Where do we go from here?
"When a government starts trying to cancel dissent or avoid assent is frankly when it's rapidly losing its moral authority to govern."
Off the bat, I'll say Stephen Harper should have faced the house and Michaelle Jean should have flat out refused his request to prorogue. This sets a very dangerous precedent and I can only imagine the reaction had Paul Martin done this in December 2005.
That said, although this was the wrong course of action, it does open the door for a peaceful solution to this entire brouhaha. Early indication has the Tories winning the PR war - at least based on the polling data that's out there. And with more money behind them, I can't see that changing over the next few weeks. So the opposition will probably be looking for an out to all this. At the same time, the threat of a rebel coalition still hangs over this government so I would expect some concessions in the January budget.
So what would I like to see happen?
As I've said all along, I have a lot of concerns about the long term implications of this coalition. So I do think passing a Conservative budget that adopts many of the principles the coalition has been advocating, while not an ideal situation, wouldn't be a horrible result. I really hope that the Liberals and NDP vote against it, and that it passes with the support of the evil separatists. If nothing else, that would be an embarrassment to Harper and, more importantly, I would find it really funny.
Even if we get past January thanks to a separatist-approved budget, the mood in Ottawa is so bad that I have a hard time seeing this parliament lasting even remotely as long as the last one did. My guess is that we're in for another election, by June at the latest.
That's my prediction - feel free to share yours.
-Stephen Harper, 2005
Off the bat, I'll say Stephen Harper should have faced the house and Michaelle Jean should have flat out refused his request to prorogue. This sets a very dangerous precedent and I can only imagine the reaction had Paul Martin done this in December 2005.
That said, although this was the wrong course of action, it does open the door for a peaceful solution to this entire brouhaha. Early indication has the Tories winning the PR war - at least based on the polling data that's out there. And with more money behind them, I can't see that changing over the next few weeks. So the opposition will probably be looking for an out to all this. At the same time, the threat of a rebel coalition still hangs over this government so I would expect some concessions in the January budget.
So what would I like to see happen?
As I've said all along, I have a lot of concerns about the long term implications of this coalition. So I do think passing a Conservative budget that adopts many of the principles the coalition has been advocating, while not an ideal situation, wouldn't be a horrible result. I really hope that the Liberals and NDP vote against it, and that it passes with the support of the evil separatists. If nothing else, that would be an embarrassment to Harper and, more importantly, I would find it really funny.
Even if we get past January thanks to a separatist-approved budget, the mood in Ottawa is so bad that I have a hard time seeing this parliament lasting even remotely as long as the last one did. My guess is that we're in for another election, by June at the latest.
That's my prediction - feel free to share yours.
posted by calgarygrit at
7:57 a.m.
53 Comments:
Please, pretty please keep Dion as leader until the leadership race.
After all he is the spokesperson of this separatist supported group and he will have the honor of debating the evil Harper one on one - the other leaders are not worthy since Dion is the leader - he IS their spokes person.
Tell those defecting Liberals that they are making a big mitake. They are nothing but trators when the Party needs everybody to support the cause of defeating Harper.
The rebuttle video was fantastic - the message was exactly what the voters wanted to see and hear.
Keep Dion as poster Liberal - so the grassroots will be inspired to donate their hard earned money to the Liberal Party. This is the majour support base of the party - the money from the voters are a pittance compaired to what the grass roots will give. It is only $1.95 per vote from them - Liberals will get $100's from each grassroot member.
Dion amd Ray are the only ones worthy to lead the Liberals out of this with millions waiting to vote Liberal to save Canada from Harper. Too bad he said he will resign after leadership convention.
Dion's days are just starting, before the budget is defeated in Jan. The membership will be so great that the presses can not keep up with printing Liberal Membership cards.
Come Jan. so many voters will leave the Conservatives that they will be bankrupt and no grassroot support. It is now within the Liberal grasp to decimate the Conservatives and their evil leader Harper!!
Do not falter, Dion WILL lead the Liberals to the greatest victory that Trudeau will be proud of the Liberals. This coalition is the best unifying thing that has happened to Canada and it will set the example for generations to come.
"Even if we get past the separatist-approved budget" Are not these the same separatists that you are with now? Go figure!
By
Anonymous, at 8:21 a.m.
The Coalition was going to bring in a stimulus package so Harper shut parliament down. No aid for the auto sector; Harper shutdown democracy. No aid for the forestry sector; Harper shutdown democracy. Harper shutdown democracy to keep his job while you lose yours!
