The latest information from Nanos seems to indicate that waiting would not do any harm to the Liberals and might actually assist them by allowing time for the negative impressions of Mr. Harper and the Conservatives to solidify.
And they will solidify. People being people, once someone or something generates negative feelings it is damned difficult to reverse those feelings no matter what they do. Just ask Stephane Dion.
The ideal conditions for the Liberals would be where no matter what the Conservatives did they could not win the next election. In other words, a situation where Canadians have grown so tired of the Conservative government they will turf it out regardless of what it promised and what it said about the Opposition.
So the question becomes, are we there yet?
My sense is not quite but getting closer.
I really do not have an opinion on election timing. I am just throwing out possibilities for everybody to discuss. I believe we reached the tipping point last Fall when Mr. Harper prorogued Parliament to save his political hide with the result that the Liberals are most likely to win the next election no matter when it occurs.
As well, none of the other parties wants an election so if Mr. Ignatieff announced he was not going to support the Conservatives latest infomercial, errr, economic report card I am certain Mr. Harper and Jack Layton would make some kind of a deal to prevent an election. The Bloc would not as the Conservatives are too unpopular in Quebec so the Bloc would not want to tie themselves to Conservatives right now.
So I still believe that we will have to wait until at least the Fall.
6 comments:
I tend to agree the Fall would be better..get to know Michael more during the Summer, also closer to a year between. I really do no think that right now is the time, as the economy is not going anywhere for awhile, and the unemployed may not want one.
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Does this not remind you of another scenario? Dion propped up Harper last year...then went on the road to promote his agenda all the while spent that summer trashing, bashing, etc. By the time fall came Harper convinced everyone that Dion was not a leader and called an illegal election now.
I have to wonder - should we give Harper that opportunity again?
PS: Chretien says an election now would be good for Canada.
Whoops - meant to say "called an illegal and unnecessary election last fall"...
Many people support an election right now, do not worry, we have tired a not in mind government such a long time.
I think those who wait for "ideal" conditions are following a rainbow.
Yes, there are bad times to call an election. But waiting for ideal situations are foolhardy and may never come. If that's all you have to offer, then one sign of uptick and Harper will pummel the opportunism of calling an election later.
There is no better time to call for confidence then when confidence is truly shaken in the government. It has the added benefit of being oh, I don't know, honest might be the word I'm looking for.
EVERYONE knew the economy was faltering badly last autumn when Harper and company called their opportunistic election and ran around the country telling them their steady hand 1) would keep Canada out of recession and 2) would keep Canada from deficit spending.
They were grossly incompetent or they lied - those are the two options.
They continue to step out and offer vague platitudes while hiding the books.
If that doesn't constitute a failure of confidence, someone needs to write a new, more truthful definition.
It's time to pull the plug on this charade and offer an alternative on substance and approach to governing. The public will respect an honest willingness to go forth now than holding out for an opportunistic future scenario.
I think the Liberals should show a willingness to put their governing philosophy forth when it actually matters in shaping how Canada emerges from this period. Don't allow Harper to set the terms of "resolving" the debt he created.
Those are my honest assessments of the situation.
''Chretien says an election now would be good for Canada.''
And he said that same thing about a coalition government with Dippers and the Bloc.
'' (last election Harper said)
1) would keep Canada out of recession and 2) would keep Canada from deficit spending.
And the Liberals campaigned on NO deficit too!
Within 2 months, they were forming a coalition to force deficit spending....Canadians are not stupid, they remember who forced the deficit spending.
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