There You Go Again Ron: Missing The Boat!

Remember when Ronnie kept using that expression over and over as he debated Walter Mondale? Well folks, it applies in spades to yours truly.

I should have been a Mayor - as they say in the ring, I could have been a c-o-n-t-e-n-d-e-r. Being mayor is a nice job and just when you find yourself in need of a change of scenery...pow, you might be eligible for a possible Targeted Employment Adjustment Program!

Now wouldn't that have been grand -- coasting from the mayor's chair right smack into the middle of the federal arena as a party candidate.

Would have brought new meaning to the term make work. Oh well, at least I can dream...

Merci Denis!

C'est avec tristesse que j'apprends les nouvelles aujourd'hui de la démission de Denis Coderre comme lieutenant politique pour le Québec.

Il faut le dire. Des erreurs, de part et d'autre, ont été commises quant à la sélection du candidat dans la circonscription d'Outremont. Mais je veux surtout féliciter Coderre pour son niveau d'implication dans la province. Il s'est fendu le derrière pour le parti. On ne doit jamais oublier ça.

Filled With Glee And It Isn't Even Christmas!

Remember how many of us have trouble sleeping as Christmas Day approaches. The excitement mounts as we look forward to the festivities, the food and of course, the presents!

I imagine one man is feeling pretty much like that tonight -- just think, tomorrow he'll hop into the Challenger and head to Saint John -- all the while rejoicing in the fact that he has played Jack and the Pension Democrats for dolts.

Incredible as it may sound, that caucus is still intent on being rolled like suckers by this Prime Minister.

Witness the latest gem by Brad Lavigne as reported in Sun Media:

The NDP’s national director, Brad Lavigne, told CTV’s Question Period the NDP will support the Conservatives to keep alive the prospect of an additional $1 billion in employment insurance benefits, which the Conservatives have proposed.

“The number one priority for New Democrats is to get $1 billion into the hands of 190,000 unemployed workers and their families,” said Lavigne. “We are not going to do anything to interrupt that process.”

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Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't you the guys who said that the Conservative proposal wasn't enough? Perhaps that had something to do with your party previously voting against the Harper government seventy-nine times!

Is Anyone Surprised That It's Off To Saint John?

Call me stupid, but I thought you got your report card at school, not at the ice cream factory!

Quite obviously, this Prime Minister does not take the report card seriously -- otherwise he would be before the House of Commons on Monday and presenting it to the Liberals! You remember them, Mr. Prime Minister, those are the guys who made the deal with you in exchange for supporting your stimulus package...

Pay attention Jack, but I digress.

Anywho, the PM is off to Saint John to deliver the "good" news. God, you don't know how I hope Elsie will be there but again, I digress.

Might not be a bad idea for Paul Zed to put in an appearance as well but again, rather tiredly, I digress. (I'd call that equal time considering that the local MP is bound to be but a few paces behind our sunny Prime Minister.)

Like Hell, It's Not About You!

Nice try, Jack. For the benefit of those who missed it, here is part of his piece in The Star:

Jack Layton
Leader of the New Democratic Party

It's not about us. That's my mantra when I have to make a tough political decision because it can be so easy to succumb to decision paralysis if the focus is inward: What will the other parties do? Will our supporters agree? Will a decision cause rifts? Can it be communicated clearly? Will we be pummelled by the pundits?

But it isn't about us. It's about the people who elected us. So, when discussing our recent decision to support Stephen Harper's offer to improve employment insurance benefits in response to our call for action, I kept turning my mind to the Canadians I met during my recent travels across the country.

These are people for whom the recession is not over. There was the young woman at Queen's University who told me her dad had lost his job in the forestry industry. The family had scraped and borrowed to get her back into school for the fall semester.

Or the mid-level manager I met in Quebec City who had been laid off after 16 years. She pleaded with me to support the EI changes that would give her an additional 20 weeks of employment insurance. At her age, she said, finding a new job is going to be a long, hard struggle.

