Baying for Blood

The hounds are out, cornering their prey, and they're out for blood. This is how politics is played out here in this ever-changing game of advantage, one party jockeying over the other for the opportunity to declare itself the winner. Seeming to have forgotten that in a democracy it is the voting population, through the lawfully democratic instrument of an election that declares the winner.

And, for the time being - and in all likelihood in the minds of the electorate, for some time to come - there is a duly elected government in Canada and the expectations are that this current Conservative government will settle down to the business of governing. Critical at any time for any country; all the more so given the frailty of the financial situation throughout the world.

The amateurishly juvenile antics of a government seeking to push through a motion to retract a provision endowing political parties with financial support commensurate with their popular vote for the simple reason that it feels it can, and in the process beggar its political antagonists has no acceptable place in the standards of good governance.

But what an opportunity a government grown too-soon arrogant has handed on a silver salver to its opponents. Despite that their political opposites aren't in quite the comfortable position - given the disarray and disorder of the Liberal Party, the great leap forward required by the NDP and the nowhere-status of the Bloc Quebecois - to take full advantage of the Conservatives lowering their guard.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, having permitted himself to indulge in a bit of spite, now querulously states that the opposition is illegally attempting to remove his legal status as the governing party. Well, he engineered that opportunity, and he's no doubt privately remorseful, but the deed was done, more shame to him. Yet he is absolutely correct in stating that "They want to take power, not earn it.

"They want to install a government led by a party that received its lowest vote share since Confederation. They want to install a prime minister ... who was rejected by the voters just six weeks ago." Right, right and right. Mr. Harper, we had such expectations, you were doing so well, you made us proud. Now you speak in the plaintive voice of self-righteous alarm at the result of something you engineered.

Backroom deals are in full steam, with Jack Layton and Stephane Dion sniffing each other out to attempt to understand just how far they could trust one another in a coalition deal, and just how far they can advantage themselves and their parties should they be able to accommodate one another in their zeal to unseat the despised Conservatives and their intrepid, but latterly incautious leader.

Their reasoning being that the Liberals, representing the 'natural' leading party would leap forward with Stephane Dion as Prime Minister, and the NDP jockeying for juicy cabinet posts should a deal be reached. Except, fellas, that the electorate would be furious, don't you know, and the Liberal Party itself is more than a trifle divided between those who would accept this, and those who shudder at the very thought of ongoing Dion leadership.

The solution? Why, simple. The government must see fit to recognize its judicious incontinence, and back down. Simply remove the most offending item from its financial update. Because, despite all the frothing about the government's lack of initiative in kick-starting the ailing economy (the economy is doing relatively well, thank you; no need for any costly bail-outs just yet)it's the stinging removal of tax-payer political cash incentives that has the opposition in a broil.

What's that? The government has come to its senses, and has, after all, admitted that it shouldn't have - particularly at this time; re-visit it at some other time, please do, or not - unilaterally determined that those monies will no longer be forthcoming. And, as a consequence, admitted its prime culpability in the current threat to its own longevity. Good on them; sensible response. And Governor General Michaelle Jean will most certainly approve.

Removal of that aggravating item, so injurious to the cash comfort of all political parties is a good move; congratulations. Except for one thing: those bloodhounds, having scented their prey, have lost all semblance of what passes for intelligent sensibility between them and appear determined to pursue the matter, and bring the government down.

At which time they must prepare themselves to face the full wrath of the country.
Bloody hell.