Canadian Elections.

How many of you knew Canada was having elections? Well, you should - they matter to us, in ways large and small. And this election is shaping up to have the potential to be as historic for Canada as our 1980 elections were for us.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Canadian political leaders on Sunday made one last cross-country dash on the eve of an election expected to oust the ruling Liberals, move Canada to the right and improve ties with the United States.

With polls showing a steady lead of 7 to 12 percentage points, the Conservatives sounded increasingly confident, though it looked like they would fall short of a majority in Parliament and have to depend on other parties.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. A little divided government makes you forge consensus, rather than run roughshod. I frankly like it that way in the US. You are then less likely to see comments like this:

"After 13 years and four failed mandates, the era of Liberal arrogance is ending," local candidate Michael Smith told a Winnipeg rally as he introduced Conservative leader Stephen Harper, who made stops in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia on Sunday.

If the Conservatives were to win strong, almost unfettered power, all we'd be doing is reading (and making) that same comment with Conservative substituted for Liberal, and appropriate Party Apparatchik names. Much as we're seeing with the Republicans now - they having held power long enough to have been tainted by the influence peddling that goes with it. The Dems are exactly the same in this regard, they just aren't in power. It's a disease of politicians and power, not party. I'd like to think the Right is better at treating it - but, we'll see how the Doctors of the Republican Party heal themselves. Heh.

But how do we know all of this is a Good Thing? It has Michael Moore's panties in a twist, that's how:

Controversial American documentary filmmaker Michael Moore bemoaned an apparent right turn by liberal northern neighbor Canada in its upcoming general election.

"Oh, Canada -- you're not really going to elect a Conservative majority on Monday, are you? That's a joke, right? I know you have a great sense of humor, ... but this is no longer funny," Moore complained in a commentary on his website.

"First, you have the courage to stand against the war in Iraq -- and then you elect a prime minister who's for it. You declare gay people have equal rights -- and then you elect a man who says they don't," Moore moaned.

Ahhhh. I *do* like an anguished Moore.

Show us what you've got, Canada! You can throw the bums out - you aren't going to wholly throw over the traces, so the Conservatives won't get nearly as much done as many of you fear. And when you return the Liberals to power - remember - for the electorate, Divide and Conquer is a good tactic.

Update: This Canadian take on the politics is too good to leave buried in the Comments!