somebody do a poll on whether donating, card-carrying members of the liberal party support acting outside of the united nations in venezuela. and word it like that. don't talk about supporting one faction or the other, as though we have any business doing so - talk about whether you support the institution of the united nations and adherence to the international rule of law or not.

i wouldn't expect more than 10% of them would support what the government is doing. i wouldn't even expect much more than 40% of conservatives would support this kind of thing. it's completely unheard of, here.

support for the united nations as the basis of canadian foreign policy is foundational in the party base - as important as support for universal health care. it's one of the key, defining issues of canadian liberalism. canada simply doesn't stand with the united states when it acts outside of the un, it just doesn't do this, it goes to the un and seeks an international consensus, then seeks to find a way to moderate america's policies around the edges.

i'm not even willing to get into a debate about the merits of the action, it's too absurd to even bother. the point here is ideological.

this is the kind of thing that got ignatieff completely routed. and, if the party holds to it, it should be looking at 2011 for a baseline, even if it's unclear who steps into the void.

the bloc are at least ready to step in in quebec. the greens might step in a few places elsewhere....

whatever they're projecting, here - some kind of rfk-style anti-communism or something - it isn't canadian. and, canadians are not going to stand for it.