Clegg's Choice

So, the Liberal Democrats are mulling Cameron's offer.

I can't be alone in thinking that the Liberal Democrats would be really, really dumb not to take Cameron up on his offer. After all, they are emerging from an election campaign where they lost seats and they cannot afford to fight another election campaign if a stable government can't be formed. Furthermore, Cameron is offering them a lot - a lot - for a small party with only two (Clegg and Cable) truly visible public figures. With actual Liberal Democrats being placed in the Cabinet on offer, Clegg has the chance to make his party actually politically influential for the first time in decades.

Sure, the Tories aren't dropping their pants and begging for electoral reform - unlike Labour. But Labour's sudden conversion to the cause of electoral reform when they've been kicked in the knackers by the electorate and when they want to woo the Liberal Democrats is a little bit like suddenly gaining an interest in a hobby you've never noticed before because someone you'd like to bone is also interested in that hobby. I don't think either party will actually give the Liberal Democrats their much vaunted electoral reform; Clegg's choice is whether he accepts the muted dismissal of the Tories or the outright lies of Labour.

And then there's the small matter of whether Nick "Call Me Change" Clegg wants to actually follow through on the concept of change, or whether he wants to prop up a failed and deeply unpopular government. Furthermore, in propping up the execrable Labour government, Clegg still wouldn't be giving Labour a workable majority, so he wouldn't even be giving Britain a stable government. He can only do that with the Tories.

Ultimately, the people have spoken. Well, mumbled a bit. But their vague and slightly pained mumblings have said that they don't want Brown and they don't want Labour in power anymore. Clegg's best bet is to heed those mumblings, and push Cameron into power. It will piss off a lot of his supporters, and rile a good many people, but it will be far better for him and for his party if he supporters the disputed winner of this election, not the undisputed loser.