Howard Dean speaks for Canadian Liberals

[geoffrey]

So I guess the Liberals have thrown out one attack against Harper:

Dean celebrated what he called the shared Democrat-Liberal principles.

“Our basic principles remain as true as ever. We – Democrats in the United States and Liberals in Canada – share a belief in the same thing – fiscally responsible, socially progressive values.”

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...038&k=93326

But some Liberals think it's good timing, given the Democratic surge in the recent U.S. mid-term elections, for Canadians to celebrate the waning of Republican influence south of the border. These are the same Liberals who don't mind drawing some parallels between George W. Bush's White House and Harper's Ottawa.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...ol=968793972154

Are the Liberals in bed with the Democrats? I'd suggest far more than the CPC and the Republicans, who seem to be rather disinterested with each other despite a few quick glances between Peter and Condi.

Are we selling out to American interests?! Is our sovereignty at stake?!

I say most of this tounge in cheek. Personally I could care less who delivers a meaningless opening speech. But lets consider something here. If Ken Melhman delivered the CPC opening address, it'd likely start a cascade of neo-con screams from the media in Canada. Yet Dean has the ability to be covered in the Canadian press as an acceptable adivsor to the Liberals. Why the double standard?

How many voters do you think are still stupid enough to believe that the CPC is too close to the Republicans (really an irrelevant party in the US for now), and vote Liberal instead?

[gerryhatrick]

Advisor to the party, that's funny.

If it were the case, which it's obviously not, I'd rather have him advising than Frank Luntz.

EDIT: Republicans are irrelavent in the US? Geoffrey, your youth is displaying itself with comments like that.

[Canadian Blue]

The really funny thing is that Howard Dean's Vermont has very little gun control, and also Dean was endorsed by the NRA many times. I like Howard Dean, but I'd imagine in Canada he would be as controversial as Morton if he were to run for political office.

I love it........

Republicans are irrelavent in the US? Geoffrey, your youth is displaying itself with comments like that.

No the Green Party is irrelevant. Last time I checked the Republican's are still a major party, and could win the presidential race in 2008 with McCain or Guiliani at the helm.

[geoffrey]

No the Green Party is irrelevant.

Also led by an American. Why do people fear the CPC?

And gerry, the Republicans are irrelevant comment is both relative and sarcastic.

[Biblio Bibuli]

Last time I checked the Republican's are still a major party, and could win the presidential race in 2008 with McCain or Guiliani at the helm.

Giuliani's got it in the bag.

RUDY! ... RUDY! ... RUDY!

[gerryhatrick]

And gerry, the Republicans are irrelevant comment is both relative and sarcastic.

That sounds like Iggy talk. Are you an intellectual? When you say "the Republicans are irrelevant" do you mean something else that only you can understand?

[gc1765]

Are the Liberals in bed with the Democrats? I'd suggest far more than the CPC and the Republicans, who seem to be rather disinterested with each other despite a few quick glances between Peter and Condi.

Are we selling out to American interests?! Is our sovereignty at stake?!

I say most of this tounge in cheek. Personally I could care less who delivers a meaningless opening speech. But lets consider something here. If Ken Melhman delivered the CPC opening address, it'd likely start a cascade of neo-con screams from the media in Canada. Yet Dean has the ability to be covered in the Canadian press as an acceptable adivsor to the Liberals. Why the double standard?

How many voters do you think are still stupid enough to believe that the CPC is too close to the Republicans (really an irrelevant party in the US for now), and vote Liberal instead?

Most Canadians would rather support the Democratic party than the Republican party, and Canadians are in general more left wing than our neighbors. If people begin to associate the policies of the CPC with the policies of the Republican party (whether accurately or not) they will be turned off. If the policies of the Liberal party are more similar to the Democratic party, not as many people will be turned off.

There is no reason to suggest that the Liberal party would "sell out" to the Democrats any more than there is to suggest that the CPC will "sell out" to the Republicans, but I don't think that's the issue.

[jdobbin]

I think his speech wasn't too bad and he did have some interesting things to say in regards to fundraising that the Liberals will need in the next election.

Our conventions are not as slick as American ones but I do think that it got national attention having Dean speak. It should resonate with the party because he did just come off a very successful campaign in the States.

