Today's Must Read

Brian Topp in the Globe. The best section is Topp's analysis of Iggy's current policy positions:

We are hearing a Laytonesque pitch for "green jobs" as the centerpiece of an economic development strategy. From a Liberal Leader who travelled to Calgary as quickly as he could to report that he favours Stephen Harper's policy of uncontrolled, limitless development of Canada's tar sands, whatever the environmental consequences.

We are hearing about human rights and a return to Canada's traditional role in the world. From a tactically repentant apologist for George Bush's use of torture, and a tactically repentant cheerleader for George Bush's Iraq war.

We are hearing a commitment to fiscal responsibility and to the value of citizens contributing taxes in return for the civilization we wish for ourselves and for all. From a Liberal Leader who simultaneously commits to maintain Stephen Harper's corporate and other tax cuts — which have embedded a permanent structural deficit into the nation's finances (temporarily masked, at the time, by resource revenues). Which means no funds for whatever programs the Liberals choose to re-promise, once again, in Red Book Version 7.

Many of these incongruities and contradictions represent an attempt by Mr. Ignatieff to compete with Mr. Harper for moderate conservative voters — people like Mr. Ignatieff himself. While hoping that more progressive Canadians can be blackmailed into voting Liberal on the argument that only Mr. Ignatieff can replace Mr. Harper.

That is an approach that may fail at both ends. Progressive voters may well remain clear in their minds that they do not want to vote for a conservative, whatever the party colour. Conservative voters may well decide to continue to vote for the real thing.

To my mind, this is exactly correct. Conservatives will continue to vote Conservative and lefty's aren't as easily blackmailed by false progressives, as they used to be.

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Laugh Line Of The Day

From the comics at the Toronto Star editorial board:

Now, the NDP has evolved as more of an enabler for the Conservatives, while playing spoiler against the Liberals.

In reply, I refer to Jesus, from Matthew 7:4:

"Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?

The Liberals have propped up this government for three years, but why should reality get in the way of making a point?

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