The NDP Fight Back with Their Own Ads

August1991 · July 12, 2012

Er... No.

Well, this NDP attack-ad of Harper is lame.

If the NDP wants to attack Harper, it should find his weak point, and go for the jugular. It must ensure that the ad puts federal Liberals on side.

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I happen to think that Harper's weak point is that, perceptions, he does not play well with others.

Moreover, I reckon that this debate will happen primarily in southern Ontario, and ideology is not an issue. But what do I know.

Edited July 12, 2012 by August1991

Argus · July 12, 2012

At the end of 2008 Conservatives were saying that there was no recession. Yet, they had blown through the surplus and were running a massive deficit.

I'm on record as strongly opposing the reduction in the GST.

Nevertheless, you're engaging in wild exaggeration. If the year had run out, and if they hadn't done anything during it to reduce spending or increase income then they MIGHT have had a small deficit. But that didn't happen.

As to the idea they 'blew through' the surplus. You can't use that sort of terminology for tax decreases. If they'd spent it on more programs, running up the budget like, say, McGuinty in Ontario or whastername in Alberta, then yes, but as it is, no. They reduced taxes. That's not blowing through a surplus. That's returning it to the people who earned it.

Argus · July 12, 2012

It doesn't really help that the government cut the GST, contrary to the advice of many economists.

Dunno. Maybe that new income available helped cushion the fall in consumer spending? Whatever, it wasn't something I'd have done. I like to pay down bills before cutting income.

Argus · July 12, 2012

You can thank the NDP for our stable economic position relative to other countries. That doesn't stop Harper from taking credit for it though.

Now who's trolling? :rolleyes:

Argus · July 12, 2012

I'm not ignoring it.

Think of this, it's amazing how the government can come up with millions out of nowhere for pet projects (ie, $28 million to re-enact the War of 1812), but when there's an actual economic crisis there just wasn't any money for it and they had to run headlong into debt to cover it.

Finding $28 million is not quite the same as finding $60 billion, you know. There's only so much spare change in the cupboard.

Do you actually think that if the government had acted 'responsibly' they'd be able to find $60 billion all of a sudden without borrowing?

Please! :rolleyes:

cybercoma · July 12, 2012

Finding $28 million is not quite the same as finding $60 billion, you know. There's only so much spare change in the cupboard.

Do you actually think that if the government had acted 'responsibly' they'd be able to find $60 billion all of a sudden without borrowing?

Please!

They really need those jets, choppers, and ships, right?

August1991 · July 12, 2012

They really need those jets, choppers, and ships, right?

Huh.

Most Canadians (Women/French/English/Catholic) see no reason to spend billions on fighters/bombers/attack helicopters.

cybercoma · July 12, 2012

Huh.

Most Canadians (Women/French/English/Catholic) see no reason to spend billions on fighters/bombers/attack helicopters.

But the government manages to find the money for it.

August1991 · July 12, 2012

But the government manages to find the money for it.

And so maybe the wedge issue is not our religion/language, but rather how we feel about how our government spends our money.

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But in Canada, I reckon that ideology, tax policy, government spending is not the issue. In Canada, southern Ontario voters specifically, choose a federal politician that seems to get along with other Canadians.

If I were a southern Ontario voter, I'd choose the same way too.

Edited July 13, 2012 by August1991

WWWTT · July 13, 2012

If the NDP wants to attack Harper, it should find his weak point, and go for the jugular. It must ensure that the ad puts federal Liberals on side.

I happen to think that Harper's weak point is that, perceptions, he does not play well with others.

They did find their weak point.

Keep in mind that this add does not appeal to conservatives.

And why should it?

This add targets the majority of Canadians that ARE on the left!

And when the majority of Canadians come out and vote they will vote NDP.

Any decent strategist will tell you that the ones that win are the ones that got their vote out!

Something that the liberals failed miserably at.

WWWTT

WWWTT · July 13, 2012

While I'm disappointed in the NDP for playing along with stupid games, what else are they to do? The Liberals ignored the Conservative ads and it crushed Ignatieff come election time because they had built up a narrative before the writ was even dropped.

You're disappointed with the NDP for reminding Canadians of the consequences of electing a conservative government?

