Like him or not, Dion is running for the right reasons. He has seen where Harper is taking this country and he has a vision that is at odds with that. Harper is leading us to a place I don't think most Canadians would recognise. Dion gets that and is determined to not let it happen.He was asked in a presser yesterday if he see's himself as carrying a message like Barack Obama. Very simply and succinctly, he replied, "I am Stephane Dion" and went to the next question.
Now, contrast that to what both Harper and Layton are doing.
Harper came out with new ad's that would have you suspend reality and believe that suddenly, he's turned into a gentle, cuddly guy. I won't link to them. They are readily available at Conservative Televised Video, better known as CTV.
Harper and his advisers have obviously recognised that they need to paint a softer image, but really, how stupid do they think Canadians are? Do they really think that Harper the petulant 'my way or the highway' guy will simply be forgotten? Do they honestly believe that on the heels of concocting fake meetings with the opposition leaders and citing false reasons for calling an election that anyone is going to buy the new fake Harper?
Come on people! We've seen this guy in action. He's an impatient and angry man, hell bent on making government irrelevant and willing to play any game to make that happen.
It's fine to be right of centre. That is a dialogue we can have in this country, but this guy is off the scales and somehow we and the media in this country do not want to address that. I don't get it.
The ad's present a phony Harper.
Layton too is brushing up on how to apply veneer. He apparently thinks he is the Barack Obama of this country. This is likely his last kick at the can so there will be no limits as to where his ego will take him.
Yesterday in a Town Hall, he used Obama's words and tactics, as in taking his jacket off because he felt the room was about to become 'heated'. His shirt sleeves were already rolled up as he took off his jacket. Talk about a tightly 'staged' event. Marilyn Churley, who will run this time and was sitting in the front row, looked positively delighted when this stunt was played.
Harper and Layton are certainly seasoned campaigners as it relates to Federal election. Dion is not. I wouldn't underestimate him though.
Dion is ready and willing to be himself, present his vision and believe that Canadians will tap into that quality in themselves. Integrity and being who you are is important to most of us. Putting on airs and being phony, generally turns us off.
Harper is trying to present himself as a 'regular' guy, but he's not that. He is putting on airs and is being phony, yet his devotees lap it up.
Harper would do well not to cut any more Arts funding, because he is an actor who needs lessons. Layton? Well, he's got the acting down, but that's his problem. We all know he is an actor.
Now, Dion has been in the political game for a while and he certainly has picked up how the game is played, but he doesn't deviate from who he is.
So we have a choice this time around. The real deal or a phony presenting their visions for the country. Their vision is what you'll likely vote on, but of the two, who do you trust to implement what they say?
20 comments:
I thought what Andrew Coyne had to say about Harper last night on "Canada's most watched political panel" was very interesting. Can you link to that? Coyne was my hero for his thoughts on fatboy the last panel before the summer break and he was bang on with his assessment of him again last night. I might have to start reading his blog.
Sure, here you go.
I missed it last night, so I look forward to watching it.
Well, I still think we need not remind Canadians of the strong leadership question. All polls speak of pending disaster if it's a Harper-Dion comparison.
I like te idea where we include photos of Iggy and Rae whenever we talk of Lib leadership
I have no doubt that 'team' will be featured quite forcefully.
The negative reaction to these polls are more indicative of vanity and insecurity more than anything else.
"Leadership" is such a subjective quality, both on the part of the pollster, and of the person polled, that to deduce that the sky-is-falling from these polls is more a statement on the one's stupidity for buying into them than anything else.
Austin
''Harper is trying to present himself as a 'regular' guy, but he's not that. He is putting on airs and is being phony, yet his devotees lap it up.''
You are blurring the line between Harper the politician and Harper the man.
PMSH is a tough guy to deal with on the job.
He will not be a push over for Putin or any other world leader that tries to shove us around.
That doesn't mean he is a hate filled man that can not possiblly love his family and his country.
Libs should be very careful in their attack ads, that they are attacking his policy, not his person or family.
And it definitely does not mean that Harper's vision is wrong and Dion's is right, their ideologies are very different.
Less government, giving Premiers 'back' the powers they were given in the Constitution, recognising how diverse our country is by allowing the provinces to define their needs;
vs.
more government, feds controlling programs in a one size fits all ideology, a federal program to meet every issue, even if it means stepping on Premiers toes.
And the curious thing about the 2 different ideologies is that with the Cons, all provinces are treated the same but allowed to design programs differently from the other provinces;
and with the Libs, each province is treated differently with special deals so as they can fit into the one size fits all package.
example:
Cons offered up each province enviro funds, Each province decides (with accountability and fed approval) how the funds are used.
Libs would pool all that money, and blanket Canada with a carbon tax, and to eleviate the pain felt by the most vulnerable but not everyone, reimburse them with tax breaks and grants.
Libs should be very careful in their attack ads, that they are attacking his policy, not his person or family.
Right. We'll take lessons from the party who tried to decimate Dion the man. They even attack his dog for god's sake.
You are Doing exactly what I was Going To post on Steve's blog regarding how To go about in the advertising during the campaign..
CONTRASTS SHARPLY everything what Harper V. Dion is aiming and doing for transforming the Country and let the people see the two vastly different result we may end up with.
most people are easily confused with all the details what went on in the last 3 years..
List the important facts and goals /like in two Columns / in simple sentences where we want to go ... and where we do Not want To go...
The Sweater Guy is a ruthless little Dictator at heart can't deal with Democracy .
I relish the irony of people who have never met Harper telling the rest of us what he's "really like".
It is saddening to see you folks who can't separate a political difference of opinion from a vicious personal hatred of an individual.
But by all means, overreach and try to make him out as Satan. That worked so well last time around...
wilson wrote:
"Libs should be very careful in their attack ads, that they are attacking his policy, not his person or family."
And all those ads on Dion by the not-careful Cons attacked the man. Not his policies. Until the Green Shift came along. Then they attacked the man & the policy at the same time. And knb is right. They even attacked his dog - which is part of his family.
alw said:
"But by all means, overreach and try to make him out as Satan. That worked so well last time around..."
He's not Satan. But now we know he's Satan's best buddy - & Bush's too.
He will not be a push over for Putin or any other world leader that tries to shove us around.
Yeah, whenever Russia tries to invade us, Steve'll be out in front, leading the charge on his donkey.
And he certainly never lets Dubya push him around. Last time they met, Stevie didn't even apply any spit to that shine, as a token of his commitment to Canadian sovereignty.
...with the Cons, all provinces are treated the same...
Indeed. Like, every province is a nation, just like Quebec.
But by all means, overreach and try to make him out as Satan. That worked so well last time around...
Well, last time it helped save a rudderless and corrupt party from a richly deserved annihilation and kept the only viable alternative to a bare minority. So, yeah, it actually did work.
"..this election is different and the choices are stark...
...talk about leadership, what about if at some point you agree that Mr Harper is such a strong leader that you really don't want to trust him to be leader?"
-- it would seem Chantal Hébert has seen the diabolical Harper light. She might have seen it earlier if she hadn't been so fucking busy the past two years trashing Dion and his leadership. Better late than never I suppose. Thanks for the link.
oops. Should read, "..that you really don't want to trust him to have power".
That line struck me too Omar.
Mansbridge dismissed it a bit, but you're right, Coyne was good.
I think this is going to be a really fascinating race.
Great post. And thanks for linking to that news clip in comments.
I think Harper has proven from his day as PM that he can't be trusted.
His first arrival in Ottawa, first day of Parliament, he went in the back entrance. Also, he refused to appoint a deputy. Also, he muzzled his entire cabinet.
He's a control freak and only has his ego as his interest. His family is a reflection on him. I don't believe for one second that he is capable of an emotion live love.
If Canadians don't vote out this jerk this time I'm never voting again. I'm tired of voting every two years. I'm tired of b.s. politicians. Canada needs to wake the hell up already and vote responsibly. And that doesn't mean choosing Layton either, he's a whole other mess.
He's not Satan. But now we know he's Satan's best buddy - & Bush's too.
I would love - love - for any official Liberal strategist or MP to say this live on TV.
You people inhabit a hermetically sealed world out of touch with everyday, nonpolitical Canadians. They simple do not hate Harper with such passion. Don't you get that?
alw said:
"I would love - love - for any official Liberal strategist or MP to say this live on TV.
You people inhabit a hermetically sealed world out of touch with everyday, nonpolitical Canadians. They simple do not hate Harper with such passion. Don't you get that?"
I don't know anyone who "hates" Harper, including myself. Hate is a very strong emotion that overrides everything.
But I AM passionate about the things Harper has done, in secret, & the way he is changing our nation & slowly chipping away at Democracy. I value democracy. And I also value integrity, honesty, & transparency which is non-existent in Harper & his govt. Dion, on the other hand, espouses, & is the epitome of these values & is one of the most honourable politicians I have ever seen.
You confuse "hatred" with passion to truth.
I have seen Liberal strategists & MP's speak, often, on Harper's agendas & likening them to Bush's way of doing things, & you should take a close look at the SPP. It's reason for being is to make us into a borderless alliance with the States. In other words - another state of the U.S.A.
If Canadians don't vote out this jerk this time I'm never voting again.
I will never not vote, but if Canadians give these narrow and bumbling neophytes another mandate (be it minority or majority) I'm done with all things political federally for the duration of that mandate. My love for this shaky confederation is at best shaky itself and I cannot in all good consciousness accept a societal hard right-turn for my nation. If we still have that stupid, fat fuck Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the 15th of October, I shall proclaim, "Fair ye well, Canada, I thought I knew ye".
This perfectly
sums up how I am feeling about our perilous sitcheeation.
Merci, Simon.
knb
Really like the new sidebar link ;)
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