If being underwhelming would attract votes, the Liberal Party would be in for a huge majority in the next election. Then again, if they could win elections by courting Bay Street instead of Main Street, they would also be a shoo-in.
Although I've left the Party I actually watched what was heralded a leadership debate. As far as I could tell that was so much false advertising, straight bait and switch.
By what they said, and avoided mentioning, it's pretty clear that most of them will back the Northern Gateway albeit with an appropriate measure of solemn reluctance and regret. The only candidate opposed to the pipelines, Joyce Murray, probably doesn't stand a chance.
Pitifully bereft of substance, bursting at the seams with platitudes, the bevy of candidates just came across as - well, old - old and clapped out.
What I saw was a gang of aspirants empty of vision and, hence, utterly uninspiring.
I would have loved for each of the candidates to explain why, in their view, the Liberal Party went from Sussex Drive to Stornoway to Motel 6 out on the Gloucester highway. What mistakes were made and how are they going to make them right? How are they going to once again connect with the voting public and the politically disaffected? What do they think matters to those people, those who actually show up to cast ballots and those who shrug and say "why bother?"
Update - The stat counter shows this post has received a moderate number of viewers. I have to assume a bare majority of those are Liberal supporters. So why not even one comment to dispute my suppositions? Has everyone thrown in the towel?
I do not see how they could have made a proper moderated debate work with nine people. Clearly though they could have done better than this. At least ask the hopefuls some tough biting questions. What little sniping amongst each other there was seemed if not staged, then at least wan attempts at theatre. The softballs put to them really didn't tell us much except that collectively they are a feckless bunch wandering lost in the forest looking for moss on the side of a tree and finding nothing.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of flattering Jason Kenney, the Libs right now, with or without their rock star, are shift out of luck.
Yes, I watched and listened, and I really couldn't disagree with you both, more. First, I just enjoy listening to smart people express themselves. (As Jindhal-R said to U.S. conservatives, "We have to stop being the party of STUPID"!!) Second,I find our Liberal candidates to be sincere. (In the big-picture sense.) And third, if we're such losers, why do so many people want the job of leader? Imagine, for a moment, what the CPC leadership convention would be offering; Baird? Clement? McKay? Or, take your pick from the west. Now, I say take a deep breath and get with our Liberal Party of Canada. They are not perfect, but I believe will be the BEST choice, (policy-wise) for the MOST people.
ReplyDeleteLinda, if you enjoy listening to smart people, try the TED Talk series.
ReplyDeleteYour remarks sound eerily familiar, the sort of thing that was common during the Ignatieff days.
A party can't yawn its way to victory, Linda. Harper is a street fighter and as dirty as they come.
And, Linda, it's your Liberal Party of Canada, not mine. Any party that would back the Northern Gateway is my political adversary.
It's fine to protest what you don't agree with, but this isn't a 'one-trick pony' country. Vote for someone or don't. Your choice. But we have the parties we have. And if the cons and dips had their way, there would be no middle ground. And all of the parties, for better or worse, belong to us, to Canada.
ReplyDeleteInteresting concept, Linda, that our political parties somehow belong to the country. How do you reconcile that with the events of 1993 when the Bloc Quebecois became the Official Opposition? I think you have a somewhat romantic view of political parties as institutional monoliths. I don't. No party "deserves" to survive, that's something a party must earn and today's LPC doesn't seem to get that.
ReplyDeleteI would welcome a return of the Liberal Party as it was before it jettisoned progressivism but, unless the membership swings behind Joyce Murray, that won't be happening. So I'll remain with a far more progressive option, the Greens.
I don't know why anybody expects every contestant to have a 'total package' of fully developed policies. The 'debate' provides a sounding board, and it doesn't have to be exciting to be useful. As far as I am concerned, I will wait until 2015 to decide where my vore will go, when we have an actual campaign, with fully developed policies on the table. Policies that the partys are prepared to go to the hustings with. What I personally want to see in the meantime, is which contender is going to be the best leader of a party. Again, it is only my opnion, but I think the main task for the next Liberal Leader will be to build the organisational capacity, including membership, supporting and enhancing the supporter category, supporting policy development mechanisms that can earn the support of the electorate.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that anyone expected a "total package" of policies from these candidates. That said, they should be able to express some vision and a core of policies to advance and implement that vision. If they can't do that they're reduced to lip-flap and the process is reduced to a popularity contest.
