The NDP is already highly decentralized and there already is a Quebec NDP with its own organization etc... - the NDP is willing to "recognize Quebec as a nation within a Canadian federation" that was proven when the party voted for the H of C resolution to that effect in 2006.

"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."

The NDP actually has just as much control over when the plug gets pulled as does Ignatieff. It happens that the NDP has it clear that their answer to any vote that involves non-confidence in Harper is "bring it on!" - but that was a decision the party made. There is nothing (apart from riots by party members) to stop Layton from announcing tomorrow that the NDP will start propping up Harper and saying "the Liberals propped him up 79 times. Now its our turn".

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.

Dion is ancient history. The public has long forgotten who he was. He's irrelevant. Ignatieff knows that he can only go so far in "dissociating" himself from a coalition or from Layton because he has to know that there is virtually ZERO chance of a Liberal majority after the next election and that means that Iggy will be FORCED to deal with the NDP - or else he will never be PM - its as simple as that. I predict that no one will be able to pin Iggy down to the point where he will categtorically rule out any coalition. He will never want to tie his hands that way.