Harper irritates me

So it was a principled criticism of the Liberals that Dion had allied himself with socialists and separatists.

But it is politically expedient to enter into a alliance with socialists and separatists when Conservatives do it?

When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder -- Lao Tzu.

Sounds about right.