Ruby Dhalla assistant's purse stolen in India

[Michael Bluth]

Actually you called me one, but I was referring hypothetically to how the CPC might react to such characters making them look bad. If you took it personal, that was purely your own conjecture.

I didn't call you anything. If you took it personal, that was purely your own conjecture.

Seems the CPC, if Bluth's assertion were true, would love to have the Rubster, all that Law and Order and keeping the youth in line and all........

That's the CPC of the left's *scary* *scary* *scary* wet dreams. Not the real CPC sorry about that.

[Oleg Bach]

Might be a reason why Obama's message has gotten a good reception in the U.S. he has appealed to people who are interested in what brings people together rather than what tears them apart. Clinton has to tread lightly in criticism of that message while reinforcing a message that she is best suited to the job. Being associated with a negative campaign for any of the leading Democrats could be the end of the run for the candidacy.

I have no idea what will happen with the Republicans. Romney has been the recipient of a lot of attacks but he no longer has the momentum. We are going to see a lot more on McCain. You have to wonder if the old attacks are going to reemerge on him in a round about way.

As for this thread, the title has been changed to an accurate statement of what happened. I don't know that the Tory party would want to be linked to such a statement and would probably take action if they knew about it.

It use to be that all you had to say how bad the other guy was and you could take the higher ground by default. Negative attacks are a mild form of slander. With human nature if a person does 99 good things, and one bad thing - only the bad is remembered. BUT - people are so slandered daily in their personal lives - that they have become hyper vigilant in that area and are more educated because of personal experience. Bad mouthing in an honourless society is now common place. As people become more aware of the workings of deception...they are getting stonger when it comes to dealing with evil...quote "Young men, you are strong for you have mastered evil". One must understand what chaos and evil are and not fear them...seems that there is an awakening taking place and evil is slowly falling into it's place as an inferiour and weaker force - and rightfully so. Never take it for granted that you can fool all the people all the time.

[jdobbin]

Seems the CPC, if Bluth's assertion were true, would love to have the Rubster, all that Law and Order and keeping the youth in line and all........

I think if the Conservatives knew that a thread title like this was written by one of their members, they would have revoked that person's membership.

[BubberMiley]

Might be a reason why Obama's message has gotten a good reception in the U.S. he has appealed to people who are interested in what brings people together rather than what tears them apart.

But even today, Obama's campaign co-chair, Jesse Jackson Jr., was questioning why Hillary Clinton would cry for the direction of her campaign but not necessarily for the victims of Katrina. Making wild, negative suppositions about a candidate's character might have worked as a political tactic a few years ago, but the pendulum has swung and I don't think those kinds of politics generate support anymore.

So if Obama, who is openly running on a new, positive brand of politics, can't even keep his co-chair from engaging in the same old negativity, how can he keep the thousands of eager fratboys online right now, all caught up in Obamania, from blogging and posting and phoning and facebooking disrespectful drivel about Hillary, creating an indistinguishable cloud of political venom?

[Michael Bluth]

I think if the Conservatives knew that a thread title like this was written by one of their members, they would have revoked that person's membership.

Yes, definitely. www.conservative.ca Feel free to report me.

Which reminds me I better renew my membership for 2008.

Something tells me the war room has filed Dhalla's comments away for use on the campaign trail. In fact, they have.

[BubberMiley]

Something tells me the war room has filed Dhalla's comments away for use on the campaign trail. In fact, they have.

I can't wait.

[jdobbin]

But even today, Obama's campaign co-chair, Jesse Jackson Jr., was questioning why Hillary Clinton would cry for the direction of her campaign but not necessarily for the victims of Katrina. Making wild, negative suppositions about a candidate's character might have worked as a political tactic a few years ago, but the pendulum has swung and I don't think those kinds of politics generate support anymore.

So if Obama, who is openly running on a new, positive brand of politics, can't even keep his co-chair from engaging in the same old negativity, how can he keep the thousands of eager fratboys online right now, all caught up in Obamania, from blogging and posting and phoning and facebooking disrespectful drivel about Hillary, creating an indistinguishable cloud of political venom?

