Canadian politics shaken, not stirred

If a week in politics is a long time, 5.5 years is an eternity. It could take until October of 2016 for Canadians to get another shot at overthrowing the ruthless and dictatorial régime of Stephen Harper.

That's because Mr. Harpoon finally -- on the fourth try -- got his longed-for majority in yesterday's election. The Toronto-centric, latte-sipping, elitist Liberals also had their apparent death wish realized, finishing a distant third for the first time in history.

Who came in second? The leftish New Democratic Party (NDP), members in good standing of the international alliance of "social democrats". Fortunately for Canada, the Harper majority means the Knee-Dippers' leader, Jack Layton, won't get to lead a coalition and turn Canada into another Sweden.

Also fortunately, the separatist Bloc Québecois unexpectedly disintegrated, falling from 47 seats in the House of Commons to a mere 4. Their leader, Gilles Duceppe -- the only federal leader with the cojones to be politically incorrect -- lost his own seat. (So did Liberal leader "Count" Michael Ignatieff -- as in "count him out!")

So Canadians got their politics like James Bond's martini -- shaken, not stirred. Walt is reminded of the demise of Britain's Liberal Party almost a century ago. Since then, the Brits have usually had a clear choice between left and right, between Labour and the Conservatives -- a two-party system from which a small-L liberal rump is largely irrelevant. Canada may be headed in the same direction.