On team-building

Most of the talk about the NDP's 30-day election readiness plan has focused on the number of days involved. But perhaps the more interesting messaging coming out of today's announcement comes from Jack Layton's note:

My goals for that election are simple. To defeat Stephen Harper. To elect a Prime Minister that cares about people. And to put a New Democrat team in cabinet you can trust to get things done.
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Like me, I'm sure you've had enough of Stephen Harper's Republican-style partisan games. And like me, you probably think it's time for a little common-sense Canadian leadership.

That's what the next election will be about.

I believe it's time Canadians had a Prime Minister who cared about people. I believe it's time you had a team in cabinet you knew would get things done for you.

Of course, that message is accompanied in Brad Lavigne's message by a familiar theme to the effect that Layton is running to be Prime Minister. But the "New Democrat team in cabinet" concept looks to fit equally well with a coalition as with an outright NDP government - and the fact that the NDP's messaging is allowing for both offers reason for optimism that at least one national party will be standing up to the Harper Cons' attacks on cooperative politics.