Harper ATV, Day Jet Ski, Trudeau Dive, Chretien Bicycle

[August1991]

The Toronto MSM is going to compare Harper's ATV ride with Stockwell Day's Jet ski arrival.

Check out the ATV video here. Unless they compare it with Harper's singing gig at the National Arts Centre, which in the MSM mindframe, is closer to a dive or a bicycle. Cool.

----

Two points about all of this.

1. Outside of Toronto, and maybe Montreal, Canadians don't choose politicians based on coolness. By and large, Canadians (unlike MSM journalists) are not celebrity groupies. We are curious about these antics, and will click on the link, but we don't go ga-ga or judge based on them. (This includes Stanfield's famous drop of the football.)

2. Let me contradict in a way my point above. Most urban Canadians who live in their hermetic urban world only know that an ATV is something that they don't want. By riding around in an ATV, Harper has made a strong point about Canada, the country as it is.

Edited August 27, 2010 by August1991

[Smallc]

You read waaaaayyyyyyy too much into some things.

[with_distinction]

http://forums.moproblems.com/download/file.php?id=167 Edited August 27, 2010 by with_distinction

[August1991]

You read waaaaayyyyyyy too much into some things.

No, I don't.

The registered Harper Haters (read the comments) will jump on Harper for riding around in an ATV. "ATVs harm the environment, they're dangerous, did he have a license, what example is he offering to young people... "

In fact though, ATVs are a way of life in large parts of Canada. They are like long guns.

----

Smallc, Canada is a large country with few people. Surely we can find a civilized way to live together.

Edited August 27, 2010 by August1991

[BubberMiley]

The only reason it was reported at all is because of his "I think I make the rules" crack.

[Topaz]

Well watch this video are Harper dancing. Can you imagine him doing that in the Commons if he didn't want to answer a question? lol! http://www.thestar.com/videozone/852650--stephen-harper-dances-in-inuvik

[August1991]

The only reason it was reported at all is because of his "I think I make the rules" crack.

Oh, BM. ATV ride = your quote. Well, it's the same difference.

Harper said that, and he knew exactly what he was saying. And the Toronto MSM went crazy - as if the ATV ride weren't enough.

----

I'm still curious to see how the Quebec press (Quebec MSM?) will cover this. It may take time. (I note that Duceppe now wants an NHL arena in Quebec City.)

----

Canada has a lot of space and so many Canadians use ATVs. They're very useful. Welcome to Canada as it is.

Edited August 27, 2010 by August1991

[Visionseeker]

The Toronto MSM is going to compare Harper's ATV ride with Stockwell Day's Jet ski arrival.

Naw, the headline will read:

HARPER STEALS AN ATV!

Tough on crime PM sets bad example

Check out the ATV video here. Unless they compare it with Harper's singing gig at the National Arts Centre, which in the MSM mindframe, is closer to a dive or a bicycle. Cool.

Seriously this is rather benign. The jet ski was staged hokiness at its best. This just comes across as the PM letting lose a little. I'm no fan of his politics, but the guys allowed to enjoy himself from time to time.

I don't see political fall out here. And there can only be political benefit if the opposition were to take issue with it.

Though it was likely planned, this isn't the same category as the staged hokiness of the wet suit/jet ski debacle (with roster-tail appearing to originate from the rider's orfice).

[kimmy]

The registered Harper Haters (read the comments) will jump on Harper for riding around in an ATV. "ATVs harm the environment, they're dangerous, did he have a license, what example is he offering to young people... "

I have a hunch that your first comparison... to Stockwell Day's jet ski arrival... is more likely how this will play: his critics will declare it a calculated stunt intended to show Harper as either "cool" or "a regular guy" or "fun-loving" or something like that. Much like how his critics reacted to his Beatles performance.

In fact though, ATVs are a way of life in large parts of Canada. They are like long guns.

An excellent comparison.

-k

[jefferiah]

No, I don't.

The registered Harper Haters will jump on Harper for riding around in an ATV. "ATVs harm the environment, they're dangerous, did he have a license, what example is he offering to young people... "

There are times to be prudent about certain actions. This is not one of them. I would not worry about people who would criticize him over a trifle like this. With such people, Harper is either damned if he does or damned if he doesn't.

Edited August 27, 2010 by jefferiah

[Radsickle]

oh Yay. Let's all cheer him trying to look cool in a photoshoot on the edge of an iceburg or having fun on an ATV and making semi-serious yet revealingly fascist statements like `I make the rules'. Oh, I feel so much closer to this rebel. He's just one of us. One of us who are paranoid of our own government having a record of our rifles... Let's regress into something closer to the US, where we can all be like Charlton Heston and his gun-worshipping ways. Who cares if the RCMP and every chief of police say that the registry is a good thing. Harper will fix them!

[Smallc]

His statment was a jokme. Nothing more.