I think that Obama's people have to tread just as lightly. I think there was a reaction in New Hampshire in regards to some of the provocative headlines about Clinton and many women made a decision that day in regards to it.

Politics will always have an ugly side. Obama's strength partly comes from the fact that he doesn't seem as divisive. He would do well to try and live up to that reputation. Clinton's strengths are also her weaknesses. She has to continue to put a human face on her candidacy and to appear "presidential" in her demeanor. As for Edwards, he keeps holding on in part because he is affable and capable.

The worst thing these three could do is derail their campaigns by being linked to an extremely negative campaign.

As it relates to Canadian politics, a poll came out today that said that partisanship in the House of Commons is turning off the Canadian public. I think the negative attacks on both sides has caused a slide in popularity of the leaders.

Edited January 11, 2008 by jdobbin

[capricorn]

But even today, Obama's campaign co-chair, Jesse Jackson Jr., was questioning why Hillary Clinton would cry for the direction of her campaign but not necessarily for the victims of Katrina. Making wild, negative suppositions about a candidate's character might have worked as a political tactic a few years ago, but the pendulum has swung and I don't think those kinds of politics generate support anymore.

So if Obama, who is openly running on a new, positive brand of politics, can't even keep his co-chair from engaging in the same old negativity, how can he keep the thousands of eager fratboys online right now, all caught up in Obamania, from blogging and posting and phoning and facebooking disrespectful drivel about Hillary, creating an indistinguishable cloud of political venom?

Interesting comments BM. Maybe you should repost them is the US politics forum.

[BubberMiley]

Interesting comments BM. Maybe you should repost them is the US politics forum.

I spoke of Obama because dobbin mentioned him and he's the most obvious example of new-style positive politics. But I think the broader topic of the increased sensitivity to baseless smears crosses borders and is just as relevant in Canada, even though Canadian politics never sunk as low as in the U.S. (cue bushcheney)

And the original thread title related to the topic directly.

[jdobbin]

I spoke of Obama because dobbin mentioned him and he's the most obvious example of new-style positive politics. But I think the broader topic of the increased sensitivity to baseless smears crosses borders and is just as relevant in Canada, even though Canadian politics never sunk as low as in the U.S. (cue bushcheney)

And the original thread title related to the topic directly.

I agree that Obama represents a change and we'll see if he can continue to be a candidate that appears to be reaching out.

It is interesting that Huckabee in the debates mentioned why someone like Obama was appealing and said that the Republicans needed to do the same thing. Huckabee though as being partly responsible for shaping his campaign to be about who is the real Christian candidate in the election. Subsequently, more people have a problem with Mormons in high office than they did 10 years ago.

Harper's instinct to attack as he did today when he once again went after the Nuclear regulator strikes people as negative. It hurts him in the public eye as has been shown in the polls.

[jbg]

Yesterday, while Ruby Dhalla was touring India, her purse was stolen by two children. Ages 11 and 9.

The Liberal MPs first response was outrageously callous:

She eventually changed her tune. But it appears to be a case of too little too late.

I'm quite frankly shocked. I thought liberals were soft-hearted mushy types and cared about people on the down and out.

[jbg]

The worst thing these three could do is derail their campaigns by being linked to an extremely negative campaign.

The three Democrats are doing a fantastic job ensuring another 4-8 years of GOP rule.

[Visionseeker]

The three Democrats are doing a fantastic job ensuring another 4-8 years of GOP rule.

Bawhahahaha!

And which GOP candidate to you see capturing the the hearts and minds of the masses?

[jdobbin]

And which GOP candidate to you see capturing the the hearts and minds of the masses?

The predictions of some people on this board in regards to the Democrats losing the mid-terms must have been forgotten.

It is still early in the U.S. campaign but there is considerable weight of eight years of Republican rule in the Oval Office holding up Republican candidates.

