So the Liberal Leadership race is well underway and by the looks of it it will be a clash of the titans. Michael Ignatieff vs. Bob Rae - the wild card being that young fella Dominic Leblanc. Now this is a leaner meaner race, and both front runners are in a far better position than they were in 2006.

Back then the Tories ran a vicious stealth campaign against Bob Rae accusing him of being in power during a recession. Well, now the Tories have their own recession and their own deficits to deal with.

Back then they accused Ignatieff of being an outsider. This time around the man has a Canadian driver's license. And he knows the difference between the Calgary stampede and Blue Rodeo. That's gotta help.

But the big news for the cash strapped Liberal party is this time around both Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff are in their 60s. Which means if they campaign by train they're now eligible for the Via Rail seniors discount. Dominic Leblanc won't be able to do that for another 20 years.

Which reminds me... who the hell is Dominic Leblanc anyway? All I really know about the guy is that he's got more experience in the House of Commons than Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff combined and the Tories want him to win because he has a French last name and a horrible secret: he studied law at Harvard. According to the conservatives, that's a huge character flaw. Yes, apparently we're now a nation that lies awake at night terrified that our children might want to go to a really good university.

Oh and the other thing about Dominic Leblanc, like Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff, he's a very good speaker in not one, but two official languages. So no matter who wins - the Tories are in for a few sleepless nights as well.

Well thank God, hey, that Stephen Harper finally stopped the speculation and named a new cabinet. And my goodness, the tough decisions he had to make. I mean there he was, elected in the middle of an unprecedented global economic meltdown, with the promise that he would never increase spending, with the promise that he would never bring us into deficit and what's the very first thing he does? Increase his cabinet by six members.

Stephen Harper now has 38 Cabinet Ministers. In 1993 Chrétien had 23 Cabinet ministers. See, this is why Canadians hate politicians. I mean in light of what is going on in the world right now, there is not a Canadian out there who runs a business, a charity or a household who didn't sit down this month and say, "you know what, I've got to figure out how to cut costs." And then they did. Except for Stephen Harper who said 6 new Tories get a 75,000 dollar a year raise plus limos.

Hey Steven, here's an idea: if you really wanted to make room in cabinet for new people, why didn't you just fire all the old cabinet ministers who were lousy at their jobs? And believe me there's plenty of them. Remember folks, this is the government where when Canadians started dropping dead from eating sandwiches the Minister of Health was unavailable for comment – for five weeks. But don't worry. He got a big promotion.

So who got demoted? I love this. Jim Prentice. Why Jim Prentice? Well because Jim is the guy that all the Tories secretly talk about replacing Stephen Harper some day; because everyone knows Jim is the smartest guy in caucus, and plus people like him. So what did Stephen Harper give to him? Minister of the Environment. Which believe me, with his crowd, in this government, that's the minister of your-career-is-now-dead.

So here we are folks... we elected a man who promised that he would put a firm hand on the tiller. And he certainly has. Except the ship just got fatter and dumber.

In these uncertain economic times, it's nice to know that some things do not change. The leaves turn. The snow falls. And then, then there's a Liberal leadership convention.

Now the smart money says this will be an epic battle between Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae. Some sort of unavoidable, pre-ordained fight to the death that was first prophesied in ancient scripture. And if the entire party is destroyed in the process, well then so be it. Which is why a lot of Liberals out there are once again looking for that long shot candidate that can sneak up the middle and stop them all from being annihilated.

Justin Trudeau. Will he run? I have no idea. But I know this: mere mortals such as you or I cannot believe the pressure he is under to run. A lot of Liberals out there, they see Justin Trudeau... they go mushy in the head. And when you tell them that he has no experience in politics, they say it doesn't matter -- he grew up around it. Now this, this I understand. My father worked for the department of fisheries and oceans for 20 years and I cannot tell you how many times complete strangers have suggested that I be the man in charge of turbot fish quotas.

And then of course there's Gerard Kennedy. Hi! Remember me? I'm the guy who gave you Dion. Now for the Liberals to go with Kennedy at this point, that's a bit like necking with the guy at the office Christmas party that gave you the cold sore -- twice. But hey, stranger things have happened.

