Like they say, the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions -- suddenly you find yourself otherwise committed and unable to line up "A" with "B". Too bad...
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't treat your precious gems correctly. So, as soon as you're back in town, take your scheduler to lunch or at least buy some flowers.
Nice to have someone you can really count on, even in a pinch.
CORRECTION: Ms. LeBreton did deal with appointments but not the scheduling kind. She was in charge of political appointments in the PMO during the Mulroney years.
In your opinion what party is winning the narrative?
ReplyDeleteI had hoped we would be dealing with more serious issues, but I am hearing the opposition are really upset about the body bags and NHL flights problems.
I did watch the Pearson Dream Foreign Policy redux for a robust foreign policy speech. It was interesting in 2005 he was honest and disgusted about the choices we made. Last week he seemed to only find criticism for the CPC and blamed them for abandoning the great track record under everyone except Harper.
Do Liberal advisors not understand those comments will be played showing his comments in 2005 vs 2009? I don't get it, why he feeds the Tory machine so many examples of real vs "acting".
I did my own version (low budget) take a peek 3 videos 2005,2009, parody Tom Cruise Tropic Thunder clip.
http://canadiansense.blogspot.com/2009/09/michael-ignatieff-two-sides-foreign.html
CanadianSense,
ReplyDeleteThe New Coalition appears rather tenuous. Both parties voted this morning in support of the government but Jack is feeling the heat -- hence his recent demands.
Bill Curry
Ottawa — The Globe and Mail
Last updated on Friday, Sep. 18, 2009 02:40PM EDT
The Conservative government survived a confidence test Friday morning – as expected – thanks to the support of MPs from the Bloc Québécois and NDP.
The 224-74 vote approves a ways-and-means motion that contains measures tied to the January, 2009, budget.
Following today's vote, Michael Ignatieff said it felt good to vote no-confidence in the Conservative government for the first time as Leader of the Opposition.
“Personally, it felt like the right thing to do,” he said. The Liberal Leader also said he still intends to move a no-confidence motion when his party has its first opposition day in the first week of October.
Both the Bloc and the NDP originally opposed the budget and the first piece of legislation that was connected to it. However, they say this second piece of budget legislation contains specific measures that they can support, especially the home-renovation tax credit.
The NDP has also indicated it is prepared to keep the minority Conservative government afloat until improvements to employment insurance are passed into law. A deal to send Bill C-50, the EI reform legistlation, to committee has yet to be reached.
NDP Leader Jack Layton Layton said New Democrat supporters can get behind his caucus' efforts to avoid an election if it leads to improvements to EI.
“Our supporters prefer that we work for them rather than having an election that no one wants,” he said. The NDP leader played down concerns expressed by NDP president Peggy Nash and caucus members like Windsor-area MP Joe Comartin that the government's EI bill will leave out many unemployed workers, particularly in the auto sector.
I don't understand how Ignatieff states he has not seen a socialist in 30 years and than refers to them as such. The same for the Bloc. If Harper is framing them in a Negative light for his benefit why are the Liberals helping to reinforce the frame? I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteThe "faux" threat by the Liberals to flush out the NDP and Bloc must make sense for the Liberals.
I don't understand how promising to vote against everything going forward from Sudbury is going to help with a narrative of the government in waiting.
The Liberals just gave all four parties ammo for the next 10%.
The Liberals voted against the Home Reno Credit and the 1 Billion for long tenure employees?
I don't see how that won't hurt the Liberals in many ridings.
CanadianSense,
ReplyDeleteMight I suggest that the field of economics offers us a clue as to the relationship between socialists and social-democrats. Michael's statements, in my view are more than professorial nuance: just as macroeconomics and microeconomics are related while at the same time appearing to be distinct, the same can be said of Michael's characterizations.
Today's social democrat is no Woodsworth, Coldwell, Douglas or even Lewis. Ignatieff is right on the money. We haven't seen that approach in more than thirty years. What do you think those men would think of the latter-day NDP's performance? I suspect they would collectively upchuck...
Time to separate the wheat from the chaff! I prefer to use the term social-democrat when denouncing today's incarnation. The Pension Democrats have no idea what is about to hit them (wink) but rest assured that it's on the way.
IMHO, Liberals must clearly establish the Harper narrative (yardstick, goal posts) and then partially knock it down in voters' minds. This is our version of pretzel time!
Have you never attacked while also coming to the rescue? Try it some time.
As for our voting pattern -- it's exactly the same as the Bloc's: vote against a quarter to half a loaf while pledging to provide a loaf. Works great in Quebec or hadn't you noticed?
Finally, no question that any political stand cuts both ways at the margins but the calculus must be based on net benefit and political upside. In my opinion, our present stance has more potential upside than down over the medium to long term. The longer this government sits paralyzed in the ice, the more potential traction is generated for Liberals. Not as good as during an actual campaign but no slouch either.