By
Anonymous, at 8:24 a.m.
The same old, the same old...
Harper will be himself - bully, conniving...
And the Liberals will have to find something to unite them, since they will be even more fractured as a result of the Iggy/Rae/LeBlanc camps getting more aggressive for their man.
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MississaugaPeter, at 8:25 a.m.
If the coalition's front man is Bob Rae, I believe they'll prevail (at least in the short term).
But with Dion through to Jan 27, the polling will be such that to install him as PM at that stage would be political suicide for everyone that enabled it.
re Iggy, if the Liberal party alone thought he was too right wing to go with, how in Hades are the NDP and Bloc going to go with him? At a minimum, they would be extremely suspicious that Iggy would sell them out by meeting Harper halfway on the budget.
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Brian Dell, at 8:25 a.m.
If the Coalition breaks up sometime before Jan 26, and fails to take power on the week or so afterwards, historians are going to look back and give Harper props for not handing the keys to an unstable coalition that was destined for failure.
It needs to stay if it is to survive, budget or no budget. This has to be a DELAY of history, not the reversal. The DELAY of democracy, not the so-called SHUT DOWN of it.
What he did was wrong. Keep it that way!
By
Alexander Soley, at 8:51 a.m.
Oooo....I definitely agree. Let the Bloc back Harper's budget!
By
Anonymous, at 8:52 a.m.
Harper's budget will pass because it will include the deal he and McGuinty cook up to aid the auto industry.
Dion has to be asked to leave.
The Governor General did not have much choice in the prorogation. Harper had a confidence vote on the Throne Speech in his back pocket. The Governor General cannot speculate on future votes. It would have been a horrible precedent.
The Liberal side of the coalition made a strategic mistake by not getting advice on prorogation. I am not a constituational expert, so I didn't know that the prorogation escape was an almost sure thing for Harper, but the Liberals should have experts who should have warned off revealing the coalition until after the government was defeated.
All the Governor General's decision means is that coalitions have to reveal themselves before the Throne Speech and not after.
And remember, the only reason Harper is going to escape in January is because Dion is not a credible leader.
Declare the coalition a victory in weakening Harper, and abandon it and Dion as fast as possible.
By
whyshouldIsellyourwheat, at 9:28 a.m.
Canada loses 70,600 jobs in a month, most since 1982: unemployment 6.3 per cent
By The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Swelling ranks of Canadian workers fell victim to the slowing economy last month as the country chopped 70,600 employees - 66,000 in Ontario - the most since the deep recession of 1982.
Statistics Canada said Friday the job losses lifted the official unemployment rate to 6.3 per cent, from 6.2 per cent in October.
The labour force had been holding out against the deteriorating economy - which many believe has entered a recession - but November's rout came as somewhat of a surprise.
The consensus among economists had been for a 20,000 labour force retreat, and even the most pessimistic had put the losses in the 40,000 range.
November's result cut deeply in the job creation record for the year, bringing the accumulated gain to 133,000, well below's last year's 361,000 January-through-November improvement.
The battered manufacturing sector was mostly responsible for the job bleeding in Ontario with a decline of 42,000. That took the factory sector's share of employment in the province to 13 per cent - down from 18.2 per cent six years ago.
Overall, there were 38,000 fewer factory workers in Canada, as there was a slight net gain in the category in other provinces.
"This brings manufacturing declines to 388,000 since the peak in 2002," Statistics Canada said.
By
JimTan, at 9:42 a.m.
If the Bloc backs Harper's budget than we're fine. But all indications are that they wont and that if anyone does back the Harper budget it will be the Liberals. I simply fail to see how constantly rolling over and playing dead for the Conservatives and letting them do whatever they want just because they seem to be able to out-maneuver us will help the party at all in the long run.
By
A View From The Left, at 9:51 a.m.
Only a hypocrite would be outraged with either Martin 2005 or Harper 2008 and not the other.
By
Robert Vollman, at 10:08 a.m.
Michaelle Jean should have flat out refused his request to prorogue. This sets a very dangerous precedent
NOOOO.
The GG should never interfere, or refuse the requests of our democratically leaders.
Don't get me wrong, I am anti-prorogue. But asking the Crown to interfere? THAT is the dangerous precedent.
By
Robert Vollman, at 10:11 a.m.
I can't see the Bloc backing anything Harper does - their advantage now would seem to be in demonizing him and sticking fingers (and whatever else) into the national unity wound he's inflicted. NDP support is highly unlikely, to say the least.