Certainly, when I look at the Canadian scene, there hasn't been anything to convince me yet that the Tories won't be re-elected. However, nothing I have seen thus far indicates it will be a majority either.

[Visionseeker]

Yes, definitely. www.conservative.ca Feel free to report me.

Which reminds me I better renew my membership for 2008.

Something tells me the war room has filed Dhalla's comments away for use on the campaign trail. In fact, they have.

No doubt they have. And when they use them (in the abused context that angry white males are so good at obviously perverting) they will lose female converts.

You go with that. Then we'll all have a DR. Phil moment afterwards and ask : "how's that working for ya?"

[Visionseeker]

The predictions of some people on this board in regards to the Democrats losing the mid-terms must have been forgotten.

It is still early in the U.S. campaign but there is considerable weight of eight years of Republican rule in the Oval Office holding up Republican candidates.

Certainly, when I look at the Canadian scene, there hasn't been anything to convince me yet that the Tories won't be re-elected. However, nothing I have seen thus far indicates it will be a majority either.

Tories fear Obama, and rightly so. Start selling people on vision, communitarian commitment and denounce partisanship and the Tories are left in that ugly designation of fundamentalist dinosaurs.

With the Republicans done like dinner, Clinton is the salvation of the Conservative Party.

[capricorn]

I spoke of Obama because dobbin mentioned him and he's the most obvious example of new-style positive politics.

I see that. But perhaps Obama does not have to resort to gutter politics because he has been set up by the media as akin to the "second coming" so to speak. More and more, Obama's campaign reminds me of when Pierre Trudeau came on the scene. I don't recall Trudeau having to attack his opponents to rise to the top. His charisma was a big factor, same as Obama.

But I think the broader topic of the increased sensitivity to baseless smears crosses borders and is just as relevant in Canada, even though Canadian politics never sunk as low as in the U.S. (cue bushcheney)

Speaking strictly of the electoral process, how can we compare our systems? Ours is a compressed version of theirs. We do it in a 5 week campaign whereas their's can take up to one year. Perhaps that's why you see their system in a more negative light.

[jbg]

And this has what to do with Ruby Dhalla and her disregard of police brutality?

[capricorn]

And this has what to do with Ruby Dhalla and her disregard of police brutality?

C'mon jbg, you know us Canadians. It's the cold up here. Gets to us in the darndest ways.

[Rue]

Seems the CPC, if Bluth's assertion were true, would love to have the Rubster, all that Law and Order and keeping the youth in line and all........

Shakey I know the CPC is after me. But thanks for the heads up.

[Oleg Bach]

Shakey I know the CPC is after me. But thanks for the heads up.

I just hope that the purse theives "learned their lesson" - To bad we can not say that about the adults - say Conrad and Brian - apparently they did NOT learn their lesson..Before you can improve the behaviour of youth..You have to improve the behaviour of the adults. The approach we take makes no sense. We are hypocrites and users of children for political gain..Here is somethig that shows that our legislators and buisness community suffer the great disconnect from realtiy and attempt to portray themselves as civilized and benevolent - PERFECT EXAMPLE--- The term "Child Poverty" - it really pulls on the heart strings seeing we love puppies and babies and hate adults.

This Orwellian Lie really bugs me. There is no such thing as child poverty - children have parents. When the adults are poor - the children are poor! It should be called POVERTY...period! What are you going to do - send the infants a welfare check and send their parents to a shelter to later beg on the street? Maybe the infants can get themselves a nice car and drive about in luxury...This lady that snubbed children that are poor - will also abuse the adults that are poor ....she's just a rich lady who oringates from a poor nation - and as we know - in order to gain wealth in a poor nation, you have to be willing to beat children and their parents into submission - I don't like her.

[Michael Bluth]

And this has what to do with Ruby Dhalla and her disregard of police brutality?

Seems like the health and welfare of two Indian children is secondary to impotent attacks from the powerless who are supporters of Canada's former natural governing party.