Predictable results

As I noted last week, the corporate media honeymoon over Michael Ignatieff's short-sighted decision to prop up the Cons was never likely to last long. Which brings us to Michael Taube:

Ignatieff’s acceptance of the budget was a poor tactical decision. It enabled Prime Minister Stephen Harper to receive a pass on his questionable analysis of Canada’s economic stability during the federal election, the “now you see it, now you don’t” proposed elimination of political party subsidies, and the constitutional crisis we recently faced. The PM needed cover to rebuild his shattered image (which he’s been doing since Parliament was prorogued last December) and implement an economic stimulus package – and now he’s got it.

Even though Harper will obviously have an incredibly difficult time getting through this economic storm – which hasn’t bottomed out – he can still argue that he’s doing everything in his power to get Canada back on track. He can also regularly meet with world leaders like U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to show that he is helping build a cohesive unit within the international community to properly tackle this global financial crisis.

Meanwhile, all Ignatieff can say is that he got some Liberal-oriented ideas in the budget, and saved Canadians from another election by propping up a government that has supposedly lost the confidence of Parliament. With no disrespect, big deal.

Of course, it'll probably take a little while longer for the same conclusion to spread to the pundits who gave their temporary approval to Ignatieff's actions. But the inevitable consequences of Ignatieff's decision to prop up Harper - whether based on Harper himself turning back to his usual hyperpartisanship, Con mismanagement which a coalition government could have avoided, or internal dissent over continued Harper government - can't help but to lead to a reevaluation of the wisdom of Ignatieff's call this week. And Taube figures to be only the first of many to conclude after the fact that Ignatieff made the wrong call.