Max's Mewsings

It is difficult for me to imagine how eight more months of rehashing alleged Liberals misdeeds, thievery, and petty thuggery will help his party either in the short or long term. But this was Phase One the clever strategy the brainiacs Mr. Martin has hired to advise him have come up with.

As the Prime Minister embarks on Phase Two (a replay of last year's "Mad as Hell" cross-country tour repackaged as the "Sorry, we could have done better but don't ask for an election because I really, really, really think you should give me a chance" tour) be ready for a subtle change of tune. The PM will spend the first day or so, repeating how sorry he is Liberals robbed you blind for their own political gain, obliquely accepting responsibility by saying he should have been more vigilant, and saying he call an election on Liberal corruption and malfeasance... in February. But Mr. Martin will quick change tacts and go on the attack.

"Conservatives want to eviscerate (he loves the word eviscerate) Health Care," he'll say. "They want to jail the homeless, end abortion rights and eat your children for breakfast."

After all, when it comes to the politics of fear, George W. Bush can't keep up with the Liberal Party smear machine.

If that doesn't scare you enough to want to vote for the Liberals, he'll know he's headed to an election and he'll start running the same kind of negative campaign ads his party ran successfully during last year's election.

Paul Martin's contrition won't last long, and neither will his government.