A couple of months ago I asked in this space: When will the Liberal Party have their Willie Horton moment?

It came for exiting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday with more electoral pain in the wings for the rest of his party.

Horton is the convicted Massachusetts killer who committed a slew of violent crimes while out on a weekend furlough for the murder. He did not return to prison as scheduled.

His criminal antics effectively torpedoed Gov. Michael Dukakis’ 1988 presidential campaign amid an exploding homicide rate that turned urban centres into killing zones, fuelled by the crack epidemic.

In this country, the mess left by the Liberals on the criminal justice file will not be an easy clean-up in aisle three.

After one particular outrage several years ago, a criminal lawyer friend of mine said the ethos of the Liberals, their court-appointed accomplices, and the system was thus: Always rehab, always bail, always easy, always politics.

Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Edmonton Sun........

© Edmonton Sun