Funny, that's just what I said

But then there was a more embarrassing episode. Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal surreptitiously taped Murphy discussing, in exquisitely prudent abstraction, how a Conservative MP might abstain on the budget vote, and how a subsequent conversation might ensue that would enable such an MP to "continue to serve." The tape has been broadcast, and posted on the Internet; it has become part of the lore of what will be a legendary political week. But the conversation is revealing in surprising ways that have not been part of the buzz. Murphy is careful, respectful, non-committal; he speaks in cautious hypotheticals.

-- The Toronto Star's Graham Fraser, in an admiring interview ("The man who saved the government") with the eminently admirable Tim Murphy. But then, who doesn't sound exquisitely hypothetical on tape:

Nobody who has been surreptitiously taped emerges from the experience looking good. Ask Prince Charles, who was caught fantasizing about being a tampon. Ask the two Quebec government strategists who were taped lamenting that premier Robert Bourassa had given up too much in the Charlottetown negotiations. Ask Monica Lewinsky. Ask Tim Murphy.

Actually, I think he comes off looking prudent. Also careful. And non-committal...