You know what we need around here? A fresh opinion poll to dissect!

They've formed governments in five provinces, so far. I'd go so far as to say a more credible leader than Layton could have put them withing shooting distance of official opposition in the last election. And they certainly are running to win at the national level, which is more than we can say about the Bloc.

They've survived well during three decades of free market worship. Who knows what might happen given the current public penchant for socialism?

(1) He comes across as an egocentric smug jackass.

(2) Someone who does not come across as an egocentric smug jackass.

and the smugness

You are right for sure but in different ways:

- Layton in a Kelly Clarkson — won American Idol years ago, fifteen minutes are up but still waddles around on TV kind of way
- Harper in more of a Ward Cleaver father-knows-best, "Ward weren't you a little hard-on-the-Beaver last-night" "no June I don't think so" emotionless kind of way
- Ignatieff in a Cheer Bear do-gooder who views Canada as his own personal Care-a-lot waiting to ride a cloud car up to Magical Care-a-lot castle kind of way

So as you can see, there is a great deal of nuance.

Oh yeah, I'm a big 'supporter' of nuance.

But apparently I should have been watching a whole lot more TV over the last 4 or 5 decades – what the heck is Care-a-lot?

Harper is more like a Xerox machine or DVD player than Ward Cleaver. Ward Cleaver had a personality.

And while I'm at it, basing your party's oilsands (tarsands, whatever) policy on what you see out the window of an airplane – as Layton more or less did last election – doesn't inspire an image of a thoughtful, heavyweight leader.

Sigh. I know. We might as well drop the facade and install Don Cherry as our permanent king.

Regarding Layton's 'broadcasting' the NDP position wrt the budget…

I understand the preception that is created when Layton states the NDP position before reading a budget document. But who would be fooled if Layton waited a respectable period of time after release of the document, and then issued/read the statement that he had essentially prepared the day before? Why is that facade more palatable? It is arguable less honest.

Ideally he (hell, all politicians from all parties) would actually read the document, let us know what he likes, what he dislikes, some suggested improvements and which parts he absolutely can't support in any way. I continue to hope, but I'm prepared for more of the same.

Actually, the NDP has been incredibly successful at shaping public policy in Canada over the years, despite being "out there" in left field. Particularly in minority government situations. Reform also had a remarkable influence. Neither NDP nor Reform ever had a credible chance at forming a government.

Call it pushing your agenda from whatever position of strength you might have (you might even call it punching above your weight). Call it having your best ideas "stolen" by the leading parties. I believe both circumstances have applied to these two example parties.

So, indeed, stealing a page from the dipper playbook, I would much prefer a credible and principled truly small-C conservative party exert its influence on public policy from opposition benches to this faux-conservative we're-all-Keynesian-now nonsense on offer.

True the NDP is SKYROCKETING from slightly relevant to slightly relevant.

That's right — it should have read "the CPC opened up their lead because they were much better organized and everybody thought the Liberal leader was a @#!$."

I left it out because I don't take issue with that part of your statement. Rather, I agree that the CPC had better campaign strategy going into the last election, and executed and adjusted better on it during the campaign.

What I was taking issue with, and still am, was your statement that "the CPC opened up their lead because people began to pay attention and the CPC had a much stronger and more ready election platform" because, in reality, they had no platform to speak of until the last week of the campaign, when the lack of one became an issue.

That's all I'm saying.

I understand your point that the CPC didn't release their full platform until something like 7 days before the ballot. That doesn't mean they didn't have a platform at all for those 3 weeks prior to the full announcement. From the get-go, they made announcements about fuel taxes, small business taxes, support for disabled, and other minimal announcements. They were minimal because at the time, they were trying to portray themselves as prudent, rigid fiscal managers compared to the glitzy expensive announcements they felt the Liberals were making. Their strategy was tied to their platform. Minimal platform, minimal expenditures = spotlight on Dion and his big promises of carbox tax and spending programs.

So I get why you are stating they didn't release their full printed copy of the platform until the last week, but it doesn't mean they didn't have one at all until then. They knew from the start that the essential platform would be minimal and they planned as such. Key here is they planned. Liberals did not. Which takes me back to my original rant wondering whether the LPC learned from last years mistake.

Ya dig?