Rallies for Canada

There were also some pro-putsch rallies across Canada, too. Like the slick pro-putsch websites, they were paid for and organized by Canada's large labour unions, which have more money and manpower than the Liberals, of course.

As Kate points out, they're the real astroturf here -- fake manifestations of allegedly "grassroots" sentiment. Their pre-fab placards (perfectly bilingual, though!) are about as spontaneous as a rally in Pyongyang or Teheran. But I've just got to show you this video clip, from one such union rally. Stephane Dion was announced as the speaker... and then nothing. Silence. And then a pro-putsch protester -- clearly a Dion loyalist! -- cracked a joke about Dion needing more time to edit his videotape. After more awkward waiting, some underling comes forward to make an excuse for her boss. (Will she be fired now, in another round of Liberal blamestorming?) Here's that pro-putsch video clip: