Following up on these earlier posts, here’s a quick look at the last of the messages Bob Hepburn thinks the NDP may face from the Cons in particular as the election campaign progresses. 2) Tax-and-spend image: NDP loyalists consider this issue as “trite,” but already Harper is hammering away at
Continue readingTag: strategy
Accidental Deliberations: On separation anxieties
Following up on this post, let’s take a look at the first of Bob Hepburn’s theorized lines of attack against the NDP – which gets its own separate post since it needs to be analyzed in radically different ways depending on the party who launches it: Worse, the Conservatives are
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On messaging tests
Following up on yesterday’s post, I’ll make clear that nobody should hold any illusions that the NDP’s opponents will abandon their own efforts to pursue seats simply because the NDP holds a strong position for the moment. And on that front, Bob Hepburn floats a few trial balloons as to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, summarizing these posts on the dangers of setting up past advocacy as a barrier to a place in public life. For further reading…– Again, Sean Fine’s report on the Cons’ general ideological screening for judges is here. – Glenn Kauth reports on Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin’s lack of concern
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Alex Munter discusses the connection between public health and economic development, along with the need to take a far longer-term view of both. And PressProgress points out Matthew Stanbrook’s message (PDF) that the Cons are undermining Canada’s medical system through malign neglect.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On trust issues
Susan Delacourt’s take on what we should expect to see happen if there’s a minority Parliament following this fall’s election covers most of the bases. But it’s worth expanding on one point: It’s true that Harper, by constitutional convention, would have first shot at forming a government if the Conservatives
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Asked and answered
The problem with basing a party’s rhetoric on theories which can be directly and obviously disproven by events beyond their control is that events happen. With that in mind, over to you, people whinging about the candidates for Finance Minister under an NDP government: The NDP Leader also announced that
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, with my suggestions as to what viewers should watch for in tonight’s leaders’ debate – particularly in a campaign where we’ll have ample opportunity to see everything but interaction between party leaders. For further reading…– David Reevely describes the staging behind most of the campaign events we’ll see between
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On control freaks
While we’re on the subject of Stephen Harper’s campaign to insult Canada, let’s note the significance of his choice of attacks on Tom Mulcair. As others have pointed out, the “career politician” complaint makes absolutely no sense as an attempt to contrast Mulcair against Harper – who has been in
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On unconventional strategies
One might think that needlessly picking fights with every single person one can name is something less than an ideal campaign tactic. But Stephen Harper has other ideas. Or put another way, Stephen Harper is campaigning as Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged, only with more anti-social tendencies.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On final excuses
I’ll offer one more post arising out of the flurry of discussion about the Senate – and particularly the timing of an announcement which would seem to have been equally easily made during the campaign if it was intended solely for platform purposes. Let’s remember that the last time Stephen
Continue readingPolitics Canada: Trudeau’s blunt rejection of coalition will cost the Liberals more support
Justin Trudeau’s blunt rejection of the idea of a coalition will cost the Liberals more support I predict. There are several people in the country who sincerely believe that Harper must be removed from power at all costs and will do whatever it takes to make that happen. The fact
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Change for the better
It seems so long ago when it was conventional wisdom that no party in contention for government in Canada would dare talk about cooperating to get things done, no matter how many voters wanted to see it happen. But if there was any doubt that the NDP can change Ottawa’s
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, taking a look at the voter pools the NDP will be looking to win over in order to come out ahead in if this fall’s federal election turns into a two-party race. And I’ll note that while Alberta may serve as the most recent precedent, similar patterns can be
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, expanding on this post as to the Harper Cons’ choice between short-term tactics and long-term viability. For further reading, Jamey Heath argues that the Libs are serving only split voters who have a common interest in change, and that the progressive vote should coalesce behind the NDP. But in
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On acceptable surprises
When Alice Funke first identified the effect of an extended writ period under the Cons’ well-hidden revisions to the Canada Elections Act, I mused the effect was less problematic than it appeared at first glance. But now that the possibility of an extra-long campaign looks fairly real and the issue
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On succession plans
Over the past few days, I’ve finally made it around to reading Paul Wells’ The Longer I’m Prime Minister. And there are a few points raised by Wells’ account of Stephen Harper’s stay in office which call for plenty more discussion. Let’s start with the conflict between Harper’s long-term plans
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: The abyss calling the kettle black
I’ve previously written that the Libs tend to be entirely incoherent when they can’t make any claim to votes by default – and that the lead in the polls earned by Tom Mulcair and the NDP raised a real possibility that would happen again. But I’ll readily acknowledge that this
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Jeff Spross argues that in addition to ensuring that employees are fairly paid for the overtime hours they work, we should also be pushing to ensure people aren’t required to work as much to begin with. And Angella MacEwen points out that
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Flailbait
Susan Delacourt’s point that Canadian politics have seen a shift toward a permanent campaign is generally well taken. But it’s worth keeping in mind what it means when parties have the opportunity to plan for years in advance of a fixed election date: Political advertising, once only a feature of
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