Truth be known I considered Harper’s manipulation of the House of Commons and the Senate to his advantage during the last term quite masterful. He found, and exploited, a significant Liberal flaw (Dion’s election fear), and used it to forward his agenda… but it’s old now, really old, and his current ‘you better come to my place right now or you’ll be sorry‘ looks like exactly what it is - a spoiled PM stamping his foot because he isn’t getting his way.

Mr. Harper indicated last week he wanted crisis-atmosphere meetings with opposition leaders within a few weeks before deciding whether to call an election, but that has led to a cat-and-mouse game over the timing of the tête-à-têtes.

Mr. Dion’s aides have proposed he meet the Prime Minister Sept. 9, one day after three by-elections in Quebec and Ontario, but the Conservatives greeted that suggestion with disdain yesterday.

The House of Commons isn’t doing anything until September 15th so what’s the big deal in waiting until September 9?

Is it really too many sleeps for ‘lil Steve to bear?

– or do we detect a little worry here? Maybe about the outcomes of some by-elections?

Worry that he will lose control of the electoral process by being brought down by the Opposition parties instead of deciding for himself when the election could be called?

As I recall his fixed-election-date law supposed to lay to rest Prime Ministers calling elections at what they deemed to be politically expedient times, is that not important anymore? Or has that gone the way of Income Trust promises and Arctic ice breakers?

Harper’s decisions over the next few weeks should be watched very closely by Canadians, they have an opportunity to learn a lot about him.

“Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage,” Harper said. “They level the playing field for all parties and the rules are clear for everybody.”

Because the government could be defeated in the Commons before the end of a four-year term, “the will of a majority in Parliament will always prevail,” he said.

“But fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar simply for partisan political advantage.”

 

(emphasis mine)

If he decides to call an election he says (according to CFRA) the leaders of the other parties “should not be surprised” - and he shouldn’t be surprised by blog posts titled “Stephen Harper - Hypocrisy Be Thy Name“.

Here, once again, is an appropriate ballot for the next election - regardless of when it is called.

Odd ain’t it, it was appropriate during the last election, and the one before that, and…….

UPDATED YET AGAIN: Harper plays weasel word games.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he won’t be breaking his promise to Canadians if he calls an election this fall, one year ahead of the fixed election date set by his own government.

He said the goal of the fixed election date — the next one being Oct. 19, 2009 — is to provide Canadians with some sense of certainty.

But, Harper argued, in the context of a minority government like the current one, certainty is never possible because opposition parties are always threatening to vote against the ruling party on confidence motions and topple the government.

“We are clear,” Harper told reporters at a press conference in Ottawa. “You can only have certainty about a fixed election date in the context of a majority government.

“Look, if any of the opposition parties wanted to provide some, any degree of certainty that we’ll be here to October 2009, then we’ll have an election in October 2009.”

Stephen Harper - Hypocrite Be Thy Name