The attack on Zytaruk's audiotape continues

Never before has one man's tape recorder come under such scrutiny and warranted so much money being thrown at it in order to determine the authenticity of an audiotape it produced...:) Is it a magical tape recorder that somehow alters Stephen Harper's words? As absurd as that might sound, that's the road the Harper legal team seems to be going down. But alas, a wrench in the works: "Experts contradict each other in Cadman-Harper controversy." FarNWide and Big City Lib have blogged this today with their takes as well...

I'll just add a few points...

To reiterate, this story affirms that the most qualified expert hired by Harper came to the conclusion that he could not adjudge the authenticity of the tape unless he reviewed the original. Harper's two experts who did suggest problems with the tape are less qualified and went right on ahead in coming to conclusions. And even the problems they pointed out do not affect Harper's words.

Today's story also confirms how much money the Conservatives are willing to spend to save Harper. How must this be sitting with Conservative supporters? Save for the rabid partisans, how do the ordinary rank and file feel that their contributions are being spent to desperately attack a tape recording upon which their leader's words remain hanging out there in the wind, embarrassing said party? How long will Conservatives put up with such leadership and the embarrassment that this case is bringing?

And today's story points out the inherent risk of litigation that Harper and the Conservatives undertook. Litigation is public. Doing things in public is not their bag, baby. The media, in pursuit of this story can publicize such filings in the Cadman case. This latest filing is not helpful, optics wise to Harper, and appears only to have been filed as it was necessary in order to get the original tape from Zytaruk for independent examination.

But keep on keepin' on, Harper team...