Transition And Opposition

It's a crack, I'm back yeah standing
On the rooftops having it
Baby I'm ready to go
I'm back and ready to go
From the rooftops shout it out, shout it out
--Republica

Finally, the opposition takes the initiative:

Opposition leaders hand Martin an ultimatum

The opposition leaders are demanding that Prime Minister Paul Martin agree to make an election call in January or face a no-confidence motion that could bring down his government in November.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe issued the ultimatum after meeting in Ottawa on Sunday, saying the Liberals had lost their moral authority to govern.

Martin can go on and on about his "need" to govern a little longer to implement his great new policies, but voters know that he would have already introduced these initiatives if they were so urgent.

Let's call the Martin's dithering for what it is: an attempt to pin the downfall on the government over Christmas on the opposition, while giving the public time to forget the Gomery report.

But the gig's up: he already asked the electorate for another chance in the spring and it worked. But that was a one-time deal-he won't get another shot.

And the public doesn't believe that Martin had nothing to do with Adscam, or that he knew nothing about (while he lobbied for Adscam money for his constituency).

Meanwhile, the Conservatives are ready to roll. There is a warchest, an issue, and a now a deep seeded distrust of the Liberals.