"There has been no issue that has caused me as Prime Minister more headache, and quite frankly more heartache..."
That's Stephen Harper speaking on the Afghanistan mission mere moments ago. Or at least, it was someone who looks like Stephen Harper. I'm starting to wonder if it's the real thing, because he's far too kind and gentle. Not only is he saying sympathetic things; nearly a half hour into a press conference, he's still managing to keep his usual disdain for reporters firmly under wraps.
Not that the PM is actually saying a whole lot; on the detainees issue, in particular, he's dodging like crazy. But as Parliament resumes, Harper and his handlers seem to have recognized that it's time to tone it down a notch on the anger. It remains to be seen how long it'll last; my best guess is about two-and-a-half minutes into Question Period. But give him credit for tacitly acknowledging, in the face of some fairly discouraging polls, that's it's time to soften his image a bit.
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Update: Disproving that he's not saying much beyond the predictable (that he supports most of the Manley report's recommendations) Harper says he spoke to Stephane Dion yesterday. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but maybe sitting down like two grown men isn't entirely out of the question after all.