While madness has reached proportions no one could have imagined in the US, we in Canada have no reason to be smug or complacent.
Jason Kenney yesterday certainly started down the path of alternate realities and his loyal foot (in mouth) soldiers dutifully followed.
Part of the problem, imo, is mainstream media giving wing nuts currency by airing, thereby repeating, their fatuous claims. The ill informed glom on to such statements and no one seems to be setting the record straight.
Should we demand that? I think so.
So, I offer this video simply to illustrate what is being fought in the US, in the hope that we are not faced with the same inanity.
When you see it, speak out. Your voice is needed to prevent it.
Further to the release of the ads, I've read some commentary, listened to Cross Country Check-up (subject: upcoming election) and followed comments all over the internet.
I can't say that anything has surprised me. The usual suspects have uttered the predictable lines.
Imagine my shock at reading that the partisans for the NDP and the CPC don't think much of the ads. I so thought they would come out cheering! And the anti-Ignatieff, but supposedly still Liberal crowd? Well given that he is front and centre, they were predictable too.
One complaint seems to be that the ads are bland, not enough policy, details, etc. Well, instead of calling that reaction laughable, let's take a look at reality.
The summer is winding down, literally, this weekend. Accepted wisdom tells us that no one has been paying any attention to politics throughout the summer and they are just now tuning into what is happening in the country.
Timing? Perfect.
The other point that is often made, is that Ignatieff isn't well known. As I see it, this is his opening foray to correct that. I read somewhere that there are 3 more ads to come. My guess would be that the English ad will be done in French and the two French ads, will air in English, though I may be proven wrong.
Here's the thing. Anyone that has been exposed to advertising and how to build a campaign, knows that you start with specific obvious objectives and your plan is to build on them, based both on reaction and a logical plot line.
For anyone to have expected policy announcement, is ridiculous. There IS no election at this point remember. That's not immediately what these ads are about, though of course ultimately they are, but specifics will come out when appropriate. Political junkies may be anxious for detail, but you are not the target of the ads.
I'd also like to pass on a general feel from Cross Country Check-up. Often, the shows that focus on politics, have a pretty Conservative call in. The likes of Dr. Roy call repeatedly and I can only presume that an e-mail is sent out to the base, encouraging calls.
Today? I heard crickets chirp from that hard core base. A couple of Harper supporters called in, but overall, the lines were jammed with people, maybe not anxious for an election, but really anxious to boot Harper out. They were not all Liberals. Many NDP called too, but former Conservatives, Progressive Conservatives, were the ones that intrigued me.
A call-in show, does not an outcome guarantee, but there was a sense out there that I found encouraging. Not just the prospect of Harper's ouster, but more the level of knowledge in terms of what he is doing to the country. Even the least articulate of caller had that sense.
Our reputation in the world was brought up more than a few times. Citizenship and how Harper plays with that was big too. The general theme though was how Harper is completely incapable of being the leader of a minority government.
Hurray! Finally it felt as though people were getting it.
As I said, a call-in show can hardly be used as a barometer for an election that hasn't been called, but hearing NDP and PC supporters claim that they will vote for the Liberals to get Harper out, was music to this Liberal's ears.
Oh, one more quick thing. When I first saw the ads, I thought, fantastic contrast to what the Conservatives have offered. Ignatieff is speaking to the adults in the room and the Conservatives as we know, have been playing to the pimply teenagers who need to feel better about themselves by putting someone else down.
My hope was that the Conservatives wouldn't change their strategy, because played out over time, the contrast would be striking. For today anyway, my hope was not dispelled. Jason Kenney released this statement, (via Susan Delacourt).
Risky business that. We have plenty of examples of Harper denigrating the country that go back that far and further, NCC anyone? Not to mention that Kenney takes the statements out of context, as is usual.
I particularly like the US reference and elite mention by Kenney. He who studied in San Fransisco with the elite of the philosophical debate world, the Jesuits. He dropped out though... Draw your own conclusions. Hint, it wasn't because he thought they were too elite.
The statement is pap and thankfully keeping the discussion in the gutter. I say thankfully, because the Conservative tact has been to discourage voters from voting. Keeping the message low-brow to turn people off. I'd say it worked. I'd also say, the time has passed for it to have an effect any longer.
From everything I saw, heard and read today, people are tired of the nonsense.
One day after Ignatieff declared that he will no longer support this government, the Conservatives, their supporters, the NDP and their supporters have shifted into overdrive.
Most of it is hilarious, but it's a look at how the various parties will react.
