When Norman Spector Offers Liberals Advice

...they should start running hard in the opposite direction:

Perusing this morning's press and punditry, the overriding message is that the Conservatives presented a Liberal, or a Liberal-coalition budget. With the odds of an economic recovery in the next 12-18 months being slim to none, that's not a message I'd want to have congeal in the minds of Canadians if I were a Liberal strategist.

[...]

If Mr. Ignatieff is bold, he would seize on the endorsement he's been given by the other opposition parties and play it for all it's worth on the campaign trail after bringing down the government. Nor would he give Mr. Harper a chance to get up from the mat.

This one's a giggler from start to finish, and you know Spector is too smart to believe his own con. Its either an elaborate head-fake or Spector has adopted well to the "open bullshit valves to 10 and leave them there" ethos of the blogosphere.

Budget 2009: So Far, So Good

Making it easier for municipalities to access Federal funding seems an obvious amendment, since the cities are already starting to bitch:

Canada's municipalities have complained that billions of dollars already allocated from Ottawa's existing seven-year, $33-billion infrastructure program have not been spent because of delays in negotiating program details with the provinces, and red tape in approving projects.

Meanwhile, the only "green money" in the budget seems a pittance ($750 mill) earmarked to support nuclear energy and carbon sequestration. That's pathetic, given that car sales-men are getting $12,000,000,000. Why not propose that certain strings be attached to the home reno tax credit, or sweeten the pot a little for improvements that can be demonstrated to enhance energy efficiency?

The point will be, I think, to offer a smorgasbord of amendments and not commit to any of them in particular. Thus, if any are accepted--and I think there is a good chance some will be (see Impolitical's post through first link)--the Libs can claim victory and go home.

Not that there isn't a lot of bad stuff in there. I have read (though haven't got the details yet) that the document attempts to weaken pay equity laws.

But is there anything that can't be killed in committee?

Meanwhile, headlines like Government's fate now rests with Ignatieff and Government's fate now rests with Ignatieff are good news in that they raise Iggy's profile. Interesting how Layton and Duceppe have essentially written themselves off the front page by showing their hand too soon.