Runnymede Redux

      Watching a bit of the First Ministers Meeting today, this blog caught part of Prime Minister Martin's address to the Premiers, and one thing was absolutely striking: the utter contempt with which the Premiers "listened" to the PM.   Ralph Klein was talking to others during the PM's speech; Jean Charest was the very face of disbelief and disinterest; even Martin-"supporter" Dalton McSquinty was straining at the bit of seeming interested in the PM's words. The entire group of provincial and territorial leaders looked like a smug group of undergraduates sitting through a painful lecture on the virtues of morality.   And through it all, PM PM looked desperate, straining to be heard above the relative silence, trying like the unpopular kid to be find a universal chord. He stumbled on his own words-- a lot. The last time I remember seeing such visible disdain for the PM at such a meeting was on the face of René Levesque whenever Trudeau dared speak.   The Premiers were nothing less than rude, and the PM seemed to be praying he'd be able to do his Sally Field impression sooner or later. It was sad, really. The Premiers know they've got Martin ass-up over a barrel, and they're exploiting the fact for all that it's worth. In short, they're gloating. And PM PM is King John, ambushed at Runnymede (though this blog can't help but note a bit of Richard II's brittle glory shining in his face).   Martin looked weak today, almost beaten, as if he knew that all he could do was try to save face in front of the cameras. One thing is now certain: the strength and confidence that surrounded Mr Martin as he came to the top job has now completely evaporated. Today made it patently obvious, that the PM is governing on borrowed time, his credibility now something of a joke-- or, to those like McGuinty comparatively sympathetic to him, a shade of a former self. And the barons are just loving this.   There's something uncivilized, and certainly indecorous, about it all. The only thing the Premiers haven't done is provide the PM with a crown of eggshells. It seems that while the Prime Minister may have won the election, he's lost the seat of power, and it's not likely that's going to change anytime soon. Welcome to Canadian feudalism: the vassals are in charge now.