SDA's Kate McMillan lashes out at Stephane Dion for his perceived lack of toughness:
"Unfair".
"Bully".
These aren't words used by those accustomed to winning their own battles. We recognize that, because we all went to grade school.
We all went to grade school, but I think Dion is trying to appeal to that portion of the Canadian demographic that graduated. The dynamic there is a bit different.
And note that, according to the same SES poll , the Tories are still nowhere near a majority, in fact exactly where they were on election day. All that money spent and nothing to show. I suspect this is because, to the average Canadian, Harper comes off less as tough than thuggish. People see him spend like a Liberal, but still think he's a jerk.
Kate continues:
Dion lacks the temperament of men who seek to be the pointy end of the spear.
Dion seeks to be Prime Minister of Canada, not the metal tip of some kind of primitive hunting implement. I'm not sure its even physically possible to become the pointy end of a spear. Re-read the bit about graduating grade school, Kate.
We all went to grade school, but I think Dion is trying to appeal to that portion of the Canadian demographic that graduated
ReplyDeleteThat was chuckle out loud funny, well said.
When she and others make these points, it never seems to be based on the reality of the man, but rather the caricature painted by his opponents.
Pretty sad.
I'd say 84% of Canadians agree with her.
ReplyDelete"Dion seeks to be Prime Minister of Canada"
ReplyDeletenow that would be unfair . . . to Canada
I think so much of the analysis from some Liberal bloggers is nothing more than wishful thinking.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it the premise that Harper has hit a ceiling, and that Dion can only go up?
If I'm a Liberal, I'm hoping to God that Harper hasn't paved the road for a campaign that buries Dion. That's when the polls move, especially for Conservatives. That's when Harper goes for the kill.
Canadians want their leaders to be tough. They almost always overlook the rough stuff. Then know it's a bloodsport.
Somewhere along the way, not only have the Liberals forgotten that, but they have forgotten that they have been the worst perpetrators in this regard in recent memory.
Hearing Liberals complain about the unfairness of it all is like Milosevic complaining that his Bosnian accusers didn't say hi to him in the morning before trial.
Grow up. And get longer memories while you're at it.
Canadians want their leaders to be tough
ReplyDeleteThat is absolute BS, that is coming from the right who uses grade school speak..."My daddy is bigger than yours".
My gawd, if the whole country becomes as dumbed down as you would like, we are in BIG trouble.
Tough? I want my leader to be intelligent, insightful, forward looking. Strong yes, but not stubborn and tough.
There are many places to live outside of Canada if you want your leader to be "tough"...shall I name them?
Dion lacks the temperament of men who seek to be the pointy end of the spear.
ReplyDeleteMan, she must ripped out her gourde. Gin, I suspect.
I think so much of the analysis from some Liberal bloggers is nothing more than wishful thinking.
What analysis are you referring to, Dennis?
"Why is it the premise that Harper has hit a ceiling"
ReplyDeleteThe more every Conservative slams Dion's weakness, the more it points the finger in Harper's direction. Why can't he capitalize, with such a wuss for an opponent? Why haven't the billions spent paid any dividends, particularly with the flip flopper, forever embarrassing himself? People love the rough stuff, Harper gives it in spades, and nothing, nada, zip. There's a story there, and a big bruise on Harper's head from the ceiling. I think Dion can go up, because clearly Harper can't go anywhere, despite everything in his favor. There's a story there alright.
As soon as Harper figgers he's got the guts to drop the writ, that's when many Canadians will be able to hear and see what Dion's about, and also what he has already brought to the table to make our Canada is great as it is.
ReplyDeleteHarper is a Divider. It's his mandate. If Harper can't take Canada, bake it in a cake and present it to his buddy down south, he's lost.
Dion will not be baking any cakes for other countries. Dion looks after his own. His own is Canada. Check it out. The facts are that Dion is for Canada. Period.
Since Harper came on the scene, every move he makes is to pit one part of Canada against the other. Certain Canadians are embroiled in mires of Harper's making. Harper is a Divider. The better to break up Canada, the better to make it easy for foreign takeover. Harper has already sold out a major industry of Canada's (softwood) proclaiming it as a victory while already the barbarians are at the gates demanding more. If no Emerson to save the day, then who?