Or the hundreds of proud miners in Sudbury I met after they had been laid off. What do you tell a 60-year-old man who has lost his job in an industry with an uncertain future?

I have also heard many similar stories from my neighbours and friends here in Toronto, as plants have closed and businesses small and large have downsized. Multiply these stories with those my caucus colleagues are telling me. More than 1.6 million Canadians are now unemployed. Another 200,000 are expected to lose their jobs before this coming winter is over. And the epicentre of the job losses is right here in Ontario.

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Do I think that all of the above was factored into the NDP's decision? Yes I do. But none of Jack's points were the overriding concern. They aren't stupid -- they saw that they would take a drubbing in the next election and that perhaps fifteen to twenty caucus members would not be returning to Ottawa. It's an open secret in Ottawa that many of those same MPs need to get at least another year under their belt to qualify for a full parliamentary pension. For them to pretend that we are living in the Land Of Oz and that this political reality had absolutely no weight in their internal deliberations is beyond ludicrous.

As I've said before, Jack is going to lose seats. He had a choice to support the Liberals and trim his losses or take another route. By propping up the Harper government, he all but guarantees that the NDP will be all but decimated when we finally go to the polls. Not exactly smart thinking Jack.

Malaise.

A vague feeling of [political] discomfort. I don't like it one damned bit. I'm starting to get excited -- I'm already well beyond irritated. Hell, I'm getting more mad with each passing day.

Time for a reality check. Something major better be done and fast. I'm not smart enough to know exactly what the problem is but even an idiot can see that this isn't working.

Time to reassess, reconsider and recalibrate.

Now over to those of you who can actually do something about it.

The Field Of Conservative Dreams.

I had no idea that Infrastructure funding was the political equivalent of fuzzy Math. Programs are underway at a staggering rate -- 12% have shovels in the ground. What this government needs to remember is that an impressive approval rate (far faster than any previous government) requires a necessary secondary component: it's called follow through...

The Conservative project flow lives up to its name on the ground -- it sure is Conservative, with plenty of something being shoveled but it ain't dirt!

Yes, the steel is being ordered but tell that to the people in Burlington, Markham or any other community.

And oh by the way, try not to keep your candidates too well briefed. That has proven to be hazardous to the Harper government's health.

No, No, It Isn't Buy American, It's Reciprocity!

I wonder how Sir Wilfrid Laurier is resting. What would be his reaction in finding out that this Prime Minister is now pushing reciprocity as a way of getting Canadian companies into the game regarding U.S. federal, state and city contracts.

Perhaps success awaits this time. But of course, the Americans want the same access to Canadian provincial, territorial and municipal contracts. Let me take a stab at which country's businesses will win the bonanza if a level playing field is created -- you guessed it, American companies.

This is starting to look a lot like the softwood agreement: we'll have to settle for whatever we can get. Sounds like a pattern to me...

Why don't we throw a little weight around for a change. We aren't exactly beholding but forceful is not an adjective that I would associate with this demonstration of so-called Canadian resolve.

Time to play the energy card. The Americans aren't and have never been shy about playing hardball with their perceived second-tier cousins. Take it to the mat. Or is it only the Russians who happen to know how to skilfully play the geopolitical game?

Jack Will Cave To Save His Leadership.

It may not happen today -- or even next week -- but as sure as I'm breathing, you can count on Jack Layton and the Pension Democrats to cave big time and eventually support a Liberal motion of non-confidence.

The heat is on: the backbiting has already begun with the true believers none too happy propping up their previously sworn enemy, Stephen Harper. Layton's position will only become more precarious over time. Jack has to begin a serious attempt at consolidating his position, pronto. Can it succeed? Not likely unless he starts to move off his present stance having just completed an astonishing 180.

He's got to start thinking about another 180, otherwise the pummeling that his party would have taken in a November election will start to look like a hiccup compared to what will be in store for him if he maintains his present political posture.

Jack's leadership is fading fast and will soon be on life support. He might want something extra special come the holiday season. Liberals should be more than ready to oblige.

Hey Brad!

