The Liberals suggested an amendment to the budget.  If it had passed, it would have forced an election.

Stephane Dion bravely led his Liberals in full retreat from their own amendment:

The minority Conservative government easily survived a key confidence vote on its federal budget Monday, despite a political storm over allegations of bribery in the Chuck Cadman affair.

The House of Commons voted 202-7 against a Liberal amendment to the budget which would have brought down the government if it passed.

To be sure their amendment failed, only a handful of Liberals showed up for the vote.

To be sure their amendment failed?  This is becoming ridiculous.

Well, we passed ridiculous a ways back, but I don't feel like looking up new words in the thesaurus.

It's one thing to support a budget.  But to refuse to support your own amendment?

At some point this has to end.  The Conservatives won't end it -- the government is satisfied to keep governing.  The NDP and the Bloc Quebecois can't end it -- together they don't have enough votes.

Only the Liberals can end their nightmare.  Rules be damned, the Liberals have to decide whether there is any reason to give Stephane Dion the chance to fight an election, or to force him out.

Maybe this is a chance for the Liberal blogosphere to get engaged.  They seem to have contracted the affliction that has made Stephane Dion the sort of leader he is.  Liberal bloggers have made noises about Stephane Dion failing as leader, but when will they take the step of organizing an online effort to have Stephane Dion removed?

It certainly would be a turning point for the Canadian blogosphere.

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