Clearly this move is for NO other reason than to try and save his own ass.
You left-leaners crack me up. You say "wow...the PM is just playing politics".
Really?
Name me ONE other time a PM of canada has taken to prime time television to address the country about his own party's misgivings/corruption/criminal activities.
Here is a list of the times PM's have hijacked Canadian airwaves for something other than fodder during an election campaign.
* 1970 - Pierre Trudeau: Invoked the War Measures Act to deal with the October Crisis brought on by FLQ terrorists.
* 1975 - Pierre Trudeau: Announces wage and price controls.
* 1978 - Pierre Trudeau: With Canada's deficit and debt soaring, the PM talks about the urgent need to get the nation's finances in order.
* 1986 - Brian Mulroney: Announces the opening of free trade negotiations with the U.S.
* 1990 - Brian Mulroney: Announces the failure of the Meech Lake Accord.
* 1995 - Jean Chretien: Addresses the nation prior to the Quebec referendum that came close to breaking up Canada.
* April 21 - Paul Martin: To address the nation to save himself and his party from electoral oblivion.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/CalgarySun/N...006429-sun.html