Brad,

Watched you for many years on the tube. You happen to be one of the social-democrats that I like the best! So how about doing me a favour and sending someone over here to mix it up with me.

We'll generate an interesting intellectual exchange for all those out in cyberspace who may be inclined to follow this crossing of swords.

For my part, I will do my best to live up to the boiler plate of this blog. I suspect whomever my opponent turns out to be that that person will also behave properly.

After all, you guys may not be the best political strategists on the block but you do have class.

The House Of Cards That Jack Built.

Talk about becoming Prime Minister through the backdoor. Jack has finally succeeded in forming a government complete with a caretaker prime minister and a fine host of Conservative cabinet ministers...just what he always wanted!

Now it might be a little confusing for John and Jane Everyday Canadian but the coalition prime ministers are intent on getting the job done -- at least for a short while. Stephen Harper will continue to sit comfortably in the chair while his co-prime minister, Jack Layton, fashions government policy to whatever extent and for whatever period Stephen Harper chooses to let him. I don't know about you but I'd call that leadership...

Jack may have his hands firmly gripped on the levers of power but he forgets that someone else has actually tied his hands.

Look Jack, here's what you do. Tell Harper that you want to make the living arrangements complete. Put Tom Mulcair and the others from the front bench in cabinet. Let 'em know how it feels in Ottawa. Get a short, sweet taste of the perks and privileges before most of you get blown out of the water come election night!

The Shotgun Marriage.

They've barely left the altar and the forced marriage between the Conservatives and the Pension Democrats is already cracking under the EI strain. Joe Comartin and Peggy Nash aren't happy campers. (I wouldn't be either if I suddenly found myself wed to Stephen Harper!)

Poor Jack. What a way to go out as party leader. This has got to be the bonehead play of the year. The party couldn't even manage to get their pending name change up for a vote at their convention and now they are tarred with the brush of being this government's NBF, albeit a cranky one.

If this Prime Minister was counting on a sure-fire ally, he may as well guess again. Hopefully the Pension Democrats will finally come to their senses before the non-confidence motion is tabled.

I can just see the PM ROFL...having made a monkey once again of two opposition parties. If by chance Stephen Harper should suddenly drop dead, I suspect the death certificate will likely read "Died Laughing."...

The Upside Of Mutually Desirable Scheduling "Conflicts".

When I think of scheduling, I think of Marjory LeBreton. She was a whiz at it. As you know, it may not be a science but it's without a doubt a refined art.

Like they say, the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions -- suddenly you find yourself otherwise committed and unable to line up "A" with "B". Too bad...

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't treat your precious gems correctly. So, as soon as you're back in town, take your scheduler to lunch or at least buy some flowers.

Nice to have someone you can really count on, even in a pinch.

CORRECTION: Ms. LeBreton did deal with appointments but not the scheduling kind. She was in charge of political appointments in the PMO during the Mulroney years.

Stephen Who?

Tomorrow should be a good day for Stephen Harper. He may not get much out of it other than a fine constitutional! But at least he'll be heading home fit.

This Prime Minister can walk the halls of Congress all he wants but he won't be making any headway on Buy American in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. Even the President took a convenient shot at our provincial governments and their alleged propensity toward inter-provincial trade protectionism.

In short, our PM couldn't get a trade ambulance in Washington D.C. even if the Canadian Council of Chief Executives placed the phone call...

We won't get anywhere -- or be taken seriously until we are ready to play the energy card, something Stephen Harper has no intention of doing.

It may be show and tell but the back end of the bargain is bound to be extraordinarily brief.

The NDP Are No Better Than The Rest Of Us.

Is anyone surprised to see Thomas Muclair making the big announcement today? At least the Bloc is coherent. They are giving the Harper government a limited get-out-of-jail pass but we all know how they will be voting when the non-confidence motion comes up.

The same can not be said of the high and mighty New Democrats -- what hypocrites. I used to ridicule this Prime Minister for what I regarded as sanctimonious behavior -- but these guys give new meaning to the word.