Harper is a wedge. The axe head that drives a rift into a whole log. The wedge that splits the log, breaks it into manageable pieces to be picked up and carted away. This is what Harper wants. Harper hates Canada and wishes it to be torn asunder. Harper wishes to carry Canada's head on a platter to his Master.
If Harper fails in his main mission, his lesser one is to "firewall" Alberta and let his Master in by the back door.
Harper's a backdoor man.
Harper is bending for people who would love to see Canada broken.
Harper hates Canada.
Harper: There is no greater fraud than a promise not kept (to my crew)
ReplyDeleteAccording to the SES leadership numbers Dion is polling at 10% in QUEBEC. YES QUEBEC. So much for the native son theory of lifting Liberal fortunes in Quebec.
ReplyDeleteLet's stop the BS Big City: we should have went with Rae or even Ignatieff. Dion ain't cutting it whether he's known or not. The bloody Liberal caucus who knew him all too well voted for anybody but. I think that speaks volumes. Enough said.
Sorry about that. I'm a pathological liar who suffers from an anxiety disorder.
ReplyDeleteWorried:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, to the other true beleivers all I can say is let's not screw up at the next convention. Maybe the leader should be voted in by the sitting MP's. If we would have done it this way this time maybe we'd be leading in the polls instead of the Harperites.
Anybody can read the SES numbers - they're there for all to see.
ReplyDeleteDion is at 10% in the leadership numbers in Quebec - that ain't no lie folks.
If you don't want bad news fellow Liberals do as I'm doing, avoid reading the polls.
I agree with you, to the other true beleivers all I can say is let's not screw up at the next convention.
ReplyDeleteDon't re-inforce my delusions. It's not helpful.
Fret none or very little, "worried and depressed". It's not even election time yet. You're likely suffering from Harper the pill's kidney kicks when there is no election.
ReplyDeleteLike BCL's anonymii opine, it's not over till it's over, and baby, it hasn't even started yet.
Harper's been delivering kidney kicks, striking out at all sorts of people in his own feedlot like a washed up has-been stud recently gelded.
Old Harper's out of the gate and halfway down the field (the wrong way) before the bell's been rung.
Fret none or very little, "worried and depressed".
People don't know Dion. Each day that passes, more people know Harper and see what he's doing to Canada. Dion's still the dark horse, or in my opinion the grey horse. Always bet on the grey: old timey rule.
Fret none or very little, "worried and depressed". Harper's sweating and lathered up even before he's been boxed for the run. Not a good sign for a front-runner in any race.
Cheer up "worried and depressed".
It's going to be a race to the finish! Soon as old Harper the gelding rings the bell, we're off! The ultimate Canada Cup, so to speak. Will we have a United Canada with certain people as nations? Or shall we have Canada, one nation?
I'll be placing my money on the grey, though I expect a lot will be placing their money where the income trust bets went... NOT!
It's a horse race, and I'll take the wimpy grey up against a castrated heavy-breather owned by foreign interests any day of the week!
Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.
Horse analogies are dumb.
ReplyDeleteI wish Rae were leader.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
ReplyDeletePretty funny, Espinoza. Do you ride?
Once upon a time there was an Espinoza who was a jockey... he was pretty good. Vancouver racetrack, notoriously crooked, but what the hay, eh?
Does anybody know where I can get an on-line copy of the Liberal Party Constitution? When can a leadership review be called?
ReplyDeleteI don't think there will be an election this spring, the Conservative's numbers haven't gelled as the volatility in the poll show. There's now time for a review.
If Dion passes then his leadership will be affirmed at a time when he needs it. If not then we move on.
wouldn't committed liberals "know" dion?
ReplyDeleteso why only 40% of them think he would be best pm?
That's the problem...you can be low in these numbers and things can still be ok, but the fact that less than half of the committed liberals feel dion would be the best pm speaks volumes.
Why should people vote for this man if the party faithful have trouble thinking he would be the best?
for RUDY ESPINOZA...if Rae were leader ...we would lose most of the seats in Ontario....we HATE him.
