Canada - Election 2006

Well - we are down to less than 10 days now before we all vote. During the last two weeks polls have been released showing that the Conservatives seem to have a solid lead...and perhaps might even form a majority.

Prim Minister Martin looked desperate the other evening on the debates. He is increasingly looking like a man drowning in his own confusion. He seems to change his spots every month or so. From Child Care Paul to Health Care Paul to Gun Control Paul to Constitution Paul - and there seems to be no unifying thread and core to what he sees as a vision for Canada.

On that topic, I also decry the poor job the Conservatives are doing in painting a vision for the strategy for our country. The only focus is on tactics and whose are best. I tend to like a few more of the Conservative tactics and believe we need to "flush" the system and have some new people have a chance to lead.

A bridge now crossed
The bottom line for many Canadians, I suspect, is that they have crossed a bridge mentally recently in increasing numbers. During the 2004 election, Harper was an unknown quantity who was easily to paint as a "scary and unknown" leader. Given this feeling, not enough Canadians could get comfortable with him and his party to take advantage of the desire for change in Ottawa. This time is very different. Harper has not been stellar in his performance, but he has been "good enough" and it has been harder for the Liberals to pain him as not ready to lead.

Good enough is often enough. But I am saddened we cannot find greatness in a Canadian leader.