Who the hell do they think they are lecturing the rest of us when their decision is based only on one consideration: pensions before principles, plain and simple.

Loads of them will be going down in the next campaign and they bloody well know it. Saving their social-democratic hides is all they really care about. Fine. Keep giving us the BS but prepare to take your medicine. Here's a hint for you. When the day of reckoning finally comes, it'll have a rather bitter taste. Expect an election night that most of you will never forget.

They'll Always Have Friday.

Remember the date -- Friday, September 18th, 2009.

Canada will have a Conservative government in office on that date. The government will manage to get over the hump on that day.

But fortunately for us, there are still a lot more bumps right in the middle of the road. Navigation should prove a lot trickier next time.

So many possibilities, so many chances to make history.

The Bloc is about to expend its round. That will be followed by the NDP's shot across the Employment Insurance bow. Might make Harper happy, might not.

Then will come the hour of decision courtesy of a Liberal non-confidence motion. Stand ready. Remain patient. All in good time.

Rolling The Suckers Is Worth A Few Laughs.

Hey Suckers,

You guys have seen me in action for quite some time. I would have thought that you would recognize the cut of my jib by now. I haven't changed -- I'm still the guy I thought you knew so well. Oh what the hey.

You know all I really want is to stay afloat. Can't wait for winter and those Olympics. It'll be a great ego boost. What fun knowing how I hoodwinked all of you. Sticking it to you one more time will be such a delight. (Good thing you read the bill -- this time!)

Anyone for pretzels? Thanks for not lining up with the Liberals. I owe you one. But don't expect to collect. It's not really my style, remember.

Michael: Please Get Bob A Sheaffer.

Bob Rae has been known to produce magic on the written page. He's a scribe we Liberals can have confidence in!

I can't help but cast my mind back to that fateful day in December 1979 (the 13th to be exact)when the Clark Government fell thanks to an amendment penned by Bob Rae.

Who said lightning can't strike twice in the same place.

Principles For Sale?

“The path of least resistance is the path of the loser.” - H.G. Wells.

Some people may have reasons why they are willing to throw their principles right out the window at the earliest opportunity. Personally, I can only think of thirty-six convenient excuses...trying to stem the bleeding is always a challenging task.

You think that takes work. Wait until their supporters get wind of the fact that convictions ratified seventy-nine times in Parliament are quite suddenly and remarkably "disposable".

As Don Imus said in front of Bill Clinton: "Go, Baby.". You guys will never forget it when it pops up and bites you in the ass. I can just picture the Liberal seat count climbing as you read this.

Ways-and-Means...To What End!

Next Friday may turn out to be a big day. We could quite conceivably get an embarrassment of riches: a way-and-means motion to formally implement budget provisions (can you say home renovation tax credit?), the government's report card and modified limited hangout of its "enhanced" employment insurance proposals.

Upping the ante has always been a Harper specialty but I digress. Sowing confusion and dividing one's second tier enemies is indeed an interesting experience to behold...the two major parties might as well take the week off. We know where they stand!

But can either the NDP or the Bloc seriously consider putting out for this Conservative government? Well, the short answer is no. But that does not preclude, at least in theory, a quick trip to first base -- which will only postpone the inevitable political climax. All parties know that.

I expect to see many twists and turns in the road before this government is despatched but for now I sense a desire on the part of this Prime Minister to sow delay and freeze in a political stalemate on the ground, at least in the short term.

Harper has other things on his plate: a quick trip to the White House -- not to mention the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh on September 24 and 25th.

Watch for this PM to attempt to fake out the opposition without making any form of significant concessions to any of the parties. Can it work? I don't see how. Look how well that plan went over at the Employment Insurance Panel.

Why We're Done.

Don't expect the political mating dance to get very far -- we're watching nothing more than political theatre, and a rather amateur performance at that...

Put yourselves in the heads of both Stephen Harper and Jack Layton. Both men are on the same wavelength. These guys are no dummies. They both know that any possible area of compromise between them is minimal, if it is even at all possible.

