Given Gilles Duceppe's virtually uncontested victory in last night's french language debate, there's no clear momentum going into tonight's english-only showdown. All the little Dippers from the NDP war room (except this one, I work nights) will be gathering at the party's downtown Ottawa offices to view the action. Sadly, I can't say that they'll be playing James Bow's debate drinking game , but it's sure to be an evening of fun nonetheless. As for the Big Media Moment (more lam...
Harper raised, almost exclusively, issues that will hurt him in Québec. Martin was arrogant and hollow. Duceppe was strong, but perhaps unnecessarily confrontational. Layton rose above the fray, but still isn't using all the tools in his box on taxes. Overall, Duceppe wins on points -- given that this was his and Martin's show. Layton wins on the lower card -- clearly coming out above both Martin and Harper. Ultimately, Layton and the NDP were undercut, mainly, by their...
Stephen Harper just said that he would "respect a woman's right to abortion". Stephen Harper: Pro-Choice Warrior (9:42pm)
It's the big night -- for one quarter of Canadians. Let's get right to the leaders... Gilles Duceppe Your the Stephen Harper of french language debate. Lay back, enjoy yourself and let the others kill each trying to get at'cha. You'll pound away at the old hobby horse: the patronizing Liberals, thinking they can buy Québec's votes with promises of money and power. That's always good. Your certain to be pressed on how you could possibly support a regressive, anti-Québec C...
At the risk of dragging a horse on stage and literally beating it to death -- another word about ads. Of particular interest is a single frame of the most recent Liberal attack ad. The disarmingly entitled "Harper and the Conservatives", now appearing on television, seems to include a brief 'flash' between a shot of a handgun pointing into Canadian homes and a shot of a smog filled industrial town. Some claim that this 'flash' manipulates the viewer, creating the "subliminal ima...
The NDP began airing four new ads this week, closing in on the home stretch. The two spots above, "Ontarians Know" and "Affordable", were released Wednesday, along with another english language ad, " Both ". There are even ads in Mandarin and Cantonese . Previously on Canuckistan , I laid out several prospective NDP tactics for the final weeks of the campaign. I believe that these three elements could lead to an historic breakthrough: Paint the Liberals and Conservativ...
Slow news day. Check these out . Oh yeah, there was this .
A truly phenomenal political commercial , courtesy of the Liberal Party of Canada . Sweet Jesus, is this ad terrifying! Do not misunderstand. It's a sleek, professional spot. It has every component of a crushing body blow. It's delivery is high art. But this thirty second montage of reeling, staccato visuals leaves the viewer thinking that whoever conceived it must be as evil as the monster it describes: Fade in, bleery sunlight. VOICE: Stephen Harper would ha...
This morning, journalists asking questions about same-sex marriage were heckled by Stephen Harper supporters present at a Brampton, Ontario campaign stop. As Harper did little to shutdown the jeering crowd, he was -- himself -- eventually chastised by a frustrated scribes. You can see most of the press conference here , on the Thursday morning edition of Politics with Don Newman .
I've previously discussed how New Democrats can leverage public distrust of the Earnscliffe Party to bolster their own credibility. In the past two days, however, polls have shown a creeping Conservative advance -- even the possibility of a Conservative minority government. While Stephen Harper makes gains amongst centrists, fear of a Tory resurgence may send scared New Democrats back to the Grits. A change in equilibrium requires a change in stratagem. The NDP can still gain...
We'll have to see how they play, can't tell from here : "'Both Paul Martin and Stephen Harper want to bring Canada closer to George Bush,' the female voice-over says. 'But Jack Layton thinks we can be good neighbours while still maintaining our values and independence...'" "'Both Paul Martin and Stephen Harper want Canada to have more private health care,' the voice-over says. 'Jack Layton believes in improving public health care with innovation, not privatization.'" ...
That's what I Iike to see: "Today I'm announcing a [tax] package of four practical steps that will help middle class and working families to make ends meet." "Unlike the other parties, we'll do it without breaking the bank or undermining healthcare, education or the environment -- and all within a balance budget." Jack Layton is reframing the central question of this election. What kind of change do Canadians want: the Conservatives, or just not the Liberals? While t...
Originally shot for This Hour Has 22 Minutes , this hilarious Ed Broadbent video was never aired: Real Video » Quicktime » Windows Media » The producers of 22 Minutes felt it was too 'pro-Ed'.
Good God : "Conservative values are Canadian values." This from the man who said that a "silent majority" of Canadians supported the War in Iraq. BTW -- the Conservative platform includes $58 billion in spending and $29 billion for the contingency debt reduction fund. This brings the total platform cost to $87 billion, not just fifty eight. Stephen Harper admitted last week that some of his promises, like aircraft carriers, can't be paid for within his own spending es...
In honour of Paul Martin's jarring leftward turn , I'm revisiting... Hypothetical NDP Ads: Paul Martin's platform cries out for the shamelessly thievery of one of Ralph Nader best ideas -- the Mastercard political commercial: Smiling pictures of a young, circa 1993, Paul Martin. VOICE OVER & CHYRON: Eliminate the GST, 1993 Red Book: $28 billion. Smiling pictures of a young, circa 1997, Paul Martin. VOICE OVER & CHYRON: Universal Child Care, 1997 Red Book: $5 ...