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Prime Minister-Designate Stephen Harper’s first press conference was short and sweet. (h/t)

There was a refreshing brevity to Harper’s responses. He occasionally dodged, but he didn’t weave…

From start to finish, the entire media availability seemed to take up no more time than one of outgoing Prime Minister Paul Martin’s subordinate clauses.

Of source, you’d be brief too, if you were out of breath:

Prime minister-designate Stephen Harper was taken to the General campus of the Ottawa Hospital late last night after suffering an asthma attack.

But this part is very uncool:

Mr. Harper, 46, appeared shirtless underneath a hospital gown, and went down a quiet hallway to an area filled with examination rooms.

Approximately half an hour later, security personnel emerged from the examination area and cautiously checked out the hallway before Mr. Harper reappeared. He was fully dressed again in a long black wool coat, and accompanied by a woman and three to four security personnel.

When approached by the Citizen, Mr. Harper did not respond and continued toward the escalators with his entourage. He appeared red-faced and tired.

No wonder Paul Martin goes to a private clinic – for privacy.

For future reference, if I ever become a public figure: If I have been rushed to the hospital unable to breathe, and I’m wearing a backless gown… it’s going to be a NO COMMENT. Thanks.

I can’t wait for the Citizen’s next interview with Harper, conducted from the stall next his in a Tim Horton’s bathroom:

“Had a lot of coffee this morning, huh? Mr. Prime Minister?”

Footnote: New Communications Director William Stairs is quoted as both confirming and denying Mr. Harper’s asthma:

The Citizen:

William Stairs, Mr. Harper’s director of communications, confirmed last night that the Conservative leader was taken to the hospital for treatment of asthma.

CTV:

“He doesn’t suffer from asthma; he had it as a child. And from time to time whenever he feels uncomfortable he goes and has things looked at,” Stairs told CTV Newsnet on Friday morning.

Totally contradictory messages on the first day, albeit on a minor matter, is not a good start for the communications team.

I’m in a good mood. In fact, I can’t stop smiling.

Not everyone’s happy, however. John Ibbitson writes in today’s Globe about how Conservatives, rather than celebrating a close win, are seething at their shutout in Toronto.

The Conservatives are nursing their own resentments. They can’t believe that urban voters in Ontario refused to support them. They blame urban Central Canada (and as far as they are concerned, downtown Vancouver abuts Lake Ontario) for the fragility of their win, and angrily ask what it will take for these wine-sipping crypto-socialists to get with the program.

The Tories need to wake up from this dangerous delusion fast.

Hmmm. Now that you mention it, I do detect some anger.

With apologies to Mr. Ibbitson, let me suggest:

The Liberal-friendly media are nursing their own resentments. They can’t believe that the hicks outside Toronto failed to support them. They blame suburban and rural Canada (and as far as they are concerned, downtown Calgary abuts the Mississippi) for their loss, and angrily ask what it will take for these beer-swilling crypto-fascists to get with the program.

Front Street needs to wake up from this dangerous delusion fast.

The sun is shining. Spring is approaching. It’s a beautiful day.

No thundersticks at the blogstravaganza, please.

I hope Warren comes – he won’t be the enemy of our enemy for much longer.

Prediction: He’ll be greeted warily at first, then chatted up like an old pal, and then finally he’ll go all Russell Crowe and throw a barstool at one of us.

Although last night’s underwhelming victory hasn’t done much to lower my anxiety level, there is at least one better-than-expected outcome.

Conservative candidate Tony Clement has won in my old hometown riding of Parry Sound–Muskoka, by 21 votes.

Whew. How long does a recount take? And, if he loses the recount, how do we get a second recount?

Tony, along with Jim Flaherty and John Baird, can really help Stephen Harper’s new government get on its feet. They have all cabinet experience, with a government that earned enough trust from Ontarians to win back-to-back majorities.

That’s the challenge for the Conservatives, if they want to parlay their “test-drive” minority into a majority. Ontario voters need to see responsible, professional, government before they will shift any more seats to the blues.

So, my predictions were about as as accurate as a coin toss – pretty much useless.

I guess there’s two things we can take from this.

1. History teaches us that at the last minute, the undecided vote usually breaks for the Liberals.

2. Over and over again, I fail to learn from history.