NDP produces ads attacking Ignatieff for propping up Conservative government

Fri, 2009-01-30 22:09

Peter3

I like these ads, but more because they exist at all than because they are particularly well put together. They didn't really need to be anything special to have the desired effect.

It has been fun reading the outrage from the usual suspects over the last few days. The same geniuses who were sneering at the NDP for not getting that the coalition was dead are now moaning about how sneaky Jack was preparing for the Liberals' defection.

Anyway, if it's taken as given that these are an attempt to snatch disappointed coalition supporters from the Liberals, they're more than good enough. If they are really thinking of escalating the air war, I hope the next cycle of ads contains some more nuanced messaging. The Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss smack-upside-the-head shtick is fine as far as it goes, but it needs a harmony line.

It would also be great to see some of the pantheon trotted out to speak to the Canadian political mess. An ad featuring Stephen Lewis would be hot stuff. Ed could do some good. A retired prairie premier or two might work.

Fri, 2009-01-30 22:25

#103

Lard Tunderin Jeezus Lard Tunderin Jeezus's picture

Peter3 wrote:

It would also be great to see some of the pantheon trotted out to speak to the Canadian political mess. An ad featuring Stephen Lewis would be hot stuff. Ed could do some good. A retired prairie premier or two might work.

Absolutely. The public needs to hear about the "Corporate Welfare Bums" again, now more than ever.

Sat, 2009-01-31 04:23

#104

Fidel

Bookish Agrarian wrote:

I will finally be the end of the 'reckless Ontario NDP government' crap as the sainted Conservatives and Liberals have now joined together to try and emulate the stimulus of the NDP bugets that paved the way for the recovery Harris took credit for?

In a way, I understand why the ONDP was dethroned in 1995. I think it was mainly due to a funky-funky electoral system which elected Rae's government by fluke. We've had several phony majority governments in Ontario, and Rae's was no exception. Ontario voters have voted for reasons of cold war era tradition. Those good times are long gone now though, and election turnouts here are lower than ever.

But on the 90's recession, there were people with experience in FDR's government as well as labour oriented groups in Canada telling Rae and Laughren that if they were going to deficit spend, it's better to be hung for a pound than for an ounce. Instead, Rae's government was hung for an ounce. They spent about a billion, although well placed, countercyclical dollars in those deficit budgets. Economic recovery was underway in Ontario by 1994, and Ontario's economic growth was highest in the country for second half of 1992, and 93-94. The NDP spent money in Northern Ontario and places that resembled the thirdworld having known little investment from Toronto in 45 years prior. And Northern Ontarians are still thankful for Rae's NDP, for the infrastructure projects and saving northern industries from collapse in the 90's.

And I think Harper will be hung for an ounce rather than a pound of Keynesian stimulus. Conservative stimulus is going mainly to bail out big banks and corporations by what I can tell. All that nonsense Harper spoke about our banking system not in the same shape Wall Street's in had nothing to do with ReformaTories. Ottawa did attempt to bring in US-style competition for mortgages and insurance. It flopped apparently and is why we never heard about it. They also havent explained to Canadians that they are forking over $75 billion to the banks, and some of that will be financed as debt on the backs of Canadians.

Sat, 2009-01-31 15:24

#105

Basement Dweller

The Tory-Liberal coalition is a dream scenario for the NDP, in the long run. No matter what the government does now, Canadians are in for four years of hell. And those in government or aligned with the government will be badly damaged.

All Jack Layton has to do is maintain a coherent and populist message against whatever the government is doing.

Sat, 2009-01-31 15:41

#106

Fidel

Yes, I have a feeling our two old line parties may believe this is going to be a do-over of the glory years that were Mulroney-Campbell-Chretien-Martin, and that similar phony majorities will buoy them through it all. Harper will ding up national debt through the roof on behalf of their bankster friends, and Iggy or a king in waiting will do the fiscal austerity routine.

But I think they're mistaken if that's the case. The 80's-90s recession was all lyin Brian's doing. I believe this time around it is a fundamental problem with the capitalist system overall, and no matter how much money they shovel to banksters and put us in hawk as a result, real recovery in the US is ten years away. Their neoliberal trade deals to ship massive amounts of Canadian fossil fuels and raw materials south of the border will not save them as this branch plant economy shrinks due to US protectionism this time around.

Sat, 2009-01-31 15:48

#107

al-Qa'bong

Lard Tunderin' Jeezus wrote:

Absolutely. The public needs to hear about the "Corporate Welfare Bums" again, now more than ever.

As long as they don't mention "The Bobbsey Twins of Bay Street," that would be a good idea.

Sat, 2009-01-31 17:23

#108

jrootham

The line I want to hear is:

Michael Ignatieff is Stephane Dion with eyebrows.

It's time for some snark.

Sat, 2009-01-31 22:34

#109

Basement Dweller

I agree, capitalism is in a crisis of historic proportions. It was brought on by the neo-liberal experiments. Perhaps, its the biggest crisis.

It didn't have to be as bad as its gonna get. We will soon watch governments collapse around the world. With no coherent alternative yet, many countries will descend into chaos. It will be ugly.

I believe, in the end, social democracy will the solution. It will be interesting how the Northern European countries withstand the crisis. Just keeping your nation and economy intact will be an impressive accomplishment going forward.

Sun, 2009-02-01 00:54

#110

V. Jara

jrootham wrote:

The line I want to hear is:

Michael Ignatieff is Stephane Dion with eyebrows.

It's time for some snark.

Is that like Jack Layton with his mustache?

Sun, 2009-02-01 01:21

#111

jrootham

It has a little more substance. Adding one to the number of times the Liberals abstained is pretty much the same point. This is a one liner version of the same thing.

Sun, 2009-02-01 01:26

#112

Sven

Doug wrote:
There are people who still listen to radio?

What is this thing you call "radio"?

_______________________________________

[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

Sun, 2009-02-01 01:55

#113

George Victor

It is "the source" of the cant that supports rightwing opinion in the Heartland, the Palin people, the angry illiterate that Obama made the mistake of identifying.

It is finding some legs in Canuckistan as well (a term that I understand was first heard by radio Appalachia listeners).

Sun, 2009-02-01 03:40

#114

roxwho

Centrist][quote wrote:

Are Canadians currently too pre-occupied with their own economic circumstances and tuned out of politics altogether or will these ad resonate and be effective? Thoughts ?

According to Maslow, most will not have the presence of mind for politics because they will be thinking of meeting their basic needs first. But maybe they will believe their circumstances would have been better under the Coalition; that could cause them to pay attention.

I only hope Layton doesn't come off like he has in the latest scrums - I think he looked and sounded like a 2-year old having a tantrum. I didn't even hear the message with that medium. Like the decision or not, most people were not in favour of the coalition, so they may not have liked the idea of leaving Harpo in power, but they felt respected by the Liberals because they did not try to use this event to grab power, thereby also asserting that the people (we who voted) made a mistake in electing Harpo in the first place. I have heard a lot of that type of comment.

I'd rather be despised for my character than adored for my lack of it.

Sun, 2009-02-01 04:55

#115

Fidel

jrootham wrote:

It has a little more substance. Adding one to the number of times the Liberals abstained is pretty much the same point. This is a one liner version of the same thing

I think Layton helped Dion discover that he does have a spine. It's why they had to get him out of there and install the Igg man.

NDP produces ads attacking Ignatieff for propping up Conservative government

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