153-152
That was definitely something else. It had the feel of a Super Bowl show from start to finish:
Pre-Game Show
There was lots of pre-game hype. They had updates on rosters, injury reports for both teams (Parrish is day-to-day with an abdominal injury), reporters in the field, and Chuck Cadman entering with a mob of reporters and cameras following him. They had people scalping tickets and the "7 minutes to vote"updates at the bottom of the screen.
The Game
For the main event, the CBC went all out with the "real time vote counter" and Peter Mansbridge's play-by-play ("boy, there are a lot of Martins in the House...uhh...2 in government...1 in the NDP....no, maybe 2 in the NDP..."). The game even went into overtime with a dramatic one goal win.
As for the vote, I'm sure a lot of people on both sides are breathing sighs of relief.
Post-Game Show
The post-game comments were interesting: Martin and Harper had the full cheering caucus behind them which was likely good for optics. Here's a quick run-down:
Layton
Obviously, it's a big day for him. The NDP is actually relevant and have been looking extremely good of late while the Liberals and Tories tear themselves to parts. I'm actually surprised they haven't seemed to crack 20% in the polls.
Ducceppe
We'll have to start calling him "Monsieur fache" because the guy looked really pissed today.
Harper
The pundits liked his speech but...I dunno. He was obviously playing to the base and trying to rally the troops behind him. It's pretty obvious his leadership will come under a lot of scrutiny this summer so he needs to get behind them. He came across a little sanctimonious I thought, but he was better today than he's been over the past few weeks.
Martin
He went on a little long but, boy, did he ever looked relieved. I thought thanking the strategists so profusely was a little odd since they've been under fire for dirty tactics but I guess they do deserve credit. Hitting on the "get to work and move on" theme was definitely a good idea.
Pre-Game Show
There was lots of pre-game hype. They had updates on rosters, injury reports for both teams (Parrish is day-to-day with an abdominal injury), reporters in the field, and Chuck Cadman entering with a mob of reporters and cameras following him. They had people scalping tickets and the "7 minutes to vote"updates at the bottom of the screen.
The Game
For the main event, the CBC went all out with the "real time vote counter" and Peter Mansbridge's play-by-play ("boy, there are a lot of Martins in the House...uhh...2 in government...1 in the NDP....no, maybe 2 in the NDP..."). The game even went into overtime with a dramatic one goal win.
As for the vote, I'm sure a lot of people on both sides are breathing sighs of relief.
Post-Game Show
The post-game comments were interesting: Martin and Harper had the full cheering caucus behind them which was likely good for optics. Here's a quick run-down:
Layton
Obviously, it's a big day for him. The NDP is actually relevant and have been looking extremely good of late while the Liberals and Tories tear themselves to parts. I'm actually surprised they haven't seemed to crack 20% in the polls.
Ducceppe
We'll have to start calling him "Monsieur fache" because the guy looked really pissed today.
Harper
The pundits liked his speech but...I dunno. He was obviously playing to the base and trying to rally the troops behind him. It's pretty obvious his leadership will come under a lot of scrutiny this summer so he needs to get behind them. He came across a little sanctimonious I thought, but he was better today than he's been over the past few weeks.
Martin
He went on a little long but, boy, did he ever looked relieved. I thought thanking the strategists so profusely was a little odd since they've been under fire for dirty tactics but I guess they do deserve credit. Hitting on the "get to work and move on" theme was definitely a good idea.
posted by calgarygrit at
7:18 p.m.
16 Comments:
In a banana republic where the ruling class has placed themselves above the law by systematically corrupting or co-opting the national institutions designed to provide a check on government power, you get to thank the strategists.
By
Anonymous, at 7:59 p.m.
The sore losers are out early tonight I see.
By
Oxford County Liberals, at 8:08 p.m.
Are the losers suggesting that an election right now was actually a good idea? WTF good would another minority government with the Bloc sitting on even more seats do us?
By
Mark Richard Francis, at 8:33 p.m.
The sore losers are just being sore losers.
Layton can't crack 20% at the polls because, although his personal popularity is now very high, Canadians are conditioned not to see the NDP as a federal option. That's a tough sales job, and it's one that he hasn't started.
In a way, the NDP could be said to be losers tonight, because they were the party that stood to gain from an immediate election. Layton may go back to being seen as a too-slick salesman before Gomery + 30 rolls around.
