Ignatieff's magnificent summer tour...

[capricorn]

I have been following the media coverage on Ignatieff's great Canadian summer tour. Ignatieff says he wants to win Canadians over, "door by door, handshake by handshake, baby by baby". But, by his own admission, it might kill him.

“Starting today we’re going to get on a bus and go to every province and territory between July and September, if it doesn’t kill me first.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/07/10/14672986.html

All right. If he survives this tour we'll have a good sense of this energy level and staying power.

On another thread, I posted Ignatieff's comment at a Stampede event that "Canadians can “smell the whiff of sulfur coming off” of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper". The media has picked up on this and is understandably perplexed by his words.

Ignatieff kicked off his summer tour in Calgary by touting the Liberal’s “positive message” and then compared Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the devil, "You know you smell the whiff of sulfur coming off the guy.” In literature, the whiff of sulfur is often used to describe the devil and someone as well read as Ignatieff should know to choose his words more carefully.

Then again, perhaps Ignatieff was just channeling Venezuela’s far-left president Hugo Chavez who used similar words to describe George W. Bush during a United Nations speech; I’ll have to ask the Liberal leader.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/07/11/14679281.html

But it’s Mr. Ignatieff’s additional comments about Prime Minister Stephen Harper which are raising eyebrows in the barbeque pits of the nation. As in, “Canadians can smell the whiff of sulphur coming off this guy” — sulfur being a literary metaphor for the devil, most recently used by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to describe U.S. President George W. Bush.One has to wonder what Mr. Ignatieff was thinking. If there was a casting call to play Lucifer, I doubt Mr. Harper would get the part, whereas Mr. Ignatieff… well, let’s just say my mother has remarked more than once that he has a devilish look about him, and not in a good way.Appearances aside, comparing the Prime Minister to the Lord of the Underworld is the kind of cheap shot hard-left bloggers take, not a remark befitting the leader of the Liberal party. Perhaps Mr. Ignatieff thought he was being clever; perhaps the “thinking woman’s crumpet” assumed such cleverness would be appreciated in Canada as it was in the U.K., when he graced the airwaves of the BBC.

But Mr. Ignatieff is a politician now, not an academic or television host. The acerbic banter he deployed in his previous life is not the kind of talk most voters look for in a prime minister in waiting. Intelligence, yes; depth, yes; inspiration, yes; clever literary references, not so much.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/07/12/tasha-kheiriddin-is-that-a-whiff-of-sulfur-coming-from-the-liberal-bus/

This is quite worrisome. As Canadians, aren't we entitled to know if this is true? He is the Prime Minister in waiting, is he not? Did he, or did he not smell sulfur emanating from Harper's person? Or was he imagining it? I'm thinking there may be the need for a medical examination to get the bottom of this.

Olfactory hallucinations are a type of hallucination which involves the olfactory system. Patients who experience olfactory hallucinations think that they are smelling something when there is nothing in the environment producing the odor being experienced. They may be able to describe the smell in detail, and they can have reactions to the smell, such as gagging at the smell of feces or increased saliva production at the smell of chocolate chip cookies. Although phantosmia, as it is known to the medical community, may seem primarily like an interesting curiosity, it can actually be a sign that a patient has a severe medical problem, and people who smell things which don't exist definitely need to see a doctor.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-olfactory-hallucinations.htm

With this talk of Ignatieff's energy level and olfactory qualities, it's hard to turn attention to questions of policy. Perhaps it's too early in the tour to speak of vision and policy. I'll keep watching and post anything of interest I come across. I hope you do too and share what you learn.

[bjre]

I have been following the media coverage on Ignatieff's great Canadian summer tour. Ignatieff says he wants to win Canadians over, "door by door, handshake by handshake, baby by baby". But, by his own admission, it might kill him.

He is wasting time, just the same as Harper did that before. They just try to give some false impression to people, instead of go to the places that that real ugly things are happening and try to solve them.

[myata]

He is wasting time, just the same as Harper did that before. They just try to give some false impression to people, instead of go to the places that that real ugly things are happening and try to solve them.

Well one of them will be our next Prime Minister. Guaranteed as night changes day, courtesy of our antiquated political system.

[capricorn]

The pearls keep flowing from Ignatieff's mouth.

“We are the progressive, reforming centre of Canada. I can’t emphasize how much we are in the centre,” he told supporters.

---

And Ignatieff took time to show off his Boulet cowboy boots to the crowd, saying,

“These are the best cowboy boots in Canada and they’re made in Quebec.”

---

“I am much reproached for spending time outside of Canada — naughty me,” he said.

“I don’t know what to do with my shame about that.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/Stampede/2010/07/10/14671501.html

I can actually see Boulet Boots franchises springing up all over the Western Provinces. On the policy side, he says he would do things differently than Harper and that G8/G20 costs were too high. I sense that Canadians are getting to know Ignatieff much better already.

[August1991]

But, by his own admission, it might kill him.

That quote is worthy of a QOTD, and it also might kill him politically.

What successful politician embarks on a trek to meet ordinary people, voters, with the caveat that meeting all these people may be a killer? Of all people, Ignatieff going to meet "Canadians".

