The day the coalition died (Dec 4,2008)

Lets talk about the realities of politics, for the few weeks leading up to Dec 4th the left wing voters of the country were like kids with the festive calender counting down the days until Christmas.
Harper took a calculated shot at killing the oppositions funding when the other parties were down and out. Play along with me and recognize that the oppositions real anger was not at the lack of economic stimulus, Harper not having the right plan to bring the country through the crisis it was all about political funding.
Does anybody believe for a second that the Liberals would jump into bed with the NDP and invite the Bloc into the room for a "menage a trois" over the "Economy" yes if Harper had stayed away from the political funding the parties would have done what politicians do they would have sat in parliament whined about the governments economic stimulus plan and waited for the right opportunity to bring the government down.
But never the less you had Dion (bumbling idiot recording his speech to the nation on a cell phone), Layton (the only way I will ever be in government is if I jump to the Liberals like Bob Rae), and Duceppe (what can I squeeze out of these Anglo fools now) sitting in a room saying "my God if Harper gets this through our parties are all done financially". To their credit they came up with this coalition idea, and it may well have worked they would have brought down the government forced an election, and with the economy getting worse and worse blamed it all on the Conservatives, (whose fault could it be).
Then Harper pulled off his best move when the the Governor General agreed to prorogue Parliament it gave him the one thing he needed time.
Back to the realities of politics Dec 4th was the beginning of the end for the coalition at that point it was put on life support and the back room wheeling and dealing began.
To the Liberals credit they replaced the prime architect of the coalition Stephane Dion with Michael Ignatieff (Bob Rae is just to left wing for even the Liberals and yes folks there really is a reason the NDP nevers gets more than 15% of the vote).
At this point Ignatieff had to look at two issues (remember by now the Conservatives had long backed off on the political funding issue) what does the coalition have to offer me and what does Stephen Harper have.
The coalition well that will bring down the government and then I will spend eighteen months listening to Jack talk about his socialist utopia, and Gillies saying I can support this vote if Quebec gets the following. And my goodness this recession stuff his getting worse by the day.
Harper does not want to lose power so the calls are going back and forth " Michael what do you need in this budget to not defeat it? massive spending lets throw money at everybody".
So put yourself in Ignatieff's shoes you pick the coalition you spend eighteen months keeping Jack and Gillies on board, and dealing with a recession that his going to get very ugly.
Or do you step forward and claim victory because you forced Harper to come forward with massive dollars for programs to stimulate the economy, let Harper and the Conservatives deal with the blood bath that our country will be for the next year or two. Then force an election and blame everything that the country has gone through for the last two years on the Conservatives. Makes for good politics doesn't it.