Failure in action

Thomas Walkom's evisceration of the Libs' ineffectiveness has received plenty of well-deserved attention. But why settle for a column pointing out the Libs' ineffectiveness when we can see it being lived out before our eyes?

As I've noted before, the Cons have managed to make themselves look silly and isolate themselves internationally as the lone voice fighting a coordinated tax to make the financial industry responsible for the costs of insuring against its own failures. Which would seem to make for an ideal point of contrast for any competent opposition party.

So naturally, here's the Libs' position:

"I think it's a diversionary tactic to take attention away from subjects they regard as unpleasant on which the Harper government has been isolated," said Liberal Finance critic John McCallum. He did, however, say he also opposed a bank tax.

That's right: given a chance to paint the Cons as irresponsibly standing in the way of global financial stability, the Libs...are quibbling about process while agreeing with the Cons in substance.

Which hints at another reason why they've been missing in action on the Cons' omnibus bills and other manipulations of government. For all the bluster in both directions, there just isn't much difference between the Libs and the Cons when it counts - even when that leaves them united arguing against the world.