Eaton's, Coke & Liberals

[August1991]

Federal Liberals talk about "brand names" and how the Liberal brand name will make them rich, get them elected, must be defended. Federal Liberals are the "Natural Governing Party" like Coke is "The Real Thing".

Then agian, what happened to Eaton's? Is the federal Liberal brand name like Eaton's, or Coke?

[Michael Hardner]

This isn't a new thing, Auguste. LBJ was a pioneer using Mad Men to out-message (out-lie) his opponent.

The Liberals don't talk about winning elections making them rich, at least not in the open.

[August1991]

This isn't a new thing, Auguste. LBJ was a pioneer using Mad Men to out-message (out-lie) his opponent.

The Liberals don't talk about winning elections making them rich, at least not in the open.

Michael, some people believe that the Liberal Party of Canada will be with us forever. Indeed, it is usually Liberals themselves that believe the LPC eternal.

My point in the OP was merely to note that in 1959, for example, Eaton's seemed a fixture of Canadian society just as Coca-Cola seems to be part of life around the world. Well, 50 years later, Eaton's is no more but Coke endures.

Here's another example. The tallest building in Manhattan in 1913 was the Woolworth building reflecting the fact that Woolworth's was the largest retail chain in America. I have no doubt that Walmart will meet a similar long term fate. Such is the retail business.

So, is the federal Liberal Party more like a retail chain or a soft drink? Here's Paul Wells opinion:

As I’ve pointed out before in a column, Michael Ignatieff is the fourth Liberal leader since Jean Chrétien retired in 2003: that’s four in six years (if you count Bill Graham, and you should, because he was interim leader for about as long as Ignatieff has been leader). Before that, how long did the Liberals take to go through four leaders? Thirty-five years, from Trudeau to Chrétien (counting Herb Gray). And before that? Eighty-one years, from Wilfrid Laurier to Lester Pearson. So the rate of churn, if we can put it that way, at the top of the Liberal party has accelerated beyond anything in its history.

Link

[Visionseeker]

Michael, some people believe that the Liberal Party of Canada will be with us forever. Indeed, it is usually Liberals themselves that believe the LPC eternal.

My point in the OP was merely to note that in 1959, for example, Eaton's seemed a fixture of Canadian society just as Coca-Cola seems to be part of life around the world. Well, 50 years later, Eaton's is no more but Coke endures.

Here's another example. The tallest building in Manhattan in 1913 was the Woolworth building reflecting the fact that Woolworth's was the largest retail chain in America. I have no doubt that Walmart will meet a similar long term fate. Such is the retail business.

So, is the federal Liberal Party more like a retail chain or a soft drink? Here's Paul Wells opinion:Link

The Liberals have been the "natural govern party" because they adapt. Their leadership changes are a manifestation of this inherent need to capture the imagination of the electorate. But changing leaders in and of itself is not enough; they have to supply a direction in which the country agrees to move.

August, you are more apt to die before the LPC ever does. As a centrist party, it has too much room to maneuver to marginalize itself.

[Molly]

The comparable brand that should be added to the list is 'conservative'. That name all but blinked out of existence, and then was resurrected on a different product, giving that product a major, major boost.

[Topaz]

I wouldn't worry about the Libs as much as one should worry about the Conservatives are doing to this country. The large debt that is ever growing, the secrets, the scams, the lies. Of Course, if you support this party knowing what is going on, what does that say about their supporters? Before you say anything about the Libs, I was totally against the what the Quebec Libs did and it was totally wrong. We MUST have a HONEST, OPEN, and JUST government, and I don't see it in the Tories!

[Shwa]

If you bring Quebec into this discussion, you have to change the brand comparison from Coke to Pepsi.

And don't forget Demi-Lunes. Je me souviens...

[Michael Hardner]

Michael, some people believe that the Liberal Party of Canada will be with us forever. Indeed, it is usually Liberals themselves that believe the LPC eternal.

My point in the OP was merely to note that in 1959, for example, Eaton's seemed a fixture of Canadian society just as Coca-Cola seems to be part of life around the world. Well, 50 years later, Eaton's is no more but Coke endures.

Here's another example. The tallest building in Manhattan in 1913 was the Woolworth building reflecting the fact that Woolworth's was the largest retail chain in America. I have no doubt that Walmart will meet a similar long term fate. Such is the retail business.

Auguste,

Yes, this is apt. But it's much harder today to form a majority and it will be until the BQ fades, if that ever happens. The current situation includes a moderate and centrist Quebec and Ontario, and regions that are suspicious of Central Canada. While it doesn't bode well for the LPC returning to their legacy of natural governors, it doesn't bode well for the Cons either.

[fellowtraveller]

The Liberals have been the "natural govern party" because they adapt. Their leadership changes are a manifestation of this inherent need to capture the imagination of the electorate. But changing leaders in and of itself is not enough; they have to supply a direction in which the country agrees to move.

August, you are more apt to die before the LPC ever does. As a centrist party, it has too much room to maneuver to marginalize itself.

I agree that they have been able to adapt, whichever way the wind blows, they will just turn with it. It has served them well.

I disagree that there is any need to supply a 'direction'. Chretien won three majorities by supplying nothing of the sort at any time, and he was quite proud of that. The country does not need to 'move', it can demonstrably drigft aimlessly and get along with little or no political direction.

The prpoblem for the Liberals - a growing, immense problem- is that Mr Harper has apparently paid newfound attention to the Liberal style and is emulating it... bad news for Ignatieff and his successors.

[JerrySeinfeld]

Federal Liberals talk about "brand names" and how the Liberal brand name will make them rich, get them elected, must be defended. Federal Liberals are the "Natural Governing Party" like Coke is "The Real Thing".

Then agian, what happened to Eaton's? Is the federal Liberal brand name like Eaton's, or Coke?

All I know is that I'm happy the Harper team has found a way to crack the stranglehold the Liberal brand has had on most of central and eastern Canada.

The Liberal brand is becoming more and more the "Toronto" brand. I think if we (ROC) all band together, we can elect the conservatives and beat up on the Toronto Liberals for decades to come.

What sweet irony eh? ROC telling Toronto what to do, and not the other way around.

Let's do it, Canada!

[dlkenny]

Auguste,

Yes, this is apt. But it's much harder today to form a majority and it will be until the BQ fades, if that ever happens. The current situation includes a moderate and centrist Quebec and Ontario, and regions that are suspicious of Central Canada. While it doesn't bode well for the LPC returning to their legacy of natural governors, it doesn't bode well for the Cons either.

No, it's very likely to see minority pariliaments for a long time. If a majority were formed by either party in the near future it would likely be a slim majority.