And then of course, there's the dream of the white knight. Will a Frank McKenna just show up out of the blue and save the party? Now this is interesting because usually in most countries when they're talking about dream candidates they throw around adjectives like brilliant, charismatic, dynamic. Whereas in Canada only one adjective counts - bilingual. Yeah, Barack Obama wouldn't cut it up here.

But for any Liberals out there who can't make up your mind, don't worry. At the rate your party is going -- three leadership conventions in five years -- eventually everyone's gonna get a turn.

The week or so after a federal election is a period of reflection for political parties. As we speak, the Conservatives might be saying "wow I guess we just didn't give enough to Quebec – maybe we should give them more." And the NDP might be saying "yes we did it! We came in last, again, for the 16th time in a row. Well done people." And for the Liberals? Well, how do I put this nicely... let's just say it's pretty clear at this point that nobody will ever make a movie of the week about Stephane Dion. Not even a fully funded CBC.

Now of course, in politics, people lose all the time. But it always comes as a huge shock to the Liberals because they like to believe they are the natural governing party of Canada – a phrase that harkens back to 1896, and things in that party have not changed since.

Look at the way they choose a leader. Members of the Liberal party don't actually get to vote for the leader. Oh no, no, no. That would be madness. Instead, they choose a delegate. And when they choose their delegate, they hoist them up on their shoulders and they march them down to the train station and then send them off to Montreal somewhere. And then three days later some guy named Gerard Kennedy makes a back room deal and then suddenly, the guy in third place who can't communicate becomes the leader. Then there's an election. Then they lose.

Here's an idea. From now on in, how about members of the party actually get to vote for the leader? And instead of one of these old fashioned multi-million dollar conventions, do it on the Internet. Hell you can do your banking on the there, you can buy a kidney on there, surely to god you can figure out a way to vote for the leader of a political party on there.

The point is if the Liberal Party ever wants to be relevant ever again it's time for them to rebuild that party from the ground up. Which is a nice way of saying it's time to break out the Bic lighter and the gasoline. And the beauty of it is, the time is now, because no matter what changes they make, they can't screw it up any more than it is.

At the risk of sounding like an out of touch elite weirdo, I admit I have on occasion walked into a theatre, bought a ticket, sat down and watched a play. And my favorite moment is when the lights go dark and the audience goes quiet. Because at that moment anything is possible.

And that's the way I feel about elections. Right now the House of Commons is an empty stage. And I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, this time, this parliament, will get it right, and be brilliant.

Now I've never seen that happen in my lifetime. The difference being of course that in the theatre the people on stage are actually trying, and there's nowhere to hide. Whereas in the House of Commons, the irony is, other than the few people sitting in the gallery, nobody can see what the MPs are doing. And believe me, they're out of control.

I get embarrassed watching question period live and I've been naked on national television. Imagine going in to your office or your workplace tomorrow and the minute you see anyone you don't like, you just start yelling and screaming like a lunatic. You'd be fired. And there's a reason. Because when people act like that, nothing gets done at work. It's not acceptable in any Canadian workplace. Why is it acceptable on Parliament Hill?

And there's a solution. Cameras. Cameras in the House of Commons. Not just on the people who are supposed to be talking, but on everyone else. And I know, the MPs would say, "Cameras, that's terrible. You're treating us like criminals or children." Yes, yes we are. But hell I go into the subway I'm on a camera. Welcome to 2008 folks.

This way when an MP decides to intentionally disrupt parliament by acting like an idiot the entire country can see them do it. And then maybe, just maybe the bad acting will disappear and we'll finally get a show that makes us proud.

So here we are, the final stretch before the big vote and all the political parties are busy courting every special interest group in the country, no matter how small. If you've got one leg, two kids, you work on a farm, the parties, they have a pitch for you.

