Constitutional expert Peter Russell’s unvarnished take on Stephen Harper’s prorogation of Parliament in 2008.

But it remains completely unclear why Governor-General Michaëlle Jean acceded to Harper’s request. Did she genuinely fear a Conservative “counter-coup,” perhaps even civil war, or did she merely mouse out?

Better hurry up and watch, in any case. A video on April 29, 2011 by Russell, warning Canadians against installing a Harper majority, has been removed from YouTube.

Watch for updates.

[H/t Stephen Maher]

UPDATE: H/t to reader “agradstudent,” here is that second video: