In the US, the words "Nuclear Option" refer to changing senate procedure to guarantee Republican dominance of the Senate.
The Canadian "Nuclear Option" deserves the label far more - I'm referring to the Governor-General. This might be a bit irrelevant with Martin's announcement of a budget vote coming next week, but I was thinking about this yesterday.
The one thing (outside of a budget defeat) which could absolutely force an election would be the action of the GG. However, the opposition parties haven't wanted to go to her - despite some speculation by Mr. Duceppe while in Holland. Meanwhile, the Liberals really don't want to involve her, either. So we've got a classic standoff, with the possibility of Mutual Assured Destruction: If the either party goes to the GG, there's the possibility she'll side with the others. Neither side wants to risk that, but each side wants to have the election on their own terms.
Gee, if I'd only paid more attention to Prisoner's Dilemmas in PoliSci.
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