by What about the coalition? What can we learn, tactically, from their performance?
What about the coalition? What can we learn, tactically, from their performance?
Lesson 1: Never interrupt the spin cycle.
The first major mistake made by coalition forces: not giving the media enough time to frame the entire crisis in terms of Harper’s hubris. Anyone who read the fiscal update knew its political purpose. Yet, instead of letting the news cycle run its course, the opposition announced its plans to form a coalition less than three hours after the fiscal update. (The fiscal update was announced at 4pm, and the coalition announced its intentions at 7pm.) Not only did "coalition talk" dominate the rest of the cycle, leaving the Tories ‘off the hook’ for their F.U. On top of this, the fact that the three opposition leaders were able to reach an agreement so quickly fed into the Conservatives’ counterspin (it was a backroom deal, months in the offing).
Lesson 2: Check your address book.
Sending conference call coordinates to the "wrong Duncan"? Sure, Jack didn’t say anything he hadn’t already made crystal clear during the campaign. And yes, the Tories deserve some blame for taping and broadcasting the discussion. But the damage was already done.
Lesson 3: Mind your photo-op.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why Layton and Dion would agree to be photographed, on stage (Canadian flag or not), signing an agreement with Gilles Duceppe. For starters, if Duceppe really wasn’t part of the coalition, why is he signing documents? Second, do you really need to film the Tories campaign ads for them? Someone please explain this choice to me. There had to be a reason.
Lesson 4: Buy a Sony.
Enough has been said about Dion’s cell-phone-camera-quality response to Harper’s national address. If you’re looking to run a national campaign, buy a Sony Camcorder. (I hear the Boxing Day Sale at Best Buy is starting early.)
Lesson 5: It’s all in a name.
This is a minor quibble, but I was a little miffed that the opposition didn’t come up with a jazzier name for their "team" than simply "coalition." Granted, many of the really catchy terms were taken. (‘Axis’ and ‘Alliance’ come to mind.) But even something as simple as the "majority coalition" or "coalition of Canadians" may have helped direct the spin.
Lesson 6: Avoid the Senate.
I’m not sure who gave Elizabeth May the idea that she was in line for a Senate seat. (Perhaps it was May, herself.) Even more troubling, I’m not sure who gave her the notion to broadcast this idea. Canadians are lukewarm – at very best – when it comes to Senate appointments. And many in Western Canada are even colder to the idea. (Given their recent musings about midnight appointments, the Conservatives could use this advice, as well.)
Lesson 7: Ask permission.
I’d suggest it’s a good idea to ask people – or at least inform them – before announcing their presence in an Economic Advisory Council. The media confusion surrounding the McKenna and Manley rejections was only matched by that of Mr. Romanow’s wife, who suggested that her husband had never even heard that a coalition existed.