No surprise here. The PM and some of his MP's, like John Baird are saying that the economy will be shaken and suffer if we go into an election. The recovery will be affected. Well, once again our economist in chief is outside of his fellow travellers in his opinion.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper stepped up his attack on the Liberal opposition Wednesday, repeating his contention that an election could "screw up" the recovery.
(You'd think he would have learned that this language isn't very PM'ish.)
The warnings have become a staple of the Conservative attack against Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. On two separate occasions this week, Transport Minister John Baird also sounded the alarm, saying a vote now risks delays to infrastructure projects sustaining the economic recovery. ---- "That's quite the nerve coming from Stephen Harper who called the last election at a time of a very severe recession," shot back John McCallum, a former bank chief economist who is expected to land an economic portfolio if Ignatieff's Liberals were to form the government. ---- Economists were mostly unconcerned about any potential crippling impact of an election. "The Canadian economy is the sum of a heck of a lot of decisions, by investors, by businesses, by consumers across Canada, in the U.S. and abroad, so how well the economy is going to do probably depends a lot more (on other factors) than what's going on in the electoral scene in Canada," said Finn Poschmann, an economist with the C.D. Howe Institute
Next! Well, I shouldn't say that actually, because we all know that even if the evidence is painstakingly laid out before them, they ignore it and continue with the lie.
(btw, can't imagine how they did it in the States ;)
The NDP on the other hand are now not quite so cocky as they were when they were provided a safe haven by the Lib's. Sorry guys, you can't in one breath call the Liberals wimps for supporting the government and then turn around and call them opportunistic when they won't. But hey, if sucking and blowing is your strategy, I won't get in the way.
Additionally, Brad Lavigne, (NDP strategist) suggested that the NDP would do the responsible thing and take it issue by issue as they study the bills presented.
Ha, ha,ha! I know, it's hard not suppress laughter here, given how they vowed to vote against the budget before they saw it, but whatever.
Sadly for the NDP though, the Conservatives don't seem ready to play in the same sand box as those radical, crazy socialists.
We'll hear from Jack tomorrow apparently.
As for the Bloc? Well Duceppe told us today that he'll also go issue by issue and only make a decision rooted in Quebec's best interest. No! Really?
And, the final bit of buffoonery for your enjoyment, the Conservatives will apparently bring a Ways and Means motion to the HoC , (not sure when though) and it will contain...wait for it...the Home Reno Tax Credit. Because of course, if the Lib's take them down on that, the Conservatives will scream from here to Sunday that Ignatieff is taking away your credit!
Of course it's BS in more ways than one. First, the Lib's have already said that they will of course honour the program. Secondly though, there is absolutely no reason to create a new law to have those credits pass. It's all a ruse.
That said, the Conservatives have governed by ruse...why wouldn't they campaign by it?
Interestingly, the NDP is now saying that they will gauge their support on an issue by issue basis. Yep...that's what they are saying. What a difference a summer makes! And the Bloc? Well, they have no comment until tomorrow. Ah...okay. I guess Duceppe needs to sleep on his reaction.
Never mind the CPC for the moment, the Bloc and NDP's free ride is over and they are oh, so not okay with that.
You'll forgive me I hope, for being a bit giddy. I've made no bones about my desire for an election and while it is still dependent on the support of the two parties I just mentioned, I'm thrilled to see this direction taken by the party.
I've received messages from NDP friends and they are not happy, to say the least. That said, it's obvious that I'm a fairly left leaning Liberal and there are some NDP MP's that I like and admire, so if there is an election, I really hope that their focus is on Harper.
As for the CPC, well, Baird's reaction was this side of ridiculous, as was Harper's. Harper said he hasn't met a Canadian that wants an election. Shocking! Translation: He hasn't met a Canadian that hasn't been vetted to be sure he/she is a supporter.
This one is a game changer people. The tone that Ignatieff took today told us an awful lot. An election will be fought on Harper's dismal record and lack of vision for the country. That will be clearly contrasted with a real vision for the country based on the values that Canadians have come to claim. Values like, equality for all, especially all citizens, good fiscal management, compassion, a focus on innovation, the environment, etc, all areas that the Conservatives have failed at.
My last post hinted at that tone and I am now convinced more than ever, that if the CPC continue their petty, juvenile retorts, they will not fair well. Accordingly, if the NDP waste their energy focusing on the Lib's, they will miss the point and once again, help Harper.
I'm an artist with an interest in politics.
I'm also Charles A. Brown's granddaughter. He served WW1 - 73rd Battalion CEF, then later in the RAF. I'm afraid he kept his battles with the Red Baron a secret.