[geoffrey]

Our conventions are not as slick as American ones but I do think that it got national attention having Dean speak. It should resonate with the party because he did just come off a very successful campaign in the States.

Their campaign wasn't successful. A monkey could have ran against the Republicans right now and won. The Democrats didn't win anything, the Republicans lost it. The Democrats don't even have a cohesive party platform. The Liberals in Canada can't rely on that. No one can be elected in Canada with a vague anti-establishment platform... it simply won't work.

Their gains would have been much bigger if it were a successful campaign.

Dean is a terrible example for the Liberals to listen to if they wish to be re-elected.

[gerryhatrick]

Our conventions are not as slick as American ones but I do think that it got national attention having Dean speak. It should resonate with the party because he did just come off a very successful campaign in the States.

Their campaign wasn't successful.

Geoffrey, he ran a very successful campaign. Obviously the Repubs were going to lose seets given the climate, but Deans fundraising, toughness, and 50 state strategy gave them a much higher level of victory than they would otherwise have had.

[jdobbin]

Their campaign wasn't successful. A monkey could have ran against the Republicans right now and won. The Democrats didn't win anything, the Republicans lost it. The Democrats don't even have a cohesive party platform. The Liberals in Canada can't rely on that. No one can be elected in Canada with a vague anti-establishment platform... it simply won't work.

Their gains would have been much bigger if it were a successful campaign.

Dean is a terrible example for the Liberals to listen to if they wish to be re-elected.

Up till a month before the election, there was still talk that the Republicans could hold both House and Senate.

Dean kept the message on point, kept the funds coming in and kept the pressure on all states.

He ran a successful campaign. Even Republicans admitted that.

Whether he was the right choice for the Liberals is debatable but he does have some interesting things to say about fundraising. This is an area the Liberals will need to focus on since they only know how to get money from the corporations.

[geoffrey]

Our conventions are not as slick as American ones but I do think that it got national attention having Dean speak. It should resonate with the party because he did just come off a very successful campaign in the States.

Their campaign wasn't successful.

Geoffrey, he ran a very successful campaign. Obviously the Repubs were going to lose seets given the climate, but Deans fundraising, toughness, and 50 state strategy gave them a much higher level of victory than they would otherwise have had.

And what was their platform? It was not being Republican. It was a regressive and negative campaign. Don't vote for them, look at what they've done. It doesn't work in Canada, no one has ever won on that.

The Reform/Alliance/CPC tried that for so long. Look at the corruption and filth in the Liberal party. They never won until they promoted their 5 priority agenda. That is how you win elections in Canada, with direct solutions to people's concerns. In the US, it's generally more negatively focused.

If the Liberals run a Democrat fear/negativity campaign they will be restricted to opposition or minority status.

[Canadian Blue]

But then again the Democrats are more inclusive than the Liberals. Some of the candidates who won were pro-life and socially conservative in the democratic camp, and last time I checked Senator Anne Cools went over to the conservative side of the house due to her disenchantment with the Liberals.

[jdobbin]

And what was their platform? It was not being Republican. It was a regressive and negative campaign. Don't vote for them, look at what they've done. It doesn't work in Canada, no one has ever won on that.

The Reform/Alliance/CPC tried that for so long. Look at the corruption and filth in the Liberal party. They never won until they promoted their 5 priority agenda. That is how you win elections in Canada, with direct solutions to people's concerns. In the US, it's generally more negatively focused.

If the Liberals run a Democrat fear/negativity campaign they will be restricted to opposition or minority status.

It's true that campaigns are different in the States. Negativity rules the day. The Democrats were able to play the game better than Republicans this time.

I doubt the Liberals are going to run an identical campaign. I think Kennedy and Dion and Dryden will have a combination of ideas that will influence things. I want to see Hall-Findlay in government. I'd prefer to see Goodale as Finance minister. I'd like to see strong cabinet ministers who don't have to turn to the prime minister every time and who run innovative and responsive departments.

I think that the Liberals need to get in shape a strong central campaign. They need to revolutionize fundraising, advertising, membership drives and recruiting.

[jdobbin]

But then again the Democrats are more inclusive than the Liberals. Some of the candidates who won were pro-life and socially conservative in the democratic camp, and last time I checked Senator Anne Cools went over to the conservative side of the house due to her disenchantment with the Liberals.

