MM
You are only listening to the Liberal political media complex.
And you haven't even refuted the points he mentioned in his article.
Canadian leaders debates - 2015
Tue, 2015-07-14 22:48
#202
Wed, 2015-07-15 00:11
#203
Can someone provide a scorecard about the debates? It is getting hard to follow. Date, sponsor, venue, who is invited, who has accepted, who has declined.
As NR said, wikipedia. Specifically: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Canadian_federal_election#Leaders.27_...
I think it's good that there's going to be more than the normal two debates.
Wed, 2015-07-15 00:20
#204
Mulcair needs to bow out as well - this is a farce.
Harper’s no-show at the consortium debates won’t hurt him a bit
The debate over the debates continues, with an announcement by the consortium of television networks of French and English-language election tilts on October 7 and 8.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the podium. The French debate, set for an 8 to 10 p.m. slot on a Wednesday, is now going up against the Montreal Canadiens opener with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The English debate won’t even be in prime time. It’s scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. the following evening — supper hour in the East and during the work day in the West. This isn’t major league. It’s bush league.
Clearly the consortium — CTV, CBC and Global — decided not to give up prime time in English in the middle of the fall launch season. As for the French debate, there is virtually no commercial cost to Radio-Canada, since whatever it runs that night will get killed by the Habs game.
Why is the French debate two hours, while the English one is only 90 minutes? “Because it will include the Bloc Québécois,” CBC News reported, “which has been excluded from the English-language debate.”
This means that Gilles Duceppe, who has excelled in past English-language debates, has agreed to the consortium’s terms excluding him from this one. Tactically, he would have been better advised to insist on being included — if only for the opportunity to present it as an insult and an affront to Quebecers.
Stephen Harper won’t be at either debate, since the Conservatives have accepted four other debates — with Maclean’s, the Globe and Mail, the Munk Centre and with TVA in French. (Maybe he’ll go to the Habs-Leafs game instead.)
So the consortium debate in English will include Tom Mulcair, Justin Trudeau and Elizabeth May. There will be no empty chair, or vacant podium, for Harper. He’s still invited, although he’d look pretty silly if he showed up.
http://ipolitics.ca/2015/07/14/harpers-no-show-at-the-consortium-debates...
Why do you want him to bow out like Harper? The article doesn't explain your point.
The consortium debate will be perfect for Tom Mulcair. He will crush everyone and will be clearly the only choice.
Wed, 2015-07-15 00:34
#205
Misfit
Elizabeth May will be at the consortium debate and I think she can stand toe to toe with Mulcair.
Wed, 2015-07-15 00:55
#206
The time of day the debates air isn't very important anymore. With PVRs and online access more people than ever before will watch the debates on their own timetable.
Many people couldn't care less if Harper shows up or not. I think I read somewhere that he is second choice for only 5% of voters. Many people are deciding between the Liberals and the NDP. Trudeau has already accepted the consortium debates.
The optics of Mulcair refusing to debate Trudeau in Quebec would be terrible. Harper doesn't have much support and everyone knows he is boycotting the Consortium debates. His fondest hope is that Mulcair and Trudeau fall in line and let him dictate the terms of the debates. Mulcair choosing to debate Harper and not Trudeau and Duceppe in Quebec would look very bad.
Wed, 2015-07-15 01:20
#207
Elizabeth May will be at the consortium debate and I think she can stand toe to toe with Mulcair.
Unless she gets too weighed down with having to help JT.
Wed, 2015-07-15 06:36
#208
I believe that Tom should and will take on all comers in the Consortium debates, even in Harper's absence. Even so he runs the risk that the other three leaders will turn their guns exclusively on him. Trudeau because he competes with the NDP as the "alternative." Duceppe because he competes for the Francophone vote with the NDP and not the Liberals. And May because the only seats she can hope to gain are from the NDP, and because she will predictably be running interference for Justin.
This may allow the NDP to manage expectations. The present meme is that Mulcair is the prohibitive debate favourite. He may exceed expectations if the public expects in advance that the other three opposition leaders will al try to gang up on him.
