Thursday, January 12, 2006
Bitter Little Paul Martin
As I've been claiming for about a week now, this election is as good as over. Even Liberal party insiders are claiming the election is un-winnable for Paul Martin. I'm not sure if it's an unspoken Liberal Party tradition for the out-going leader to burn everyone and everything behind him, but Paul Martin's legacy will be one of ineptness.
As if this ineptitude, and the nickname "Mr. Dithers" wasn't bad enough, he's using his last days as Party Leader to further stain himself, his party, and his legacy. This time, he's doing it through a series of television ads (Ed. warning: these could make you very ill) that take aim at Stephen Harper. The Conservatives responded yesterday, with a fact check of the attack ads. Needless to say, they're not quite accurate.
Paul Martin has taken on a George W. Bush approach to politics. The way the plan goes, is you tell the people whatever it is they want to hear. This is normal politics, as most would agree. With GWB and PM approach however, the key is to build up people's fears first, then calm them. GWB mentioned 9/11 every 3 seconds during his 2004 campaign. PM's only chance is pandering to the fear of Ontario voters, in the weakest fashions. I can see election-day already, with Paul Martin standing at a podium, shaking, and screaming accross the nation: 'He's scary! He's from Calgary! He's from the West! He's said nice things about Americans!' - all of which are clearly deplorable traits for a national leader.
More on the American-thing. Paul Martin has been spinning his views on Americans, to the point where I'm not sure if I can keep my head on anymore.
As if this ineptitude, and the nickname "Mr. Dithers" wasn't bad enough, he's using his last days as Party Leader to further stain himself, his party, and his legacy. This time, he's doing it through a series of television ads (Ed. warning: these could make you very ill) that take aim at Stephen Harper. The Conservatives responded yesterday, with a fact check of the attack ads. Needless to say, they're not quite accurate.
Paul Martin has taken on a George W. Bush approach to politics. The way the plan goes, is you tell the people whatever it is they want to hear. This is normal politics, as most would agree. With GWB and PM approach however, the key is to build up people's fears first, then calm them. GWB mentioned 9/11 every 3 seconds during his 2004 campaign. PM's only chance is pandering to the fear of Ontario voters, in the weakest fashions. I can see election-day already, with Paul Martin standing at a podium, shaking, and screaming accross the nation: 'He's scary! He's from Calgary! He's from the West! He's said nice things about Americans!' - all of which are clearly deplorable traits for a national leader.
More on the American-thing. Paul Martin has been spinning his views on Americans, to the point where I'm not sure if I can keep my head on anymore.
- First he claims he's not anti-American, just standing up for Canadian values
- He then follows that up, by trashing the American's record on Kyoto and climate change, when in fact, the American's record since Kyoto has been MUCH better than our own.
- His Liberal Party attack ads now express concern that Stephen Harper might actually get along with Americans.
I think that Paul Martin may have over-estimated the anti-American sentiment in Canada, when he was building his campaign platform. Trash the Americans, and the votes will come seems to have been the general idea. Whoops. Who would have thought that trashing and insulting your biggest trading partner, nearest neighbour, and only line of defence; during an election campaign would be a bad idea?
Either way, in 11 days, Paul Martin will be gone, and I for one can't wait to see how he further tarnishes his legacy in the next two weeks.
