Jack Layton's Elephant in the Room

Stephen Harper has promised not to make any major changes and not to reopen the abortion debate.

But those who got him to where he is have other plans. He may have thought that taking the Religious Right into his big blue tent, would assure his political fortune, but it comes at a price.

After trying for more than half a decade, the Conservatives finally have a majority government, and now the party's longtime backers -- including the religious right -- are hoping their concerns will get the government's attention.

... David Krayden, the executive director of Conservative Values of Canada, a Christian political group, said abortion will be brought up, whether Harper likes it or not.

If he kept them at bay because his hands were tied, they are no longer tied, so we can expect some major changes, sooner rather than later.

But where does this leave Jack Layton?

Most of his caucus is from Quebec, and Quebec has always been the most socially advanced province. With Layton as a mere bystander, they won't be pleased that he is unable to stop the onslaught.

An onslaught that not even Stephen Harper will be able to stop, given the enormous number of social Conservatives in his caucus.

I guess Jack Layton didn't think this through when he decided to throw his lot in with Harper, and perhaps Harper himself didn't think it through when he decided to throw his lot in with the Religious Right.

In their quest for power, they may both be rendered powerless.