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Originally posted by Lurch@May 20 2005, 07:33 AM
Again, why be angry with Layton or Martin? Who created the need for Martin to accept the NDP's amendment - perhaps a guy named Harper. Harper made a huge blunder, lost his gamble, and just managed to fail his constituents miserably. It's a good thing Harper doesn't actually mean all that stuff he says about free votes in the Commons, b/c he sure has illustrated he doesn't have a clue about how to accomplish something when its not a top down world.
If I were to evaluate the leaders, I'd say Layton was brilliant in this mess. He got something for his constituents AND was seen to make government function which is apparently what Canadians want (sheep according to the conservatives around here). Duceppe did as expected - neither good nor bad. Martin was mediocre - he probably managed to make the CPC's look bad getting Stronach and passing the bill but has not come off as a particulary strong leader. Harper gets a huge fail, IMO. He "accomplished": lost a member, saw Cadman vote Liberal which is not where the guys heart is, visibly aligned with the Bloc AND forced the government into adopting NDP legislation. For an economist, he sure shows a miserable understanding of game theory.
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While Layton may have been the big winner, stamping his "brand" on the budget will end up costing him and the NDP. Fiscal conservatives in all parties will remember this come next election.
It was Harper's fault??? Why not blame Chretien's mother - she gave birth. It is Harper's job as leader of the opposition to hold the Liberals responsible for their actions. Evidently the Liberals view of how to do that is to hold an inquiry that will cost the taxpayers more than the original scandal.
The Cadman thing is very sad. To think that people look at the issue as one of convenience - I don't want an election to interfere with my summer plans - is an indictment of how jaded people are of the whole political process.
Harper does have one shortcoming. He's a bit of an egghead - he tries to operate on "book learned" principles that don't seem to work in the real world. Why not make a deal with the opposition, no matter how much you may disagree, it it will get you a small spike in the opinion polls. He needs to learn to play politics like the Liberal machine does.