Summer Is Here!

It will be very interesting to see how the summer goes for the Liberals and Conservatives.
The Liberals have to get Stephane Dion's profile increased. Here is a man that everyone that I have talked to that has met him or has taken the time to take an unbiased view of his career and his vision for Canada comes away impressed. Yet the polls show that he hasn't connected with Canadians. Get him out on the hustings and get him on television, let Canada see what he has to offer.

Stephen Harper has to repair his image with the average Canadian. He still has his core support but I think that the average person sees him as a Bush wannabe and a bully. Maybe I'm wrong but this is what I'm hearing.

Where have you gone Dudley Doright?

I have blogged about the RCMP before and this just confirms my suspicions. I am a little bit concerned that the OPP has been suggested as the appropriate investigative body, I am not a big fan of Julian Fantino. If Fantino keeps away from any investigation it may be okay. I would suggest that Ontario's current Ombudsman may be the best person to handle the job.

I have been impressed with him since he first came on the scene as the first director of the SIU. He isn't afraid to look into difficult situations and if he encounters official wrongdoing he doesn't sweep it under the rug.

UPDATE

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070618.wdayrcmp0618/BNStory/National/home

Overconfident

Stephen Harper must be so confident in his ability to win Quebec and the West that he is writing off the Atlantic Provinces.



That is the only explanation for his reaction to current events, even if you are right, the wrong thing to say is sue me. All you are doing is highlighting the fact that you are not willing to listen to someone else's viewpoint. It is the typical response of an adult bully. Am I surprised that Harper won't listen to other viewpoints? No I am not. Am I surprised that he would be so open about it? Yes I am, I thought that he was a much better politician.



Not only is he losing voters in Atlantic Canada, he may be losing caucus members. The true Harper is coming out particularly as it relates to Atlantic Canadians who he has slagged before.

It makes you wonder why they even voted Conservative in the last election?

Tidbits not Timbits

When you read this guy's stuff just remember he was/is Brian Mulroney's buddy.

You have to be aware of her slant when she writes about Quebec, but overall she has a very good feel for Parliament.

This guy is out to make the news not report it. When did he become a constitutional expert and why is he repeating the theme of the Conservative attack ads? Maybe he wrote them.

Lots of people have told me that they consider Jean Charest one of the most disappointing and overrated politicians in recent memory. I think that he is probably a good cabinet minister but never had the political instincts to be a Party Leader.

Don't count your chickens etc.

I hope that this is true, but this kind of bravado tends to backfire.

Negative Ads

I know that I predicted this in the comment section of someone's blog (Jason Cherniak's I think or maybe BCTO's) but I want to also go on record as saying that some negative advertising does work.

In order to work it has to be well done and resonate with the viewer, the CPC's ads were poorly done and clearly didn't resonate. I would rather see the level of politcal debate in this country rise above the negative advertisement but I don't think it ever will because they work sometimes and also because sometimes they are needed to counter false claims by a politician or political party.

Stephane Dion

I like Stephane Dion. I've met him a couple of times and he is a genuine person so I am confused when people perceive him as arrogant. I suspect that Dion's confidence in his own intellect may be perceived as arrogance.

There is a good article in the Ottawa Citizen about Stephane Dion. The Citizen is no friend of the Liberal Party of Canada so I was surprised that the article was so positive. I think in time the majority of Canadians will see that Stephane Dion is the best leader for the country.

Humour Works

I wish I was as funny as Rick Mercer.

He has summed up this Prime Minister and his government perfectly!