Brian Topp Is *Brian* *Topp* In BRIAN TOPP!

I'm enjoying Topp's tale, but am I the only one thinking "what an egomaniac"? Reading his yarn, I'm amazed Canada's made it through 142 years of Confederation without Topp and, in supporting roles, the Orange Team, until recently. Heck, I'm amazed Champlain et.al. were able to make a go of it without Topp & Co.. Anyway, if ever there was an easy target for satire waiting for Feschuk, Topp's tale is it. Feschuk may feel the tone & characterisation are so over the top, it can't really be satirised further. He might want to try an indirect approach, collaborating with Reid & Herle, and, inspired by Toby Young, writing a supposed 6-part insider series, "How to Lose Government & Alienate An Entire Country". They've joked about those dark days many times (they seem fine folk, as long as not anywhere near power), and if ever they wanted to do a fun easy popular project this would be it. They could even openly claim it was inspired by Topp. A sample Topp-like scene might involve Reid, Herle & Feschuk playing Madden '05 and having the Governor of the Bank of Canada burst in, a gibbering mess, without a clue how to manage monetary policy. The trio take charge, buck up his spirits, explain economics to him, via a snap powerpoint presentation, argue lowly DMs & ADMs, or "staffers", into the ground, and set Canada back on course for prosperity, all this between steely sips of Mountain Dew, laconic bites of pizza, and managing the novel feat of both players in two-player mode managing to lose the game being played on Madden '05.

*The title of this post was of course inspired by Feschuk's famous post, Prime Minister Billy Shears

PS. Cliff's comment leads me to add that Le Devoir has given the Quebec political class's perspective on Topp's account, Bloc & LPC, which rounds out the story somewhat. I'd already mentioned it in passing, but sensitive Dippers might wish to round out their own perspective. I take it for granted, of course, that all anglo Dippers are as bilingual & Quebec-aware as Topp & the Toronto Annex Luvvies that surround Layton...(12.49pm, 4/12/09)