Being Canada's favorite swing voter, it's sad to see that Mr. Harper has begun with a great big fib, caught so plainly by the Edmonton Sun:
...it’s Harper’s Conservatives who are likely to prove most adept at demonizing their opponents. For almost two years, the Tories have kept up a barrage of negative radio and television ads against Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, depicting him as weak, indecisive, "not a leader," and "not worth the risk." Most ads have been accompanied by an unflattering photo of Dion shrugging his shoulders — a gesture that makes him look clueless and ineffectual...Nevertheless, Harper now says he expects to be the victim of "a very nasty kind of personal-attack campaign."
Seems to be a case of he who lives by the sword dying by the sword...unless he who lives by the sword also beats off and beats up he who was trying to kill off he who lives by the sword. Regardless, be not fooled. Dion has endured an embarrassment of slander through the days of the last government and has actually come out a teensy-weensy bit better off for it, most Canadians actually thinking the Tory tactic was punkish if not a little thugish.
Whether Dion can leverage something off of his two years of rope-a-dope is an entirely different matter.
Other issues for Day 2: There is more going on out there today like:
- Harper is short three candidates.
- The "throw the bums out" factor.
- Was there ever an election where "majority" was a dirty word?
- I want an "UNDECIDED!" lawn sign.
More later if there is more later.
Comments
Paul of Kingston - September 8, 2008 9:38 am
Somebody help me out here. Steve-O, aided and abetted by the GG, breaks the law of the land and calls an early election on the strength of the assertion that the minority situation has made parliament ineefective. But now grants that he is not likely able to gain a majority as a result of the election? And so, therefore, not likely to change much of anything on the hill?
sean - September 8, 2008 10:12 am
I will take a wild gues here and say that apres election, Dion will stay in for one more session and Harper will hang on just to save face for 6 months, then leave for "personal" reasons. The personal reasons will be to go work for big oil.
sean - September 8, 2008 10:13 am
Or Tim Horton's...
Renee - September 8, 2008 11:41 am
Years and years ago I was president and CEO of the NAP party - None of the Above Party, other name "Nota Party". Our only plank was that, if elected, we would immediately resign and force another election, but that none of the people who ran last time in ridings where we won were allowed to run again. I still think it's brilliant, but Elections Canada didn't agree....
Matthew Fletcher - September 8, 2008 10:57 pm
Paul,
To be grudgingly fair to Harper, he couldn't really break the law, because it wasn't really a law to begin with - it was really just a fake. Part of me actually likes that he disregarded the "spirit" of his "law" because it simultaneously proves what a facade it was and the resiliency of our unwritten constitution.
Sean,
That is a pretty wild guess. I don't think Harper is going anywhere; even if he loses, I think he will try and remain leader, which I think he could manage. That is also something I would like to see. We haven't had a party leader get a second chance at an election after losing one in some time. For the same reason, I think the Liberals should give Dion a second chance if he loses this one - but I know you aren't in favour of that.
Renee,
That's a fabulous party platform. Did elections Canada actually prevent you from registering because of your stated principle? That doesn't seem legal?
Josh - September 9, 2008 12:42 am
If as probably will happen, Harper returns with another minority, I expect we'll have another election some time in the new year.
sean - September 9, 2008 9:53 am
Right now, for fun and to torment my conservadroid neighbors, I am arranging for shipment of a really sweet Bloc Quebecois sign for my lawn via a friend in Montreal. I have decided to take my fight for anarchy in the face of boredom up a notch.