tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post1108531294551802260..comments2023-10-22T09:18:16.885-04:00Comments on Far and Wide: Smart Strategy?Steve Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-44525284955119124382009-03-12T02:27:00.000-04:002009-03-12T02:27:00.000-04:00Harper's new strategy flies in the face of what we...Harper's new strategy flies in the face of what we can assess as his natural stance -- downplaying with the payoff being 'surprisingly better results'... And how did he deal with this whole mess when it first hit the fan? He sounded uncomfortable, alarmed and less than a cheerleader. Will people buy this sudden 160 turn? It likely depends upon how the media helps him sell it - will they conveniently forget about all the past stuff, from no deficits, we'd have already had a recession, his 'a depression' declaration, his non-fiscal update, and that ctv interview where he sounded waylaid and 'concerned', not the least bit optimistic.<BR/>Right now, I'd have to give his strategy passing grade, because the images I'm seeing in the media is Liberals and NdPers talking negative (not necessarily about the economy, more so about the CONs, but you know the discerning viewer/reader isn't always picking up that difference) while Harper and Flaherty are being bullish on Canada. The same team that said they wouldn't recommend people invest in Ontario. What a weird world we live in...burlivespipehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18048415779214466831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-68394642496729372162009-03-11T12:56:00.000-04:002009-03-11T12:56:00.000-04:00Optimism is more risky, I agree. Harper can't help...Optimism is more risky, I agree. Harper can't help himself, though. He must continue to campaign. As the incumbent, campaigning necessitates painting a rosy picture. <BR/><BR/>If things go south, he can just say he didn't think it would be prudent for a PM to badmouth his own country's economy when the confidence of investors was crucial to minimizing the effects of the downturn. <BR/><BR/>I do agree that his rosy outlook, if proven wrong, will hurt him. He can blame the international economy when things go bad and take credit when things go good. <BR/><BR/>JBJimBobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04603665575714484326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-23714954580314455222009-03-11T12:15:00.000-04:002009-03-11T12:15:00.000-04:00Keep in mind that Harper hopes to have another fee...Keep in mind that Harper hopes to have another feel-good election long before the true economic results are in. Then he hopes to have a majority and more four years to gloss over his lies.<BR/><BR/>Else, he retires and doesn't give a crap about the rest of us.Mark Richard Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16331995640397477486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-91933651853271221552009-03-11T12:13:00.000-04:002009-03-11T12:13:00.000-04:00There is a downside, no matter what Harper says no...There is a downside, no matter what Harper says now. My main point, if you use foresight and think ahead, is it better to have misread the extent or to have set expectations low? If you conclude Harper can't win now, then I see more danger in being optimistic, because that will present a detached frame. If I'm a Liberal strategist, I have yesterday's speech held in a special file, under "for future reference".Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-88324414507565117352009-03-11T12:10:00.000-04:002009-03-11T12:10:00.000-04:00Whooee! Well, Steve, I reckon there's a Catch-22 a...Whooee! Well, Steve, I reckon there's a Catch-22 at work here. You've made the case against optimism. The case for pessimism isn't all that strong, though. As you say, low expectations are easily met. Public pessimism by a PM could have a negative impact of its own. Cheerleading may help bolster confidence and investment.<BR/><BR/>I don't think Harper thinks about anything other than what his statements will do to help him and his party. He has been in constant campaign mode since before he took office in 2006. This is more of the same rosy campaign talk. That's all he's got.<BR/><BR/>JBJimBobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04603665575714484326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-17487557467487978102009-03-11T11:36:00.000-04:002009-03-11T11:36:00.000-04:00That should have been "senators," not "seniors," t...That should have been "senators," not "seniors," though most of them are seniors ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-38412227336306930562009-03-11T11:35:00.000-04:002009-03-11T11:35:00.000-04:00Good post, Steve.Regarding Obama, the other blindi...Good post, Steve.<BR/><BR/>Regarding Obama, the other blindingly obvious fact is Obama didn't spend most of last year and particularly last autumn talking about how sound the economy was and touting the prudent, omniscient decisions he had made to ensure all was well.<BR/><BR/>I seem to recall such talk was a hallmark of Harper's re-election campaign. Worse yet for Harper, it wasn't just folks like you and me who noticed it. A voting public - albeit with lower numbers than normal - were also engaged. It's not so easy to erase those messages as it has been on other topics in which Harper has flip flopped later on.<BR/><BR/>Also I'm watching Obama speak as I type this and I'm so struck yet again that even when he is outlining his important points on getting funding approved in Congress, he magnanimously recognizes the Congressional processes and the important role of individual seniors.<BR/><BR/>Hard to imagine alien petulant Harper offering even a casual recognition that he understands the role of the opposition to ensure accountability.<BR/><BR/>You just can't take a Bushism of "for or against us" and turn it into an Obama speech.<BR/><BR/>I'm always just struck at how small a man Harper really is at his core. He blusters. He doesn't lead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com