We are PUMPED!
Stephen Woodworth begins introduction
Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes the podium in Kitchener-Centre.
(YouTube videos courtesy of my personal videographer.)
Stephen Harper visited Kitchener Centre today, and brought with him a message of hope, strength and optimism. It was a rally-the-troops moment and I’m sure he accomplished the mission.
We were packed in like sweltering sardines for over an hour standing and waiting for the PM’s arrival, but no one complained. In fact, it was so crowded that I could hardly raise my pen to my notepad without poking someone nearby with my elbow. But the mood was upbeat and jovial as rock music blared in the background.
Finally we knew that the big moment was approaching. The camera lights went on and the music stepped up in volume. Various security people entered the room in single file, and finally Stephen Harper appeared with Laureen right behind. She looked radiant and wore a gorgeous pink suit. (How does she look so good with all this traveling and campaigning?)
Anyway, Kitchener Centre candidate Stephen Woodworth introduced the Prime Minister, and made reference to the recent Record endorsement : ‘The Record says that Harper’s plan offers us hope!”
Kitchener Waterloo candidate Peter Braid* and Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht were also present when Harper stood up at the podium (which wasn’t any more than 8-10 feet away from me.)
He made reference to his earlier announcement of a $50-million grant to the Institute of Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, and the need for investment in science and technology in order to build our future.
He stated that in these uncertain global economic times, now is not the time to impose risky schemes.
Harper asked who will Canadians trust to protect our economy? (A chorus of HarPER, HarPER! broke out).
The Prime Minister said that the Liberal Carbon Tax is a recipe for a recession, whereas electing a Conservative Government is a recipe to AVOID a recession and will provide help now , rather than doing things that will make it worse later.
Harper pointed out that ‘we don’t need a leader who tells everyone we’re going to have a recession, and then tells them he has no plan to deal with it.’
Everyone was applauding and cheering and cracking thundersticks together at this point, and Mrs. Harper was beaming.
Harper closed on an optimistic note stating that we have a strong economy and a strong future.
As he and Laureen made their way out of the room and back to the bus, they shook everyone’s hand along the way that attempted to connect with them. I was able to shake his hand as well.
Stephen Harper looks strong, confident and in control - just like a leader should.
The local campaign teams are energized and pumped. Things look very promising in Kitchener Centre. Karen Redman could be in for the fight of her political career.
* * * *
I gleaned a bit of inside information from ‘unnamed sources’ this afternoon. One was a tip that the Liberals will be asking Stephen Harper to apologize for commenting on Dion’s CTV melt-down yesterday. We’ll see what happens.
O.K. Here’s the other little goody from another ‘unnamed source’ who told me you can tell how the CPC numbers are doing by the looks on the faces of certain members of the media. So you can read into that what you will.
Personal note: What a pleasure to be in a room full of hundreds of like-minded supporters where everyone feels comfortable enough to unleash their profound admiration for their leader without vilification from the left. It was a sublime experience.
* * * *
Update: *Elizabeth Witmer endorses Peter Braid!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I am ‘green-shift’ with envy!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
On cbc just now,pollster says ndp vote in Ont starting to move to Cons!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
..it was so crowded that I could hardly raise my pen to my notepad without poking someone nearby with my elbow.
Good stuff Jo! I can just see you standing by the PM with notepad in hand and pen at the ready, your reporter fedora on with a piece of paper stuck in it reading “Blogger BLY”…
I saw the PM on CPAC this AM and he looked fantastic, very calm, speaking on the economy in terms that will put all Canadians minds at ease, showing everyone who watches that he is the man to lead the country now more than ever!
Go Blue!!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
One thing the blog gives you is a tiny bit of power. I suspect the PM gets some info on the influential conservative blogs (and I consider you one, based on traffic from both conservatives and Liberal trolls), and possibly may take some advice from them, although the PMO may not admit it.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Good Job Blue!! I had my PMSH moment(actually before he was PM) in 2006 when he visited Sidney on the South Vancouver Island. It sure is an electric atmosphere. We can only hope that voters across the country really see the true Harper and vote Conservative.
