Michael Ignatieff and the Coalition

I see the clock has struck twelve in the Liberal castle, and Michael Ignatieff has made his move.

And I for one am delighted. Oh I know...I expect to be criticized by some of my best friends...including my companion. And as I've said before I wouldn't hang around Iggy's castle after midnight.

But my position is that one can hardly be squeamish at a time like this. If the Count has the sharpest fangs, and he's willing to stick them into Stephen Harper's neck, who am I to complain? All I care about is toppling Great Ugly Leader's government as soon as possible.

And if we're going to do that the Liberal Party needs a strong interim leader, and so does the Coalition. And the sooner the better.

Because if we don't have that leader in place by early rather than late January, the Coalition could lose its best chance to dethrone Stephen Harper at a time of national emergency. And Michael Ignatieff will lose his best chance of becoming Prime Minister...without an election his party can't afford.

By missing out on what could be an historic opportunity.

So here's what I think Michaelle Jean must have said last Thursday: Mr Harper, I will take your advice and prorogue Parliament. But if you lose a confidence vote in the House early next year, don't expect me to dissolve the House. You can't have an election until it is clear that a Government cannot be formed.

I also believe that with every bone in my body. I believe the Governor General is deeply distressed by the Con threats to go over the heads of Parliament and her own, and by the way they are threatening national unity. I believe she would LOVE to give the coalition a chance to govern. But for that to happen the coalition must demonstrate that it is a viable one, a real and stable alternative to the Con regime.

And to do that the leaders of the three parties must be able to get out there and sell that alternative, and reassure Canadians that the Coalition would be good for Canada. In a calm and professional manner, unlike the last frantic time.

To miss out on an historic opportunity like that one, at a time like this one, would be a crime against Canada. As well as a dangerous political mistake. Because if the opposition signs off on the budget, just like it did on the Throne Speech, the next time the opposition decides to bring down the government the Governor General will have no choice but to call an election.

And if the opposition is in no position to fight an election,because they don't have the money, Harper will play them like puppets while our country burns. And the Liberals will look as impotent as they did under Dion.

Michael Ignatieff may not like the idea of a coalition. And some Liberals may not like the idea of Michael Ignatieff.

But whether they put their party or their country first. They really have no choice.

Any way you add it up, and whether you like it or not, the Count was always going to be the leader of the Liberal Party.

Stephen Harper MUST be defeated if Canada is going to survive.

And the Coalition is still the only way to VICTORY.

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P.S. Lordy. Some people actually voted for this post. Whew. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I thought I had pissed off EVERYBODY. But just remember my motives are pure. And if I have to hide this post from my companion...that's just a reasonable precaution because he's bigger than me.

But we're all in this together....right?

h/t Adam Rawlings