Scooter first, then Connie

Patrick Fitzgerald, the prosecutor who just put a sizable dent in the Bush White House's aura of invincibility by turning Vice President Cheney's right hand man into a convicted felon now turns his sights on Conrad Black.

Patricia Best's droolingly sycophantic hagiography in the Globe last week illustrates how the Canadian media doesn't care if you're arrogant, cynical, rapacious and evil as long as you've got style. Expect a similar barrage of 'magnificent bastard' backhanded admiration from Canada's journalists as the trial commences. After all, if you shoot at the king, don't miss. They're all a little worried he still might be their boss some day.

My friend Ian, an auto-didactic expert on 20th century political history tells me Lord Connie's historical biographies are actually surprisingly good.

A lot of good books have been written in prison...