Has Anybody Even SEEN a Liberal Ad?

I'm just wondering. I don't think I have.

I've seen Harper the Cold and Aloof coming off all warm and fuzzy, and I've seen Layton's 'New Strong' campaign ("we're so strong we're going to push all the corporations right the hell out of Canada by taxing them to death, and that's how much we care about the working Canadian!")

But no Dion. 

I know the Liberals are damn near broke, but yeesh, you'd think they could at least cobble something together. Then again, if Dion's in it, nobody'd understand it, anyway. Stephane Dion makes Jean Chretien look like Barack Obama.

Oh, how far the mighty are about to fall. Canada's Natural Governing Party is quite likely to be reduced to third party status in the House, with Layton's NDP bearing the standard of the Left. Provided Harper gets his majority, this can only be a good thing. (A Harper minority with NDP opposition and they might as well just call another election--the two parties have, let's see, umm, nothing in common.)

Part of the problem is that Green Shift, or more specifically, Dion's utter failure to explain it. You want a carbon tax primer, you're better off going to Elizabeth May: her Greens practically wrote the damned thing. When it became clear that Canadians just weren't buying what Stephane was selling, he suddenly decided the entire centrepiece of his campaign was no big deal. Wishy-washy, anyone?

He's gonna get crucified in the debate. Palin will come off much better in her debate the same night, mark my words.

Me, I'm voting Green. I'm going to break tradition this election and only present their platform...if you are interested in the other parties, you know where to find them (Google is your friend). Even with May's inclusion in the leaders' debate, I suspect many people will continue to see the Greens as a one-trick pony. If you're willing to check out their policies, you're apt to discover this is no longer the case. They are an intriguing mix of fiscal conservatism and social liberalism, and I support a good chunk of what they're trying to accomplish.

In voting Green, I'm meeting two objectives. One, and most importantly, I'm doing my bit to raise the Green profile. Two, I'm helping to hand Harper that majority.  Yeah, I'll admit that out loud.

Harper is by no means my favorite, but he's probably the best of a bad lot right now. As Catelli notes,

Even with a majority, it's not that easy for Harper to destroy Canada (on purpose or otherwise). He is only one man, he has no special powers...being a divisive figure eventually comes back to haunt you...

I'm from Ontario. We went from Bob Rae's NDP straight to the Harris Tories--which is as violent a political whipsaw as you're ever likely to see--and then recentered ourselves contentedly in the middle where we belong.  I suspect the same sort of dynamic is now playing out on the federal level. Better Harper gets his majority now and we recenter ourselves in five years. Better that than a minority that will just have us voting again next month.