Ignatieff Is Hinting At An Election -- A News Roundup And Commentaries/Opinions

Canada's Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff speaks during the second day of the Liberal caucus summer retreat in Sudbury, Ontario. Photo Credit: Chris Wattie, Reuters

Stage Set For Fall Election Showdown -- Canadian Press

SUDBURY, Ont. — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has set the stage for a fall election, warning Prime Minister Stephen Harper: "Your time is up."

But the minority Conservative government could yet survive thanks to an unlikely ally - the NDP now says it may prop up Harper if he's willing to work with them.

Ignatieff delivered a fiery, campaign-style speech to his caucus Tuesday, announcing that the party will no longer support the Tories.

Read more ....

News And Commentary On A Possible Fall Election

Text of Ignatieff's speech to Sudbury Liberal rally -- Toronto Star
Liberals push for fall election -- CBC
Looking ahead to a possible election -- Global
Ignatieff shows his hawkish side -- Globe And Mail
Liberals to table non-confidence motion -- Edmonton Sun
Mark ‘em down as unpersuaded -- Macleans
SNAP ANALYSIS: Backing or defeating government has risks -- Reuters
Anxious Liberals await poll data -- Toronto Star
Don Martin: Ignatieff seeks your vote to remake 2017 -- Don Martin, National Post opinion
Can Ignatieff sell Canadians his $18-billion train? -- Raphael Alexander, National Post
Real-world signs don't point to fall vote -- John Ivison

My Comment: For the Liberals .... it has always been about power and the accumulation of it. What strikes me when I look at them today is that many of my Liberal friends who work in the party are incredibly hungry to grab power again .... and to enjoy the many perks and privileges that it gives. Even people who I know that are Liberal supporters .... and who work in the many crown agencies of the Federal Government (positions given to them by previous Liberal politicians) .... are hungry for the return of the Liberals and the open expense accounts and "freedoms" that they would then enjoy.

This lust for power is blinding them to the reality of what is happening on the ground. There is no hunger for another election, and another minority government. The Conservatives are locked in at 40% of the vote, and they will win a majority of the seats each time in a minority government. The only hope that the Liberals can have of getting power is through a coalition with the other parties .... but this cannot sustain itself for any period of time.

The Bloc cannot support a Liberal Party .... it would undermine their raison d'etre of why they are in Parliament, and it will be a betrayal to their loyal separatist supporters. The NDP will support the Liberals .... but their numbers are insufficient to mean anything. The result will be gridlock .... and a return of the status quo.

The danger for the Liberals is that there could be a backlash. My mother .... who has been a loyal Liberal voter for 50 years, is voting Conservative in the next election .... she is fed up with the constant bickering and mud slinging from the Liberals, and is willing to give the Conservatives a mandate for 4 years. Hmmmm .... if the Liberals can lose my mom ..... the results that they may dream about may not happen.