Tuesday, March 03, 2009

"I'm Trembling In My Shoes, I'm Quaking"

Anybody worried about a "redux", or being bullied by big bad Harper should check out this masterful response (h/t Jeff):



Ignatieff seems to have a good grasp of the public mood, a real tone of non-partisanship that will serve him well. Admitting that the budget was a hard swallow, a candor and seriousness that elevates Ignatieff. I absolutely loved the laughter, in response to the Harper threats. Confidence is everything and the tone translates to make the Prime Minister look anything but, perfect.

I'm glad to see Ignatieff pushing back, because Harper is bluffing as sure as I'm standing here. That Ignatieff calls Harper out, in a very reasonable fashion, simply an issue of accountability- who could possibly have a problem with that, nevermind forcing an election?

Three minutes in time, but it pretty much encapsulates why this guy has the combination of stature and self assurance to ultimately make the Conservatives "quake".

12 comments:

WesternGrit said...

They're quaking already...

Frankly Canadian said...

I agree, this is the type of strong and confident rebuttal that is needed to put an end to, or at least a slowing down of the extreme partisan games played by the conservatives. I'm sure if these type of scrums with Mr. Ignatieff continue leaving Harper looking like the narrow minded school yard blockhead bully that he is, the Liberal party will rapidly climb in the poles. Those Conservative war room strategist will be reeling for the next best way to get Harper back to what he does best, campaigning!

Anonymous said...

This is a truly stand up and applaud type response, and that's tough for a natural cynic like myself ;).

Seriously, though, it is an absolute perfect response and counter-point to Harper's petty, stomping his feet, "I'm the smartest person in the room" attitude.

Well done.

penlan said...

Ignatieff is excellent in this scrum. But I expect Harper to come out with attack ads at some point. He & his thugs can also lie in HoC & face no recriminations & these type of attacks do get reported in the media - free attack ads in a way.

The general public do not look beyond the headline & the sound bite & so attacks will & can take root. I hate it, wish it weren't so, but it's true.

Greg said...

The questions are, will Harper bend and if not will Iggy really bring him down? I suspect Harper will include it as part of his "onerous" reports for Iggy and Iggy will be "satisfied" and pass the budget. Harper will claim that was the plan all along and Iggy will pretend that the reports have meaning. The shadow puppet show continues.

RuralSandi said...

Well, if Ignatieff decides to bring him down - what will the NDP and BLOC do?

NDP have gotten away with blustering all the time because the onus is not on them and the BLOC are afraid of Ignatieff's positives in Quebec.

Could be interesting.

Anthony said...

ignatieff's numbers in Quebec are not high enough for the Bloc to throw their entire reputation out the window.

Marois is doing quite well in Quebec right now at the expense of Charest. This is due to the dog and pony show before the crash.

unless some Bloc MPs switch parties to save the Tories (I think you need 8) the Liberals removing confidence is a guaranteed election

Jerry Prager said...

He's certainly projecting a level of confidence Dion was unable to project, his policies however, suck, and I for one despair of the regressive direction he is taking the party. I look forward to the defeat of Harper but not to a restoration of right wing liberalism.
There is perhaps nothing in Canadian politics as distressing to me as the Liberal party when it begins parroting the corporatist ideology of CD Howe. The economic mess cannot be fixed by tinkering with corporate capitalism because it has become indistinguishable from gangster capitalist (except for the fact that its agenda is carried out by a Dilbert manageriat, who have just enough personal ethics to cover their own asses by doing as little as possible. The post-recession economy when it comes will be controlled by the masters of conscienceless business practices: global gangsters. Iggy doesn't seem to know that, which makes him next to useless, only the Greens have a post-corporatist vision, Dion glimpsed it: and the corporate media helped Harper destroy him. When the downturn ends, and the corporate control of the economy has been consolidated in fewer hands, Iggy will be there to serve them.

Sean S. said...

I'll probably never vote Liberal with Iggy as leader, but its good to see a Liberal leader treat Harper and his Con buddy's the way they should be treated, as petulant adolescents...I really like how he laughs at the Conservative bluster and his stance on the slush fund.

Of course, that is all well and good today, let's hope he keeps it up when it comes down to a confidence vote.

marie said...

I'll probably never vote Liberal with Iggy as leader, but its good to see a Liberal leader treat Harper and his Con buddy's the way they should be treated, as petulant adolescents...I really like how he laughs at the Conservative bluster and his stance on the slush fund.

Sean, I would vote for the devil himself if that would work to get rid of the parasite we know have as PM. Iggy is not my favorite choice either but hey man, if he can unseat that phony man out, I'll back him all the way. I think he will when it comes to a confident vote that he doesn't like.

Marie

Sean S. said...

ah, but I live in a riding where the Libs finished with < 8% of the vote...so I don't have to play the strategic voting game, thankfully.

marie said...

Sean, my riding didn't do well either but the Cons didn't win there either. The NDP did but I have to admit, the MP here does a pretty good job. My deleget didn't do much either but they will in time if they have any kind of support. No, I didn't vote for the NDP either as I wouldn't even think of voting for the NDp under Jack layton either.I've seen first hand how they operate. They are known as a party that pushes their members especially union ones to vote NDP.They are a party that is know to chase away business and hench, no jobs.