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tim powers

Lieutenant-Governor John Crosbie sports a seal-skin coat in St. John's Nov. 4, 2009.ANDREW VAUGHAN/The Canadian Press

Stop the presses! The Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador told a bad joke.

It wasn't the first time and it is unlikely to be the last. Should he have told the joke he did? No.

But the condemnation John Crosbie is getting for it is a tad over the top. The punishment does not fit the crime.

Crosbie is an original character, warts and all. His authenticity and unwavering fearlessness to be himself remains refreshing. That persona has earned him national – and international – respect. Today's cast of Canadian political characters has too few people who are as genuine as John.

While he may lack the comic skills of fellow Newfoundlanders Rick Mercer and Mark Critch, he like them is a warrior for a society where public discourse is not a ringed-fence of codified boredom.

John, please don't turn boring – but either delete those stale, not-for-public-consumption online jokes or disconnect the Internet service at Government House. By the way, I also hope you didn't respond to that e-mail solicitation for that business opportunity in Nigeria.

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