Ford wrote:
The left, demonstrating its characteristic willingness to criticize itself publicly, and an inability to unite on key issues, has buckled in the face of overwhelming speculation on the inevitability of a Conservative government and allowed it to be. Many of the well-intentioned among the 60% (lowest since 1883!!) of registred voters who turned up, I'm thinking, saw fit to vote with their consciences, as opposed to defensively, seeing as it was an acknowledged foregone conclusion within the media that Harper and his grisly crew would scoop themselves a minority government at least. These NDP and even Green votes, it could be argued, cost the Liberals seats in ridings like Edmonton Centre and Peterborough.
Ford, I don't know about the above.
The turnout was 65% (previous election in 2004 was 60.9 and the lowest since the 19th century).
On what key issues was the left divided? When did it publicly criticize itself? I didn't see any of this.
There was no surge in NDP support. They got 17% of the vote; 16% in 2004. The NDP did not draw from some mythical Liberal base.
All that happened was about 7% of Lib support moved to the Cons. These two parties are the closest ideologically of all major parties. People were rightly pissed off about the sponsorship scandal, etc, and Harper and Co. campaigned really well, somehow getting all the bigoted nutballs in their party to keep their mouths shut, and somehow convincing voters that they don't want to fuck w/ the Canada Health Act.
*note* Arguably you are right about Edmonton Centre. NDP support doubled there. My girlfriend worked on the NDP campaign in Edmonton Centre, so you can thank her! I'll do so for you.
Meanwhile, the NDP is shut of Quebec b/c the Bloc suck up the left vote for the most part (and Duceppe is the most interesting, capable leader of the lot). The Bloc get 10% of national popular vote and 19% of seats b/c their vote is so insanely concentrated (within Quebec).
In any case, the Bloc and NDP would/will shut down missile defense bills, etc.
We'll see who best snuggles up to Cons. The Bloc share an interest in provincial empowerment and most of the Libs would be only too happy to pass corporate tax cuts, etc. At the end of the day, Layton is correct to assert that his is the only party that will make a difference in parliament. The NDP overhaul of the last federal budget evidenced this.
I do agree that the media projected inevitability of Conservative rule helped them along considerably. Polling should be illegal, for parties and media alike.
