11. Strange uncharted political constellation

In the Bat Cave Batman and Robin consider a strategy where Dion and the Liberal Party announce right at the beginning of the election, or even sooner, that Dion will ask Elizabeth May to assume Minister of Environment if the Liberals win

Robin: Did I hear right Batman, Elizabeth May, newly elected leader of the Green Party, is planning to run in Central Nova (Nova Scotia)?

Batman: Apparently so, Robin

Robin: But isn’t that Peter McKay’s riding?

Batman: Right Robin, and he is, of course, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Harper Conservative government

Robin: Holy apparitions, Batman. How can this be true.

Batman: Well Robin, we are in a strange uncharted constellation right now, politically speaking.

Robin: How so, Batman

Batman: Harper is saying that he doesn’t want an election, yet he and the Conservative party are doing everything one would expect if he were planning to call an election.

Robin: But why would Harper want an election right now, surely he would rather simply continue in power.

Batman: That’s right Robin, it would seem that the longer Harper stays in power the more he and his policies shift to the centre. Recently, he appears to be re-working centralist, pragmatic liberal policies and programs. This, it would appear, is a well thought out strategy.

Robin: What strategy is that, Batman?

Batman: It's what I refer to as the “If you can’t beat them, be them, until you can”. If you project this trend to a year from now the Conservative party may in reality be perceived as a centrist, liberal party and so more palatable to the general public. At that time they may very well be ripe for a majority.

Robin: But Batman, why all the preparations now?

Batman: Well Robin, any Hawk could answer that with ease – ‘deterrence’. The negative ad campaign launched against Dion can be considered a pre-emptive strike intended to weaken the enemy so as to reduce their appetite for war, I mean an election campaign. This and the recent convention could be a show of strength, i.e. they have the organization and they have funds to burn, so to speak.

These are pre-budget actions so as to convince the opposition not to vote it, and the government, down.

Take a centrist and pragmatic budget and policies that are allowed to run for a year and “Bob’s your uncle”.

There is even suggestions that Harper may be pressuring the opposition to support the bill calling for elections every four years.

Robin: So Batman, Harper says he doesn't want an election, but makes people think he does, so that in actuality he won't!

But, what about Dion and the Liberals?

Batman: Dion, also is saying he doesn’t want an election right now. However, it may be that in reality he does.

Robin: But, why Batman?

Batman: Well, Robin, if Harper and the Conservatives are assuming the central ground more and more and in reality want to wait a year, then, it would seem reasonable to counter this with an election right now. In other words, given a year, Harper may be able to turn things around for himself and the Conservatives on the environment and Afghanistan and his recent policies, if allowed to take root, might do just that.
Then there is always the possibility that with time Dion may fall out of favour with the electorate.

Robin: So, how does Elizabeth May come into play.

Batman: Well Robin the talk is that the Liberals and Green Party may get together.

Robin: But how will that help May beat McKay?

Batman: It probably won’t, but then it doesn’t have to!

Robin: Is this another riddle, Batman?

Batman: No, Robin, even if May loses, but the Liberals win, Dion could, simply, bring her and others in the Green Party into his cabinet.

Robin: Can he do that?

Batman: Well according to Harper, he can.
In fact, Dion may wish to consider a strategy where he announces right at the beginning of the election, or even sooner, that he will ask Elizabeth May to assume Minister of Environment if the Liberals form the government.

© Lloyd MacIlquham, all rights reserved, 17 March, 2007