The juxtaposition is pretty fun:

Liberal MP Garth Turner (Halton) told reporters that when the House of Commons returns on March 31, after a two-week break, there will be a different tone. "I think there is a growing level of testosterone in our caucus, who would actually like to go and do battle.... There is a combative nature that is certainly stronger right now than it was a few weeks ago," Turner said. "There is no election this week, but when we get back here the 31st I am getting every indication that it's a new ball game."

Dion was far less emphatic. "Not this week," said Dion...

But sooner or later the fun will fade. While the Tories are doing their best to break back into the 20% range of support, people will get immune to the testosterone levels of the caucus...and concept in itself that is a little unseemly when you think about it. I hope and pray that he is referring to the male members - and even that is more than I was to dwell upon.

No, it is time to pull the plug. Not because the election is a sure bet and not because the Grits are strong. It is time because the conversation will turn against them: the Garth who cried wolf, the little Dion who couldn't. The outcome will be a variation of the status quo but within the campaign there would be now enough to compare: visions of the Afghanistan mission, the role of surpluses in sensible budgeting, the continued centralization of authority in the person of the Prime Minister. At the heart of it, there has to be some sort of discussion of what the national government is to be. The Tories have clearly indicated their disdain for the Federal level not to mention the governments of Ontario and Newfoundland. In a campaign they may be forced to actually enunciate the vision behind the bicker - they may have to tell us what they actually stand for as oppose to what they reject.

Who knows? It may actually be attractive if they could give it some conceptual framework.