Pay attention - this is going to be on the exam

Babble on.

Professor Tarantino will now address his first-year political science class, otherwise known as the Conservative Party of Canada. The title of today's lecture is "How to Control Both the News Cycle and a Minority Government from the Opposition Benches."

Listen closely, class - you'll be tested on this at election time.

Here's what should have happened: the budget gets released. No Conservative says one. frickin'. word. "No comment". "We're reviewing it". "We'll get back to you". That's it. Jack Layton mewls about how he doesn't like the budget, and says he is going to vote against it. The Bloc complains about the budget not being in the interests of Quebecers and indicates it will not support it. Still no word from the Tories. Perfect. Why? Because the Tories have just changed the focus from "what's in the budget?" to "what are the Conservatives going to do about it?" The headlines write themselves.

Wake up in the back! The man is not talking to hear the sound of his own voice, people, he's trying to teach you something you obviously haven't learned yet.

And here are my two pennies: why is Stephen Harper getting better political advice from a blogger than he is from his paid minions? Why isn't someone with at least Bob Tarantino's tactical acumen on the payroll?

Babble off.