Harper calls election

      It is one year earlier than the law Harper had fought for, but under the guise of ending " a dysfuntional parliament ",he has gambled and called an election. John Turner and Paul Martin also held fall elections, when they were not necessary, and both suffered losses. The same fate awaits Harper.

     His agenda has been stalled and he has run out of new ideas, and so he blames the other parties and hopes to fool the electorate. . Wearing a sweater and holding a reluctant baby will not be enough to mask his image as a bully and a control freak with a hidden agenda...........he still has a Reform party soul. His cuts to the  arts, culture and legal assistance programmes, his misuse of the huge surplus he inherited from the Liberals, the downturn of the economy, his shoddy record on the environment,  the mounting casualties in Afghanistan  and the continued job losses in Ontario, all point to trouble for him.

      The Liberals, if they can get their act together and if they can stop their sniping at their leader and if they can mount a coherent message  can benefit the most . However Dion must shed his image as a bumbler leadig a cabal of ambitious  wannabees", ready to strike at any seeming weakness. The Liberals are successful when they campaign on the left, and Dion has recognized  this with his Green Shift " richer, fairer, greener ", and promised tax relief.

      The N.D.P. must not be caught between Harper's right wing agenda and Dion's move to the left. Layton must do more than act as the Obama of the north. He has to offer more than " winds of change ",and........."priorities of the kitchen table, not....boardroom table ". Canadians are not seduced by rhyming couplets . He has to deal with both the Green  Party and the Liberals poaching on his turf. He should try and learn from the  NDP's 1974 and 1984 elections.

     The Bloc Quebecois has to hit the Reform/ Conservative hard on the environment, on Afghanistan and their " right wing, American style idealogy ". Harper will try to make the B.Q. irreelevant, stressing  that they have done little for Quebec. Harper's rally in Quebec City, is the first of many forays he plan to make to this province. Any chance to form a major or even a majority government rest on Harper's ability to sell himself here.

     The next few weeks will certainly be interesting.......