Unless of course you happen to be a student, in which case you're completely off the radar – not a peep from any of the leaders. Education wasn't even mentioned in the debate. Now I'm not saying that any politician would ever come out and say they don't care about the student vote. When they're pushed they can all talk about educational reform and crushing debt until the cows come home; but at the ten minute mark they all do the same thing. They stop, they lean in like they're telling you some sort of secret and they say, "you know, it's a real shame. But students in this country, they just don't vote." Which believe me is code for "we don't care about students. We never have, we never will."

Now this is a perfect example of where young people can learn from their elders. And by elders I mean the elderly. As in senior citizens. Because believe me, those folks, they vote. Which is why the old age home is the natural habitat for any campaigning politician. No exaggeration, in the 30 days since this campaign began John Baird has spent 26 of them in an old age home. Okay slight exaggeration.

Now I'm not saying that students themselves aren't important to politicians. Oh they are. After all you're the ones that deliver the lawn signs. But past that you could be on fire for all they care. So my advice to university students: never mind your civic responsibility, seeing as you're such a low priority in this country, you should show up and vote out of spite if for no other reason.

And believe me, there are a million students in this country. You show up and vote, elections they'll never be the same again. Education will never be left off the agenda.

And for all of you students out there who are living away from home for the first time, ignore all those Elections Canada ads that make it seem like you need quantum physics to vote. In this country you do not need to be registered in advance to vote. Men died on the beaches so you could vote. All you need to do is to show up with some official looking mail with your address on it, your student card and your ID. Don't take no for an answer and democracy is yours.

And not your fake ID either, your real one.

So here we are, halfway through the campaign, the day of the English language leaders' debate. I know, like me, you can barely sleep.

Think about it. Five individuals sittin' around a table. They're gonna be hot, they're going to be grumpy, they're gonna be sitting next to people they don't even like. Throw in a turkey it might as well be thanksgiving. Personally, I'm hoping for tears.

And the drama's already there, starting with the Prime Minister. Harper is now in majority territory, so he doesn't want to be anywhere near a debate. Don't forget, he already threatened to boycott this debate once if Elizabeth May was allowed in. Boy, did that backfire. Yes kids that man who's constantly saying he's the only one strong enough and firm enough to be a world leader, he is in fact afraid of the girl.

And not only does he have to deal with the girl, Jack Layton and a desperate separatist - for the first time since this campaign began he has to come face to face with Stephane Dion. And I know, on the surface that does not seem like a big deal but remember back to high school folks. Remember when the nerdy kid finally had enough of being slapped around by the bully and he said okay, I'll meet you at the lockers. Everyone showed up for that fight.

Because this, this is not a normal political rivalry, this is personal. Never mind that the Tories have spent millions of dollars calling Dion a pathetic loser; lately they've been going after his wife.

And don't forget on day one of this campaign Harper wouldn't even admit that Dion had a real family. People with adopted children are very touchy about that sort of thing. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Dion snaps and takes a smack at him.

So, never mind democracy, tune in for the promise of bloodshed, and maybe if we're lucky, a knockout punch. And remember traditionally, in Canada, the real campaign begins on debate night. So from here on in, anything is possible. And for the first time in a long time, thankfully, nobody can say may the best man win.

Competitive Strategies for the Protection of Intellectual Property (Paperback) by The Fraser Institute, edited by Owen Lippert.

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And another look at the day...

Chris Reid, the recently dumped Conservative candidate in Toronto centre believes socialism has turned us into a nation of effeminates. How else, the longtime conservative activist argues, can we explain how a deranged killer managed to decapitate someone on a greyhound bus? It turns out that it's not the killer's fault. It is the fault of the limp wristed schmucks who were trying to catch some shut-eye between Portage la Prairie and Brandon, Manitoba. The solution, Mr. Reid believes, is to simply arm the population – or at least the women and homosexuals – with concealed handguns.

Personally, I'm hoping that in the future this bright young man takes a run for the Conservative party leadership. It would make for an interesting campaign – homosexuals of Canada, lay down your Botox needles and pick up a Colt .45.

Are we a nation of effeminates as Reid suggests? I'm not sure. I do know that if I'm ever on a bus when the stabbing starts – call me whatever you want because I'll be the one screaming like a girl and heading for the exits.