She became increasing restless with the Liberals as she became more religious. Eventually, she couldn't abide same sex marriage and crossed the floor. She was not kicked out.

[cybercoma]

I guess Canadians will know who to vote for now if they want an American-like government.

[jdobbin]

I guess Canadians will know who to vote for now if they want an American-like government.

Based on one speaker at a convention?

The Conservatives had all sorts of Australian advice on their campaign. Does that mean we have Australian-like government?

[cybercoma]

I guess Canadians will know who to vote for now if they want an American-like government.

Based on one speaker at a convention?

The Conservatives had all sorts of Australian advice on their campaign. Does that mean we have Australian-like government?

The only comparison between Australians and Howard Dean is that both can be seen shouting, "AAAAAIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEAH!" on television.

[jdobbin]

The only comparison between Australians and Howard Dean is that both can be seen shouting, "AAAAAIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEAH!" on television.

That scream was a pre-victory cry for 2006.

[cybercoma]

The only comparison between Australians and Howard Dean is that both can be seen shouting, "AAAAAIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEAH!" on television.

That scream was a pre-victory cry for 2006.

Priceless!

[gerryhatrick]

Our conventions are not as slick as American ones but I do think that it got national attention having Dean speak. It should resonate with the party because he did just come off a very successful campaign in the States.

Their campaign wasn't successful.

Geoffrey, he ran a very successful campaign. Obviously the Repubs were going to lose seets given the climate, but Deans fundraising, toughness, and 50 state strategy gave them a much higher level of victory than they would otherwise have had.

And what was their platform? It was not being Republican. It was a regressive and negative campaign. Don't vote for them, look at what they've done. It doesn't work in Canada, no one has ever won on that.

Obviously you didn't follow the US election very closely Geoffrey.

There was a great deal of information on the Dem platforms and positions.

Are you depending on CNN for all US news?

[geoffrey]

Obviously you didn't follow the US election very closely Geoffrey.

There was a great deal of information on the Dem platforms and positions.

Are you depending on CNN for all US news?

CNN and FOX are more than 50% of the cable news viewership in the US. That's what the Americans depended on.

If al-Jazeera or BBC Six was where they decided to release their platform, then Dean is definitely the last person the Liberals should listen to.

[Big Blue Machine]

At first I didn't think that Dean spoke more than English (no I do not classify screaming as a language). Isn't it odd that the Liberals always criticize the Conservatives of being American-ish, but look at the Liberals now?

[Canadian Blue]

How is their a "single" democrat or even a "single" republican platform since senators and congressman usually vote based on what they believe their constituents want.

How many pro-life democrats were elected, as well as democrats with a socially conservative view.

She became increasing restless with the Liberals as she became more religious. Eventually, she couldn't abide same sex marriage and crossed the floor. She was not kicked out.

Exactly, the Liberal's aren't inclusive of any view outside of their narrow view of what Canada is.

[g_bambino]

I guess Canadians will know who to vote for now if they want an American-like government.

Based on one speaker at a convention?

The Conservatives had all sorts of Australian advice on their campaign. Does that mean we have Australian-like government?

Australia and Canada do have very similar governments: same constitutional monarchy, same Westminster parliamentary system, and similar conservative parties currently in power. Howard wasn't invited here soon after Harper became PM for no reason at all.

As per Dean at the Liberal convention, I found this letter in the Star somewhat amusing; mostly because it's true:

Media hypocrisy reaches new level

Dec. 1, 2006. 01:00 AM

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Democrat invokes the values of Trudeau

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Nov. 30.

I can only say that the level of hypocrisy in the Canadian media has reached new heights. I think it's a joke that the Liberal Party of Canada couldn't find an inspiring Canadian Liberal to open its convention.

If the Conservatives had any hint of an American even attending their leadership convention (let alone address it), the media would make it front-page news and a scandal that would last for weeks.

The media in Canada are always going out of their way to find even the smallest hint of consensus between the Canadian Conservatives and anything American.

Here the media are handed a huge bone to chew, but because it's the Liberals, they are given a free pass. For them, it shows leadership and an openness to look outside our borders.

If this was the Conservative convention, the headline would read: "Conservative Party of Canada aligns itself with the dark side."

Toronto Star