In other words, the face-saving area where an agreement can be hammered out is quite simply not there on Employment Insurance or any other issue. Both men know that the title of this movie is quite literally, A Bridge Too Far.

Harper and Layton will have to settle for cover that they can take to their respective base: each will claim to have walked the extra mile in search of agreement to "make this Parliament work" and both will blame the other guys. Sound familiar?

Max: The Go To Conservative.

I'll say one thing for the Conservatives -- they won't have it complicated when they're back in opposition. Anyone with a problem in Quebec will know exactly what to do after the election: contact Maxime Bernier, The Go To Conservative.

Conservatives won't have to worry about straying from the party line or mixed messages coming out of the mouths of MPs. Kind of hard to do that when you're a caucus of one.

At least it will be fun for Max. His political rehabilitation is assured. Of course, he better back the right horse in the leadership race but I suspect Max is sophisticated enough to see the profile of the Alberta Clipper on the horizon...

Not that it will do them any good mind you. A newly elected Liberal government will be, quite literally, like a breath of fresh air. Aline made Jean's day by saying: "Four more years!" That sounds just about right to me.

Yogi Berra: It's Déjà-Vu All Over Again!

Stephen Harper is a real Taurus. Boy is he ever predictable...haven't we seen this movie before?

Flashback to: Senate, courts would keep Tories in check: Harper
Updated Wed. Jan. 18 2006 11:22 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

A Conservative government would have to work with the checks and balances of a Canadian court system that bears the mark of more than a decade of Liberal reign, Stephen Harper said Wednesday.

The Tory leader drove home comments he made Tuesday that the Conservatives would be unable to wield absolute power even as a majority, as they would face a series of checks and balances from Liberal-appointed judges and senators.

---

His last performance did not exactly do him justice! Many claimed it actually cost him his shot at a majority government. Now, explain to me how this latest rendition will do precisely the opposite. Right.

Hollinm, The Master Strategist Needs A Refresher!

Hollinm,

I thought I would attempt to explain why I think the Coalition strategy will not work this time. I could be right on target or completely in left field but here goes:

The Prime Minister is once again looking at political reality through a faulty lens. Harper is attempting to transfer an electorally winning formula (which he did not use) to a given set of facts on the ground that are no longer sufficiently similar to the previous political dynamic.

The PM is not one for changing variables but I am. Point One - Stéphane Dion is no longer leader of the Liberal Party. That makes all the difference in the world. I have nothing but the highest respect for Mr. Dion but let's face it, the country found him wanting as a potential prime minister. That is more than an insignificant nuance. Point Two - We are no longer in a formal coalition environment: there is no signed written agreement, or even verbal understanding between the parties. This is huge.

Under the former scenario, a common position was negotiated prior to a pending non-confidence vote. Today, each party will be making its own decision without an agreed upon common set of principles. The reasons for voting down this government will vary from one party to the other.

More importantly, we won't be going into the campaign with even a loose alliance. There will be no prior deal-making of any sort. Once the seat count has been shaken out (after the voters have spoken) only then will negotiations begin, if necessary, to form a potential multi-party deal that can command the confidence of the House.

In other words, the Conservative strategy will take flight no better than your average lead balloon...we won't see polling with Conservatives ten to twenty points in the lead.

Go Ahead, Make My Day!

Steven Chase and Campbell Clark

Ottawa — From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Last updated on Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009 08:29AM EDT


Stephen Harper's Conservatives have decided their election strategy will rely in part on reviving the ghosts of last December.

The fleeting, four-day coalition that opposition parties formed in late 2008 to unseat Mr. Harper's Conservatives was deeply unpopular outside Quebec. The Tories plan to resurrect its fading memory to rattle voters, warning that backing opposition parties will bring instability.

This strategy is also the reason that Mr. Harper will not make a deal with the NDP or Bloc Québécois to avert an all but inevitable election.

He is gearing up to attack the Liberal propensity for making deals with “socialists and separatists” – as the party did last December – and Mr. Harper would be unravelling his own campaign plans if he struck an accord with the NDP or Bloc.

