This page is sure that there is all kind of analysis, paralysis, dialysis, and Sisyphus about what was said at last night's Leaders Debate. I'm going to chime in on something that was not said at the round table which would have involved NDP Leader Jack Layton, which for those of you who regard this page as an unrelenting partisan New Democrat shill, may find something of a surprise.
It's a little thing, but for the undecided voters in the ABC crowd, it could have meant a lot. During the debate last night, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May did make a number of salient points (particularly around national industrial strategy), a few of which were in tune with what Jack Layton was espousing on behalf of his party. Given the brouhaha over May's exclusion from/inclusion in the debate, this page contends that Layton could have pulled several of these voters over with a few simple words:
"I agree, you're right Elizabeth. I'm glad I changed my mind about your participation in these debates."
What would those magic words have done? Well, for starters, they would have added "ability to change one's mind to reflect the popular will" as part of The New Strong (tm). They also would have left Stephen Harper choking on the role of blackhearted oil sands tycoon who's too much of a dick to recognize the Greens. Most importantly, Layton positioning himself next to May would have muddied the Dion-May alliance in the minds of a lot of voters, and that New Democrats aren't a party of bulldozing, clearcutting toxic troglodytes either.
Anyway, that's the view from The bear604 Show 20-20 Hindsight Cam. If the New Democrats don't capitalize on their unprecedented poll numbers and aspirations to become the Official Opposition, it may be because of missed opportunities like these.
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