Harper Savaged In The Press

[mirror]

Summer of the party's disconten

Instead, if the polls are any indication, Canadians were underwhelmed by Harper's appearances in various western outfits and other get-ups that looked about as natural as the Queen in a tutu.

By the end of Mr. Happy's Summer Fun Tour, polls were showing Harper had successfully fought his way to the basement of the leadership standings, trailing both Paul Martin and now even NDP leader Jack Layton.

As Liberal strategists concede, Stephen Harper remains the Grits' saving grace. But the Conservatives' summer of discontent didn't stop at Mr. Dress-Up's wardrobe box.

Only months before the next federal election, the opposition leader's office is a mess, with disillusioned advisers heading for the exits in droves. The Conservatives' all-important communications shop, for example, lost all but one of its experienced pros in a mere matter of weeks this summer.

Some of them have told me the problem is Harper tries to micro-manage all aspects of his organization -- and obviously can't.

Compounding the problem is a small coterie of longtime sycophant whose personal loyalty to Harper is evidently far more important to him than their professional performance. The result is an insular control freak surrounded by a few fellow bunker-dwellers, ignoring the advice of more capable and experienced staffers who inevitably leave in frustration.

If a leader is judged by those around him, Harper is certainly the architect of many of his own problems.

I remember when Belinda Stronach was running against Harper for the Tory leadership. The media seemed relatively balanced up until a certain point in the campaign and then all of a sudden they cut Brelinda loose and she was done. It was quite apparent that certain people had decided Harper the one and it was game over.

I am of two minds here about what is actually going on, as I do not think I have ever seen such criticism of a political leader in Canada in the press.

Either this is the beginning of a full court press by the Liberals to attempt to get a majority government, or it is that back room Conservatives have had it with Harper, and want him out now before the next election. Can't quite decide which it is.

Either way this article is an public relations nightmare for the Tory leader from which he has not got a prayer of recovering from.

I mean seriously folks, is this the type of person you want running Canada?

Too much more of this and the Tories will be in jeopardy of losing their official opposition status.

Bye bye Steevie!

[August1991]

I am of two minds here about what is actually going on, as I do not think I have ever seen such criticism of a political leader in Canada in the press.

Joe Clark, John Diefenbaker, Stockwell Day.

[shoop]

I am of two minds here about what is actually going on, as I do not think I have ever seen such criticism of a political leader in Canada in the press.

Joe Clark, John Diefenbaker, Stockwell Day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lester Pearson, John Turner, Paul Martin.

[apollo19]

Either this is the beginning of a full court press by the Liberals to attempt to get a majority government, or it is that back room Conservatives have had it with Harper, and want him out now before the next election. Can't quite decide which it is.

Either way this article is an public relations nightmare for the Tory leader from which he has not got a prayer of recovering from. 

This is probably the starting of the Liberals media campaign, and we will see it likely pick up a lot in Sept-Oct once parliament resumes. On a side note about "Liberal press", I found the following article interesting: http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?...22-de3ceb7ba164

OTTAWA -- A high-profile Tory senator says she hopes thousands of CBC workers remain locked out for months because so they won't be covering the next federal election. In a letter to an Ottawa newspaper, she cited poll numbers that suggested NDP and Liberal supporters missed CBC coverage the most.

"The lockout has deprived them of their biggest cheerleaders on the national scene," LeBreton wrote in a letter published in the Sept. 12 edition of the Hill Times newspaper. In the August poll of 1,000 Canadians, 10 per cent of respondents called the labour dispute "a major inconvenience" while 27 per cent called it "a minor inconvenience." Sixty-one per cent reported no impact at all.

So right there you have a fairly narrow audience for the CBC, which I think undoubtbly leans a bit towards the government on matters. If the Tories had a policy for privatizing the CBC, I think it would strike chords with some Canadians who really dont care about it.

[Riverwind]

So right  there you have a fairly narrow audience for the CBC, which I think undoubtbly leans a bit towards the government on matters. If the Tories had a policy for privatizing the CBC, I think it would strike chords with some Canadians who really dont care about it.

And more or less confirm the stereotype that the CPC is full of right wing hacks intent on turning Canada into a clone of the US. The CPC already has enough image problems it would be better off leaving the CBC issue alone.

