Blue Like You

The Globe’s Lawrence Martin has written an insightful article about Stephane Dion’s stubborn resistance to the urgings of high-profile caucus members that want to pull the plug now - For Dion, damn the torpedoes.

Martin illustrates why it is clearly in Dion’s best interests to stave off an election at least until after the party’s biennial meeting in December:

The party holds its biennial meeting in December. Liberal rules say a leadership review is to be held at the first biennial following an election. Had Mr. Dion gone to the polls this summer and fared poorly he risked losing his leadership as early as December…

…The plan is for the Liberal Leader to sell his carbon plan throughout the summer. The House normally doesn’t return until the end of September. Some Liberals suspect the Conservatives will delay the recall to avoid a fall campaign. That’s unlikely. They wouldn’t want to appear as cowards. But given the time frames, the chances of an election before the Liberal biennial convention are getting slimmer.

In turn that means the chances of forcing out Mr. Dion early are diminished as well. If a campaign isn’t held before December he is likely safe until the following biennial. That’s two and a half years away.

I would suggest that abandoned Liberal voters can look forward to seeing empty "Official Opposition" seats during crucial confidence votes for some time yet to come.

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Friday Update: THANK YOU, NDP!!! I was really hoping someone would do this - Dion’s list of excuses for all seasons. Way to go, guys!!!