There is an old political adage that low turnout helps the incumbent. My wife is a DRO and it was reported to her that the advance polls have been “slow” even though they ran out of ballots a couple of times.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Hey Jo - you might want to check your spelling of our PM’s first name - ha ha
The liberals are going to ask him to apologize - for what???
And why would they want to bring it back up again?
The Liberals are a very strange breed.
Of course I am watching Mike Duffy and the old codger himself - Craig Oliver had to get his Liberal ad in.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
It’s great you could be there, it’s so much better in person. (I have my Harper sign hanging right behind my computer for blogging inspiration.)
And yes, the best part is that you can talk to a complete stranger and know they are Conservative thinking, and actually support PM Harper.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Hey Jo - you might want to check your spelling of our PM’s first name - ha ha
Oops! Thanks. Do things look o.k. now, AG?
All that standing has the blood long gone from my head - and that was after a brutal hour-long workout this morning. I have no legs left.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Ha Ha -that’s better Joanne!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Thanks, AG. What was up there before was almost sacrilegious!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Thanks for the optimistic post. Sounds like there is a lot of support in Kitchener. Lets hope it spreadsall over Ontario.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Thanks for all the great comments here guys! I will try to add a few things later. I am exhausted but very, very happy.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Really telling today as well,was the sound of the pumped crowd to see PMSH,as opposed to what sounded like pretty poor turnout for Dion.His Q&A after his speech,was more blather,and rhetoric,and no clear answers..except the tired ‘we have a plan’
October 10th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Thanks for all the great comments here guys! I will try to add a few things later. I am exhausted but very, very happy.
You should be happy. I suspect all of the recent poll swings are occurring in the large city centres, votes which the CPC can’t count on anyway. The way the votes split, it won’t matter much. The Green leader is giving up her votes to the Liberals, as I predicted a month ago, but I don’t think the grass roots Green-voters are planning to go along.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The LIEberals got nothing on fear.
Financial planners watching intraday drops of 1200 points this week, WE DO FEAR!!
Bloody LIEberals can only fill their shorts!!
Welcome to my financial storm, the LIEberal electoral WHUP ASS is about to arrive!
How about a -40 C whiteout electoral blizzard?
“Harper-pooned” on the end of the electoral lance, in the former BERLIN, Ontario!!
Huzzah, Huzzah, HUZZAAAH!
Cheers
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
October 10th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
“One thing the blog gives you is a tiny bit of power. I suspect the PM gets some info on the influential conservative blogs (and I consider you one, based on traffic from both conservatives and Liberal trolls), and possibly may take some advice from them, although the PMO may not admit it.”
Absolutely they do. Dion’s speech at the Montreal conference being taken from Dr. Correll’s speech a year earlier is a perfect example of that.
Now that polling shows us trending up and Lib’s going down, I have only one question.
Hey, what ever happened to Jeff Davidson?
October 10th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Can anyone translate what Hans just said?
October 10th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I can’t:0)
October 10th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I am so jealous! Good for you Joanne!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Filling their shorts — investors shorting the market
HUZZAH — Battle cry cheer in tough economic times
Cheers
October 10th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Can anyone translate what Hans just said?
Ich kann nicht!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Graham Richardson announces report that Ontario court say Cadman tape legit and Liberals have big bat to hit Stephen Harper. Carbon Tax here we come!!!
October 10th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Fay, I saw that too. You know, if the Liberals end up forming the next government, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. With the carbon tax, they would crash and burn and then we’d be back to an election in another year. Then Harper would get a majority.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Some expert is on CTV right now saying that the Green Shift would be ‘punitive’ to manufacturing, and also that Harper is owed an apology.
I’ll try to get more info on the next news-cycle.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
“Graham Richardson announces report that Ontario court say Cadman tape legit and Liberals have big bat to hit Stephen Harper. Carbon Tax here we come!!!”
