Start with the incredible level of hypocrisy in Stephen Harper and his Conservatives criticizing the Liberals for using the Bloc Quebecois to bring down the Conservative’s minority government when Harper used the Bloc to bring down Paul Martin’s minority government.

Then there is the karma/wheel of fate/justice aspects involved with the Liberals bringing down the Conservatives in the same manner as Harper and his Conservatives brought down the Liberals only a few years ago.

Not to mention the delicious irony of Harper and his Conservatives being done to as they did to the Liberals, being done to as they did unto others.

Listening to the government bleat about mandate leaves one pondering if this is “smoking gun” proof that Harper and his Conservatives just do not get what Canadians want or were saying to them in the last election or if this is just massive cynicism/hypocrisy as they desperately try to cling to power.

The main messages that Canadians sent to Mr. Harper and his Conservatives in the last election, that Canadians did not feel Mr. Harper was too be trusted with a majority and that they were happy with or even preferred a Conservative minority government that needed to collaborate with the other political parties, seems to have been entirely lost on Harper and his Conservatives.

Let us remember that the current chaotic disarray in Ottawa is the direct result of Stephen Harper’s school yard bully behaviour and tactics in parliament in the weeks prior to this discombobulation; that Mr. Harper and his Conservatives are reaping as they sowed.

Clearly Canadian voters were correct in their judgment that Mr. Harper was not to be trusted with a majority government. It is apparent Mr. Harper is so blinded by his ideology and world view that he just does not “get Canadians” or the messages Canadians were sending in the election results.

Given that 62.4% of Canadians voted for someone other than the Conservatives I do not think one can deny that a coalition of the other parties has a legitimate right to have an opportunity to form a cooperative minority government, since Canadians voted for a cooperative minority government, albeit with the Conservatives as part of the government.

In choosing to ignore Canadians expressed wishes for a cooperative minority government, the Conservative party as currently constituted forfeited their right to take the lead in forming this minority government.

To be perfectly honest, given the current Conservative governments demonstrated lack of understanding of the social issues and depth of poverty and economic need in Canada it most likely that the most vulnerable people and families in Canada would fare much better in these tough economic times with a minority government Liberal/NDP alliance.

Given the economic downturn and the disproportionate effects our economic woes will have in the real world on the poorest and most vulnerable Canadians it is just as important that a Conservative leader have clearly demonstrated that they understand this reality and are not blinded by ideology.

The reality of the current situation in Canada is that we need flexibility not ideology, open not closed or made up minds, good ideas based on understanding reality not upon “this is what I believe the situation is and that is what I will decide based upon – not reality”. At the same time we need to behave in a fiscally responsible manner.

Any alternative solution that would (as it should) include the Conservative party must result in enough confidence about the future behaviour of the Conservative party in forming or participating in the cooperative minority government mandated by Canadians in the last federal election will require the exit of Mr. Harper and the choice of a Conservative leader who Canadians and the other parties in parliament can trust to actually form a cooperative minority government.

Given Mr. Harper’s behaviour in hoarding power in his own hands together with his dictatorial and school yard bully ways I doubt Mr. Harper or his Conservatives have either the personal integrity or statesmanship to put the best interests of Canada ahead of their own personal interests despite their rhetoric about Canadians wants or best interests.

Should I be proven wrong and a new Conservative leader comes to the table to put Canadian’s and Canada’s interests first, the same applies to the Liberal and NDP leaders – put Canadian and Canada’s best interest first or get out of the way for someone who will.

What Canada needs right now is Leadership, not politics and politicians.