[shoop]

And more or less confirm the stereotype that the CPC is full of right wing hacks intent on turning Canada into a clone of the US. The CPC already has enough image problems it would be better off leaving the CBC issue alone.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Probably, so they will.

But anyone who would actually vote based on opposition to privatizing the CBC definitely wouldn't vote Conservative anyways.

ps, nice ad hominem attack on the CPC by bringing up a totally useless comparison to the U.S. Bravo Sir!

[apollo19]

And more or less confirm the stereotype that the CPC is full of right wing hacks intent on turning Canada into a clone of the US.

The problem is that a public broadcaster with a budget of over $1billion, provided annually by the feds, has no place in a competitive industry -- I am not saying to shut th CBC down, just spin it off into a private company. All the major Canadian networks (CTV, Canwest, CHUM which is CityTV/others) provide the best programming they can, which the Canadian viewers want to see, so as to get more viewers. If those programs happen to not be filmed in Canada, then what is the problem with it? Whenever the feds get involved in a social issue like "Canadian Culture" or "Canadian Unity", they tend to overindulge financially in making sure their objectives are met.

[shoop]

The problem is that a public broadcaster with a budget of over $1billion, provided annually by the feds, has no place in a competitive industry -- I am not saying to shut th CBC down, just spin it off into a private company.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bravo sir. Bravo.

Don't see it happening anytime soon, but we can only wish.

[cybercoma]

And more or less confirm the stereotype that the CPC is full of right wing hacks intent on turning Canada into a clone of the US.

Turn Canada into the richest, most powerful nation on the planet...

Sounds like a good idea to me.

[Shakeyhands]

And more or less confirm the stereotype that the CPC is full of right wing hacks intent on turning Canada into a clone of the US.

The problem is that a public broadcaster with a budget of over $1billion, provided annually by the feds, has no place in a competitive industry -- I am not saying to shut th CBC down, just spin it off into a private company. All the major Canadian networks (CTV, Canwest, CHUM which is CityTV/others) provide the best programming they can, which the Canadian viewers want to see, so as to get more viewers. If those programs happen to not be filmed in Canada, then what is the problem with it? Whenever the feds get involved in a social issue like "Canadian Culture" or "Canadian Unity", they tend to overindulge financially in making sure their objectives are met.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How much Canadian content is on the other stations I wonder, most likely the minimum?

[shoop]

How much Canadian content is on the other stations I wonder, most likely the minimum?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Which would mean that the minimum is too high, I would guess....

[kimmy]

We're arguing over Canadian Content now? Holy.

In terms of entertainment programming... aside from gay sketch comedians, what has CBC put on TV that anybody pays attention to anyway? The train-wreck of "This Is Wonderland"? And their forays into sit-coms make even Train 48 look like Masterpiece Theatre. I understand they're now reviving "The Beachcombers", proving that they're about as creative as Hollywood movie execs. The best Canadian comedy and drama airs on CTV, not CBC, and it has been that way since "North of 60" wrapped up.

I have seen some interesting things on CBC late at night. I once saw a show-- Zed-- that presented short films by independant Canadian film-makers. Too bad they bury this stuff on their schedule to make sure nobody finds out about it. Much like they put any interesting radio programs on late at night, the policy seems geared towaard not offending their target audience-- senior citizens-- or catching the attention of anybody under 30.

Aside from crappy drama and weak comedy, CBC's Canadian content seems to be mostly news and investigative and documentary content. The other networks provide the same. Just not with CBC's slant.

-k

[Canuck E Stan]

CBC always has the Wayne and Schuster shows to reshow,that's always good for Canadian content.Or how about remaking the Pierre Elliot Trudeau story.......again. Maybe it's time to bring back Country Hoedown or Don Messer. Now we're talking Canadian content.Don't forget my favourite,the Hinterland series....now that's Canadian content at it's best.

[apollo19]

I have seen some interesting things on CBC late at night. I once saw a show-- Zed--  that presented short films by independant Canadian film-makers. Too bad they bury this stuff on their schedule to make sure nobody finds out about it.

This is fairly true, for some reason I was watching CBC at 4am a few days ago and they had several decent programs. I guess they bury the stuff for 20-somethings late at night so the old people dont find out what goes on.