That's not change we can believe in.

As a more-or-less doctrinaire Liberal, I haven't been too thrilled with the way things have been going since the election. Between the vague and nonresponsive Throne Speech and the iffy budget promises that seemed more like a shout-out to talk-radio hosts and Conservative strategists (like the cut to party subsidies and the ban on public-sector strikes) than any attempt to deal with the coming recession. But, seeing as the Conservatives have power, it seemed like there wasn't much to be done about this.

Er, turns out I was wrong there. Now the Liberals have teamed up with the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois to force the government out on a confidence vote and install Dion as the new PM, with the NDP and the Liberals in a formal coalition somehow backed by the Bloc Quebecois. Even though Harper has more or less backed down from his really controversial promises, the deal is still chugging ahead, and plan to take down the government in less than a week.

I appreciate the logic - namely, that during the recession, the government should be intervening to help people out. And I like the four wise men who will be handling the new government's recession efforts. Can you think of any more reassuring faces to be leading this? I'm just not entirely sure that this is all worth the controversy and the very real possibility that the GG will call an election. Couldn't they just have kept pressuring the Conservatives? Does Canada really need a Bloc-backed government?

Also, below is a nice set of photos featuring Ignatieff glaring at Dion, because now that the Liberals are teaming up with socialists and separatists to take down the government, Ignatieff's lifespan as PM is kind of kibosh'd (because everyone's gonna hate the Liberals now) and I don't think he's too thrilled about that. Plus, he just looks so menacing all the time. Watch out Dion! He's gonna get you!!!


Seriously, though. What are the Liberals doing here? Is this to fix the economy, or just to get into power for a few months? It is going to kill their electoral chances and give the NDP way too much power at a time when the Canadian economy is really fragile. I am wholly unconvinced that the deal is a good idea.