Iggy and the Stooges seem to think they got Harper to back down just by threatening a Coalition and now that threat is permanently part of the Liberal arsenal.You see, in order to be a continual threat against the Conservatives, the NDP would have to be willing to form a coalition anytime Ignatieff would like it to. However, the reality is this: if Ignatieff abandons the coalition once, the NDP isn’t going to come back to it again. It’s the “fool me once, shame of you, fool me twice, shame on me” principle at work here. So Ignatieff has two choices on January 26th if he becomes leader. He can either stick with the coalition, or be the enabler of Conservative policies for years to come.
Keep dreaming. If Liberals want to keep using NDP numbers for power plays we're going to need a ring.
All or nothing folks. Coalitions are going to be part of the Canadian political landscape in the years to come - that's a given. If the Liberals establish themselves as an unreliable, self interested partner this time, which they seem intent on doing, this will be factored into the negotiations for the next one.
Some of us put aside serious misgivings to embrace this coalition - confirm those misgivings and the Liberal Party will have difficulty ever putting a similar coalition together again. Even getting NDP support in future Liberal minority governments will come with a higher cost.
Dance with the ones who brung you or go home alone. Your call.
4 comments:
The Liberals will get one chance to get a coaltion agreement. If it is not after the budget, it will be never. The Liberals will need to either support the Harper régime or hope that the GG will call an election.
The Liberal brain trust is coming across as bad as an old school automotive manufacturer who clings to the concept that a line of big oil guzzlers is their bread and butter and refuse to change their ways in favour of environmentally friendly cars.
The political landscape has changed and the stakes are higher than ever before as far as Canadians are concerned. Yet the LPC decides to go back to their business as usual infighting and back stabbing under the delusion that they will be returned to the throne of power.
This delusion now rests on the anointed one, Michael "Torture Lite" Ignatieff. Last week there was hope, now there is horror as we watch the Liberals cement Harper's hold on government.
They wanted Dion gone from the first day he was elected and did nothing to support him or advise him effectively. Had I been Dion, I would have relegated Iggy to the very back bench.
There is absolutely no reason for the NDP to cooperate with this neo-con carpet bagger. Not to mention that he has no intention of working with the other opposition parties. He will only cajole assistance when it suits him.
Ah, so the NDP are also taking the "my way or the highway" strategy that has served Harper so well.
Well done, young padawan..
How unreasonable of us to assume deals with Liberals meant anything once you got something out of them.
To be clear; There seems to be a straightforward right/left, Ignatieff/Rae, anti-coalition/Pro-Coalition pattern developing with an increasingly inevitable conclusion looming.
Absent a coalition don't expect the NDP to see much value in supporting one arrogant undemocratic neoconservative over another.
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