Conservative strategists want to remind their base, and swing voters, of the alliance the Liberals forged with the NDP and Bloc – and frighten them with the notion Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff might try it again. The accusation plays right into existing Tory attacks that paint the recently installed Liberal chief as a political carpetbagger who's returned to Canada after a long absence merely to win power.

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Good old Conservatives. Good luck fighting the next war with the last's tactics. Can you spell backfire? Rather short-sighted of you, don't you think.

The Prorogation Pattern Is History.

My first thought after looking over the Nanos poll is how we are into a totally new game now that an election is a virtual certainty. The worst news is for the New Democrats -- progressive voters seem to be abandoning them in droves while Liberal support holds steady. In other words, the Harper government's number will not be heading once again into the stratosphere in the pre-election period.

Conservative numbers although rising, are nothing to write home about. I'm thinking this is as good as it gets for them. I'm thinking plateau -- look at the undecided! Those numbers are rising dramatically. To my mind, that suggests that strategic voting is in the offing. Like Trudeau said: hold your nose and...

Once we are in the campaign I expect a gradual firming up in Liberal support. I feel sorry for Jack. If he doesn't take the Prime Minister down, he risks an even greater hemorrhage of voters into the Liberal camp. He might as well contain the damage and go now rather than bleed much more significantly further down the road. Progressives are not known for having much patience for anyone who would even conceivably think about propping up this government.

I like the underlying trend. May it continue.

Over To You Jack.

I'd say we have Gilles on board. Wouldn't you? One down, one to go!

Jack is talking Lexus here while Stephen is offering nothing more than a Versa. They're kind of boxed in: remember, they both said "no deals"...

Remember, the NDP is a party that actually thinks it has a chance of forming government. (That's what they said last time and look how well that turned out. No disrespect intended, but please.)

They have to maintain some shred of credibility. Jack is no elephant working for peanuts, much less the lowly assistant to a clever but rather tactical organ grinder.

Can me overconfident, I don't care. Things seem to be moving along swimmingly. Not even a single ripple on the horizon.

Sorry, Duff.

Democracy Watch has gone before the Federal Court of Canada -- it argues that the Harper government violated its own fixed-date election law by going to the polls last fall following [prior to] prorogation of Parliament by the Governor-General.

The Prime Minister's strategic decision was quite obviously politically smart but also demonstrated a lack of courage on his part -- knowing full well that his government was about to be defeated in the House of Commons. In short, Harper was not convinced he could win an election.

To my mind, Democracy Watch is barking up the wrong tree here. An ordinary statute passed by Parliament is exactly that. It can be repealed by the present or a future parliament at any time. It has no extraordinary constitutional status. Conversely, when the Prime Minister asked for prorogation, we were dealing with the area of well established constitutional convention. Like it or not (and I'm still steaming even though the Governor-General's decision was both legally and constitutionally correct) that body of precedent cannot be effectively challenged in the courts, IMHO. I could be wrong but I think I'm on firm constitutional ground.

American Friends.

What's Jason Kenney's problem? Does he have difficulty with the concept of any Canadian actually having American friends? Does this mean that yours truly should be banished to the outer reaches of Mongolia because I not only have American friends but also -- dare I say it, American relatives.

Here's an idea, why doesn't this Prime Minister take Jason's remarks with him when he heads down to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Obama on September 16th. That should go over big with our largest trading partner...good going, Jason! I can feel Buy-American quite literally crumbling before our feet after your pensive remarks.

It's been almost four years -- let no one suggest that we could possibly be witnessing amateur hour here. Perish the thought.

Let Me Get This Straight.

Dear Fellow Opposition Parties,

Forgive me for being confused. I thought you said this Prime Minister could never be trusted. Last time I checked, at least one of you wouldn't vote with Harper if your lives depended on it. Much was also made of the fact that the Conservatives do not reflect Quebec's values or political view of the world.