ReplyDelete"We all went to grade school, but I think Dion is trying to appeal to that portion of the Canadian demographic that graduated"
ReplyDeleteNow those are the kinds of comments that will appeal to mainstream Canadians. Keep it up and leave the "low brow" to Harper. Just remember that 50% of the population has an IQ less than 100.
This is silly...has it not occured to anyone that the reason that Harper isn't forcing an election now is that he knows Dion will not get better?
The Libs should admit their mistakes and move on to another convention.
Volpe...assemble the troops! There is another King to bring down.
Wow...Kate's minions got all excited. Must have been all those sexual allusions in her post.
ReplyDeleteNow those are the kinds of comments that will appeal to mainstream Canadians. Keep it up and leave the "low brow" to Harper. Just remember that 50% of the population has an IQ less than 100.
ReplyDeleteOoh...don't you hate it when Conservatives attempt to tackle science. If when they're being scientific, they're being stupid.
IQ is not a measurement that yields particularly insightful information when it comes to society and democracy. Just attend a local Mensa meeting every once in a while and judge for yourself how *smart* has very little to do with *sense*.
IQ is not a measurement that yields particularly insightful information when it comes to society and democracy. Just attend a local Mensa meeting every once in a while and judge for yourself how *smart* has very little to do with *sense*.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more. BCL just came off like an elitest snob with his statement of a university education. I was just pointing out the obvious correlation of low IQ folks to their lack of University education. Many of those mensa folks love to sit around and relish their superior intelligence...much like BCL does. Give me a blue collar bloke to hang around instead of a mensa block head any day.
Maybe Dion needs an image change for poor Kate. After rummaging around at her blog I have come up with the perfect makeover that only Kate could love.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest a white tank top, leave one tooth, and a pickup truck with a shotgun rack in the window.
With the Harper supporters tough (not strong) count.
ReplyDeleteThey'd be happy with a muscle bound guy in a bar with neverending tatoos - teeth optional. These kind are only tough in gangs.
Couldn't agree more. BCL just came off like an elitest snob with his statement of a university education. I was just pointing out the obvious correlation of low IQ folks to their lack of University education. Many of those mensa folks love to sit around and relish their superior intelligence...much like BCL does. Give me a blue collar bloke to hang around instead of a mensa block head any day.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, but countering intellectual snobbery with anti-intellectual snobbery isn't really an effective challenge or a persuasive argument. That's what's so irritating about Ms. McMillan.
BCL's blog was founded for exactly that reason...to counter the over-bearing uppitiness of anti-intellectuals who think their experiences are somehow more authentic and more valuable than anyone else's.
To that, I say...blow me. I don't care for Mensa types, nor do I care for whiny miseries who sit around bitching about their taxes either.
...and I don't care for people who call others "blokes" either? Who are you...Madonna?
Dante wrote:
ReplyDelete"Just remember that 50% of the population has an IQ less than 100."
I bet most of them graduated from grade school, and hence are potential Lib voters. I don't care if a person is not particularly bright, I just don't want them drooling on their corn-flakes.
Analogies are for people who are too lazy to make points with the facts at hand.
ReplyDeletePuns are lazy too.
Rae has authority and charisma. Mr. Dion has neither.
George Bush has charisma too. So did Hitler, so did the Ayatollah Khomeini.
ReplyDelete...apparently, Conservatives think Harper has charisma.
Charisma is in the eye of the beholder.
Deknob! What a disagreeable surprise.
ReplyDeleteI have no intention of blowing you Bi-guy. Who are you other than a vulgar asshat Bi-guy? I couldn't even be bothered to kick the shit out of your low life ass if you were in front of me. Now go away. You're dismissed little girl.
Hoo ha! Simmer down, Tex. I was actually being funny. Madonna likes to think she's British by using terms like "telly" and "bloke."
Now stop whining. You're sounding like Dion.
Dion is a classic socialist! If he is losing a debate or whatever, it's because something's "unfair" or the other guy is "a bully". Not because of any deficiencies on his part, or because he couldn't debate himself out of a wet paper bag. I'm sure he'd enact some law that makes it 'fair' in a debate so that when the loser get's his ass whupped, that would get the LOSER some points too. You know, just to be 'fair'.
ReplyDeletePathetic.