Gotcha!
All week long I’ve been racking my brains trying to remember where I heard a Liberal strategist say that their election meme would be Do you really want a Harper majority?
Well, I found it this morning. It’s right at the end of the last segment of CTV’s Question Period this past Sunday. (Transcribed as best I could.)
Craig Oliver asks the political strategists:
"Before you go, very quickly, what is the ballot question, starting with the Conservatives here?"
Tim Powers: "Economy and leadership."
Steve MacKinnon: "Stephen Harper. Do you want him to have a majority government?"
Brad Lavigne:"It’s time,…"
Oliver (to McKinnon): "What, what’s that??? YOU want Stephen Harper to have a majority government?"
McKinnon: "No, to Canadians. Do you want to give Stephen Harper a majority government and continue on these policies, these wrong-headed, right-winged policies…"
Now contrast this with today’s Globe article - Fearing Harper could win a majority, rivals sound early alarm.
…And while Liberal strategists deem an overt plea to prevent a Tory majority a strategic mistake – because it would imply they don’t expect to win – some hinted the polls on the eve of this election campaign might at least shake up their voters.
“Canadians … will always have a thought in the back of their mind, which is, ‘Imagine if this were a majority Conservative government,’” said Montreal Liberal MP Denis Coderre.
The party’s national campaign co-chairman, Senator David Smith, said: “A lot of people will be thinking that to themselves. But I’m not saying it. ”
Oops. I guess someone let the cat out of the bag a bit early!
…Scott Reid, who was communications director to prime minister Paul Martin, said the polls will force reporters to ask questions about a Conservative majority, even if the Liberals don’t.
But he said voters remain skeptical of Mr. Harper, and the Liberals have to show he is cynical and manipulative. “He’s a hundred kinds of nasty, he’s a bully, and he’s not looking out for your interests,” Mr. Reid said.
“If we don’t persuade people first that they need to get rid of Stephen Harper, then we won’t get to the discussion about what kind of alternative we represent,” he said.
So, the strategy was apparently to let the left-wing press do their dirty work, but McKinnon let the cat out of the bag on Sunday.
So we weren’t just being paranoid after all.
And the Liberals obviously don’t expect to win.
* * * *
Update : Quite a good article by Don Martin - Dion should sell ideas, team, not cheap shots.
Liberals catch late flight from Air Inuit - Ottawa Sun.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Did the weird one let Lavigne answer the question after all that?
CTV going after the Cons and the Dippers in one owly swoop.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:26 am
lol! Yeah, Brad chanted the usual ‘Working families’ theme.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:35 am
good sleuthing Joanne!
Do we really want a majority for Harper to continue adding to his list of accomplishments? Yes, we do.
As it turns out he’s done a credible job. One that even some Liberals will agree upon.
The London Free Press today is suggesting that Dion’s going to go after Harper on the child care issue.
Oh, really?
After all the spin on the Green Shrift, the Liberals are going to take on stay-at-home parents and families.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:39 am
So, why all of a sudden the polls “jump” to show “Conservatives in majority territory”? Strange, they weren’t last week.
I say VOTE and vote often.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:46 am
“cynical and manipulative”
Let’s see - the left wing MSM publish a series of polls showing that the Tories are closing in on majority territory, and then the Libs let the cat out of the bag that their strategy is to ask “Do you really want a Harper majority”
And they have the gall to say Tories are “cycnical and manipulative”
This is going to be one dirty campaign. The cornered rats will pull out every stop in their quest to regain power. Stephen Harper predicted it in 2006.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I should have added that it is pretty sad if all the Liberals have is to try to sink the Tories with the same old, same old from 2004 and 2006. It seems power is uppermost in their quest for 24 Sussex!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:50 am
As for childcare, here in Quebec City where our ‘model’ childcare programme is in place, several already built and running for a year private daycares are complaining that they are not getting the government $7 a day new spaces promised, but that the government has built new non-profit centres which will get the subsidy.
Besides this bias against private daycare (and different programmes such as Montessori or Steiner), the spaces are usually scooped up by middle or upper class women who have the time, energy and connections to get on the waiting lists first.
And Quebec still has very bad child/educator ratios, not to mention the amount of floor space per child. Also still very few inspectors for the day cares.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:55 am
I just remembered I was struck by the bias of the media again the other day when CTV began its coverage of Harper’s sure trip to the polls by showing a giant pair of rolling red dices. “Rolling the dice”. Now where have we seen that before.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:19 am
The rebuttal question should be, do we want to elect a bunch of liberals, pay them big bucks, add to their pension, to watch them sit on their hands and do nothing but threaten an election. An Obama spokesman, on Meet the Press last week was asked if the campaign would go after Sarah. No, he said, we expect the media to do it. All the talking heads shook their heads in agreement.
