Conservative attack ads

Radsickle · May 18, 2009

These ads will probably not play well in parts of Canada's sophisticated, expresso drinking three urban centres. But they weren't designed to work in these places.
So, am I surprised that an opinion writer for the Toronto G&M criticizes these attack ads, or even argues that that the ads are misdirected? No.

This article merely reminds me how some opinion writers are out of touch with the rest of the country.

The Globe and Mail isn't the `Toronto' Paper. Canada's Newspaper

And it's spelled `espresso' no matter where you're from.

scorpio · May 18, 2009

And Canadians have a right to know if Harper knew he was breaking the law with the in and out funding during the previous election.

Or the bribe to Cadman.

Radsickle · May 18, 2009

The accidental tourist will never be PM. As soon as he leaves politics he'll be on a plane back to the USA. Accidental tourist, nothing more.

Geeze, Mr. Halton Hills, I can tell you like the phrase but... I bet you didn't read the book! Or does Iggy also write travel guides?

The Accidental Tourist

Edited May 18, 2009 by Radsickle

waldo · May 19, 2009

here yee! here yee!

calling all those feeling... and recognizing their own disconnect from the Harper Conservatives. Canada lacks a true voice from the right!

you're welcome :lol:

WIP · May 19, 2009

I was just going to ignore this topic, but I am getting more and more fed up everyday with Harper's Republican-style politics! Right now, it's beginning to look like the latest GM/CAW talks are meaningless, since they'll be going out of business in a couple of years anyway.....and what is Harper doing? Running attack ads again on the leader of the Liberal Party!

This is the guy who promised regular elections every four years. Not only did he lie about that promise, he is doing despicable, dirty campaign tactics that have never been seen before in Canadian politics. And it's not like he couldn't find something else to occupy his time, rather than get a majority government. With all of the economic problems that need attention, all Harper is concerned about his politics! Why doesn't he appoint someone to run the government while he devotes all of his time to planning election strategies?

Shakeyhands · May 19, 2009

Why doesn't he appoint someone to run the government while he devotes all of his time to planning election strategies?

Thats a great idea! I'm pretty sure that this is going to happen in the late fall. No worries, we'll put someone in there that IS interested in running the government not just in juvenile attack ads.

Bryan · May 19, 2009

I was just going to ignore this topic, but I am getting more and more fed up everyday with Harper's Republican-style politics! Right now, it's beginning to look like the latest GM/CAW talks are meaningless, since they'll be going out of business in a couple of years anyway.....and what is Harper doing? Running attack ads again on the leader of the Liberal Party!
This is the guy who promised regular elections every four years. Not only did he lie about that promise, he is doing despicable, dirty campaign tactics that have never been seen before in Canadian politics. And it's not like he couldn't find something else to occupy his time, rather than get a majority government. With all of the economic problems that need attention, all Harper is concerned about his politics! Why doesn't he appoint someone to run the government while he devotes all of his time to planning election strategies?

Ignatieff is the one who is threatening to trigger an election if he doesn't get his way on EI reform. With that threat on the table, it most certainly IS time to define your opponent before he has a chance to do so. The ads have been ready to run for a long time, they are in no way taking away from the business of running the country, a job he's been doing remarkably well. The Liberals invented dirty campaign tactics. These ads are tame compared to some of the crap the Liberals have done in the past.

Smallc · May 19, 2009

Ignatieff is the one who is threatening to trigger an election if he doesn't get his way on EI reform.

No see, the majority of our parliamentarians want EI reform...that means that they will either get it or we'll have an election (Dobbin brings up a good point...we'll have an election...if it's a matter of confidence). Conservatives seem to have problems respecting the will of Parliament.

Edited May 19, 2009 by Smallc

jdobbin · May 19, 2009

Ignatieff is the one who is threatening to trigger an election if he doesn't get his way on EI reform.

There is nothing that says that Harper has to make the issue a confidence measure. It isn't a money bill.

daniel · May 19, 2009

Ignatieff is the one who is threatening to trigger an election...

How can you be so sure Harper won't want to call another election?

Bryan · May 19, 2009

No see, the majority of our parliamentarians want EI reform...that means that they will either get it or we'll have an election (Dobbin brings up a good point...we'll have an election...if it's a matter of confidence). Conservatives seem to have problems respecting the will of Parliament.

Parliament seems to have trouble respecting the will of the people, and the authority of the elected government. If they want to play games instead of letting the government govern, it will be their loss, AGAIN.

jdobbin · May 19, 2009

Parliament seems to have trouble respecting the will of the people, and the authority of the elected government. If they want to play games instead of letting the government govern, it will be their loss, AGAIN.

I think you misunderstand how our system works. As Harper has said in the past, it is not the job of the Opposition to endorse or vote for all government measures. If Harper wishes to make EI a confidence measure, we go to an election. He doesn't have to do this. It is a choice since it isn't a money bill.

waldo · May 19, 2009

Parliament seems to have trouble respecting the will of the people, and the authority of the elected government. If they want to play games instead of letting the government govern, it will be their loss, AGAIN.

exactly what "authority" does this minority Harper Conservative government have... exactly?

Topaz · May 19, 2009

I was just going to ignore this topic, but I am getting more and more fed up everyday with Harper's Republican-style politics! Right now, it's beginning to look like the latest GM/CAW talks are meaningless, since they'll be going out of business in a couple of years anyway.....and what is Harper doing? Running attack ads again on the leader of the Liberal Party!
This is the guy who promised regular elections every four years. Not only did he lie about that promise, he is doing despicable, dirty campaign tactics that have never been seen before in Canadian politics. And it's not like he couldn't find something else to occupy his time, rather than get a majority government. With all of the economic problems that need attention, all Harper is concerned about his politics! Why doesn't he appoint someone to run the government while he devotes all of his time to planning election strategies?

