Angry in the Great White North

It's rather amusing to watch George Galloway, the terrorist-loving British MP prance about impotently now that he has lost his court challenge to be let into Canada:

Barred from speaking in person after a Federal Court judge declined to issue an injunction that would have allowed him to enter Canada yesterday, Mr. Galloway addressed a Toronto audience via video link.

"It is poetic justice that the message I would have brought ... will now be heard and seen by so many more people than Jason Kenney could have imagined," Mr. Galloway said.

Earlier in the day, Federal Court Justice Luc Martineau said Mr. Galloway had not suffered "irreparable harm" as a result of a finding by Immigration officials that prevented the MP from entering the country to speak at a series of anti-war and pro-Palestinian rallies this week.

Mr. Galloway used the video forum to attack Mr. Kenney, saying he "sounds like some class of Irishman and as I'm half-Irish myself, I say to him, 'Come out and debate with me like a man.' "

Like a man?  When did this become about George Galloway's alleged manhood?  Do you think George Galloway is overcompensating for some reason?  Some small detail, perhaps?  A tiny little...something...that no one has taken notice of, perhaps for quite some time?

Yeah.  George Galloway.  The man!

Again, and from the top.  This has nothing to do with what George Galloway says.  Jason Kenney has no interest whatsoever in what George Galloway says.  Nor do most people.

If all George Galloway did was talk, he'd could be in Canada today.

This is about what George Galloway has done.  What George Galloway did was raise money for Hamas, and then personally deliver the funds and support to Hamas representatives in Gaza.  The Canadian government has designated Hamas a terrorist organization.  Foreigners who provide material support for terrorists are not allowed to cross the border.

Are more people aware of George Galloway now than were before?  Sure.  So what?  That is immaterial to the argument at hand, and is not how Jason Kenney measures success in this case.  Jason Kenney's goal is not to keep George Galloway from being heard. 

Jason Kenney has decided to let the people who administer the laws regarding admission into Canada, the CBSA, to apply their judgment to George Galloway's case without interference.  The CBSA has deemed George Galloway unfit for entry because of his recent material support for Hamas.  Jason Kenney won't overturn that ruling.  Nor will the courts, in part because of successful arguments made by government lawyers.

So what does this mean for Galloway's fans in Canada?  Very little.  They will still hear what they want to hear, and say what they want to say, as always.  One of the things they might have a bit more difficulty in doing, of course, is sending money to Hamas, since presumably George Galloway and his people won't be able to stuff their suitcases with cheques and cash.

And as for Jason Kenney, he's not hiding from George Galloway.  I doubt he's even sparing much thought about George Galloway.  He's on to other important things, the sorts of things that keep cabinet ministers busy.

But then George Galloway has never been invited to serve in cabinet back home in Britain.  Maybe that's the little detail he's overcompensating for.  Maybe...but I don't think so.