
So Michael Ignatieff has finally decided to bury the Coalition he killed.
Even though Stephen Harper could have been made to look like a liar and a hypocrite.
Even though eight months ago polls showed the idea wasn't as unpopular as it has been portrayed.
A Nanos Research survey revealed that 49 per cent of Canadians would rather go to the polls, compared to 42 per cent who believe a Liberal/NDP coalition — backed by the Bloc Québécois — should be given a chance to govern in the event the minority government falls. Ten per cent of those surveyed were unsure.
And most of the opposition came from people out West who will NEVER vote for Ignatieff.
Even though Ignatieff could have turned this ridiculous Coalition phobia into a teachable moment.
With an election campaign not even underway yet, there was probably a teachable moment here......Instead, Ignatieff has just reinforced the view that there's something wrong with the idea of a coalition and that voters who reacted badly to something that was a shock when it happened and that was misrepresented by a lot of the voices who were shouting at them at the time, were right to do so.
But of course it's now too late for any of that, so what I thought I would do tonight is explain why the Liberal cremation of the Coalition may come back to BURN them.
To do that I have to explain what the Conservatives need to happen if they are going to win a majority.
(1) They need to drive as many votes in Quebec to the Bloc, so Ignatieff can't win any new seats. That's why they put out ads accusing Bloc leaders of being pedophiles. That's why they are going after the Coalition in a province where the idea is really popular. Because they knew that if they could get Iggy to bury that idea it could only make him LESS popular. Duh.
(2) They need to stir-up anti-Quebec feeling in English Canada by taking on the "separatists" which is just a code name for Quebecers. It worked for them last time when it provoked the greatest and vilest wave of anti-French bigotry I have ever seen. And they're hoping it will work again. Ignatieff could have confronted this dangerous bigotry...and earned massive brownie points in Quebec. But he chose not to.
(3) They need to alienate NDP supporters who might be tempted to vote for the Liberals just this time. Because with the Greens polling around ten percent the more they can drive up the NDP vote the greater the chance of a three-way split that can give the Cons even more seats.
That's of course when the Liberals aren't firming up the NDP vote themselves....

One.Two.Three. Mission accomplished. Congratulations Mr Ignatieff.
You know in my most gloomy moments I sometimes think that progressives in this country need to experience a Harper majority to give us the jolt of reality we need. So we finally understand what needs to be done to drive these alien RepubliCons from power. FOREVER.
It's going to be a hard lesson. There won't be much left our country by the time we finally understand why a fragmented opposition will always be at a disadvantage when faced with a united right.
But at least there'll be a small consolation.
Out of the ruins and the rubble of this diminished land should crawl something that looks like INTELLIGENCE. Because right now its gone missing.The Coalition is still a beautiful thing.
But Ignatieff is an IDIOT...
















