Harper to Address Country on TV

[August1991]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make a statement on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Harper will make a brief speech, in both official languages, from the Hall of Honour in the Parliament Buildings.

...

The prime minister is also expected to address concerns over Canada's role in Afghanistan.

CBC

I thought he would do this. It's a good way for politicians such as Harper to go over the media's heads and speak directly to Canadians.

Harper has to face this issue head on and this is an appropriate moment to provide leadership.

[jdobbin]

Good thing the football game is on.

[gerryhatrick]

Good thing the football game is on.

I will be watching with interest, and so should you. He's using an important anniversary to talk about a war that we're involved in.....you need to know what's being said in your name.

[cybercoma]

Good thing the football game is on.

I will be watching with interest, and so should you. He's using an important anniversary to talk about a war that we're involved in.....you need to know what's being said in your name.

A war that you probably agreed to 5 years ago.

[jdobbin]

A war that you probably agreed to 5 years ago.

And was told was over some time back as well. Wasn't this supposed to be the reconstruction phase?

[uOttawaMan]

A war that you probably agreed to 5 years ago.

And was told was over some time back as well. Wasn't this supposed to be the reconstruction phase?

It's hard to build a school with RPG's sizzling about.

It's even harder when you try to fight back by handing out cookies and blankets.

[gerryhatrick]

Good thing the football game is on.

I will be watching with interest, and so should you. He's using an important anniversary to talk about a war that we're involved in.....you need to know what's being said in your name.

A war that you probably agreed to 5 years ago.

I didn't offer my opinion on the war today, BUT...what's happening in Afghanistan is not the same as it was 5 years ago. The mission is not even under the same command.

That constant Conservative point is a little empty.

[jdobbin]

It's hard to build a school with RPG's sizzling about.

It's even harder when you try to fight back by handing out cookies and blankets.

Even harder when the Americans let the drug trade flourish and then wonder why the Taliban is so well funded.

[jbg]

Good thing the football game is on.

I will be watching with interest, and so should you. He's using an important anniversary to talk about a war that we're involved in.....you need to know what's being said in your name.

I'm sure Harper will speak in simple, eloquent terms, unlike the bafflegab of the two prior PMs.

[Ricki Bobbi]

I'm sure Harper will speak in simple, eloquent terms, unlike the bafflegab of the two prior PMs.

Darn that Stephen Harper going to the people on a nationally televised address to explain the commitments the government has made in response to 9/11 sand why the are going to honour their commitments.

It's a shrewd attempt at defining Afghanistan. Explain why we are participating in the mission and let the people decide. He's taking a risk

When was the last time a Prime Minister addressed the nation? Hmmm, that would be April 21st, 2005 when Paul Martin begged for more time as PM. Hmm, that worked pretty well for him, didn't it?

Truthfully though Martin's address was born out of such desperation that it did the best he could hope for. Bought him time before the inevitable defeat of his party in the House of Commons.

Harper's upside with this address is a majority government.

He's never gonna get the Harper haters, but hey give the Conservatives another 4 or 5 points of popular suppport and they are in majority government teritory.

[Figleaf]

R

Edited July 21, 2007 by Figleaf

[geoffrey]

It's hard to build a school with RPG's sizzling about.

It's even harder when you try to fight back by handing out cookies and blankets.

Even harder when the Americans let the drug trade flourish and then wonder why the Taliban is so well funded.

I'll respond in kind.

That's awfully simplistic.

[August1991]

Good speech, available here.

I liked this line:

Because we are a country that has always accepted its responsibilities in the world, from two great wars in Europe, from Korea to the Balkans, Canada has acted when the United Nations has asked.

It starts the process of defining how Harper views this country. (I would have skipped the UN reference.)

Harper touched all the right points, he made a strong connection between our presence in Afghanistan and the events five years ago as well as elsewhere. I thought it was good that he invited family members and had them in the background.

His delivery was low key (as usual) and he let his points carry the weight of the message. One small point: I didn't think his occasional smiles were appropriate.

[Topaz]

I was watching the news and then he came on, I listened for 10 seconds and turn it!! When IS the election!!

[margrace]

I was watching the news and then he came on, I listened for 10 seconds and turn it!! When IS the election!!

I too turned to another station after listening to him for a few seconds. I wonder how many other Canadians did?

[Wilber]

I was watching the news and then he came on, I listened for 10 seconds and turn it!! When IS the election!!

I too turned to another station after listening to him for a few seconds. I wonder how many other Canadians did?

Wonder how many didn't.

[August1991]

I too turned to another station after listening to him for a few seconds. I wonder how many other Canadians did?

No doubt many. But a politician accepts that fact and keeps plugging away.

On a separate thread, there is a silly discussion about getting more people to vote. The simple fact is that most people turn channels when they see a politician - as both you and Topaz did.

For myself, if Jack Layton ever became PM, I'd watch him give a TV address to hear what he had to say.

[geoffrey]

So right August, all these people, the "anti-Harpers" in their minds, that just turn away from everything that he says are really frustrating. Generally, these are the same people that misquote, twist and skew everything latter on. If they aren't listening, and prefer to bury their heads in the sand, then seriously, they have little right to complain about it later. Especially all those that claim he's 'secretive'.

Ignorance of the average Canadian remains rather frustrating. Hopefully there is a repeat later, I was out biking at the time (possibly the last nice summer day out here), didn't make it back in time...

Personally I care what the leader of our country, and the arguably most influential person on the power of the government over my life says.

[Remiel]

I suppose that after over a month of lurking, now is as good a time as any to descend into the fray. Somewhere with perhaps a somewhat lesser chance of devolving into a flame war, like most other threads.

I could be said to be anti-Harper, and anti-American to a greater or lesser extent as well. Last night, when Rice was on the television, I changed the channel. I was looking for Harper however. I didn't know what time the address was, and so I missed it. Despite the fact that I disagree intensely with his political policies, he is still the Prime Minister of Canada, and as a self-proclaimed fan of politics, I am quite perturbed that I missed the live speech.

[jbg]

Ignorance of the average Canadian remains rather frustrating. Hopefully there is a repeat later, I was out biking at the time (possibly the last nice summer day out here), didn't make it back in time...

As an American, I must be even more ignorant of Canadian matters than the "average Canadian". I have, unfortunately, been in the position of explaining to a Peterborough, ON school teacher what happened on the Plains of Abraham, and who Montcalm and Wolfe were.