The wisdom of crowds

Much of Brian Topp's latest consists of simply pointing out the obvious downside associated with the expectations the Cons are building up for 2010. But one point of potential weakness is definitely worth keeping an eye on since it seems to depend entirely on matters out of Harper's hands:

(I)t is a truism in politics that it is usually a better idea to keep well clear of large athletic events, since they provide crowds with an opportunity to let their governments know what they think of them, in this case on worldwide television. Pierre Trudeau was routinely booed at Grey Cup games, for example.

So what kind of reception can the Prime Minister and his highly unpopular HST increase look forward to in British Columbia?

Here's my advice to Conservative ministers and MPs at the Olympics: sit right next to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell. If you're going to do this, do it right.

Of course, the flip side of Topp's cheeky suggestion is that the Cons might well have incentive to sit as close as possible to Campbell and his ministers - if only so that each party can try to claim that any jeers are intended for the other.

In any event, it's certainly worth watching whether the Olympics wind up serving as the B.C. public's golden opportunity to take out its frustration on provincial and federal leaders alike. And it's not hard to see how a regular chorus of boos might make the games into a serious PR loss for both the Campbell Libs and the Harper Cons.

Update: And in case there wasn't enough to be outraged about from Campbell and company, the Olympics themselves may offer up some prime fodder for public anger.