OPINION:Kelly McParland's advice to Ignatieff: Canada can wait, you should too

He gets away with a lot of things because when the Three Stooges tried to stage a palace coup they looked like, well, the Three Stooges.

Is it Harper's fault that Layton is so stupid that he has agreed to support the CPC, come what may, until the EI bill passes? What was he drinking - or smoking - during the summer?

Why is Layton's support of the CPC "stupid"? Layton is getting NDP-type policy passed by the government. Other than getting an NDP majority, this is the only way the NDP can do so. Furthermore, Layton knows that an election now is likely to result in another minority government, with fewer NDP seats. So supporting the CPC is SMART politics by Layton. The very best position the NDP can ever hope to be in is in support of a minority government. They've got that now and ought to continue it as long as possible. Layton's as close to being Prime Minister right now as he could ever hope to be.

Why is Layton's support of the CPC "stupid"? Layton is getting NDP-type policy passed by the government. Other than getting an NDP majority, this is the only way the NDP can do so. Furthermore, Layton knows that an election now is likely to result in another minority government, with fewer NDP seats. So supporting the CPC is SMART politics by Layton. The very best position the NDP can ever hope to be in is in support of a minority government. They've got that now and ought to continue it as long as possible. Layton's as close to being Prime Minister right now as he could ever hope to be.

He has given carte blanche to Harper. While the EI bill is pending Layton has agreed to support the government and that will include any bills that the NDP might otherwise oppose. Layton has agreed to support a minor amendment to EI and at the same time giving up the issue he said he would defeat the Tories on - the 360 hr entrance requirement. I think the Libs and Bloc have handled this a lot better than the NDP.



Analysis of the EI bill has resulted in widespread criticism from the left. At first the Bloc was going to support it until they saw it gave little to laid off forestry workers.

But it achieved Layton's goal - which had bugger-all to do with EI - it prevented an election where he would lose seats.

Layton has screwed himself by voting with Harper and the Liberals have equally screwed themselves voting down the Home Reno rebate. Poor optics for both. Very poor politics considering their roots and their "core values".

I don't think anyone made off any better than the other guy.

Layton has screwed himself by voting with Harper and the Liberals have equally screwed themselves voting down the Home Reno rebate. Poor optics for both. Very poor politics considering their roots and their "core values".

I don't think anyone made off any better than the other guy.

The difference between the NDP on one side and the Libs and Bloc on the other is that only the NDP has tied itself to the Tories, for richer, for poorer, for better or for worse, until the EI bill has passed. Even when the Libs were run by Dion and voted to support Harper no commitment like that was made.

No no no. You're not thinking like an NDPer. The NDP views this as holding-up the Conservatives. They feel like their puppetting Harper. The Dippers don't see this as "tying itself to the Tories". They see it as blackmailing the evil CPC to do its bidding. This is exactly what the NDP wants...a favour owed by the ruling minority government. If Jack can squeeze Stevie for another favour on the next confidence vote, he'll do it again...and wisely so.

And if Steve says no Jack is STILL committed to vote with the government.

And if Steve says no Jack is STILL committed to vote with the government.

Uhhh, no, that's the point. As soon as the Tories aren't doing what poor-Jackie wants, he pulls the plug. That's the game.

And if Steve says no Jack is STILL committed to vote with the government.

Uhhh, no, that's the point. As soon as the Tories aren't doing what poor-Jackie wants, he pulls the plug. That's the game.

That's up to him. Then he'll have to explain to the folks expecting to get more EI benefits why they won't be getting them.

Ignatieff is the new face on the block, but has said little to make me listen, all that ever comes out of the mouth of the rest, is the same old stuff,which is them saying i am better then him, elect me. i wish we could get some people who really want to make a great country better, instead of the ones we have.