By
AJSomerset, at 8:38 p.m.
It's not a question of losers or winners, sore or otherwise. We all heard the Grewal tape. We all saw the Liberals suspend opposition days. We all saw the Liberals refuse to accept that they had lost the confidence of the house until they could buy Belinda and win a vote. The real question tonight, for each decent person who still supports the Liberals, is: How do you feel, really, about supporting, or even accepting, a government in which this sort of behaviour is not just tolerated, but praised? You don't have to answer me, but you do have to answer to your conscience.
By
Anonymous, at 9:29 p.m.
Now that we have won, let's get on with slagging of theose cross burning holocast denighers like
Deepak!! YOu do know he use to work for that evil empire Enmax don't you.
By
Anonymous, at 9:40 p.m.
MArkC:
What exactly did the Grewal tape show?
it showed that Murphy didnt offer Grewal anything:
What about Grewal's friend? He said that Grewal made the move first.
Grewal is a non-issue.
By
Oxford County Liberals, at 9:51 p.m.
Good coverage CG,
Watched CTV and thought their play-by-play was quite entertaining, Lloyd Robertson wouldn't quit talking though. Harper looked pissed afterwards.
Does anybody know why one of the Bloc MP's (I think it was a she) got a round of claps?
By
daveberta, at 9:57 p.m.
Scott Tribe,
Sure, you tell yourself that. But you may have trouble believing it. And if you don't, well, that's what I was talking about.
By
Anonymous, at 10:07 p.m.
Yeah the Libs one but at quite a price. I guess we won't be hearing any more about the democratic deficit. I lost my faith in Paul Martin this week. It isn't about ideas, just a naked pursuit of power.
By
Unknown, at 10:34 p.m.
Conservatives outfoxed by Liberals - the story of Cdn politcs. The Conservatives should adopt a new slogan - Never the bride, always the bridesmaid.
By
Shaky, at 12:54 a.m.
I can understand how Conservative voters must be feeling right now. After 12 years, it looked like they finally had their chance and then it slipped away with the Belinda defection.
But with the poll numbers the way they are, I think this was for the best. They only get one shot at a Gomery election and with the party low in Ontario and Belinda jumping ship, maybe they're better off waiting. While avoiding defeat the last month may have been quite the political coup for Martin, I think it's done a lot of harm to his personal reputation.
By
calgarygrit, at 1:45 a.m.
"What exactly did the Grewal tape show? it showed that Murphy didnt offer Grewal anything: What about Grewal's friend? He said that Grewal made the move first. Grewal is a non-issue."
I, too, suspect that this will disappear as an issue, not least because it looks very likely that in order to implicate Murphy (et al.), Grewal must implicate himself more.
This seems to me the likeliest order of events:
1. Grewal initiates by asking for a cabinet post and senate seat in exchange for crossing the floor. 2. Discussions ensue. 3. Crossing the floor is dropped, but absention discussed. 4. Murphy declines to make a specific deal.
In order to argue that #3-4 was improper (or illegal), Grewal must admit some impropriety (or illegality) in #1.
By
buckets, at 9:58 a.m.
I am amazed that people here are dismissing the tape. We don't know for sure whether Grewal approached the Liberals to trap them, or whether the Liberals approached Grewal. Both sides disagree. We know three things for sure (because both sides agree): 1. Grewal taped the discussion, not Murphy. 2. It took place in Grewal's office. 3. Murphy was at least trying to convince Grewal that a deal was possible. Listen to the tape for yourself if you don't think so.
There is no way to explain this away which doesn't involve an attempt by Murphy to corrupt Grewal. Murphy's story is absurd: if he wasn't trying to deal, he could have just said "no" up front. Grewal's story is at least possible. If I have to choose between a ridiculous story and a possible one, I'll believe the possible one.
By
Anonymous, at 10:44 a.m.
I like it! I wish I was back in Calgary so I could hear Breakenridge and Rutherford whining today...
Better luck on the 31st...NOT!!!
By
burton, at 5:32 p.m.
ROFLMFAO!!
You libs sure put the shaft to Jack...
HA HA HA..
Old Jackal..
you actually got that idiot to do what you wanted and you ain't gonna give him squat for it...
LMFAO...
By
Walsh Writes, at 10:55 p.m.
Post a Comment
<< Home