Now it seems that the liberals also expect the media to do their dirty work for them. Why should our tax money pay for the cbc to go after one party only.
Fire them all.
Ezra is taking a 2 month leave of absence. Is he running for a seat in parliament, just wondering.
Don’t we have equal time laws in Canada.
The middle class in the USA have turned against the media big time with their attacks on Sarah. Could it happen here.
I would love to see Sarah come to Calgary to rally those republicans in AB.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Let’s see now “Scott Reid” “beer and popcorn” gotcha! I remember, here we go again with the liberano template “scary, scary scary” all Dion and company have done is make noise and then run away and hide under the bed or vote with S. Harper’s Conservatives. They obviously like “strong principled leadership” So do I and I will be voting CONSERVATIVE proudly.
Bubba the hard working Boilermaker
September 6th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Joanne, good ‘brain racking.’
I’m not very good at polls, interpreting them, how they will be received, how they influence voters, etc.
I just hope that electors will take some time to find out for themselves what the real issues / facts are.
With the availability of information on the internet, there is no excuse for people not finding out the facts for themselves, rather have those ‘facts’ fed to them through the filter of a mostly anti-Conservative media.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:42 am
We’re missing the obvious you know.
Here’s the script as I see it
Dion Liberals “Do Canadians REALLY want a Harper majority so that they continue to move on their agenda?”
Rebut “Why yes Steffy we do, and so much you and your caucus because on major initiatives you voted IN FAVOUR our plan and we have the recorded votes to prove it. So, you’re either full of hotair and misled your support base when you voted WITH us, or you are misleading the electorate now because you’re desperate and will say anything to get votes.”
Dion “It’s not easy to make priorities”
Rebut “Yes, watching you lately that is quite obvious, but unfortunately in tough economic times the country needs a leader in place who CAN and WILL have the intelligence and confidence to not only make priorities but act on them as we have done to date(see Crux’s list of 60 accomplishments).
Dion “You don’t know what you speak about”
Rebut And you sir are still not getting things done that matter to Canadians.
Enter Jack Layton and the NDP
Layton “Looking for a better second banana who has at the very least been more effective in the legislature and has shown up to vote against the gov’t…..pick me, pick me.”
Fade out Dion.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:50 am
oops that should have read “so MUST you and your……”
September 6th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
“If we don’t persuade people first that they need to get rid of Stephen Harper, then we won’t get to the discussion about what kind of alternative we represent,” he said.
OMG, this is the worst strategy ever.
Liberals and seperatists gave PMSH 35 days to answer the question. Canadians just might like the answer!
Newsflash! You Libs are dealing with PMSH here. Like he didn’t think this was coming??? duh
Libs and Bloc will have to articlulate their case this time, given this much time. Their arguments will boil down to a difference in ideology, not all that scary.
I see now why Flanagan did the ‘mission: send Libs into hell for years’ thing.
He wanted them to come out mean and scared it may happen.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Ezra is taking a 2 month leave of absence. Is he running for a seat in parliament, just wondering.
Mary T. - I was wondering that too. Or perhaps a party strategist?
September 6th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
They obviously like “strong principled leadership” So do I and I will be voting CONSERVATIVE proudly.
Me too, Bubba.
Joanne, good ‘brain racking.’
Thanks, Gabby. Ended up with quite the headache though.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Rebut “Why yes Steffy we do, and so much you and your caucus because on major initiatives you voted IN FAVOUR our plan and we have the recorded votes to prove it. So, you’re either full of hotair and misled your support base when you voted WITH us, or you are misleading the electorate now because you’re desperate and will say anything to get votes.”
Excellent, Sol.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
OMG, this is the worst strategy ever.
Wilson, it’s kinda backwards-thinking too. Shouldn’t they be doing the presentation of the alternative first, and then the rest would follow if what they offered was worth anything?
What a bunch of jokers.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Just previewed some of the NDP ads. Look out Liberals the battle lines have been drawn and they completely ignore you. This is shaping up to be a fight between the CPC and the NDP/Bloc.
All is quiet on the Saanich & the Islands front. Major spending announcements by Minister Lunn over the last few days. Some adverts beginning to show up in the local papers from CPC candidates.
