St. ALBERT, Alberta

There's an old saying in politics that goes, "it doesn't matter what they say about you, as long as they spell your name right."

Just in case you're wondering, the name in question is spelled R-A-T-H-G-E-B-E-R. Brent Rathgeber.

But I've got a little political secret for you: It's not really true.

Well, if you're a Conservative Member of Parliament out here in darkest Alberta, as Rathgeber is, I guess that whatever you do or say, no matter how embarrassing, doesn't really make much difference to your re-election chances. Not just yet, anyway, although hope springs eternal. But it does tend to crimp your chances of ever becoming a cabinet minister, say.