And then there is Ryan Warawa. Mr. Warawa, the current Conservative candidate in Vancouver East thinks Canada's defense Minister Peter McKay is actually a pipsqueak and not fit for public office. Mr. Warawa is a new type of Tory who calls male politicians he doesn't like "bitches" and "whores", believes that heroin should be legalized, and that prostitutes should work in legal brothels so we can tax them on their activities.

Among Conservatives there is a lot of grass root support for Chris Reid's brand of conservatism. He wants to close the CBC, scrap the Indian act and seems to have deep seated rage issues – but team Harper still dumped him for his views. Word is Harper draws the line at homosexuals with guns; and really, considering his record on that file I can't say I blame him.

As for the pro drug, pro prostitution Warawa, he still remains Stephen Harper's chosen candidate in Vancouver East. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office says the Mr. Warawa has, as of three days ago, changed his views and no longer believes anything he ever said on any issue whatsoever. Rumour is that once his blog came to light he was immediately run through a Conservative reeducation camp. A few pistol whips from a flack jacket wearing Peter McKay ("Who's the bitch now Warawa?") topped off with a chemical lobotomy and the boy is good as new, a virtual Bev Oda – happy to be seen and not heard from ever again. He will make a hell of a cabinet minister someday.

By the sounds of it, when it comes to dealing with party dissidents, the Chinese government could learn a thing or two from our sweater wearing prime minister.

Of course, as voters, we only know what Mr. Reid and Mr. Warawa actually believe because they have both, in the past, had online blogs.

The irony is, like most blogs, nobody really read them at the time – ordinary Canadians don't spend a lot of time reading blogs because ordinary Canadians know that blogs are basically the domain of idiots, mad people and news anchors. This is by and large true. I should know, I've had one for years. And like most bloggers I have a love hate relationship with my online diary.

At first it was a heady experience. I would go online and in seconds whatever thought was running through my head was available for the entire world to read.

Like most bloggers (and perhaps my audience of family and friends) I quickly grew tired of my own thoughts and instead of updating my blog five times a day I started aiming for once a week and then once a month. Somehow the world survived.

But now I love blogs again. Blogs are serving an exciting new purpose: making politics interesting again. When I turn on the news and hear that another candidate is in trouble because of something they said on their blog I am like a kid at Christmas.

We are in a brave new time. In this election, like all of them before, there are people stepping forward for the first time. Candidates in their 20s and 30s (Reid is 28 years old, Warwa is 32) represent a generation of Canadians who's every movement from the womb to the ballot has been electronically recorded.

A home video camera didn't just roll on their first adorable steps and their first header into the coffee table; it was also running when they smoked lousy hash in an apple and then opened their zipper, pulled out their front pockets, exposed their man-tackle and did the elephant impersonation. There are now candidates running for all parties who know that their every embarrassing moment at university has been forever cached in numerous Facebook profiles. And this new generation of politician have all, for the most part, experimented with blogging.

This is a harsh contrast to our current crop of politicians sitting in parliament, the vast majority of whom have no idea how to power up a laptop let alone publish every bizarre opinion and thought they have ever had without a spell check, let alone a sober second thought.

It will change the face of elections forever.

Who will run? In the past politicians had to survive a party background check if they wanted to offer themselves for public office. And by and large most Canadians could pull that off. The question for candidates of the future will be "can you survive a detailed Google search?" Who among us will be us can do such a thing?

I know I won't be able to. When I read back through my blog archive I see opinions that make me cringe. I come off alternately as a crazed left leaning liberal and a crazed right leaning conservative; rarely does any opinion come across as moderate. Because let's face it, on the World Wide Web, that's just not interesting. Taken out of context I would be sunk.

And yes I have published, with the aid of photo shop, photos of Stephen Harper, Stephane Dion and Jack Layton in situations that would be considered by most community standards to be disrespectful and tasteless, but by my standards is good clean fun.

Luckily I have no immediate plans to change occupations. So by all means feel free to check them out at rickmercer.com – destroying my future in public life since 2005.