Wasn't that Stephen Harper who refused to enact at least three different motions passed by all opposition parties in the House of Commons...I thought the voters sent a clear signal in the last election. They wanted the PM to play nice with the opposition and go along to get along. But it seems Harper's definition of a minority Parliament is not exactly the classic one.

Those of us who call ourselves progressives or social-democrats should, at least theoretically, rather eat dirt than keep this government in office. You can't tell me that any of you seriously believe that the Harper government is flexible enough to back bedrock policies and principles championed by your respective parties.

Enough of the political posturing. Stand up and prepare to be counted. As they wisely say in this neck of the woods, mettez vos culottes!

Decoupling From The Bloc?

I'm with Liza Frulla -- the former federal and Quebec cabinet minister. She says a majority is still theoretically possible and I agree. But it won't happen unless Denis Coderre and Pablo Rodriguez have found the secret to get the moderate middle in Quebec to decouple from the Bloc Québécois.

I can't tell you how many times voters have told me that they vote Bloc "because there is no other choice". The next election will be the ultimate test of the Liberal Party's Quebec organizers. They really need to dish out the red meat that can seduce soft nationalists. (What is given by the left hand can be taken away by the right -- that's the rub, wooing Quebec without provoking a backlash in English Canada about "selling out to Quebec". Not an easy trick to pull off.)

If memory serves, voters have at least three times since 1991 provided an opening for federalists but each and every time, the governing party failed to adequately pick up on its cue. In 1993, the Bloc hit a home run in the wake of the failure of Meech and Charlottetown and won 54 seats. Contrast that with the ebb tide of 2000 where they picked up only 38 seats. (In the last two elections, the Bloc won 51 seats.)

As Bill Clinton might say: KISS - keep it simple, stupid. Focus on a theme and stick to it. Then ram it home. Follow the Bloc's example, find the hot button issue that resonates with the voters. Writers Alain Noël and Myriam Fontaine* have noted how the Bloc has used slogans in each of its campaigns:

2004 - Un parti propre au Québec (literally "A party specific to Québec");*

2006- Heureusement, ici, c'est le Bloc ("Thankfully, the Bloc is here"). *

2008- Présent pour le Québec ("Present for Quebec").

Liberals need to take a page or two out of the Bloc's playbook. It can be done but it won't be easy to start letting the air out of the Bloc balloon.

Source: *The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Harper's Latest Subterfuge...

What some people won't do to stay in office. This Prime Minister has tried political triangulation and it has had mixed results: he's managed to cling to power but hey, this performance is no "new-Nixon". The big political rehabilitation payoff is as distant as ever. No one in his or her right mind is about to give this PM a majority mandate. We've seen him in action, that's the trouble!

So on to a new strategy: lo and behold, someone has managed to effectively muzzle the Canada Revenue Agency. Notice how they have, quite conveniently, nothing to say about the legal status of the home renovation tax credit. What is Stephen Harper doing to open up the channels of communication so Canadians who are entitled to the straight goods on this matter can get it? Nada, nothing, zip.

Why can't some of our politicians come clean and admit what we already know -- namely, that the credit is not in jeopardy should this country suddenly find itself right in the middle of an election campaign.

I thought our leaders had more respect for the voters -- and for their intelligence. Apparently not. Back to politics using the lowest common denominator, a tried and true method of the sharp wedge politics which has recently become all the rage in Canada thanks to the constant stream of muck which has been deliberately encouraged by the powers that be nestled in between the Ottawa and Rideau.

Canadians want the facts so they can act accordingly. Not just another con job emanating from a bunch of overly clever guys looking at doing whatever it takes to keep themselves in control of the political agenda.

Incoming For Max.

They love Maxime Bernier in Beauce. As I've said before, if anyone survives in the Conservative Quebec caucus, it will be him. But it's starting to not look as solid as it once did. Colour me a skeptic but the timing sure seems more than fortuitous what with Le Devoir getting their hands on Max's briefing books.

