On newsmakers

The CP reports that Jim Flaherty has been named Canada's Business Newsmaker of the Year. But it's far more clear with this than with some other year-end lists that the designation is anything but a compliment.

After all, it's not as if Flaherty is following in any but the most dubious of footsteps, as the three-time defending winner was Conrad Black.

And more personally, the article discussing Flaherty's win describes his impact with anecdotes like this one:

To illustrate the extent of Flaherty's newfound infamy on Bay Street, his picture graced the cover of one investment firm's holiday card, along with the caption: "Merry Christmas to everyone else."

Which leads to the possibility that Flaherty's newsmaking may have made him and his party enough enemies to keep him from being in a position to win the title again.