If there's a prop-up for Harper, it will be the Liberals. The question is: will they vote with him, or take the proud course of righteously indignant abstention?
For my two cents, the Libs should be wary of supporting Harper. Hyper-partisanship is his only game. In other words, they can support his assuredly "sweater vest" budget at their peril, as the next kick below belt will swiftly follow its passage, particularly if Dion is still there as the leader.
By
Anonymous, at 10:17 a.m.
Actually the Libs will have some cover on the budget. The fig leaf will be acceeding to the demands of the premiers. They can make a virtue of that or they it can be Atlantic Accord vs. C-43 times TEN.
By
Anonymous, at 10:32 a.m.
I think this was a huge error for the Liberal party. All economic credibility has vanished and you are now part of the left coalition. While Conservative will take a hit in Quebec, Liberals will be extinct West of Ontario. All leadership candidates have taken a hit on this. Michael Ignatieff is going to have to get off the fence and take a stance against the coalition. I also think 99% the budget will pass. Liberals are not foolish enough to risk an election with Dion as leader and tied to NDP economic policies with the support of separatists. Now that time has passed, there is at least a 50% chance the GG will call an election rather than allow this coalition to govern against the will of the people while causing a unity crisis. Like with the carbon tax, Liberals need to forget this stupid idea and from this moment on go on like it never happened.
If Liberals want to earn power, they should focus on rebuilding, financing, leadership and restoring strong riding associations in the majority of ridings in this country.
By
Darryl, at 10:32 a.m.
Someone has to push Dion out. And then lets change the channel on this mess. Nothing good is going to come from this.
By
Anonymous, at 10:36 a.m.
I told you that the CPC was going to kick the coalition's ass. I explained exactly how and why they would do it.
The numbers before the speeches, bungled tape, and ever more visible Bob Rae:
CPC at 47% in BC, 75% in AB, 57% in SK+MB, 49% in ON.
CPC on 49% in ON, BEFORE some of the least palatable news came out. Monsieur Bob's prominence is likely to drive those numbers higher.
H&K's projector only gives 64 Ontario seats to the CPC based on those numbers, thanks to an excessively conservative predictor. Fortress Toronto is going to be taken in these circumstances, so 64 seats with a 22 point lead is the bare minimum. Welcome to annihilation in March - Harper will get an election by demonstrating the public's clear unhappiness with events and the dramatic difference between the proposals of October and the current offerings.
I'll be shocked if there's a Liberal MP between Parkdale and Quadra. Harper is the evil genius everyone has claimed him to be. He isn't playing chess while you play checkers, he's playing 3-D chess and beating spock while you play tick-tack-toe.
By
Hey, at 10:37 a.m.
I think somehow, Harper will survive until shortly after the Liberal Leadership race. At that point, we'll be fresh off the bat with a new leader, and ready to fight an election.
Although knowing what kind of player Harper is, I wouldn't be surprised if he saw the coalition was almost dead to put another poison pill into the budget, and see if the Liberals blink.
By
UWHabs, at 10:37 a.m.
The Liberals were so badly undone by this episode that Harper has clear sailing for the eighteen months or so. I expect he could even get rid of the financing subsidy if he had a mind to.
The only real question is whether the Tories will saddle the Grits first or ride them bareback.
By
Anonymous, at 10:46 a.m.
Bloc will not support the budget, did you guys not hear PMSH say he wants the 2 federalist parties to come to the negotiating table!
The Bloc was not invited to the table....
Guess which 2 provinces hate the coalition the most:
''The biggest rejection of the coalition came from
Alberta and Ontario,
where 72% and 66%
of respondents respectively said that the Conservatives should continue to govern the country.''
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1033827
The LPC is suffering from
powerlustous.
It will kill your party if you don't get the cure.
By
wilson, at 10:52 a.m.
I think Harper will survive in January, but who knows? One can't be sure about anything in these days...
But no matter if Harper survives or the "coalition" will ascend the throne, we can expect new election in a short time, because they hardly can survive more than few months without arguing...
Jay
By
Anonymous, at 11:10 a.m.
The Cons have already begun to set the stage to play nice with the Libs (kill them last). In an interview yesterday Moore was saying this was all caused by the NDP and the Bloc wanting to grab power and took advantage of a weak leader in Dion. (Not hard to read between the lines here.)
There was also a reference last night by Duffy that several MPs described this whole incident as feeling as if the knife was drawn and ready for the plunge when the 'cops came by' (the prorogue) and the knife was slipped back in the Cons pocket.