That's what I "love" about the political culture in Ottawa: the endless capacity to make people suffer -- or even better yet, suffer further for their alleged transgressions and errors. The list is a mile long, and growing: Max, Ruby, Lisa, Peter, Leona, Bill, Garth, Robert, Pablo...

Then we wonder why people don't vote. Everyone is a convenient target and shots come from all sides of the House. It's more than a disgrace. Some will argue that it's all the fault of the Impresario -- well, that's a mighty convenient excuse for other people not to clean up their own act.

Here's a thought: as we approach the holidays, we may or may not have a newly elected government. How about putting the pitchforks on hold and for a change, think about attending each other's Christmas parties on the Hill -- that is if your own party leader hasn't already banned you from another party's Yule-tide celebration...

Omar Khadr: Checking The Executive.

Now that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the government's appeal on November 13th, I couldn't be more pleased. Let's start with a general principle and then move to the particular: it offends me as a Canadian that any government of any political stripe has the arbitrary power to move the goalposts at its pleasure. Either the Charter has meaning or it doesn't -- I expect a split decision. On the general principle that the government has a duty to protect and enforce Canadian citizens' charter rights even while in detention abroad, I am convinced that the Harper government will lose -- we might even see a 9-0 judgment on this point of law.

Now, moving to the particulars surrounding the Khadr case, this is where it becomes unpredictable. Quite obviously, sensitive intelligence information will be revealed in camera to the justices. As I've said before, in my estimation, the known knowns surrounding Omar Khadr are but a small chapter in an otherwise large intelligence volume. The government will do everything it can to keep that secret. Several national intelligence agencies will be the object of a firestorm if what I suspect is the case is ultimately revealed.

That brings us to the crux of the matter. Can national security considerations trump an individual's Charter rights? They sure can but the court will have to weigh the serious, direct and imminent nature of the threat to our national security. I suspect that Khadr's alleged offenses do not rise to the point where they pass the test required to overrule his Charter rights. But then I'm not a constitutional lawyer.

I hope the court agrees to repatriate Khadr in a timely manner. Let him face trial in Canada and let the process play out as much as possible in public.

But in the final analysis, it's critical that our highest bench provide the Canadian government with direction and parameters. Once that has been done, our democracy will be all the better for it.

Jockeying For Position.

As someone who has pushed for an election for quite some time now, it's not unreasonable for you to arrive at the conclusion that I'm rather pleased with how events appear to be unfolding.

First, my biases: a Progressive Conservative down to my bones; a Red Tory whose kindred political spirit is Senator Hugh Segal (that will be news to him -- Ronald Who!); a former Conservative (and Harper opponent) and a newly-minted Liberal since December.

But enough about me.

As we say in court, here are my questions: does this Prime Minister -- a) want to avoid an election at all cost or b) is he looking for a way to precipitate one? I suspect it might actually be a little of both.

My leader is on side. Michael Ignatieff says Harper's time is up. The PM and Jack Layton both say no backroom deals. Gilles Duceppe reminds us that if it's good for Quebec, he's for it.

What the hell does it all mean? IMHO, it means the genie is out of the bottle. In two to four weeks we'll all be out on the campaign trail. I'll be watching for significant poll movement (hopefully in favour of the Liberals) as Canadians contemplate the usefulness of a majority government.

No question about it. This political impasse will be a game changer. One party will be up and one down. Stephen Harper thinks he's about to be the big winner. I think otherwise. Michael knows what he has to do in this campaign to connect and resonate with voters. Part of his job is to show Canadians a better way and lead us to a more comfortable place.

I'm on board and confident we'll get there. How about you?

Welcome!

Remember, the meek are supposed to inherit the earth -- or at least not get sued for what they blog.

For my part, I intend to tell it like it is (or at least, how I see it) without resorting to name calling, character assassination or other personal attacks. Yes, politics is perhaps a blood sport but deliberate shitty behaviour will be on holiday here.

So come on in. The water's just fine. Feel free to line up with or against me. Remember, one of us is right and the other wrong. Subsequent events will prove whether we are worth our political salt.