deer in the headlights

"The Harper government's controversial decision to ban the Canadian news media from ceremonies honouring repatriated war dead originated in the Prime Minister's Office and was made primarily for political reasons, multiple sources close to the government said yesterday.

Several sources close to the Prime Minister's Office said the strategy originated with Sandra Buckler, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new communications director. She then sold it to Mr. Harper, arguing it would generate only "a week of bad publicity," after which it would be accepted as a fait accompli, sources said.

Asked whether it was her idea, Ms. Buckler replied in an e-mail: "Not true." She declined to say whose idea it was."

In case you hadn't guessed, she's on the right.

(from yesterday's Globe and Mail)