Wed, 2015-07-15 08:07
#209
Unlike May and Duceppe, Mulcair (and Trudeau) are newbies to the federal debate thing. So, it's not completely certain that Mulcair will dominate the debates. Ignatieff, for example, was a renowned professor and debater from Harvard, yet he fell flat in the more showy atmosphere of the TV election debates. That said, I've seen plenty of examples of Mulcair besting both Trudeau and May in the House of Commons question period, which is another showy type of debate-like format. So I anticipate that Mulcair will do well. One issue though is that the Consortium debate comes after some of the Harper debates. So, if Mulcair does well against Harper in an earlier debate, he'll likely play it safe and debate the others in front-runner style (IE, cautious to avoid error, rather than looking to destroy a foe). Neither useful nor exciting, and may tarnish his image as a serious candidate compared to Harper (who may come to be seen as being above the fray).
Anyway, it's all good. Previously the NDP struggled to be noticed (IE, Mercer offering to host a red door/blue door debate sans Layton). Not the case now. So, the NDP may as well enjoy the moment and exploit it fully by having Mulcair be in as many debates as possible.
Wed, 2015-07-15 12:28
#210
More Liberal nonsense
Mulcair is already in a French debate on October 5 and will debate whoever shows up
Wed, 2015-07-15 14:30
#211
It may not do Harper any "harm" if he skips the consortium debate, but is doing no harm enough for him is he is trailing two weeks before the election? MacDonald's column is written as if Harper was the frontrunner who just needs to run up the clock and win. But Harper is LOSING. He is the one who needs a game-changer and by skipping the debates he also misses and opportunity to use the debate to his advantage ssomehow
Wed, 2015-07-15 20:40
#212
Mulcair needs to bow out as well - this is a farce.
Harper’s no-show at the consortium debates won’t hurt him a bit
The debate over the debates continues, with an announcement by the consortium of television networks of French and English-language election tilts on October 7 and 8.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the podium. The French debate, set for an 8 to 10 p.m. slot on a Wednesday, is now going up against the Montreal Canadiens opener with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The English debate won’t even be in prime time. It’s scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. the following evening — supper hour in the East and during the work day in the West. This isn’t major league. It’s bush league.
Clearly the consortium — CTV, CBC and Global — decided not to give up prime time in English in the middle of the fall launch season. As for the French debate, there is virtually no commercial cost to Radio-Canada, since whatever it runs that night will get killed by the Habs game.
Why is the French debate two hours, while the English one is only 90 minutes? “Because it will include the Bloc Québécois,” CBC News reported, “which has been excluded from the English-language debate.”
This means that Gilles Duceppe, who has excelled in past English-language debates, has agreed to the consortium’s terms excluding him from this one. Tactically, he would have been better advised to insist on being included — if only for the opportunity to present it as an insult and an affront to Quebecers.
Stephen Harper won’t be at either debate, since the Conservatives have accepted four other debates — with Maclean’s, the Globe and Mail, the Munk Centre and with TVA in French. (Maybe he’ll go to the Habs-Leafs game instead.)
So the consortium debate in English will include Tom Mulcair, Justin Trudeau and Elizabeth May. There will be no empty chair, or vacant podium, for Harper. He’s still invited, although he’d look pretty silly if he showed up.
http://ipolitics.ca/2015/07/14/harpers-no-show-at-the-consortium-debates...
I still disagree -- the story of Harper not being there would be killed if Mulcair did not show up -- and he would be accused of being arrogant like Harper. Better to show up.
Wed, 2015-07-15 21:05
#213
Realistically if both Mulcair AND Harper didn't show up - the debate would be cancelled
Wed, 2015-07-15 21:44
#214
That's probably what's coming.
Thu, 2015-07-16 01:20
#215
The Liberal political media complex is at it again.
La Presse partners with consortium for French-language debate — what now?
