Comments on: 'We are putting this government on probation'

By: Just visiting

Just visiting — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:52:04 +0000

Great. So the Libs will have even more opportunities to vote to keep Harper in power (unless of course they abstain from their own non-confidence motions).

By the time the fall comes, Ignatieff will clearly be co-owner (with Harper) of the recession, and co-owner of all the failed stimulus initiatives.

I give Harper full marks not for his tactical smarts in bringing this about, but for his good luck in finding so many strategically clueless liberal leaders.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:49:58 +0000

You have to give credit to the Igster after all him putting the gov’t on probation is like a dog rolling over throwing his paws into the air and demanding Harper to rub his belly or else! The tricky part is the else – or else what? another confidence motion .. like the LPC track record with confidence motion is inspiring. No what we will watch is the slow morphing of Iggy into Dion only this thime there is no need for ad’s saying not a leader. In a way I hope Harper gives him a few more opportunities to let him talk big and keep growing his party as he is a much better fighter and the LPC is in such sad shape right now. My favorite analysis of late is by Gilles D. who wrapped in all up in a nutshell and told exactly how thigs are going top play out at least until December. If you missed it check it out from his interview after the vote on CPAC (basically breaks down to exactly what Dion did – only a lot tougher) …

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:22:56 +0000

Iggy has now stepped firmly into Dion’s shoes, they truly fit him well.

By: T. Thwim

T. Thwim — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:33:35 +0000

Quarterly updates that are confidence motions. That’s the kicker of this. Because the PM controls opposition days, he can effectively control when confidence motions can occur.. I believe Ignatieff’s demands take some of that ability away from him — and more importanly for Ignatieff, give him significant campaign leverage if deficit Jim finds for some reason that trying to sell government assets during a depression doesn’t earn nearly as much as forecast

By: Rose

Rose — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:56:03 +0000

Ignatieff needs time to fix the party!! So if this goes downhill, he has someone to blame and if it helps the economy, he will say he worked with him because canadians where his priority, still he needs much to learn to lead this country, and all of his merits though impressive, not enough!!!

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:58:47 +0000

Probation? Vigilance?

Quarterly updates on half-hearted half-measures won’t amount to much.

Stephen Harper must be happy for the blank cheque Michael Ignatieff has written him.

By: Stewart Preston

Stewart Preston — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:44:49 +0000

The Conservatives have structured there handouts such that only a small fraction of the money will actually be spent. For those of you who think Harper is a political genius, you can take heart that in the tax cuts will happen, the tax credits for renos will be oversubscribed and very little else will happen quickly.

Ignatieff’s challenge is to either force changes to allow the money to flow or ensure that this is seen as a major failure on the Conservative’s part in the next election.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:28:59 +0000

Oh Iggy – what can you say but you gotta hand it to him when negotiating with his lady of the evening he wants a reach around thrown in for free. I like the part about quarterly reports which he would have gotten anyways .. however … I am very impressed that he is not leveraging real demands what’s happening here? I don’t like this one bit I am accustomed to the LPC wringing the cash register and adding even more pressure to the boiler .. hmmm .. I am missing something here maybe Iggy knows something we don’t and let’s face it he can take the high road and come back in the fall and ask for more so I guess I see his position.