Sunday, March 27, 2011

Scare-Mongair

The press aboard the Conservative campaign plane apparently have christened it "Scare-Mongair", which is absolutely fitting. I don't know if the polls are moving, and frankly at this point that isn't top concern. What I am focused on is my perception that despite some talk of Harper "on offence", I see more evidence of pure defence. To support this thesis, look no further than the Prime Minister himself who seem strangely frazzled and hostile for a guy supposed flirting with electoral bliss. The body language is that of a person threatened, no air of cool confidence that normally exists with a clear front runner.

I believe the coalition question has taken a positive turn, from the Liberal perspective. Ignatieff has offered a clear stand, delivered with confident conviction, enough to force questions to the back burner, more lingering than "dogged" at the very least. Where questions remain, are at the feet of Harper, who hasn't fully explained his own historical record. Apologists argue 2004 is ancient history, but I would submit Harper himself has volunteered the rehash with his own relentless focus on these type of "arrangements". He is talking separatists, socialists, most seats wins, so it DEMANDS the re-visit, not even really a choice.

Ducepee is running around Quebec waving this letter, a touch of poetic irony for Conservatives who love to point at a less meaningful, and subsequently rebuffed, Ignatieff signature as the big "gotcha". I believe Duceppe will haunt Harper throughout this campaign. More importantly, Harper's unilateral decision to make this a big issue will demand some attention in a debate, wherein Duceppe will summarily destory Harper on this question. In addition, today Jack Layton has jumped into the debate, offering his recollections of Harper in 2004:
"What Mr. Harper was intending to do was absolutely crystal clear to me. He was attempting to become Prime Minister even though he had not received the most seats in the House. And, that letter was signed to illustrate such an option is legitimate in Canadian constitutional traditions. There is no question about it, I was in the meetings where this was discussed...

"Mr. Harper PROPOSED this letter, it was his proposal, signed by the other leaders"

Attempting to become Prime Minister, DESPITE not having the most seats, a clear, irrefutable example of naked hypocrisy, a practical epiphany that obliterates Harper's entire argument. Harper was prepared to do what he attacks now, we now have his two partners in full agreement, the letter as almost independent verifier. That Layton offers the letter was Harper's idea, just a delicious, bursting with flavour cherry.

Harper has nothing here, the facts contradict every single one of his tenets. Rather than Ignatieff being challenged on hypotheticals, here we have two clear cases, one man prepared to undo the election results, the other PASSED on his clearer than clear shot at becoming Prime Minister. Fair to say Ignatieff was strategic, he was, but the record is the record, and Harper's is an utter logical disaster now. Yes Scare-Mongair, when the facts aren't your friend, try to scare the shit out of them and hope nobody notices.

18 comments:

bigcitylib said...

I prefer the dark and brooding background to this one.

Next thing, you'll be trading your electric guitar for a flute or some damn thing. Don't got there, pal.

Steve V said...

LOL my friend!

Kirk said...

"I wasn't trying to bring the Martin government down. I wasn't even tabling a confidence motion," Harper said Sunday.

Said about the vote against the Throne Speech (a confidence measure) by the entire CPC along with the NDP and BQ.

Now will the media excuse this BS on a confidence vote or will they point out this blatant insanity on Harper's part?

How many lies will Harper be able to get away with this election?

That has yet to be seen.

Steve V said...

Layton said he wanted to become PM, he chose his words very carefully. Both parties agree Harper isn't telling the truth and any sense of fairness demands they expose this clear mischaracterization.

Morakon said...

This is a most unexpected and welcome turn of events. A very good start for the Liberals

ottlib said...

Yep, I bet the Conservatives are now wishing they had kept the coalition Djinni in the bottle.

What was supposed to put Mr. Ignatieff on the spot from the outset is actually making him look rather good.

Oops.

As an added bonus it is Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Layton who are doing Mr. Ignatieff's work for him.

Steve V said...

"This is a most unexpected and welcome turn of events. A very good start for the Liberals"

I believe that an objectively fair comment.

Oxford County Liberals said...

Off-topic.. this is my first look at the new site format. I like.

Steve V said...

Thanks Scott :)

Dame said...

Have you seen the Globe saturday editorial> Let’s not make Ignatieff a personal issue... wow that is some change in the optic .. everything changes rapidly and in our favor.

Jerry Prager said...

Harper put himself on the wrong side of history: the more he realizes he's losing it, the more pathetic he will become: reaping and sowing, he bore false witness against his brother and will reap the whirlwind.

Kris said...

Here's a typical Harper Press conference, given what we've seen so far ---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIRmMxtvooQ

Steve V said...

Scanning headlines tonight, I see "haunt", "backfire", it's not going according to plan at all.

Jerry Prager said...

250,000 "Uncut" protesters in London England the day he went to the GG, this whole right wing global shakedown is starting to come apart at the seams, and Harper knows it; when he goes off the rails, the whole party is going to go off the rails with him, because the PMO is the party.

Shiner said...

Let's not get too excited. While we might laugh at Harper's inept press conferences, they're done for a reason. The CPC is again being very specific with their targeting. While we might not buy into the hyperbole, it's meant for Canadians with a different experience than, I assume, most of us. At this point my worry is that the real election is taking place off of the front pages.

Shiner said...

As I was saying...

Liberal Justice said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tof KW said...

Well Harper can yell "coalition! coalition! coalition!" 'til the cows come home. But if his whole campaign is built around this, and that's all he's got to run on until election day - he's not going to like the results. This is too much like Paul Martin flogging the 'secret agenda' to glaze over ethics issues back in 2006, and we all know how that ended.

BTW Steve, I know I'm in the minority but I liked the old black background. I was going to launch a subversive campaign to try and bring it back over the weekend, but it seems too many like the new look. Oh well :)