Saturday, September 20, 2008

The Divided Left and the Salami Cannon














Well it's the last weekend of the summer, and if this old schooner needed an anchor I'd probably volunteer.

Because what's the end of the summer compared to the end of Canada?

And I'm depressed like Dana.

Especially since, as Dana says, it really didn't have to happen.

We appear set for a replay of the 2000 election, when then-PM Jean Chrétien, against the wishes of a fretful Liberal caucus he memorably dubbed "Nervous Nellies," exploited a divided right and was vindicated with a renewed majority in what was initially derided as an unnecessary snap election.

Eight years later, the Tories are poised to return the favour, exploiting a split among no fewer than four opposition parties vying for centrist and left-of-centre votes, and coast to a renewed minority or even a majority in another snap election also widely seen as unnecessary.


If Canada is to be spared the status of a one-party state, perpetually governed by a party representing only one-third to 40 per cent of the electorate, a lot of understandable pride will have to give way to creating an electorally viable alternative to the Tories.

But of course it's too late to do anything about it now. The day of reckoning will come later...like winter.

All we can hope for now is that every progressive works his or her butt off attacking Harper's RepubliCons who would destroy our beautiful country....instead of attacking themselves.

And that when the day of decision comes, everyone will put Canada first, and vote strategically. Because this isn't a game of crochet, it's a brutal struggle for political power. And we must do what we can to elect as many progressives as possible...to deny Harper his hideous majority.

So may I humbly suggest that the next time a progressive feels like taking a shot at another progressive....be it ever so tempting.They take a deep breath, and play with their salami cannon instead. Like I am.

No not THAT salami cannon This one.

Isn't that great? Of course it could be even BETTER. It could be Harper's head floating over Parliament...and we could be peppering it with pig shit. And everytime you scored a hit the head would squeal OINK OINK.

But you can't have everything I guess. Isn't that the moral of this story?

And you know what I mean. Cheer-up everybody. We're not dead yet.

And neither is Canada...

2 comments:

Omar said...

Quebeckers shall giveth Harper his coveted majority and my faith is relying on Quebeckers to taketh it away.
It's just too bad they are having difficulties seeing through the Con agenda from the get-go. More than sad.

Simon said...

Hi Omar...I don't know what to think about the situation in Quebec. One optimistic sign is that Quebecers are the only Canadians who don't think Harper is doing a good job with the economy. On the other hand the nation bribe, the crumbling of the Bloc,an urban-rural split, and of course the enormous popularity of Stephane Dion have combined to give the Harperites a chance to pick up seats. Only Montreal remains a bastion of civilization.
But of course we all knew that... :)