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For another strange story out of Newfoundland, far more outré to my mind, involves an edict out of the high Conservative circles that they do not want John Crosbie’s son Ches to contest the nomination for a Newfoundland federal seat, and chose Canada Day to tell him so.

I don’t know how much more Tory, in Newfoundland, it is possible to get than being the issue of John Crosbie’s mighty loins. Nonetheless, genetic credentials notwithstanding, and notwithstanding his announced intention being known for some time now, the Conservative brain trust in Ottawa issued a fatwa telling Ches Crosbie he just wasn’t their kind of guy. Said the imperious ones high up in the party: “Mr. Crosbie is not the type of candidate the party is looking for to run in the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Avalon.”

So there’s an Avalon peninsula Tory type now. Who knew? Darwin must have missed this one.

Now this is not as shocking perhaps as being ambushed by a homicidal moose on the Northern Peninsula and driving covered in blood and manure for a spell. But shocking still it is. For it plays with great forces.

I don’t know how much more Tory, in Newfoundland, it is possible to get than being the issue of John Crosbie’s mighty loins.

Ches’s father is none other than the very Moses of Newfoundland conservative politics, the man who packed arch-Liberal Joey Smallwood’s suitcase for him and more than anyone else ended a 23 year dynasty of one. Mr. Crosbie was not delighted with this. And what delights him not is rarely passed over in silence.

With patented reserve and understatement John Crobsie gave his reaction yesterday. It was one of his trademark ejaculations of ambiguity and guarded euphemism: “The audacity of some small, unknown committee of people up in Ottawa that could have this power … is not only insulting, it’s a disgrace… I can’t explain my scorn and disdain. I am really browned off.” He added a flourish some in Ottawa would do well to ponder: “If it wasn’t for my age — I’m 84 — I’d bloody well put my hat in the ring in the next couple of weeks. I’d run myself … I’m tempted to do that.”