I agree with those who believe the stabbing isn't finished yet. Based on their crime package, how many years would the Cons get for these killings?
By
Anonymous, at 11:26 a.m.
Coalition: it's only a flesh wound
By
Anonymous, at 11:28 a.m.
Anon 11:26
House arrest if they get a Liberal appointee.
By
Anonymous, at 11:36 a.m.
If anyone thinks for even a nano-second that the BQ is going to take the fall and vote for the budget in January - they are NUTS. First of all, the BQ is the one opposition party that would clearly gain ground in a new election since the Tory attacks on Quebec have been so ferocious. Also, the way in which the Tories have gratuitously vilified the BQ means that there is now a level of enmity between the Tories and the BQ that goes far beyond anything between the Tories and the Liberals or the NDP.
The only way that the government survives in January is if the Liberals cave. Period.
By
Anonymous, at 11:56 a.m.
This is a total disaster for us! Dion is a complete failure as leader and the tape he presented turned us all into a jokes. All of our leadership candidates are caught up in this mess. Polls show we don't have much support for this coalition. We have destroyed are brand forever. I don't like Stephen Harper but we have no choice but to work with him. If we end up in an election over this, most Liberal MPs will lose their seats. How could we have let this happen???? Today I am humiliated to call myself a Liberal.
Dion must go but I am not sure if Iggy is the answer. We need someone new.
By
Anonymous, at 12:42 p.m.
What's next? Hello...wow...what cave have some of the people on this board been in the last 12 hours.
The coalition in its present form is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead.
It would have worked if GG refused the request of Harper but there is so much infighting now that any reasonable discussion of it continuing is essentially silly talk and clinging to yesterdays news. The fact that is hasn't officially disbanded at this point is merely a formality.
Polls are just polls...but politicians live by them. And I can't imagine there aren't at least 20 Liberal MPs seriously thinking about how this crisis, the polls, and their association with Stephane Dion will impact their future careers. The first job of any politician is to get elected and re-elected.
Until those polls change and show some sort of support for a coalition or a new Liberal Leader its not the time to bring down this government. The Canadian public has endorsed the idea of a minority Conservative government.
I believe Dion is a smart and intelligent guy. In different times he would have been an incredible Prime Minister. He is clearly ahead of the time on the environment. But ultimately he's got to step down now because his time has passed and the LPC needs a new strong leader in place (hopefully) for the Budget.
Outside of that...its time to start licking some wounds, working on caucus unity, and waiting for a better time to pick a battle.
By
Anonymous, at 12:44 p.m.
This may look poor on the Liberals in the short term, but the real story is the economy. Harper owns the recession now.
Globe & Mail:
Highest Unemployment Jump since 1982
In the US the U-6 employment number (which includes involuntary part-time workers) jumped 0.7 % in November. The headline U-3 was up 0.2 %. It would have been worse if so many people hadn't been knocked off the list for being on it too long; the US unemployment calculation has been a joke for a decade.
By
Robert McLeod, at 1:05 p.m.
"but the real story is the economy."
The US and China are planning hundreds of billions in economic stimulus, which will lift Canada. A new potash mine in Sask. will create 14,000 now jobs, as reported last week. Oil has been discovered in New Burnswick. It's not all doom and gloom.
By
nuna d. above, at 1:21 p.m.
Bob Rae all the way!
By
mauser98, at 1:31 p.m.
Bob Rae cannot be leader. He is still pushing this crazy idea. We should beg McKenna to get in the race and run for leader. We should apologize to Harper and try to buy some time.
By
Anonymous, at 1:54 p.m.
Harper owns the recession now.
Respectfully, I somewhat disagree -- there are many who will blame him, but just as many who will blame the coalition for throwing Canadian markets off and disrupting Parliament and etc etc. Who knows who is right, I bet both sides are to a point.
By
Jacques Beau Vert, at 2:02 p.m.
Compass puts the coalition at below 50% support. Still the coalition of the majority?
By
Tarkwell Robotico, at 2:11 p.m.
We screwed up huge. We will be lucky to keep the caucus together. Liberals are going to fear their own seats and cross the floor. Harper might get his majority after all. I can't believe what has happened. Why are Canadians rejecting Liberals???? We have to get out of this coalition at all costs. Obviously it is hurting us. Why is Bob Rae making it worse with his tour? Look at these numbers from Compass...