La Presse announced Wednesday that they’ll be partnering with the broadcast consortium to produce and distribute the 2015 French-language leaders’ debate, raising doubts about whether the prime minister will participate in a second French debate.
Having rejected the consortium’s (CBC News, CTV News, Global News, Radio-Canada, and Télé-Québec) invitation to participate in the traditional TV debates, and having accepted proposals from Maclean’s, the Globe and Mail/Google, Munk Debates, and TVA instead, the expectation was that the Conservatives would accept a fifth and final proposal from La Presse.
Wednesday’s announcement likely nixes that plan.
“We are delighted to announce this partnership with La Presse, which will enrich the democratic experience for French-speaking audiences across the country during the 2015 election campaign” Michel Cormier, the executive director of news and current affairs at Radio-Canada, was quoted in a press release.
Éric Trottier, La Presse’s vice-president of news and its editor in chief, added what could be interpreted as a jab at that Conservatives.
http://ipolitics.ca/2015/07/15/la-presse-partners-with-consortium-for-fr...
Fri, 2015-07-31 15:39
#216
Hopefully Mulcair only attends debates where Harper will be present.
Any news on this front?
Fri, 2015-07-31 15:57
#217
Common sense hopefully will prevail.
No one ought to be going into a main debate with 3.9% support, particularly when their objective is to tag-team with the Liberals to attack another party.
Fri, 2015-07-31 16:10
#218
The NDP has just made a healthy and wise decision which is in the best interests of all Canadians.
The date schedule had been turned into a circus.
Tom will be participating only when the PM is present.
As of now that's 4 debates, which is double the number of debates Jack participated in 2011.
Thurs, Aug 6 / English / General / Mcleans-Rogers- CityTV / Wells
Participants: Elizabeth, Justin, Stephen, Tom
Mon, Oct 5 / French / General / TVA / ?
Participants: Stephen, Tom
Dates yet to be determined
? / English / Economy / Globe-Google/ ?
Participants: Stephen, Tom
? / English / Foreign Policy / Munk / ?
Participants: Stephen, Tom
Fri, 2015-07-31 16:10
#219
The NDP has just made a healthy and wise decision which is in the best interests of all Canadians.
The date schedule had been turned into a circus.
Tom will be participating only when the PM is present.
As of now that's 4 debates, which is double the number of debates Jack participated in 2011.
CBC News has learned the NDP will only consider debate invitations until Friday, Aug. 7.
While the NDP did initially agree in principle to attending the consortium debate held by Canada's biggest broadcasters, it now says it will only attend that debate and any others if the prime minister is present.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-ndp-threatens-to-pu...
So Mulcair has teamed up with Harper to prevent the consortium of major broadcasters, including our own CBC, to hold the debates they have held for as long as I can remember.
Great news that he is pulling out of the consortium debates. Harper will never agree to those now. That leaves the consortium debates to Trudeau and May plus Duceppe for the French debate. The English one will be more like a 2 hour friendly presentation of their policies just a week and a half before the election.
It seems that either Mulcair has decided that Trudeau is no longer a threat, which is arrogant. I don't think voters who swing between Liberal and NDP are going to appreciate that. It smacks of taking them for granted.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:06
#220
The NDP has just made a healthy and wise decision which is in the best interests of all Canadians.
How can you say boycotting a debate is a 'healthy and wise decision"?
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:06
#221
Norman Spector @nspector4 2h2 hours ago
Norman Spector retweeted kady o'malley
Or not.
Norman Spector added,
kady o'malley @kadyThis may be a tactical mistake. @paulvieira CBC reporting NDP says it won't attend consortium debates unless Conservative PM Harper attends
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:09
#222
- from the baloney meter thread
Trudeau's Liberal media complex is whining that the NDP will only be participating in debates where the PM will be present as if that is short changing Canadians.
Canadians it appears are going to be subjected to a 78, yes that's a 78 day-long election campaign, which is more than double the usual 28 to 35 day period for Canadian elections. Canadians will be more than saturated with politics. The heck with Canadians, says Trudeau Liberals arrogance, which journalists recently have been writing about, knows no bounds.
