Shut up, Paul.

So much for "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Yesterday, Paul Martin went after Jack Layton for not being critical enough of the impending Conservative regime.

Just because Martin's Liberals have faltered badly in confronting the CPC, he does not deserve the right to criticize Layton and the NDP for their performance against Stephen Harper. This is akin to the Vancouver Canucks bitching at the New Jersey Devils for beating them 3-0 on January 13, but losing to the rival Calgary Flames 4-1 on December 7. However, given that Paul Martin has shown no vision to Canadians beyond what he sees in the mirror, yesterday's misplaced tantrum comes as no surprise.

This page realizes that this is only Martin's second campaign as Liberal party leader. However, that does not excuse his ignorance of the fact that he is, at least until early Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister of Canada. The NDP is an opposition party, and the first target for any opposition party is always the governing party. Layton has not "taken a pass" on attacking Harper, the NDP leader just understands the nature of a multi-party system and that no one's vote should be taken for granted. If Martin would stop plugging his ears when Layton says the Liberals are corrupt, he could hear Layton say the Conservatives are wrong, like the rest of the country has heard.

This would be why Martin's arrogant and cynical call for a "coalition of progressive voters" should fall on deaf ears - "progressive" means that a government is perpetually looking for ways to improve the lives of the people it serves, not just when it's politically expedient. Martin's performance as Finance Minister in cutting the sizeable holes in Canada's social safety net is not what this page considers 'progressive'. Nor is allowing members of his party to vote against equal rights for gays and lesbians, and then vote in favour of scab labour.

In bracing for the January 23 impact, Martin has moved from the politics of fear to the politics of finger pointing. Neither are working.