[Radsickle]

His statment was a jokme. Nothing more.

Yea, he wasn't trying to connect with all the gun-toting ATV enthusiasts out there. Nah, it wasn't planned; it was nothing but a joke.

Nothing wrong with ATV's and law-abiding gun owners. But when our own PM is trying to dismantle something that helps our own police officers do their job, something IS wrong.

[Jack Weber]

The dancing looked a little contrived...

[Radsickle]

The dancing looked a little contrived...

Ya think?

I've been meters away from Iggy while he went through the motions of the local Native dances and, yes, he also looked contrived. But I could tell from what he said after that he wasn't just trying to use it as a photoshoot.

[August1991]

Yea, he wasn't trying to connect with all the gun-toting ATV enthusiasts out there. Nah, it wasn't planned; it was nothing but a joke.

Nothing wrong with ATV's and law-abiding gun owners. But when our own PM is trying to dismantle something that helps our own police officers do their job, something IS wrong.

Radsickle, what is Canada?

Canada is what it is. We are a large country with a few people. If some people have long guns or ATVs, so be it.

----

I prefer a federal Canada in which a federal State accepts people as they are. IMV, Canada works best when people do not have to choose between their Nation, region, province - where they live - and Canada.

Canada works best when no one is forced to choose.

Edited August 27, 2010 by August1991

[Radsickle]

Radsickle, what is Canada?

Got a few hours?

[Jack Weber]

Radsickle, what is Canada?

Canada is what it is. We are a large country with a few people. If some people have long guns or ATVs, so be it.

----

I prefer a federal Canada in which a federal State accepts people as they are. IMV, Canada works best when people do not have to choose between their Nation, region, province - where they live - and Canada.

Canada works best when no one is forced to choose.

I agree...

Tell that to Firewall Stevie and ask him why his Albertan/prairie conservativism is'nt working so well east of the Manitoba border,even in an obviously watered down state???

Edited August 27, 2010 by Jack Weber

[dre]

The Toronto MSM is going to compare Harper's ATV ride with Stockwell Day's Jet ski arrival.

Check out the ATV video here. Unless they compare it with Harper's singing gig at the National Arts Centre, which in the MSM mindframe, is closer to a dive or a bicycle. Cool.

----

Two points about all of this.

1. Outside of Toronto, and maybe Montreal, Canadians don't choose politicians based on coolness. By and large, Canadians (unlike MSM journalists) are not celebrity groupies. We are curious about these antics, and will click on the link, but we don't go ga-ga or judge based on them. (This includes Stanfield's famous drop of the football.)

2. Let me contradict in a way my point above. Most urban Canadians who live in their hermetic urban world only know that an ATV is something that they don't want. By riding around in an ATV, Harper has made a strong point about Canada, the country as it is.

First of all I "mildly dislike" harper Im not a "hater". I think its great that he rides ATV's. Theyre a mountain of fun and I love the things. I think its great that day rides jetskis too.

What turns me off though is obviously contrived and scripted photo ops. They just dont work on me... they mean less than nothing no matter whos doing them.

[Radsickle]

Canada used to be a beautiful experiment between capitalism and socialism. But today's half-wits want to make it more like the US and less independently-minded. I blame private media for the half-witted-ness; corporations and corrupt governments spend billions on propaganda to keep you and I voting the way they want and most media need the money.

Luckily, Harper's crew are stupid. ("a generation so much dumber than its parents")

Edited August 27, 2010 by Radsickle

[dre]

Canada used to be a beautiful experiment between capitalism and socialism. But today's half-wits want to make it more like the US and less independently-minded. I blame private media for the half-witted-ness; corporations and corrupt governments spend billions on propaganda to keep you and I voting the way they want and most media need the money.

Luckily, Harper's crew are stupid. ("a generation so much dumber than its parents")

[Jack Weber]

Canada used to be a beautiful experiment between capitalism and socialism. But today's half-wits want to make it more like the US and less independently-minded. I blame private media for the half-witted-ness; corporations and corrupt governments spend billions on propaganda to keep you and I voting the way they want and most media need the money.

Luckily, Harper's crew are stupid. ("a generation so much dumber than its parents")

Nice 'Hip reference.

[Radsickle]

and, with nowhere left to fall, they are truly "crashing through the window".

I just wonder how many voters in CTV land will still hear the crash...

[August1991]

Canada used to be a beautiful experiment between capitalism and socialism. But today's half-wits want to make it more like the US and less independently-minded....

WTF? Radsickle, if you are obsessed with the US, fine. Obsessed with capitalism and socialism, OK.

But that's not Canada.

----

Radsickle, my OP has a broader issue, of interest to people who understand Canadian federal politics.

[Bonam]

Radsickle, my OP has a broader issue, of interest to people who understand Canadian federal politics.

Your OP has an "issue"? Care to illuminate it for those of us not as well versed in your level of political subtleties?