Remember what I said about Ralph Goodale keeping his job? That it wasn't really up to him?

Even as we speak, Liberal Blackberries are alight. Many, I am certain, are carrying messages considering the consequences of cutting Ralph Goodale loose.

Cutting him from his privileges and responsibilites as Minister of Finance.

Maybe even cutting him out of the party altogether. Long odds for that one, I think.

But Ralph Goodale's future is not going to be determined by the RCMP, the OSC, or even by Ralph Goodale. It will be determined by Scott Reid, John Duffy, Cyrus Reporter, and others in the Liberal war room. These unelected lobbyists advising Paul Martin are interested in only one thing -- how to get the Liberals back in power and thus preserve their conduits to government influence and cash. If Ralph Goodale's troubles get in the way, he'll be out.

Bourque is carrying news that Goodale is likely to get the boot:

Bourque has learned that embattled Finance Minister Ralph Goodale is being pressured to give up his Cabinet seat for an indeterminate period of time, this in light of devastating news first revealed to the nation here yesterday that the RCMP has launched a criminal investigation into leaks from his department regarding rulings relating to the growing income trust scandal. According to senior sources inside the Paul Martin Liberal Party who spoke on condition of anonymity, "the official party posture is that Ralph didn't know anything and therefore shouldn't have to resign, but the public perception is devastating, it's killing us, and we need to move firmly to squelch the stink." Incredibly, Prime Minister Paul Martin has refused to comment publicly on news of the RCMP criminal probe, though it is understood that he has had a few choice words with key staff about this file.

Any guesses about what those choice words were?

Here are some ideas:

• "Do what needs to be done!"
• "All I'm saying is that we don't need this right now. That's all I'm saying."
• "Let me be perfectly clear..." [followed by an extended silence]
• "Boy, am I lucky they never caught on to any of my leaks when I was in charge of finance!"
• "Scott, what do I think? What should my opinion be on this? Where's the latest poll?!"
• "Will someone go tell Ralph to stop knocking on the door? Tell him we'll call him in when we're ready to tell him what his decision is going to be. Now read that part back about 'After careful consideration of my role as finance minister...' "
• "What a miserable and weary day. It would do well for a smile to cross my royal visage. Call the court jester! Call Feschuk!"
• "Ralph #%&@ Goodale! "

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