"If an election were held today, Stephen Harper would win a large majority based on nation-wide support of 51% compared to 20% for the Liberals, 10% for the NDP, 6% for the Greens, and 8% for the Bloc. Harper would sweep seat-rich Ontario with 53% of the vote compared to 24% for the Liberals and 10% for the NDP in that province and would surpass Dion in Quebec with 32% of the vote compared to 19% for the Liberals and 35% for the Bloc.
*66% of Canadians oppose the Bloc Quebecois having a say in who forms the government;
*48% have confidence in Stephen Harper as Prime Minister in the current economic climate compared to 14% for Michael Ignatieff in second place, 11% for NDP leader Jack Layton, 8% for Stephane Dion, 4% for Bob Rae, and 3% for Gilles Duceppe;
*54% believe that the Coalition's real motivation was a power grab while 28% perceive the Opposition as honestly believing that Harper is a poor manager of the economy;
*61% believe that the Liberals, following their drop in support in the October election, should not be trying to form a government.
The complete report can be downloaded at http://www.compas.ca/"
By
Anonymous, at 2:23 p.m.
Liberals have two choices: (1) sell the coalition in the face of a massive and brutal advertising campaign, (2) return to the days of sitting on their hands instead of voting, or worse, voting with the forces of evil and darkness.
Personally, I hope that Bob Rae, Gerard Kennedy, and co are up to the task. I hope that Michael Ignatief joins in. Its going to be a battle to beat back the conservative attack ads, but its not impossible. After all, they are based on a bunch of lies and once the public sees this, they will know that this is simply a transparent grab for power.
On January 26, the effort should made to suggest that proroguing Parliament was not legitimate. My suggestion, make a motion to adjourn the House prior to the usher of the black rod coming down the hallway from the Senate. When he arrives to an empty chamber, he may get to report back to Her Excellency that the House has gone home and will be back the next day. She can have coffee and discuss things with Steve Harper.
Sure, it will provoke a minor constitutional crisis. Maybe it would be treated as a confidence vote -- what would show less confidence in a government that the commons refusing to bother to even hear the speech? But most importantly, it would be a response to a very bad precedent. A government should not be allowed to govern without the confidence of the House of Commons!
The GG could always come back on the 2nd day of the sitting and hear the speech. Maybe she could get it done before the budget gets presented.
By
Unknown, at 2:42 p.m.
I like Stephen's idea. Then, we have an election and the Liberals get to find out that their 62% coalition has become a 47% coalition. And a permanent 47% that will be.
Liberal MPs are kidding themselves if they think voters will follow them to folly.
By
Tarkwell Robotico, at 2:47 p.m.
I would rather abstain and hope things improve under a new leader. Economy might tank. I doubt we have the votes at this point. Watching Bob Rae try and convince Canadians they need the coalition so he can run the economy won't sell well in Ontario. Where the hell is Iggy?
By
Anonymous, at 2:53 p.m.
Pay not attention whatsoever to polls by Compas - they are a total joke in the polling industry and have been off by a mile time and again.
By
Anonymous, at 2:53 p.m.
Let's not kid ourselves. We should merge formally with the NDP. United left vs. united right. I am not sure if the Liberal brand still has any value. Not sure what the new party would be called.
By
Anonymous, at 2:57 p.m.
Pay no attention to Compas polls. Or Ipsos-Reid polls. Or Decima polls. Or... or...
oh wait, how about, "I'm waiting for Nanos numbers. Those are the only ones I believe."
how about, coalitionistas, the one poll that used to satisfy you folks: the polls at the ballot box.
By
Anonymous, at 3:05 p.m.
"Let's not kid ourselves. We should merge formally with the NDP. United left vs. united right. I am not sure if the Liberal brand still has any value. Not sure what the new party would be called."
Bad idea. If you looked at polls that put the Conservatives against the coalition, the Conservatives won handily, and a good chunk of that coalition support was from the Bloc.
I think the Conservative merger should not be the model for uniting the left. The CDU-CSU should be - stake out parts of the country where each party runs candidates exclusively (so a May-Dion deal across the land). In some cases where running both a Liberal and NDP candidate splits the Conservative vote, run a right-leaning Liberal and a moderate Dipper. That is the way to maximize seats.
By
french wedding cat, at 3:37 p.m.
Oh and if you plug those Compas numbers into Hill and Knowlton the Conservatives win 229 seats. The Liberals? 27. Yes, the polls will change, yes the Libs might hold out in particular regions a bit better, but even a 10 point swing against Harper keeps him in majority territory.
Stephane Dion is the Kim Campbell of the Liberal party.
By
french wedding cat, at 3:42 p.m.