Tom will be participating in double the number of debates the NDP participated in, in 2011, and most Canadians will appreciate this.
The baloney meter on this Trudeau Liberal media complex complaint is a mile high.
The NDP has just made a healthy and wise decision which is in the best interests of all Canadians.
How can you say boycotting a debate is a 'healthy and wise decision"?
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:19
#223
From last year
Olivia Chow responded to John Tory’s warning that he may drop out of mayoral debates that do not include Doug Ford by accusing him of being scared to debate her.
The former MP cast the refusal of both rivals to participate in some of the countless debates during this campaign as an “insult” to voters, although she clearly singled out Mr. Tory, the frontrunner.
“You expect that kind of behaviour from Doug Ford. What is surprising is that Mr. Tory is taking a page from Mr. Ford’s playbook. I’m starting to see a pattern here,” Ms. Chow said Thursday. She told reporters Mr. Tory donated to Mr. Ford’s campaign in 2010.
“For four years we have a mayor that would say anything and stretch the truth and now Mr. Tory will say anything to get elected. Enough already,” she said, outside city hall. “Mr. Tory, stop hiding. Stop picking and choosing who you will speak to and attend all the debates and don’t be afraid debating me.”
http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/mr-tory-stop-hiding-olivia-chow-acc...
---
If memory serves me correct everyone on rabble applauded Olivia for slamming John Tory for skipping debates.
Yet now you guys are saying it is 'healthy and wise decision" for Thomas Mulcair to skip debates?
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:30
#224
The NDP is not bycotting debates, it will attend if Harper does, hopefully Harper changes his mind.
I'll point out that the Tories also plan on a 2nd French Debate, for 5 total debates.
I'd have prefered the NDP not make Harper's attendance a prerequiste of attending, it puts too much power in Harper's hands and that's never a good thing, but I can understand why.
On the plus side watching Elizabeth May and Trudeau debating who loves who more should be good for laughs. :-)
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:30
#225
Given that the consortium represents the major networks across Canada I doubt they will be too pleased with Mulcair so I guess he doesn't care about that. Pride goeth before the fall.
I very much hope that the networks still air the debates but change the format to be more condusive to indepth discussions on the major topics giving Trudeau, May and Duceppe plenty of airtime to promote their policies.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:33
#226
If the leader of the Official Opposition and the Prime Minister don't attend, do you really think they won't just cancel them?
And even if they don't cancel, if Mulcair doesn't attend I doubt Gilles Deceppe will either, for the same reason Mulcair isn't attending if Harper doesn't.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:33
#227
The NDP is not bycotting debates, it will attend if Harper does, hopefully Harper changes his mind.
As Olivia Chow said in her own words
"Stop picking and choosing who you will speak to and attend all the debates”
Saying it is an "insult" to voters.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:34
#228
From last year
Olivia Chow responded to John Tory’s warning that he may drop out of mayoral debates that do not include Doug Ford by accusing him of being scared to debate her.
The former MP cast the refusal of both rivals to participate in some of the countless debates during this campaign as an “insult” to voters, although she clearly singled out Mr. Tory, the frontrunner.
“You expect that kind of behaviour from Doug Ford. What is surprising is that Mr. Tory is taking a page from Mr. Ford’s playbook. I’m starting to see a pattern here,” Ms. Chow said Thursday. She told reporters Mr. Tory donated to Mr. Ford’s campaign in 2010.
“For four years we have a mayor that would say anything and stretch the truth and now Mr. Tory will say anything to get elected. Enough already,” she said, outside city hall. “Mr. Tory, stop hiding. Stop picking and choosing who you will speak to and attend all the debates and don’t be afraid debating me.”
http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/mr-tory-stop-hiding-olivia-chow-acc...
---
If memory serves me correct everyone on rabble applauded Olivia for slamming John Tory for skipping debates.
Yet now you guys are saying it is 'healthy and wise decision" for Thomas Mulcair to skip debates?