ReplyDelete" So I'll remain with a far more progressive option, the Greens."
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, in my opinion the Greens are only progressive in relation to the environment. That is an important area, maybe the most important, because without an environment we have no home. However when it comes to social policy and economic policy as far as I understand they either have no real policy, or where they do it tends to the neo-liberal or non-progressive conservative or neo-conservative.
Personally I think we are screwed and my children and grandchildren are doomed to a life of conflict, turmoil and perhaps extinction!
You really should check them out, Koot. Unlike the other parties, the Greens have a published platform that speaks plainly. I was drawn to them by the environmental crisis but then I discovered other policies, such as restoration of a viable free press and dismemberment of the corporate media cartel, that cinched the change of my loyalties.
ReplyDeleteI have long believed, and argued, that we will have no chance of democratic restoration until we take down the media cartel that blinds our people to what's going on, that makes them detached and acquiescent.
The Tories are the ultimate beneficiary of this media cabal but you don't hear the Libs or New Dems demanding action either. That's because they've all embraced the religion of corporatism. I make that case in the piece I wrote yesterday, "Nobody Has Your Back."
I loved "Nobody has your Back" and I must admit, Lizzie has been the stiffest opposition, in terms of trying to make the public understand, of the Omnibus Budget Bills and what Harper is actually doing to what used to be Canada.
ReplyDeleteIn the USA I consider the Greens and Ralph Nader (who I admire and respect) greatly responsible for making the 2000 election close enough for the cabal to steal it for Bu$h the Lesser and it would be fascinating to see the post 9-ll scene without Cheney and Bu$h in charge, if indeed it would even have happened.
I fear that enough of the country will fall for TrudeauMania 2.0 to allow Harper to get another non-majority majority as he continues to exploit the same flaw in our system that defeated him until they stole the Progressive Conservative party so crippled by the Lyin Jaw that Walked like a Man.
I dont know how you manage to research and post as much as you do, but I`m really glad you do it.
I suspect your take on the Trudeau factor is probably not far off the mark. How Harper might fare is an open question. There is much that could happen between now and 2015. I always thought Harper's agenda would be overtaken by events. The sense of quiet urgency he shows suggests he also has that on his mind.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to watch how Harper acts to expedite or even circumvent the legal proceedings that will challenge the Northern Gateway. He knows the deal isn't secure until he gets that first supertanker loaded with bitumen out through the Douglas Channel.
When Harper is ready to make his move he'll try to take opponents by surprise. That's what he's done throughout his political career. Catch his opponents napping and then steamroller them as they struggle to catch up.
As for J. Trudeau Harper has a few tricks up his sleeve there too. Justin has already tossed Pierre under a bus by criticizing his father's energy policies while courting votes in Calgary. A lot of Canadians have some deeply held misunderstandings about PET and Harper will use each and every one of them against J.T.
Morning MoS; I hadn't heard of TED until you suggested it, which I'm sure says a lot more about me, than TED. I'm more of a Gonzo aficionado, although I do watch 'Big Ideas' on TV Ontario. I also listen, read and learn from Chris Hedges, Cornell West and Noam Chomsky. Oh, and LiberalsONLINE and Progressive Bloggers, with their great links! I appreciate your abundant, interesting and informative posts, MoS; they lack the partisan-hackery and hate-filled propaganda, so commonly found on the 'right'. I hope that I AM a political romantic - in the best, 'Robbie Burns' - sense of the word. Thank you and have a great day! (I have to be anonomous as I can't get my e-mailer to work...picnic :))
ReplyDeleteMorning MoS; I hadn't heard of TED until you suggested it, which I'm sure says a lot more about me, than TED. I'm more of a Gonzo aficionado, although I do watch 'Big Ideas' on TV Ontario. I also listen, read and learn from Chris Hedges, Cornell West and Noam Chomsky. Oh, and LiberalsONLINE and Progressive Bloggers, with their great links! I appreciate your abundant, interesting and informative posts, MoS; they lack the partisan-hackery and hate-filled propaganda, so commonly found on the 'right'. I hope that I AM a political romantic - in the best, 'Robbie Burns' - sense of the word. Thank you and have a great day! (I have to be anonomous as I can't get my e-mailer to work...picnic :)) Linda
ReplyDeleteP.S. I meant 'anonymous'...Linda
ReplyDelete