infamous out of focus prime-time video, but he is also in debt to the tune of about $150,000.

That’s a lot of cash.

A lot of people keep telling me that Canada is a “left-wing country”.

Socialism, they say, is as Canadian as maple syrup, hockey and frost bite.

Indeed conventional wisdom suggests that a truly conservative party, that is a party that stands for lower taxes, less government and individual freedom, would never stand a chance of winning any votes.

Yet certain events in recent history seem to challenge this theory.

For instance, take former Liberal leader Stephane Dion. Remember him?

Certain reporters and pundits are starting to push the idea that Prime Minister Stephen Harper might resign before the next federal election.

They point to the party’s recently slippage in the polls (the Tory prospects in Quebec are particularly glum) and to signs of Conservative caucus discontent as evidence that Harper is beginning to lose his grip on power.

But let’s be realistic here.

The Stephen Harper I know (and I worked with this guy for five years) would not willingly leave without a fight.

If you’re like me you’re eagerly following the latest updates on the news story that’s rocking the nation: Is Brian Mulroney now or has he ever been a member of the Conservative Party?

Some Conservative MPs say Mulroney is a member of the Party, while others insist he isn’t, while still others say it all depends on what you mean by “Conservative Party.”

Fortunately, the Prime Minister's Office, in order to set the record straight, today released the following clarifying statement: “Brian who?”

I recently “celebrated” my 50th birthday.

Still I feel youngish. I don’t feel half a century old.

Yet, recently I had a jarring experience which indicated all too clearly that I am indeed aging.

What happened was I was attending a conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, staying in a beautiful hotel for a wonderful weekend.

However, no sooner had I unpacked than I discovered I had forgotten my reading glasses.

No big deal, I thought to myself.

Wrong, it turned out to be a massive deal.