MacDonald: Fools on the Hill
There is a seasonal aspect to the current silliness in Ottawa, the unruliness of the unsupervised schoolyard at the end of term. It happens every year around the middle of June, when the House rises for the summer, as it will on Friday for three months.
School’s out, see you in September, or maybe not if the government is defeated on a supply motion on Friday. That’s the part of the silly season that goes with a minority House. It’s not seasonal, it’s structural, and there’s way too much testosterone involved.
Which isn’t to say the government couldn’t fall if Michael Ignatieff decides to vote against the government’s supply motion, a question of money and thus of confidence, which the Bloc and NDP have already said they will oppose. These two parties really, really, don’t want an election, but they do want to put the new Liberal leader’s feet to the fire.
Iggy doesn’t want an election, either. He knows the voters don’t want a summer election and will look askance on anyone who interrupts their time in cottage country. Moreover, the Libs aren’t ready yet. He’s well aware that his job is to unite the party, fill the coffers and win the election. He has succeeded in the first part and is coming along in the second phase (his recent Montreal fundraiser brought in half a million dollars).
But he is nowhere near to being organized – and he is fond of the famous quotation of Sir Wilfrid Laurier: “It is not enough to have principles, we must also have organization.” Iggy talks about a “308 strategy”- making a serious effort in every riding in the country. But as of last week, the Liberals had nominated candidates in only 10 of Quebec’s 75 ridings. That’s a long way from being ready in a province where hopes for a Liberal restoration are riding high.
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beentheredonethat Says:
The clowns are running the circus.
Posted on June 15th, 2009 at 9:26 am
ward Says:
I get so sick and tired of the “Canadians don’t want an election right now, this summer, etc…” . I had never heard of this bit of garbage narrative until it was apparent that Paul Martin and the Libs were going to suffer at the hands of Stephen Harper. Then it was the only reason why an election should or should not be called.
It takes me the exact same amount of time to go to vote as it does to buy a cup of coffee, and the 300M price tag is a rounding error in Ottawa.
Canadians dont want an election right now, really means Liberals cannot win an election right now.
Posted on June 15th, 2009 at 11:07 am
fernstalbert Says:
Just listening to Ignatieff walk election talk back from the high dive cliff. He’s asking PM Harper to supply the lifeline to stop the process. Why is it up to the PM to make the Liberal leader’s mea culpa easier. The Prime Minister has presented the Economic Update as requested. The question is do they (Liberals) or do they not want an election? Why can’t Ignatieff be crystal clear.
Posted on June 15th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Soccermom Says:
Maybe if Harper doesn’t throw Iffy a bone, Iffy will go to the GG and say Harper doesn’t have the confidence, instead of a nasty expensive election, Mme, could we, the Coalition of Idiots, have the reins?? Please pretty please with sugar on top?
I don’t think we’ve heard the last of the Coalition of Idiots.
Posted on June 15th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
fernstalbert Says:
Soccermum, you have raised an intriguing possibility. You are the first to bring this option up. Ignatieff did mention the Coalition but in the negative. Could he be playing double entande with language? He is the Professor and does like to play word games. Cheers.
Posted on June 15th, 2009 at 3:26 pm