Over & Out from this South Vancouver Island reporter (WCT-Reports!!)
September 6th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Rumor has it Ezra will take Solberg’s place as a candidate. Just a rumor right now but makes sense. Ezra gave up his candicay for the PM.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Paul, that would be HUGE!!!
September 6th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hey, thanks for the report, WCT! I must check out those ads.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Teddi, this is actually quite a good ad. The part at the end, where he says, “I’m Jack Layton. Of the NEW Democrats” - is that another Obama attempt?
September 6th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
The NDP add is hilarious! Watch it again, you must have missed it.
September 6th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Swift, you mean the one I linked to?
September 6th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Well, the writ has yet to be dropped and we have our first beer and popcorn moment.
“http://twitter.com/npelection2008/statuses/912200760″
September 6th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Noticed the “new” emphasis but there is nothing “new” about the “democrats” to coin a phrase about Canada’s New Government. They might just be the “New Opposition” tho and so they could (like Obama) become “new”. There is an old saying that” you never WIN silver, you LOSE gold” but for the Dippers a silver would be a big prize.
WCT Reports
September 6th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Paul, did he really say that??? lol!!
September 6th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
but for the Dippers a silver would be a big prize.
For sure, Teddi. I’m thinking they could have a shot at it. The Liberals are so disorganized, and the Bloc is floundering.
This could be a very historical election.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I suggest Ezra for the NEW justice minister.
And how many will watch that ndp ad and say, hey Layton says Harper is a strong leader, guess he will get my vote. Tell Layton health care is a provincial matter, and to educate doctors you need spaces in universities to do it. I want to see the one in eight kids living in poverty. How is the poverty level set as per stats canada. Many people might be surprised they are living in poverty because stats can says so.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Yes the NDP add you linked to.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Swift, what I found funny/dishonest is the slam about family doctors, since that is a provincial jurisdiction. Is that what you’re referring to?
September 6th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Whenever a leader or candidate or sp interest group spouts figures ask them where they come from, show us the proof.
I once called Stats Can and asked, can you tell me how many cdns died, in Canada last year, and in a few minutes I was give the figure. I then asked, where are all the bodies, why, well, a cancer worker said that x number of women died that yr of breast cancer, a few days earlier someone quoted a figure for aids, another talked about deaths by speeders and drunks. These spokespeople all used the same year. Funny, over 200,000 deaths were not recorded. The figure I got was all ages, sex, causes, total deaths. It was around 300,000. I could have had this broke down by province, age, cause etc. No, I just wondered if there were 200,000 bodies in freezers. These people just give out a figure and no one questions, just repeats it as facts.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Yes, but not because it is a provincial responsibility. Look at the fashions in the pictures. They had to go back to a time before universal health care to get to a time when all families had a family doctor.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
They had to go back to a time before universal health care to get to a time when all families had a family doctor.
Right… and that was a bit before my memory of anything but universal health care. Good point. Very ironic.
How did people pay the doctor then anyway?
September 6th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Didn’t Dion or one of his minions, maybe Garth, say a few weeks ago they were ready for an election, had the plane,money etc. Now we learn they just got a plane last week. Also it is a very un-enviroment plane, uses lots of fuel and expels lots of emissions. First of all the plane has to made air worthy. Remember Paul Martin and his plane with no money for fuel.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
“How did people pay the doctor then anyway?”
In all honesty, they used eggs, sides of beef, dinners, whatever they had to barter with.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Not only did we have a family doctor, they all made house calls. They were paid with, some money, vegetables, chickens, pigs, beef and lots of time nothing. That was the rural doctor, who travelled miles to deliver babies, tend to the various fevers, etc. As my brother-in-law tells us, his family never had money till MSI and then the AHC come into play.
Innoculations were done in the schools, and vaccinations. If you got measles etc you were quarnteened for 2 wks, at home, and the nurse visited to make sure.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
The physicians ran their own insurance plan for people who could not afford private insurance. The cost was based on the ability to pay. You’ll have to find somebody older than me to get the exact details.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
So the solution is private health care! Who knew the NDP would be pushing that?
September 6th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
PMSH on QP Sunday…interview with Lloyd robertson!
September 6th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Yes, private health care will greatly increase the number of family physicians because the provinces will no longer have to train fewer doctors than are needed so that they can keep the health care costs down. Instead of creating a doctor shortage to reduce costs, they could have created a bureaucrat shortage instead.