Remember, this all started because Harper WANTED an election. He still wants one. He will not include many consessions in the Budget, so the question again will be: will we call his bluff? We must be ready to take him out and then face the electorate with a new leader. Taking him out will hurt him beyond repair. One year of governance for whoever our leader is will be fine...the country will not become more polarized than what it is now, and with victory in reach, and a united party, we may just bring Liberals back to the polls.
By
Anonymous, at 4:02 p.m.
Where did you get that quote of Harper's?
By
bob, at 4:23 p.m.
Be it resolved that we cannot have a change of Government without an election
-Lee-
By
Anonymous, at 4:27 p.m.
229 seats!!!!! We cannot go into an election no matter what the cost. That is what Harper wants. I think we are going to be out of power for decades. Dion can't even be blamed for this. We elected him as members. The entire caucus was united behind this coalition government. It is not proud times to be a Liberal supporter.
By
Anonymous, at 5:07 p.m.
Those Compass numbers are so ridiculous that they shouldn't be considered.
Ipsos and Ekos seem more reasonable, although a lot of that is probably "heat of the moment" stuff.
Still, it seems very unlikely the Libs would win an election right now, so they'd be advised to avoid forcing one, at least until they get a new leader.
By
calgarygrit, at 7:08 p.m.
//Still, it seems very unlikely the Libs would win an election right now, so they'd be advised to avoid forcing one, at least until they get a new leader.//
That means dropping the coalition so Liberals (candidates, MPs, and members) can speak freely without appearing disloyal.
How can the party membership express an intelligent judgement about future policy and leadership if alternatives to the coalition cannot be discussed.
By
whyshouldIsellyourwheat, at 8:29 p.m.
CG, what would you advise the Libs to do, then? Dion has backed the Party into a corner. As it stands today, it looks like the LPC can back away from the precipice and support the stimulus which will be provided in the Budget in January (as was promised all along) and wear the political fallout from such a choice, or they can remain entrenched and likely face a new election with Do-over Dion at the helm.
What path would you recommend?
By
Paul, at 9:38 p.m.
The reason we have such problems is because no one knows what we stand for anymore. Can anyone explain to me what a Liberal stands for these days?
By
Anonymous, at 10:13 p.m.
I think we need a complete outsider to lead this party. No one is going to support us with all this baggage. We are losing support not gaining. How can we possibly run a government when as opposition we can't even keep our caucus united. Dion has to go, but so do the other three. Sadly Jim Karygiannis is the only one speaking the truth right now.
By
Anonymous, at 10:16 p.m.
John Manley?
By
Anonymous, at 1:07 a.m.
Yeah the COMPAS numbers had a fairly small sample size, but Ekos and Ipsos have to be scary considering that this was not supposed to be Harper's moment.
That said I think the Liberals have a lot to gain by cooperating with Harper magnanimously - whoever makes the first move (be it a bloc of Liberals, the Liberal party leadership, or the NDP) gets to look statesman-like.
The two broad federalist parties - the Tories and Liberals need to work together to reform Canada's electoral institutions (voting systems and electoral finances), in order to restore a world where majority governments are the reality.
I think STV is the way to go on that front. The Conservatives take the biggest hit, but still stand able to form governments. The Liberals unite the left through its collapse, rather than through a coalition. Canadians don't accept the notion of coalition government, regardless of whether it is technically legal (do you really want to run with a message of: "Hey Canada, you are too stupid to understand this, but we are taking power right now."). A coalition is not perceived as legitimate, and therefore it is a bad idea.
I believe Harper might well be open to this, if it held the possibility of a majority government in the future for him. Frankly the country does need a coalition - a grand Liberal-Conservative coalition of the sober - in order to squarely address the financial crisis. It doesn't look like Harper is going to make the first move, nor is Iggy.
John Manley for PM?
By
french wedding cat, at 1:13 a.m.
Okay! Everyone has had their say.
IMO, the PMSH has been dealt a deadly blow to his credibility. The opposition has strategically won this round.
The opposition has served notice that they have a nuclear option. Dare the conservatives push them again? Will harper have a genuine stimulus plan in January?
Stephane Dion is the obvious loser in this meelee. But, he's expendable. He's stepping down anyway.
Will we have another crisis like this? Yes, because harper is a Bad Dog! He's going to dig up the yard again, because it's in his nature.
Therefore, the choice belongs to the conservatives. Do they want a coalition of the centre-right, or a coalition of the centre-left. It's your choice.
By
JimTan, at 12:59 p.m.
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