"Ottawa attack: MPs fashioned spears while Harper whisked into closet"

[james_davis_nicoll]

Some positioned themselves on risers that flanked doors, ready to attack an assailant.
[...]
“There were 15 flags up at caucus and all but two were taken down,” one MP recalled.

“These guys were up there holding these spears ready to impale anyone who came in,” the source said.

Comments

[maruad.livejournal.com]

I loved the photo the CBC had used to show that Harper was alive and well. I can't decide if, in retrospect, it is funnier that they pointed out the photo had been taken in 24 Sussex or that they pointed out the partially filled wine glass next to Harper.

[marfisa.livejournal.com]

I suppose attacking the gunman with spears improvised out of flagpoles would have been their best means of self-defense if he'd actually gotten into the room. But insisting on keeping the spears as trophies and triumphantly waving them around when the guy never even got into the caucus room to be confronted by them seems a bit vainglorious, not to mention bloodthirsty.

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

The alternative is leaving items MPs now know are weapons around for use during Question Period.

[marfisa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that could get rather awkward. Although the Sergeant-at-Arms or whoever probably shouldn't let them bring their much-vaunted flagpole spears to any more photo ops with the Prime Minister, either...

[bruce munro (from livejournal.com)]

Shouldn't expose them to temptation, eh?

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Not really, no.

[iopgod.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Incidents_with_the_Mace_in_the_UK_House_of_Commons

Too late.

[sean o'hara (from livejournal.com)]

Don't indoor flagpoles typically have heavy bases to keep them upright? Seems to me it'd be more effective to brain the guy with that end than to hope the finial was both sharp and rigid enough to stab someone.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

That depends on how strong one is, and how able to handle such a mass. For a staff/mace like that, I would probably be able to use it much more effectively as a spear. Which is not to say that that would be very effectively.

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

They also unscrew from the extremely heavy bases for easy storage, and having had to set up those damn things, I think it would be awkward as hell to try and hit anyone with the base. Jousting with the spear itself, though, is easy, and they're surprisingly sturdy. Um, so I heard anyway.

[david wilford (from livejournal.com)]

One wishes there had been a handy copy of “The Cask of Amontillado” in the closet Harper was whisked into so he could pass the time well.

[autopope.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I prefer the slightly juicier version of the headline I tweeted: "Ottawa attack: MPs made spears from flagpoles to defend parliament, while Prime Minister Harper hid in a closet". It's equally truthy and infinitely more tabloid. I wonder why the Globe and Mail didn't run with it ...?

[dewline.livejournal.com]

rabble.ca missed a cue there. Sun Media would steadfastly ignore it, I suspect.

[(Anonymous)]

I'd be a lot less inclined to mock Harper for this if he hadn't spent the past decade lecturing us on the need to be strong.

Objectively it's a perfectly reasonable thing to do during an attack. But coming from the guy who takes every chance he finds to posture in front of soldiers and go one about how we must be Strong! Proud! and Free! ...

[martinl-00.livejournal.com]

I suggest folks mail Inuit soapstone sculptures to Harper so he won't have to hide next time.

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

Tradition requires the PM's spouse to wield the +2 Inuit soapstone sculpture. PMs must stick to unarmed forms like the Shawinigan Handshake.

[jsburbidge.livejournal.com]

Right. All Canadian political discourse needs is a scenario where, instead of the shooter being shot by the Sergeant-at-Arms, he is tackled and incapacitated by a PM who has just discovered his inner Hulk.

[graydon saunders (from livejournal.com)]

"Just discovered"?

I'm pretty sure Chretien had known for awhile.

[jsburbidge.livejournal.com]

Agreed about Chretien; I was more contemplating Harper as a Bruce Banner type...

[graydon saunders (from livejournal.com)]

I would not expect Harper's rampaging Id to wear pants, so I find myself unwilling to contemplate any such thing.

And besides, Harper is an obvious supervillain. He's much more into "die for me my minions, die" while demanding to be treated as a better person than he is into any ideal of service or self-sacrifice.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Harper is Darkseid. Or wants to be.

[awesomeaud.livejournal.com]

Why aren't we hearing more about the *unarmed* guard at the door who grabbed the gun and was shot in the leg, giving those inside enough warning to get ready to take him on?

http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/4941903-wounded-security-guard-const-samearn-son-hailed-as-hero/

He's the biggest hero of the day in my books.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Good point. He damn near died buying that time for the Sergeant-at-Arms.

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

Free health care AND spear wielding legislators? Canada sounds better and better...