Because this hurt John Tories Mayoral chance so badly, oh wait...
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:36
#229
Like Olivia said, not attending debates is an "insult" to voters.
her words.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:39
#230
It probably is a tactical mistake to not attend. The other parties will spin it as Mulcair and Harper at boycotting the debate. I also wouldn't be surprised if the debate goes ahead with many comments from the participants pointing out these two are absent. Yeah, it's a bad mistake.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:48
#231
Never mind cherry picking quotes. If someone had said to Olivia you have to debate every day, she would pass, I know she would pass, and so do you.
The number of debates, not of the NDP's doing, were turned into a circus.
Tom will be participating in 4 debates, double the number that Jack did in 2011, our last election.
No one was beating on Jack for only attending 2 debates, were they?
The NDP has made a decision here that will benefit all Canadians.
The NDP is not bycotting debates, it will attend if Harper does, hopefully Harper changes his mind.
As Olivia Chow said in her own words
"Stop picking and choosing who you will speak to and attend all the debates”
Saying it is an "insult" to voters.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:50
#232
So there you go - problem solved. You should be happy about that. Go out and celebrate.
Given that the consortium represents the major networks across Canada I doubt they will be too pleased with Mulcair so I guess he doesn't care about that. Pride goeth before the fall.
I very much hope that the networks still air the debates but change the format to be more condusive to indepth discussions on the major topics giving Trudeau, May and Duceppe plenty of airtime to promote their policies.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:51
#233
As far as I can tell, the NDP is still ready to attend the debate. They agreed to the debate in principle and that hasn't changed. They're just saying that if the sitting government doesn't show up, there isn't much point in showing up when the time finally comes.
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:55
#234
As far as I can tell, the NDP is still ready to attend the debate. They agreed to the debate in principle and that hasn't changed. They're just saying that if the sitting government doesn't show up, there isn't much point in showing up when the time finally comes.
Which was Olivia point saying it is an "insult" to voters not to attend all debate.
She said "Stop picking and choosing who you will speak to and attend all the debates"
There is no dispute as she felt all the candidates should attend all the debates. Especially John Tory who was leading in the polls. And rabblers last year applauded her stance.
So why the change this year? Last year everyone was on Team Olivia saying it was arrogant of John Tory to pull out of some debates.
But using socialdemocraticmiddle own words, you could say "if John Tory doesn't show up, there isn't much point in showing up when the time finally comes."
So why the change in attitude this year?
Fri, 2015-07-31 17:57
#235
The NDP is not bycotting debates, it will attend if Harper does, hopefully Harper changes his mind.
As Olivia Chow said in her own words
"Stop picking and choosing who you will speak to and attend all the debates”
Saying it is an "insult" to voters.
There were actually over 70 people on the ballot running for mayor of Toronto. i don't recall any debates that included all 70 people and I doubt if Olivia Chow ever did any debates that were just her against Ari Goldkind and a few other fringe candidates
Fri, 2015-07-31 18:03
#236
The NDP is not bycotting debates, it will attend if Harper does, hopefully Harper changes his mind.
As Olivia Chow said in her own words
"Stop picking and choosing who you will speak to and attend all the debates”
Saying it is an "insult" to voters.
There were actually over 70 people on the ballot running for mayor of Toronto. i don't recall any debates that included all 70 people and I doubt if Olivia Chow ever did any debates that were just her against Ari Goldkind and a few other fringe candidates
Olivia said (and I'm paraphrasing) she didn't make up the invite list as to who gets invited. She shows up and expect others who are invited to show up as well.
Fri, 2015-07-31 18:04
#237
The NDP is not bycotting debates, it will attend if Harper does, hopefully Harper changes his mind.
I'll point out that the Tories also plan on a 2nd French Debate, for 5 total debates.
I'd have prefered the NDP not make Harper's attendance a prerequiste of attending, it puts too much power in Harper's hands and that's never a good thing, but I can understand why.
