I think you're onto something there Soc. Here's a weird one for you though on the
Left and Right and Centre concept. It's a perception thing. You see the Liberals as a
bit left of centre and the Conservatives way off to the right. That's your perception.
Others may see the Liberal Party as very far left much closer to the NDP and the Greens.
They would see something like the Western Separation Party as off to the right and the
Conservatives as being just a bit right of centre. I think part of it is a regional thing, but it
sure can't be all of it. Have you ever wondered why there is only one Liberal and no NDP
MP's in Alberta and Saskatchewan? I think it's a perception as to where the centre is out here.
The Liberals are a little left of your centre and the Conservatives are a bit right of mine. We
both seem to think the Parties we're each leaning towards are the closest to the centre. This
seems like it could be an interesting race.
Here's a twist to things. You would like to see the Liberals win this goat-rodeo and I'm assuming
the NDP as the official opposition. I'd like to the Conservatives take a strong minority with
the NDP as the official opposition. The Liberals aren't very popular out on the Prairies as this
Green Shift thing scares the living sh*t out of most people that lived through the NEP and others
that feel they understand that it's just a tax grabbing wealth transfer. That's the opinion and I'm not
knocking your Party, just making a point. Many (not all, but many...) out here that I've talked to
still don't want to see a conservative majority and plan on voting NDP to increase the odds of them
becoming the official opposition as they see the Conservatives as a slam dunk.
I'm assuming that there's got to be large clusters out there (just not out here) that think the Liberals
could be a slam dunk so they'll vote NDP to try and improve the odds of them being the official
opposition. If enough people think in this "strategic" manner, the NDP might just take this one. If
that happened, who would be the most surprised (aside from the majority of Canadians)???
Harper, Dion, or Layton himself???
P.S. Have you noticed that Mr. Dion hasn't mentioned the term "Green Shift" in the last couple
of days unless someone else brings it up in a direct question to him? Just an observation
much like Harpers lack of the use of the word "transparency.'