If there is one thing the Liberals are good at it’s bending in the winds of public opinion. Unencumbered by any real core philosophy, other than gaining power, the party has always been quick to place itself well in the herd. There was the fight against NATFA, the promise to scrap the GST, and legion other events that the Liberals seized on to show how much they were really like “the people”.
I guess it’s immaterial that most of their promises weren’t kept. After all, its making the promise that brings you the boost in the polls, not keeping it. Sadly the Liberals have benefited from the apparent collective amnesia of the Canadian electorate.
Whether or not that collective amnesia will allow the memory of the attempted putsch by the Bloc-NDP-Liberal Coalition to slip into the past may be a moot point. It appears the Coalition may have grown legs of its own.
Michael Ignatieff, expected to be crowned king as soon as the Liberals complete their latest regicide, began distancing himself from the Coalition on the weekend. It would be disingenuous to suggest that Ignatieff’s support for the coalition wasn’t a direct corollary to public opinion. As always, the Liberals bend quite happily to avoid the risk of breaking.
That Ignatieff was one of the signatories of the petition asking the Governor General to give the coalition the keys to 24 Sussex was, perhaps by accident, overlooked.
In any case, the Liberals may very well find the fire exits blocked. Both Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe and NDP leader Jack Layton have forcefully pointed out that the Liberals accepted and signed an agreement to form a coalition. They believe that replacing Dion with Ignatieff doesn’t void the agreement. Nor are they interested in dismantling the coalition, as it is the only real chance both the NDP and Bloc have of ever being part of government.
It would appear that, with the help of an internal coup, Mr. Dion has painted Michael Ignatieff into a corner instead of himself.
As a result, Canadians might find themselves governed by a coalition in which the largest party finds itself a member against its will.
Maybe once he’s installed as leader Ignatieff can call a do-over?
- Rafael.
Here’s a ditty sent to me by a friend:
AT STEPHANE DION’S RETIREMENT DINNER–
>
>
> At a dinner thrown in her husband’s honour, a man turned to Madame
>Dion and said, “Your husband has been such a prominent public figure with
>such a busy schedule. How quiet will retirement seem in comparison. What
>are you most looking forward to in these retirement years?”
>
>
> “A penis,” replied Madame Dion.
>
>
> A hush fell over the table. Everyone heard her answer yet no one
>knew what to say next.
>
>
> Stephane leaned over to his wife and said, “In Hinglish dey
>pronounce dat word, “APPiness”.
>
Bourneo
December 27th, 2008