Well get prepared for four days of Harper bashing - funny though because the Dion tape seems to have flown out the window with our media.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Ah yes the vindictive trolls are already on their way Joanne - Get ready.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
And Dion admits to cbc babe, in his attempt to justify the gaffe, that there are always retakes. So what is on the cutting room floor of the cbc that would send Dion to the bottom.
What some will do for a senate seat, even greens voting liberal so May gets hers, while throwing them under the bus. Next election will they get candidates, money, support. Doubt it, they can’t be trusted and May is the fraud and liar.
She owes PMSH several apologies. Surprising what hate can do to a person.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Chretien on CTV live right now.
He’s supposed to be helping Dion. Any chance they’re all sitting there thinking too bad he’s not the leader?
October 10th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
The tape thing is kind of confusing. The story says the part in question is not altered but goes on to state that it was recorded over the part of the tape leading up to the insurance question.
That contradicts what the author said. He stated he only turned the tape player on and off. How is it then that the tape was rewound and taped over?
And if you read through the story, it says that segment of the tape was unaltered. Kind of implying something else was.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Is it just me or is Craig Oliver jumping the shark with his partisan attacks against the Conservatives?
October 10th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Richardson said tho,that because of the PMSH lawsuit against the Libs,they will have to be very careful…and that they aren’t sure how much they will be able to hammer the Cons with it.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I can’t see the Cadman tape story trumping the economy with Canadians right now, as much as the MSM and Liberals would like it to.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hey Jo…
Missed you at the rally. It was excellent. Lots of energy and professionally run. Just like we want from a Conservative governmenet!!!
October 10th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Missed you at the rally.
Hi Paul! Wasn’t that a packed room? I’m not surprised we didn’t see each other. Yes, the enthusiasm was electric!! Fantastic experience.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Anyone watching MDL prime time right now? I can’t believe what Ignatieff is saying.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Joanne, for those of us who missed Ignatieff, what did he say?
October 10th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Tory war room put out a perfect response to the Cadman tape story. Harper has argued that his remarks were taken out of context, and that the author never revealed the complete interview.
The news release states that the part of the interview leading up to the question of financial considerations was taped over.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Joanne, for those of us who missed Ignatieff, what did he say?
Frmgrl, I am recording it and will give you the highlights later. Basically, he was being very irresponsible about the bank stability and had some interesting takes on the carbon tax. Updates later (if I can stay awake)
October 10th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
“Zytaruk provided Harper’s lawyer with what he says was a complete and unedited copy of the entire conversation that he recorded, and yesterday he stuck to that claim.
In Surrey, B.C., yesterday, Zytaruk said the entire tape was given to the Conservatives and he said he has no reason to have doctored the recording.
“I would have to have rocks in my head to do that,” said Zytaruk. “Why would I do that? I’m not the politician here.”
But Harper says their entire conversation was five to 10 minutes long. The tape runs only two minutes, 47 seconds.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Frmgrl - Here are a couple of quotes from Iggy:
…Unless the industrial sector goes green and goes green fast, Mike, there aren’t going to be any jobs in Central Canada…
Any proof of that, Michael?
Then, he tries to instill fear in the Canadian banking system:
“…but every bank in Canada has some degree of exposure to the foreign banks that are in trouble. A Prime Minister who is honest with the Canadian people ought to be telling us just how bad this exposure problem is. It’s that kind of failure to level with Canadians which is draining support from the Conservatives like water out of a bath.”
Facts please, Iggy
October 10th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Thanks for your report Joanne. First hand reports are excellent and a very good gauge. Good job.
After seeing PMSH run this country and keep us in a good balance and seeing his wonderful family to which he is devoted, how can anyone look anywhere else for the best person to lead Canada.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I hope that PM Harper has a strong and invigorating finish to the campaign that is both symbolic to his strong leadership and touches as many swing ridings/regions as possible.
We need a strong finish to dominate the headlines and TV news over the weekend!
No fizzling again!!!
October 11th, 2008 at 10:56 am
[...] I just love this photo. My husband grabbed it moments before Prime Minister Stephen Harper exited Stephen Woodworth’s campaign office yesterday. [...]