On the plus side watching Elizabeth May and Trudeau debating who loves who more should be good for laughs. :-)
I doubt that is how the media will be presenting his refusal to debate unless Harper is there.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/05/21/leaders-debates-ndp-universities...
OTTAWA — Canada’s New Democrats believe Canadian universities are “not really neutral” enough venues in which to hold the leaders’ debates.
The surprising comments were made by NDP national campaign director Anne McGrath during confidential discussions with representatives of the broadcast consortium as well as the Liberal party, Green party and Bloc Québécois, several sources told The Huffington Post Canada........
“It was shocking,” the source added. “The [NDP] seemed so committed in getting youth engaged in politics, and, interestingly, the consortium is really engaged on that.”
McGrath suggested that the consortium consider the National Arts Centre in Ottawa or Massey Hall in Toronto, the person added.
NDP spokesman George Soule told HuffPost that McGrath would not comment to the media.
“We are not going to comment on parts of negotiations that happen behind closed doors,” he said.
Looks like it is true.
Thursday’s debate wranglings confirmed to some that the NDP and Conservatives have been working together for months to box in the Liberals and freeze the Greens out of the debates.
“In my view, there is an attempt to get the Liberals off the opposition map… and the NDP doesn’t want the Greens there,” one person involved with the negotiations said. “Two parties who are diametrically opposed are working together.”
On Twitter, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s advisor, Gerald Butts, has been tweeting sections of books written by NDP strategist Brad Lavigne and Toronto Star journalist Susan Delacourt describing how the NDP and the Tories co-operated in past federal elections.
A Liberal source, who was not at the negotiations, said Prime Minister Stephen Harper is choosing to participate in debates only in venues and from outlets with which he is most comfortable.
“It’s insane, he’s accepted a debate hosted by [Parti Québécois Leader] Pierre Karl Péladeau’s company [TVA television network], one hosted by The Globe and Mail in Harper’s hometown [Calgary], one by conservative Peter Munk’s foundation, and one moderated by his biographer [Maclean’s magazine’s Paul Wells].”
“The headscratcher is why the NDP abetted all of this.
Mulcair is acting as though Trudeau is beneath his notice. He seems to have forgotten that many people supporting Mulcair in the polls were previously willing to support the Liberals. Taking their support for granted is a bad idea.
Fri, 2015-07-31 18:10
#238
NDP won't participate in leaders' debates not including Harper
http://www.cp24.com/news/ndp-won-t-participate-in-leaders-debates-not-in...
Fri, 2015-07-31 18:13
#239
Trudeau Liberal arrogance knows no bounds.
Mulcair is acting as though Trudeau is beneath his notice. He seems to have forgotten that many people supporting Mulcair in the polls were previously willing to support the Liberals. Taking their support for granted is a bad idea.
Fri, 2015-07-31 18:58
#240
I disagree with this decision -- particularly that debate.
Mulcair should attend. He could draw the line there and say no more unloess Harper is there but this one he should go to. By going he will also highlight that Harper is not.
Fri, 2015-07-31 19:07
#241
I must congratulate NorthReport on this. You had argued that if Harper wasn't there, then there really was no point in Mulcair showing up. I wasn't sure (and I'm still not sure) but I did feel it was an interesting perspective. Why bother debating the riff-raff? If you're Leader of the Opposition (aka the government in waiting) and currently riding on top of the polls, then of course it only makes sense to attend debates that have the PM there.
It's a bit risky. It may alienate a few supporters who feel the NDP should be at all debates (in fact, I'm a bit disappointed that there won't be a full-on debate btw JT and TM sans Harper). But the decision does seem in line with keeping the focus on replacing Harper.
Fri, 2015-07-31 19:13
#242
I must congratulate NorthReport on this. You had argued that if Harper wasn't there, then there really was no point in Mulcair showing up. I wasn't sure (and I'm still not sure) but I did feel it was an interesting perspective. Why bother debating the riff-raff? If you're Leader of the Opposition (aka the government in waiting) and currently riding on top of the polls, then of course it only makes sense to attend debates that have the PM there.
