"No."

Did all those Liberal caucus members imagine Paul Martin leading them in a standing ovation for Jean Chretien? Apparently. On Cross-Country Checkup Sunday, the Prime Minister denied it to host Rex Murphy, in what was mostly a rambling non-denial denial -- but one that was prefaced with the word "no." Which would seem to contradict what a number of witnesses said at the time, when initial media reaction seemed to suggest Chretien had scored a hit (with the media, that is -- the evidence suggests the public reacted much differently). PoliticsWatch has a number of incriminating quotes, from the likes of Sen. David Smith, caucus chair Andy Savoy, and cabinet minister John Godfrey, plus the numerous unnamed sources who gave much the same accounts to the Globe, the Star and CP. Are they mistaken? All of them? Or did the PM "misspeak"? Will he now invoke the Corriveau defence: that as long as he's not under oath, it's okay? MORE ON HIS HONESTY:

"I didn't have to call the commission. I could have done what most politicians would do - just try to avoid it," he said. "I just feel so strongly about the integrity of the political process that I was prepared to run the risk of damaging my own political prospects." Martin, who asked for more time in office during an address to the nation Thursday night, said he received "tons" of advice telling him not to have the inquiry - to "hide this thing" and to "put it under the rug."

Oh, SmallDeadAnimals is impertinent enough to ask: Who were these people? One clue, reported at the time: they included every single cabinet minister from Quebec.