This was posted at the same time that Maysie closed the thread... however it is relevant to this thread ... sorry for any confusion...from the polling thread now closed..

NorthReport wrote:I supported it, and it was brilliant NDP strategy, and the NDP has been reaping the benefits of it. What Layton did by coming first out of the gate, was to box Ignatieff in, who is no shape to run against a seasoned pro like Harper, and forced the Liberals once again to support the Cons, destroying what little credibility the Libs had left, of contrasting themselves to the Cons.

1) Boxing yourself in.. is a strategy..it is not brilliant.  What works in Parliment, doesn't always work with the electorate. Few people think it was brilliant to say the NDP are voting against the bill without seeing it.  This makes no sense to the general public. If you have to explain it to them... its too late.

2) Ignatieff is only boxed in until the next election cycle. This is the same box that Dion was in. Harper pulled the plug last time, this time, Ignatieff will be able to choose when to get out of the box. The NDP will have no control when this occurrs.

3) The Liberals don't need credibility, the NDP do. The LPC will get cut alot of slack. People do not like Harper, and his antics on the worldstage continue to hold him back. People are looking for the alternative and Ignatieff is not Dion. Layton is tied to the failed Dion because of the Coalition. Ignatieff has freely disassociated himself from the coalition and Layton.

One problem that the NDP has, is an inability to allow issues to form in the public and this rush to judgement and action has hurt potential growth for the NDP.  The Dion Fiasco, the Voting against it before seeing it, are not winning over the hearts and minds of the voter.

These "Strategic" parlimentary tactics may work in parliment, but they are not accepted by the public as reasons to vote NDP.

The NDP risks getting labelled with the same "Gamesmanship" that Harper uses.

One good thing about the LPC choice of Ignatieff is that it allows the opportunity to demonstrate that the Liberal Leader is the tweedle dum of the CPC leader.

The NDP needs to reassert why there has to be NDP members in parliment.