GM/CAW talks are meaningless because the Canadians andUS government are the ones asking too much from the union. They get an agreement with GM then the government comes along and says that not good enough. Why? Read the following and you may see the answer. The US government will take over GM themselves, so will the Feds here in Canada take over GM Canada?? Loaning money is one thing but owning it is another. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090519/...s_gm_bankruptcy

ToadBrother · May 19, 2009

How can you be so sure Harper won't want to call another election?

I guess it depends on whether you think he's suicidal or not. Calling an election right now has the distinct possibility of seeing the Conservatives replaced. The numbers aren't there yet for a Liberal majority, but if Harper doesn't maintain at least the status quo, he'll be party leader for about the same amount of time it takes a hammer to fall five feet. I would say that if he actually pushed the election button right now, it's quite possible, the knives might be out for him anyways.

Smallc · May 19, 2009

Parliament seems to have trouble respecting the will of the people, and the authority of the elected government.

We don't elect governments in Canada.

ToadBrother · May 19, 2009

exactly what "authority" does this minority Harper Conservative government have... exactly?

Other than being Her Majesty's Government? Seems, technically, the Conservative government has a good deal of authority. It still controls a lot of the goings-on in Parliament, it's just that its existence is based solely on how little confidence the Opposition parties have in bettering their electoral success. In actuality, the Conservatives' fate right now rests as much on how shy the Bloc is.

waldo · May 20, 2009

Parliament seems to have trouble respecting the will of the people, and the authority of the elected government. If they want to play games instead of letting the government govern, it will be their loss, AGAIN.

exactly what "authority" does this minority Harper Conservative government have... exactly?

Other than being Her Majesty's Government? Seems, technically, the Conservative government has a good deal of authority. It still controls a lot of the goings-on in Parliament, it's just that its existence is based solely on how little confidence the Opposition parties have in bettering their electoral success. In actuality, the Conservatives' fate right now rests as much on how shy the Bloc is.

in the arrogant context presented… the comment “letting the government govern”, aligns with the ubiquitous theme of the minority Harper Conservative government presumptively – and incorrectly - governing as if it actually had a majority. The stated, “respecting the will of the people” is something quite foreign to this minority Harper Conservative government… as it continually disrespects the will of the overwhelming majority of people that did not vote for it… disrespect in the form of not properly governing as a minority government.

WIP · May 20, 2009

Ignatieff is the one who is threatening to trigger an election if he doesn't get his way on EI reform.

Ignatieff wouldn't even be the Liberal leader if it wasn't for the fact that Stephen Harper made a pre-emptive move last year to try to destroy the Liberal Party and become a virtual dictator. Harper was the one who forced the Liberals to hurry in with a new leader -- so this is Stephen Harper's own Frankenstein monster to deal with!

With that threat on the table, it most certainly IS time to define your opponent before he has a chance to do so.

Is there a precedent for this type of out-of-season campaigning? Maybe it's just the sheer volume of ads, but until they ran attack ads on Dion, I can't recall ever seeing this sort of thing done before in Canadian politics when there was no election on the horizon!

The ads have been ready to run for a long time, they are in no way taking away from the business of running the country, a job he's been doing remarkably well.

What part of the country are you living in?

The Liberals invented dirty campaign tactics. These ads are tame compared to some of the crap the Liberals have done in the past.

Were they run during election campaigns, or did they ever have the kind of corporate donations that the Conservatives are rolling in to launch ad campaigns long before the election is called? And, I still haven't forgot that promise of regular elections!

Jerry J. Fortin · May 20, 2009

The harsh reality is that this kind of politics does work to a small degree. In this nation each little degree is fought for. We are as politically diverse as is our heritage, we come from all points of the compass in more ways than one. I wouldn't want it any other way. You see I live in Alberta where we have political dynasties that last for decades.

waldo · May 20, 2009

oh crikey - how low will these Conservatives stoop! :lol:

DrGreenthumb · May 20, 2009

oh crikey - how low will these Conservatives stoop!

They will stoop low enough to run these idotic attack ads on YTV during children's programming.

capricorn · May 20, 2009

Were they run during election campaigns, or did they ever have the kind of corporate donations that the Conservatives are rolling in to launch ad campaigns long before the election is called?

WIP what corporate donations are you talking about? The Conservative party typically "rolls in" small donations from thousands of donors. Chretien's parting gift to the Liberals was legislation capping donations to $1,000. Proof that the Liberals survived mainly on large individual, corporate and union donations is that the Liberals' fundraising dried out once the legislation came into effect.

But the most significant overhaul came in 2003, with Bill C-24, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act (Political Financing), also introduced by Chrétien. Prior to this, political contributions could be made by individuals, corporations, unions and other organizations, Canadian or not, a point which was widely criticized. In the past, Canada's election law had focused more on spending limits, rather than who gave what. Bill C-24, in effect, restricted contributions to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with some minor exceptions, and enforced a limit on the amounts given.
Once the bill came into effect in January 2004, corporations and unions could only give no more than $1,000 annually, with adjustments for inflation.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cdngover...tributions.html

The fact is, the Conservative Party can afford to run ads anytime it wants because of its healthy bank account that keeps getting replenished by supporters.

Alta4ever · May 20, 2009

They will stoop low enough to run these idotic attack ads on YTV during children's programming.

So you have proof, that conservatives bought ad time on YTV?

capricorn · May 20, 2009

The ads have been ready to run for a long time, they are in no way taking away from the business of running the country, a job he's been doing remarkably well.

This is a good point. The ads are paid for and run by the Conservative Party of Canada. This in no way detracts from the government doing its job of managing the country. I would add that in spite of the opposition's continual bluster threatening to bring down the government, they appear quite willing to let the Conservatives continue to hold power.