Harry

Of course you are correct TB. I was just trying to make the point this is all about power and politics. Minority governments as you know are very different from majority governments, and no matter what Ignatieff, Harper, Layton or Duceppe say now before the election, if they find themselves in opposition with the majority of seats, watch out.

Actually Nanos in 2004 and 2006, and Harris Decima in 2008, were the most accurate pollsters, and CROP and Leger Marketing are quite accurate for Quebec. Ipsos appears to shill for the Conservatives and EKOS appears to shill for the Liberals so I would not bet my weeek's wages on either of their forecasts.

Now that all this "coalitions shouldn't be allowed" silliness has died down, just want everyone to know there will definitely be coalition discussions deep into the nite of May 2nd. And guess what, Gilles wants to be part of the action as well. I think he may be welcomed with open arms.

Sounds a bit like blackmail to me. You will have to vote Conservative twice to reap the rewards. Voting for Harper once is bad enough, isn't it?

All right, who here is already on the payroll? Fess up! I'm joking of course, as anyone who does this can usually be spotted a mile away. Why doesn't Harper take some action now to help families instead of 5 years from now?

What do you think about the comments by David Coletto of Abacus who said that the chances to grow are quite limited for Harper because very few Canadians have the Conservatives as their 2nd choice?

Harper is talking about this silly coalition stuff maybe because he don't want to talk about what Canadians are concerned about which is reflected in the polls C - 36% (2% less that 2008 GE - what's going on!) L - 27% N - 20%

HD C - 38% L - 24% N - 19% B - 10% G - 7% http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/conservatives-lead-liberals-38-24-in-latest-canadian-press-harris-decima-poll-118799299.html Gee I wonder what Harper got last election - he hasn't moved an inch, amazing.

No coalitions eh!

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Harper+promises+break+families+with+children+eventually/4516093/story.html And that's just today.

TB, Harper did meet with Layton remember, several weeks prior to the budget. Obviously Harper's approach, and let's not forget Harper was only a minority government leader was "It's Harper's way or the highway". Harper had all the time in the world to negotiate a compromise budget but he choose to have an election instead.

Duceppe said today that for Harper, who said all that Harper did not want an election bs, why didn't Harper put all these goodies he is offering up now in the budget. I think Duceppe is making a valid point.

So the Three Amigos, Harper, Duceppe, and Layton wrote that letter to the GG on September 9, 2004. When did Layton abondon the other remaining Two Amigos, Harper and Duceppe, and basically kill the deal?

Duceppe is the most effective political leader in Canada, and Harper will be no match for him in Quebec.

Seat projections C - 152 seats L - 72 seats B - 51 seats N - 33 seats T - 308 seats http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/319801/projections-de-sieges

Duceppe sure has a way with words. I doubt Conservatives will be winning many seats against the Bloc.

Thanks RNG but I think I found what I was looking for:

Ok, so we have the three amigos Harper, Duceppe, and Layton plotting in 2004 to take power away from Martin's minority government. The three amigos had the numbers so what happened? How come it never materialized?

Now that really is a good howler.

In minority governments you make accords/coalitions, and there is nothing wrong with that. But this has now created a problem for Harper, and he is in trouble over this, because with all his accusations against Ignatieff forming a coalition, Canadians are being reminded that he tried to do a backroom deal with the Bloc and the NDP in 2004. It's the lead story in the news castcasts, they are playing 2004 news clips with Harper sitting between Duceppe and Layton, and the issue of trust is starting to come to the forefront. Can you trust Harper? The hypocrisy, Duceppe calls it lying, Layton says Harper is untrustworthy, is mind-boggling.

It's called the Law of Unintended Consequences.

Just heard Layton on CPAC at his pressor in Surrey, BC, who basically has collaborated what Duceppe has said about 2004. Layton said quite clearly Harper was not trustworthy.

It does nothing of the sort. That same article entitled "Harper faces his own coalition monkey" sounds like this issue is now starting to bite Harper in the ass with images of reporters trying to get answers from Harper. These scenes appeared to be be quite similiar to what we witnessed about Ignatieff on the first day of the campaign.

Duceppe is continuing to have fun with this at Harper's expense.

Duceppe expanded at length yesterday about Harper's secret meetings with Duceppe and Layton in 2004. Harper will now need to be questioned in detail about his own attempts at trying to become prime minister then, even though he had a lot less seats than Martin, and what was going on at those clandestine meetings Harper conducted with Duceppe and Layton in 2004.