- Layton and Harper - Yet Another Dog and Pony Show

Posted: 11:36 AM on February 22, 2011 Globe and Mail
With Harper playing ‘games,’ NDP rattles election sabre, Jane Taber, Globe and Mail, February 21, 2011
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/with-harper-playing-games-ndp-rattles-election-sabre/article1914927/

The meeting between Layton and Harper was, pure and cynical, game playing

Harper has no intention of moderating his budget, for anybody - vis.: “But we don't engage in horse trading or negotiations over the budget."(G&M, 22 Feb.'11).

The only reason Harper met with Layton was so he could say " after listening to the pitches of other parties" (G&M, 22 Feb.'11).

It is interesting to not the use of the phrase "of other parties" as opposed to say "the other parties".

Harper chose Layton and the NDP in an attempt to divide the opposition.

The only thing Harper has to be concerned about in an election is the consolidation of the 66% Moderate Majority that want someone else leading this great country of ours.

Clearly Harper feels that the consolidation would not likely be to the NDP. By allowing Layton to tout that he, and not Ignatieff, has influence, perhaps some who would otherwise go to the Liberals would vote NDP - and presto, another so many years of Harper and his Con's.

Layton still has his 'dream' of becoming the Official Opposition, of acquiring more seats than Broadbent.

For Layton, too, consolidation is his greatest concern since, as with Harper, it is not likely to be around the NDP.

Layton also knows that Harper would not 'horse trade', but when Harper did say he met with other parties, Layton could tout that that party was NDP.

This, of course, explains why Layton took the Corporate Tax cuts off the table when he met with Harper. It would be an automatic show stopper - and that is the last thing Layton wanted - and if Harper did make some concessions it might be attributed to the Liberals. Wouldn't it be funny if this omission had been orchestrated between them before the meeting.

Neither Harper nor Layton had any expectation of Harper listening or moderating his budget.

Neither Harper nor Layton had the good of all Canadians at heart.

When it gets 'right' down to the hard bedrock, there is nothing 'left',

it was nothing but "yet another Dog and Pony show"

excerpt: Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html