- Harper, Another Term as PM - Let's Get Real

Ignatieff out to lure voters from the NDP, Bloc, Gloria Galloway, Globe and Mail, Dec. 26, 2010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ignatieff-out-to-lure-voters-from-the-ndp-bloc/article1849812/comments/

Harper and the Con's have a fierce (die-hard) support by a small polarized fraction (right-wing extremists) of the population but large enough (33%) and focused enough (epi-centred Alberta) to get them in power and maintain it because all the other parties are even more polarized.

And, you can betcha they will go out and vote in the next Federal election.

But with this 33% die-hard support, as long as the Harper policies do not consolidate the opposition then Harper can, and continues to, implement his right wing extremist program and policies that are strictly partizan with no concern for the good of Canada and Canadians.

The only restraint Harper has is precipitating a consolidation of the (66% Canadians) Moderate Majority - the 66% Canadians that do not buy into the political extremism of Harper and his Con's, that don't want him or subscribe to what he stands for.

The very low voter turn out in Vaughan (32.5% - Elections Canada) combined with this fierce Con support was the reason the Con's won the by-election (49.1% of the vote, Lib 46.6%). In other words, Vaughan very likely has many more Liberals but they now are represented by a Con. This could very easily happen Federally with a low voter turnout.

In a situation where a party has a small but fierce, die-hard support there are only two things that will put them in power, a low voter turnout and a polarized opposition.

Harper and the Con's know all this and strategize towards it.

By-elections are not the "harbingers of federal general election turnout" hopefully.

But if the moderate majority (66%) do not get animated, motivated, consolidated and get out and vote we will have another term of Harper and the Con's, perhaps even a majority.

The Liberal Party is the best and most likely alternative, especially given its long and proud history, its wide, central, and inclusive position on our political spectrum and its significantly greater popular support than the other non-Con parties.

As we have experienced for the last 5 years, a vote for any party other than the Liberals is a vote for Harper.

It's just that simple.

Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html