----

If Ignatieff thinks that meeting many ordinary Canadians may kill him, then why does he want to be our PM?

Ignatieff is not only a flake, he's stoopid.

Edited July 12, 2010 by August1991

[M.Dancer]

touting quebec made cowboy boots will surely win western based centrist votes...never the less, I like my frys and have so for 30+ years

[capricorn]

That quote is worthy of a QOTD, and it also might kill him politically.

I see you gave that quote the recognition it deserves.

Of all people, Ignatieff going to meet "Canadians".

A western Conservative blogger quipped "next he'll be telling us he has many friends that are Canadian". Precious!

Sad in a way. This tour is supposed to demonstrate to mainstream Canadians that the Liberals are a better alternative than the Conservatives and that Ignatieff is more personable than Harper. If it turns out that the public is treated to a recital of his blunders instead of a serious discussion of the issues, the tour will be a disaster. It's off to a very rocky start.

[capricorn]

Ignatieff's bus breaks down

The bus carrying Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff broke down just outside the Eastern Ontario town of Hawkesbury Tuesday, just before 6 p.m.

The breakdown occurred on the first day of the Liberal Leader's six-week, cross-country excursion to promote the Mr. Ignatieff and his party's fortunes.

At first, the delay appeared temporary, as passengers were herded back onto the bus. But after a few hundred metres, the bus once again pulled over. This experience was repeated several times.

Mr. Ignatieff remained in his seat, saying little.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ignatieffs-bus-breaks-down/article1638845/

No joke, the thought that this might happen crossed my mind earlier today. I'm starting to feel sorry for Ignatieff.

[ToadBrother]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ignatieffs-bus-breaks-down/article1638845/

No joke, the thought that this might happen crossed my mind earlier today. I'm starting to feel sorry for Ignatieff.

A good example of life imitating politics!

[capricorn]

Not a good day for Liberals.

One of Paul Martin's CSL ships ran aground on the Seaway, causing an oil spill and closure of the waterway.

Crews were working to clean up an oily mess Tuesday after a Canada Steamship Lines vessel ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway just south of Montreal on Monday evening.

The oil leak forced the closure of a section of the St. Lawrence Seaway Monday.

The ship's fuel tank was reportedly punctured in the accident, allowing between 50 and 200 tonnes of oil to leak into the surrounding waters before the tank could be sealed. The spill covered an area about 500 metres by 500 metres.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Portion+Seaway+closed+leak/3270315/story.html

I bet that's the last time Ignatieff dares talk about the smell of sulfur. :lol:

[Sir Bandelot]

Ignatieff is just about the best thing that could happen to Stephen Harper. Most people thought that Dion was the ultimate but then along came Ignatieff, wearing those fancy made-in-Quebec cowboy boots!

[Bonam]

I still think Ignatieff is a lot better than Dion. At least he can speak English and get an intelligible message across.

[punked]

I still think Ignatieff is a lot better than Dion. At least he can speak English and get an intelligible message across.

Polls say different he is polling lower then Dion did out side of election time.

[Bonam]

Polls say different he is polling lower then Dion did out side of election time.

I wasn't talking about what polls say. I was talking about what I say. Thanks for the poll update though.

[capricorn]

I still think Ignatieff is a lot better than Dion.

As mediocre party leaders go, you're right. Notably, the Liberal Party's ability to (s)elect a leader with potential has really slipped.

At least he can speak English and get an intelligible message across.

Yes he can but does he get across to mainstream Canadians? Because of his extensive academic background, it's not surprising that literary quotes and analogies are on the tip of his tongue. The "smell of sulfur" comment is one example. After the bus broke down today, to those on the bus he said "the best laid plans...", which is contained in a work by Robert Burns:

The best laid schemes of mice and men

Go often askew,

And leave us nothing but grief and pain,

For promised joy!

After about half an hour, communications director Mario Laguë said a second bus had been dispatched, and that cars that were nearer would pick up Mr. Ignatieff and his wife, Zsuzsanna Zsohar, for the barbecue, along with as many journalists as could be accommodated.

After the announcement, Mr. Ignatieff came to the back of the bus offering a wry smile.

"The best laid plans...," he said.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ignatieffs-bus-breaks-down/article1638845/

A lot of this stuff is foreign to most Canadians who ask "what is he talking about?". He has to work on his communication and not come across as phony. I'm not convinced he can do this and it may well be his downfall.

Edited July 14, 2010 by capricorn

[kimmy]

Ignatieff has already gone to Alberta more times than Chretien did the whole time he was PM.

Unlike Dion, Ignatieff can speak for himself in English.

Unlike Dion, it's not really very clear what Ignatieff stands for.

Dion had a clear vision. It was a vision that everybody outside downtown Toronto hated, but at least you knew what he stood for.

Ignatieff seems... as best I can tell... to be offering to maintain the status quo. "Steady as she goes, except with somebody other than Harper at the helm" seems to be his message.

-k

[Bonam]

As mediocre party leaders go, you're right. Notably, the Liberal Party's ability to (s)elect a leader with potential has really slipped.