Whos side are you on man?

WWWTT

cybercoma · July 13, 2012

You're disappointed with the NDP for reminding Canadians of the consequences of electing a conservative government?

Whos side are you on man?

WWWTT

I'm on the side that doesn't want to see partisan propaganda from the parties outside an election period.

wyly · July 13, 2012

I'm on the side that doesn't want to see partisan propaganda from the parties outside an election period.

partisan propaganda was unfortunately was let out of the cage long ago and there's no getting it back in now...

cybercoma · July 13, 2012

partisan propaganda was unfortunately was let out of the cage long ago and there's no getting it back in now...

You should read my sentence right to the period. It's one complete thought.

Signals.Cpl · July 13, 2012

They really need those jets, choppers, and ships, right?

Well waiting until they are required might be about 10 years too late...

cybercoma · July 13, 2012

Well waiting until they are required might be about 10 years too late...

There's no doubt that they're needed. Healthcare, education, and old age security are also needed.

Signals.Cpl · July 13, 2012

There's no doubt that they're needed. Healthcare, education, and old age security are also needed.

One does not necessarily exclude the other. If military purchases are made when there is a need, and funding is steady and consistent regardless of the government in power it would be more affordable, instead some government cut the budget and postpone major purchases until they become someone else's problem and all of a sudden instead of replacing equipment as the need arises and its lifespan expires we prolong it which costs more money in maintenance and in many cases is down right dangerous.

The Liberals did not save taxpayers money, they just passed the bill to a government a decade later when it becomes overwhelming since instead of piecemeal purchases now all of the equipment comes in at the same time.

westguy · July 25, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIH-dknpjVQ

This is the political climate that the Conservatives have created and I find it appalling. Canada under Conservative rule is one non-stop political campaign with parties churning out their respective propaganda.

While I'm disappointed in the NDP for playing along with stupid games, what else are they to do? The Liberals ignored the Conservative ads and it crushed Ignatieff come election time because they had built up a narrative before the writ was even dropped.

Edit: corrected link embedding

The most misleading ad- so much for ethics by the NDP

westguy · July 25, 2012

Canadian political hit pieces, at least the thirty-second TV spots, are far more slanderous than in the USA. Canada certainly doesn't need any tips from America when it comes to playing dirty politics, which includes outright lying and slanderous innuendo.

you must be speaking about the NDP

mentalfloss · July 25, 2012

you must be speaking about the NDP

NDP is definitely the most benign out of all three parties.

WWWTT · July 25, 2012

The most misleading ad- so much for ethics by the NDP

Unfortunately the truth is hurting many Canadians.

Vote NDP!

WWWTT

westguy · July 26, 2012

Shady, do you have anything of substance to add to the discussion? Simply replying "nonsense" to everything people say without actually contributing to the discussion is some of the laziest trolling I've ever seen.

canada did better than most nations during the 2008 meltdown. who do you "blame" for that

punked · July 26, 2012

canada did better than most nations during the 2008 meltdown. who do you "blame" for that

What meltdown? Harper told me in October of 2008 in fact said it on television right in the middle of the "melt down" that it wouldn't effect Canada in the least. Look at this we got a lefty over here. Don't know there was no melt down Harper told me so.

Always trying to re-write history to suit your needs. DAMN LEFTIES and what they call FACTS. I call facts the things Harper said right or wrong.

wyly · July 26, 2012

What meltdown? Harper told me in October of 2008 in fact said it on television right in the middle of the "melt down" that it wouldn't effect Canada in the least. Look at this we got a lefty over here. Don't know there was no melt down Harper told me so.

Always trying to re-write history to suit your needs. DAMN LEFTIES and what they call FACTS. I call facts the things Harper said right or wrong.

ya I don't recall the exact words but to the best of my recollection harper claimed canada wouldn't have a recession and no deficit :lol:

...he lied or he was an idiot take your pick...

wyly · July 26, 2012

canada did better than most nations during the 2008 meltdown. who do you "blame" for that

better than which countries? zimbabwe? USA?...why not mention those countries with our level of industrial development that did better than us...canada as well as it did in spite of harper not because of harper, credit paul martin and our abundant natural resources for that...