So just as the CRAP, I mean Canadian Alliance party, is trying to show they're open-minded enough to absorb the Tories but not their Progressive appellation, this CA MP Larry Spencer, the "Family Values critic" who is a world-class conspiracy-theory homophobe wanker, opens his big fat mouth and practically blows the whole deal. (Ironic implication unplanned but welcome). Up with this, even Stephen "I hate everything" Harper (the CA leader) can't put. Spencer immediately loses his portfolio, such as it is (I thought everyone in CRAP was a "family values critic"), and has to go sit in a corner by himself for awhile.

The whole schmoggle put Scott Brison, a prominent Tory MP who is openly gay and has been very supportive of the merger, in a tough spot, leading him to reaffirm (sort of):

"My faith has been challenged and tempered but I am still clinging to my increasingly tepid support," said Brison.

(Source: www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/11/27/alliance_spencer031127 )

Spoken like a Canadian MP, Scott. You might want to find something more sturdy to cling to, though.

I think Mr Brison has a great post-merger future in the Liberal Party, where tepid fence-sitting is the specialty.