And the rhetoric begins.

I had an interesting conversation with a Liberal that told me I was "railing" at the coalition (two posts ago).  And as much as I was accused of spouting Conservative rhetoric, he spouted Liberal rhetoric even faster.  However I don't think it turned out the way he wanted, because as usual when Liberals start to lose they turn to name calling and slurs just as this poor fellow did.

One of his main argument was that 60% (nicely fudged round up, it's actually 53%) of Canadians didn't vote for Conservative. And even while it's true that a majority of Canadians at 53% DID NOT vote Conservative, in the same respect let's look at the numbers that didn't vote for the other parties.

March 2011 House at dissolution

1. 75% of Canadians DID NOT vote LIBERAL.
2. 89% of Canadians DID NOT vote NDP.
3. 85% of Canadians DID NOT vote Bloc.
4. 100% of Canadians DID NOT vote COALITION!

So by the same equation he use to defend the Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition, it actually works out worse for the Opposition parties.  But for Canadians in general it's more about tradition than the "legality" of a "Coalition", where traditionally we expect that the winner of the most seats in the House of Commons will be the party that Governs.

As I maintained throughout. if "The Coalition" wants to prove that they have 60% of Canadians support, let them run together under a Coalition Banner and prove that they can make a legitimate Government.

Bob