Yes he can but does he get across to mainstream Canadians? Because of his extensive academic background, it's not surprising that literary quotes and analogies are on the tip of his tongue. The "smell of sulfur" comment is one example. After the bus broke down today, to those on the bus he said "the best laid plans...", which is contained in a work by Robert Burns:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ignatieffs-bus-breaks-down/article1638845/

A lot of this stuff is foreign to most Canadians who ask "what is he talking about?". He has to work on his communication and not come across as phony. I'm not convinced he can do this and it may well be his downfall.

Shrug, I don't mind an extensive academic background. I suppose I have one myself. I think the "most Canadians" stereotype of being uneducated hicks who look down on education is not necessarily warranted either. Higher levels of education are increasingly common.

I dunno why I'm in the position of defending Ignatieff anyway. Personally, I'd much rather Harper than him. But between Dion and Ignatieff, there is no contest in my mind. As kimmy mentions, he's for the "steady as she goes" course of action, and that is a heck of a lot better than the far left idealism of Dion. That is the hallmark of the recent liberal party anyway, and one of the few things good about it: it stands for no particular ideology, but rather for pragmatism. Pragmatism is not a bad consideration to base policy around, do what seems to work best.

Edited July 14, 2010 by Bonam

[Jack Weber]

Ignatieff has already gone to Alberta more times than Chretien did the whole time he was PM.

Unlike Dion, Ignatieff can speak for himself in English.

Unlike Dion, it's not really very clear what Ignatieff stands for.

Dion had a clear vision. It was a vision that everybody outside downtown Toronto hated, but at least you knew what he stood for.

Ignatieff seems... as best I can tell... to be offering to maintain the status quo. "Steady as she goes, except with somebody other than Harper at the helm" seems to be his message.

-k

Pretty much,but it's more to do with the directionless nature of the Liberal party...

Ignatieff is just the symptom...

[Mr.Canada]

PM Harper may have stepped down already if it wasn't for such a string of weaklings at the Liberal Helm.

We tried to tell the socialists that Ignatchev would never be PM but they just wouldn't listen and heralded him as the next PM...the socialists always have their heads in the clouds.

[Keepitsimple]

That is the hallmark of the recent liberal party anyway, and one of the few things good about it: it stands for no particular ideology, but rather for pragmatism. Pragmatism is not a bad consideration to base policy around, do what seems to work best.

That may be true.....but the real danger with Ignatieff is that because he is such a weak and politically unsavvy leader with no real idea of where to take the party - or Canada.....he would be prone to being a puppet for whoever would be operating in the shadows. He has shown absolutely no backbone and has shifted with the wind on almost every major issue. It might sound paranoid but the fact is, when you have such an empty vessel as Ignatieff, Canada would be dangerously in the hands of people who we do not know - with motives that we do not know.

[Molly]

It might sound paranoid but the fact is, when you have such an empty vessel as Ignatieff, Canada would be dangerously in the hands of people who we do not know - with motives that we do not know.

Better to have someone whose motives and direction we DO know, and don't like...

[Sir Bandelot]

Notably, the Liberal Party's ability to (s)elect a leader with potential has really slipped.

Right from the start when he was (s)elected, I thought the choice was surprising and probably a move they would come to regret. Dion was a supreme embarrasment, but to follow him up with Ignatieff only compounds the error. What they needed was someone with enough charisma and leadership ability to make people forget about recent party blunders (and it's a big task) but they've failed again. These people are on a roll.

But there does not seem to be a lot of quality choices for them to make. The selection of leader is entangled in power plays and cronie-ism. Bob Rae is a ghoul.

[Molly]

Right from the start when he was (s)elected,....

What do you consider 'from the start'?

Ignatieff was the annointed next even before Martin stepped aside. Dion was the time-out, the chastisement of the muckety insiders for being just a little too presumptuous, only ever chosen/expected to last long enough to lose an election... but Ignatieff remained the leader in waiting.

People would have to be assassinated for Rae to gain the leadership. He can have as much or more authourity as whoever the leader might be from now 'til he feels like retiring, but he will never have that leadership.

[Sir Bandelot]

What do you consider 'from the start'?

In my case from the start means when he was actually chosen. Up to that point it's just all talk, as far as we little people are concerned.

I don't think that Rae has a real shot at the leadership, but you never know. My comment was more directed at the notion that he WANTS it, and he acts as a barrier to other potential leaders in the party who might actually be credible. Not that there seem to be many choices. No one seems to be being "groomed" for the future of the party. It's another failure of the party leadership to not be looking that far ahead. But then one could also say the saem thing about the Conservatives.

[Topaz]

Have any of you really listen to the Liberal leader? I'm not 100% sold on him BUT when I've heard him talk he makes sense but he doesn't talk enough to Canadians. So he doing what he should be going out and listening to Canadians. Any of you that don't like what he is doing, then if he comes close by, go talk to him, you may change your mind. BTW, Harper family is in Quebec for summer vacation, I bet he's also there to get more support for the election coming up soon.