It's a bit risky. It may alienate a few supporters who feel the NDP should be at all debates (in fact, I'm a bit disappointed that there won't be a full-on debate btw JT and TM sans Harper). But the decision does seem in line with keeping the focus on replacing Harper. Why waste time with the fringe?
That depends on more than numbers. Many votes are in play between the Liberals and the NDP. It seems more than a little arrogant to now pull-out of all the debates he previously agreed to unless Harper will be there. That is taking voters for granted and seems very calculating, refusing now that he is ahead in the polls. It looks like he fears the damage Trudeau might do.
The debate on the 6th should be very interesting. If Mulcair can't stop himself from being condescending to Trudeau it could hurt Mulcair coupled with his withdrawal from the consortium debates.
Fri, 2015-07-31 19:15
#243
I must congratulate NorthReport on this. You had argued that if Harper wasn't there, then there really was no point in Mulcair showing up. I wasn't sure (and I'm still not sure) but I did feel it was an interesting perspective. Why bother debating the riff-raff? If you're Leader of the Opposition (aka the government in waiting) and currently riding on top of the polls, then of course it only makes sense to attend debates that have the PM there.
It's a bit risky. It may alienate a few supporters who feel the NDP should be at all debates (in fact, I'm a bit disappointed that there won't be a full-on debate btw JT and TM sans Harper). But the decision does seem in line with keeping the focus on replacing Harper.
I agree 100%
Fri, 2015-07-31 19:53
#244
If you're Leader of the Opposition (aka the government in waiting) and currently riding on top of the polls, then of course it only makes sense to attend debates that have the PM there.
When John Tory pulled the same stunt (saying he wouldn't attend any debates Doug Ford wasn't at), Olivia Chow had a different reaction. Saying it was an "insult" to voters.
“Mr. Tory, stop hiding, stop running away from the truth and stop saying anything to get elected,” Chow said in a press conference behind City Hall on Thursday.
“Mr. Tory stop hiding, stop picking and choosing who you would speak to and attend all of the debates and don’t be afraid of debating me.”
So if Olivia has problems with front-runners ducking debates, why don't people on rabble feel the same way?
Fri, 2015-07-31 19:58
#245
Because we don't have Olivia Chow doing all our thinking.
and to be fair many of us don't like it, but its not the end of the world.
Fri, 2015-07-31 20:01
#246
If Mulcair can't stop himself from being condescending to Trudeau it could hurt Mulcair coupled with his withdrawal from the consortium debates.
Jen Gerson of the National Post was on Power & Politics today and spoke about Mulcair new book.
Amount of times Stephen Harper is mentioned in the book - PLENTY
Amount of times Justin Trudeau is mentioned in the book - ZERO
Fri, 2015-07-31 20:03
#247
It probably is a tactical mistake to not attend. The other parties will spin it as Mulcair and Harper at boycotting the debate. I also wouldn't be surprised if the debate goes ahead with many comments from the participants pointing out these two are absent. Yeah, it's a bad mistake.
I think it would turn more into indepth interviews if Mulcair and Harper refuse to attend. I very much hope that the consortium sticks it to the NDP and the Cons by giving anyone who shows up a soft and supportive ride. It's that or surrender.
Fri, 2015-07-31 20:04
#248
I don't I hope they just don't bother.
Fri, 2015-07-31 20:09
#249
I'm disappointed by the NDP decision, and I think it may actually hurt them. However, I feel quite confident that if the Lib and NDP polling numbers were reversed, Trudeau would be doing the exact same thing, because the Lib "campaign professionals" are at least as disgusting as the NDP ones.
Fri, 2015-07-31 20:30
#250
i'm fine with it why bother. keep your eyes on the prize of getting at Harper. don't delute the message etc.....
Fri, 2015-07-31 20:42
#251
If neither Harper nor Mulcair show up, I wonder if the consortium debate will still occur. Will Trudeau still show up to it?