Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Election Option Off The Table

This statement from Ignatieff today, is the clearest signal yet that the election option is off the table for the Liberals:
"We need an election in February like a hole in the head. It is not the preferred choice of Canadians. We're in a recession (and) Canadians all know that an election is expensive," Ignatieff told a televised news conference in Montreal.

Ignatieff also said:
"[Public] opinion is asking us to give the government a chance to regain the House's confidence."

I read the above to mean allowing the budget to pass or a coalition, "hole in the head" isn't exactly coy language.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I find that article insulting in that it says if the govt falls there WILL BE an election. No mention even of a possibility of a coalition.

As well, I find it interesting that we have been criticizing the NDP for saying they will vote against the budget sight unseen and yet at the same time Ignatieff has essentially said he will vote FOR the budget sight unseen.

Anthony said...

ah ah ah steve

an election that is the Liberal's fault is off the table.

Steve V said...

Mike

Actually, I think Ignatieff made those comments in response to a coalition question.

Steve V said...

Antonio

A clarification for sure. Does this relate to your post, which is compelling?

susansmith said...

But Mike, don't let facts get in the way of good old political spin.

Steve V said...

"But Mike, don't let facts get in the way of good old political spin."

You never do.

Anthony said...

canadians dont need an election

they also dont need a bad budget

but if jack Layton wants to force an election because he doesnt get into cabinet, that is his prerogative. Let him deal with the Canadian people.

It doesnt say anywhere that the NDP is entitled to anything in a potential coalition.

Oxford County Liberals said...

The problem is, you can't have a coalition without defeating a government, knowing full well the G-G may not grant your coalition option and instead take it to an election.

If its a bad Budget, vote it down, and lets see what happens. (and dont accept half measures as being a "good" Budget, which I fear the Liberals will do).

Constant Vigilance said...

Very interesting article. Both you and Antonio give some nice nuance to the article. The Liberals may have taken the lead in the pre-budget waltz.

I notice that the reason given for the coalition forming was the poor economic statement not the poison pills. This is in itself a victory for the Opposition.

Anonymous said...

Alright well the article implies that the only options are budget passes or election and that Ignatieff ruled out the latter.

The article doesn't say anything about Ignatieff's view on the coalition, but if an election is a "hole in the head" and we can't be positive the GG will allow the coalition to take power I read this as implying the budget has to pass because we can't risk an election (even if the odds are still decent the GG might allow the coalition based on all past precedents)

Anonymous said...

"I read this as implying the budget has to pass because we can't risk an election"

That seems to be the interpretation of the mentally-challenged know-nothing reporter who wrote the story. That doesn't make it true.

There is no news in this story at all. We have all known from the start that no one (least of all the Liberals) wants a second election in three months! That's why we have the coalition in the first place.

The consensus of virtually every expert is that if the budget is defeated so soon after the election, the GG will ask the coalition to form a government. The chances of an election are ZILCH and have always been ZILCH!

But, hat's off to Ignatieff for creating this masterful diversionary tactic where he makes everyone think that he will prop up the government - when I think that all along he has been planning to become PM in early February.

Steve V said...

"But, hat's off to Ignatieff for creating this masterful diversionary tactic where he makes everyone think that he will prop up the government - when I think that all along he has been planning to become PM in early February."

I actually see Ignatieff as being entirely transparent from the onset. I don't think he's been planning anything, but is smart enough to make contingencies for all possibilities.