Put your foot in your mouth and "swallow hard"

So Ignatieff is going to "swallow hard" and support the Cons.

Well, Chantal Hébert called it, I'm sorry to say... but also provided some interesting and enjoyably scathing commentary. Don't misunderstand, I think she's great... I just wish she'd been wrong about this.

Now, I understand the need for expediency in taking action on the economy, but obviously Harper does not since he was willing to prorogue Parliament in order to run away from a confidence vote. How many more chances do we need to give him before realizing that he can't be trusted to do what needs to be done? It's like trying to reason with a pathological liar and hoping that maybe, just maybe, he'll tell you the truth this time. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

I still don't fully understand Ignatieff's reasoning for "swallowing hard" and accepting this. Getting the quickest possible action on the economy? Wouldn't that be hard to do with a PM who was willing to put such an urgent matter on ice for 6 weeks for personal political gain? After such a stunt, how can we expect him to act with any urgency on this matter? If he doesn't, and what sane person would expect him to given his recent behaviour, wouldn't taking a "wait and see" attitude postpone proper action even further?

Or is it, as Peter Mansbridge asked him, a way to leave the impending deficit and economic pain on the heads of the Cons then have the Libs swoop in later when things are looking up again? That would be just as dirty, partisan, and selfish a trick as Harper's vote-ducking last month.

Most infuriating of all: Ignatieff's support now means that Harper's dirty little trick worked and he will be able to remain PM. How many similar stunts will we see in the future now that everybody gets to see you can get away with this?

Mr. Ignatieff needs to lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. Otherwise described in my childhood household as "sh*t or get off the pot."

And I agree with many of Jack Layton's points today (as you can see above) but his repeated commentary about a "new coalition between Harper and Ignatieff" is just childish and inflammatory. Yes I'm angry too, but such rhetoric is not helping.

I have an idea: we'll put Harper in teamwork training, Ignatieff in assertiveness training, and Layton in finishing school.