Debate Performance

I hate to say it, but that's it. Harper did OK, Martin looked desperate (get rid of the notwithstanding clause because you're nine points back?!?), Layton and Duceppe were powerless (unfortunately).

Unless the Liberals pull a trick out of their hat (and I think they're all out), we're looking at a Conservative minority or maybe even a majority in two weeks.

Goodbye tax cut for the poor, goodbye child care, goodbye my marriage (he says I can keep mine, but no new ones - ha!). It has to happen for the Liberals to renew themselves, but it's still shitty.

What a choice.

Option 1: Bush and Iran come to an agreement that does not start a war. Peace, however minutely, is encouraged. Tories win election, make life annoying-to-hellish for x years, depending on your income and sexual orientation.

Option 2: Bush makes a threat to wage war on Iran within the next ten days. Harper makes supportive comment. Canadians recognize the scary part (Canadian troops would be along for the quagmire). Martin wins minority again.

The Nuclear Option

"The Nuclear Option" means to give up all pretense, subtlety, and possibility of "leaving it in the locker room," so to speak. Today, the Liberals released their ads that will either win them the House, or be discussed mockingly in political science classes for decades to come. As Paul Wells puts it*:

Now Stephen Harper is about to find out what it felt like to be a mid-level Liberal who volunteered for Allan Rock in 2002.

Ads in English, and en français. The one called "Military" left me speechless for at least three reasons, and not because of what Harper said.

* I swear this is funny, you'll just have to believe me.

Update: The Liberals have pulled the military ad (probably because the armed forces vote and it was a bit over the top), so thanks to a blogging Tory here's the script and a link to CTV's site where you can watch it anyway.

Here's the complete script for their new attack ad titled "Military," complete with rum-a-dum military drumming in the background, released today:

Stephen Harper actually announced he wants to increase military presence in our cities.

[long pause]

Canadian cities.

[long pause]

Soldiers with guns.

[long pause]

In our cities.

[long pause]

In Canada.

[long pause]

We did not make this up.

[long pause]

Choose your Canada.

CTV helpfully provides archives of the ads. Click Liberal attack ad about Harper and military presence 0:30 on the right hand side.