Buckdog

Personally, I think Harper's "instant green, just add polls" is such a thin veneer over his intentions that I just can't buy into it.

As for Layton, even if he holds Harper's feet "to the fire", the most he's going to be able to accomplish is a return of the "status quo" from before the last election. Not exactly what I'd want to be presenting to the electorate as "getting things accomplished".

...and I think the electorate has to know that anything that is accomplished will immediately be undone if Harper manages to pull a majority out of his nutsack.

GW is having a case of instant green here in the US too. On a scale of one to ten, he's full of ...um... compost.

The Liberals have not had the rebound in the polls that had hoped for after their lengthy leadership exercise.

I'm not sure this is a correct assessment. The Liberals are running neck-and-neck with the Conservatives right now, which seems like an alright spot to be in.

Not to pile on, but there is only one party that has been tanking in the polls.

But I thought the buzz during the Lib leadership race was that there would be a huge leap ahead in the polls with new management at the top - my point is simply that neck and neck is not what I thought Liberals had counted on.

With regard to the NDP / Green numbers; I'm not too worried. The Green vote is spread a mile wide and an inch thick. It is not concentrated sufficiently in any area or region where they would actually elect an MP. The NDP vote has areas where it is fairly concentrated and you see a number of seats elected.

I predict another minority government. The bet will be on as to whether that is a Tory minority or Lib.

I thought the buzz during the Lib leadership race was that there would be a huge leap ahead in the polls with new management at the top

I don't recall hearing or thinking that. Perhaps some particularly optimistic people thought that.

I think you're dead on in regards to the concentration of the NDP vote and the lack of concentration of the Green vote.

Rob, a lot of Green supporters just don't grasp that concept of concentrated vote. Sure if we had proportional representation, there would be Greens in parliament. They are setting themselves up for a bit of disappointment as it is now.