The Humanization of Michael Ignatieff
Last election, the Tory strategy was to show the softer side of Steve - Harper was Mr. Sweater Vest at campaign rallies and on TV.
This time, the tactic has changed - everywhere you go, Harper is in a suit. The man was even wearing dress pants for his pick-up game of street hockey. After all, these are serious times and nothing risks the economic recovery more than indulging in casual wear.
On the flip side, the Liberals have gone all out to humanize Michael Ignatieff. See Mike eat a hot dog. See Mike wear a tool belt. Tonight, the media are invited to watch Mike watching American Idol.
posted by calgarygrit at
10:00 p.m.
17 Comments:
Probably not a bad idea. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen. I think Michael Ignatieff's image is improving. The biggest difficulty he faces is I don't think we have reached the stage yet where people want a change. That tends to happen after a government has been in power for 8-12 years, thus his main difficulty. In fact if Harper wins a majority, that might be a blessing in disguise for the Liberals as not only can the party rebuild, there will also be a stronger desire for change after having Harper in power for 9 years as opposed to 5 years.
By
Miles Lunn, at 11:38 p.m.
Oh heck. leave him in for 20. Imagine the desire for change then!
By
Niles, at 11:50 p.m.
20. Wash your mouth !
Seriously, I recall the P.C. absolutely destroyed in '93. I also recall how Chretien instituted the policies he ran against. I think targeting a viable alternative is the biggest problem. The NDP have had a terrible time getting past a limited % of votes. The media haranguing about 'pinkos' may hurt just when people are going to need protection the most. I really can't see the world economy doing well given the loss of crops to drought, destruction of infrastructure in Japan, and sheer bloody mindedness of the NeoCons.
The Yanks lost 25% of the negro population of Detroit.Isn't no taxes for the rich a winner ? How are cities, states and municipalities going to operate without money ? And the limit on U.S. 'borrowing' from the Fed is coming up.
The only question on my mind is what is further planned re: yanking the rug out from under recovery. After all, energy prices are heading north and food supplies are taking a kicking, helped along by diversion of foodstuffs into fuel.
Stuff like that going on and you want to trust yourself to the mercies of the rich and selfish ?
By
opit, at 2:46 a.m.
I believe Ignatieff has done a very strong job of working against the faux tide the CONs have created; however, the lies in advertising are tough to challenge when people have short attention spans. It's true that Harper hasn't really hit his 'best-before-date' that typically befalls sitting governments, however the 'scare tactic' that is starting to swell behind him -- trying to divide canadians through fear, refusal to answer many questions or meet real, non-CON people, and this whole thing around his party snooping through facebook to profile people coming to the rallies -- and could create a backlash. He's a cagey one, but do Canadians really trust him? That's what Ignatieff has to establish, too, a stronger trust factor.
By
rockfish, at 4:08 a.m.
Did Opit just use the word "negro"???
By
Kirbycairo, at 8:32 a.m.
Is anyone else discouraged that Canadians apparently choose their prime minister based on:
- Hot dogs and beer
- Piano lessons and gym memberships
- Being rude to a teenage girl at a rally
Can't we talk about spending? Democratic reform? Employment? Arctic sovereignty? Foreign relations?
... Pretty please?
By
Robert Vollman, at 10:38 a.m.
Can't we talk about spending? Democratic reform? Employment? Arctic sovereignty? Foreign relations?
Thinking leads to elitism! And next to socialism, elitism is the greatest threat to humanity. Or so I've been told.
I agree with you Robert. I don't want to hang out with, or be drinking buds with any politician. I want someone who can demonstrate compassion, brains, humanity, and intellect. Harper might have brains, but he's missing the other three. I'll take Iggy for the win.
By
Paul Raposo, at 12:36 p.m.
Mister Robert, (deep breath)
you lattesippingleftwingivoryivytowerelitepolicywonkgeeknaivetreehuggingdirtyhippyuniversitydeviantunrealCanadiancommunist.
Did I miss anything?
The "uncool kids/chess club r voters" propaganda campaign has bullied engaged discussion and stuffed it into a locker, hanging by underwear.
I have it on very good backroom political authority that the vast majority of voters pay more attention to the fact they repeatedly (five times on average) heard a name and vague associations with yay!/ick! if they are actually trapped into a voting booth for their electoral decision.
It's not engagement, it's marketing. It's cynical and very depressing. According to the backroomers, it works.
By
Niles, at 12:40 p.m.
humaniSation, in Canada.
By
Eugene Forsey Liberal, at 2:35 p.m.
Did someone named Niles just call me a latte-sipping elite?
By
Robert Vollman, at 3:16 p.m.
"Can't we talk about spending? Democratic reform? Employment? Arctic sovereignty? Foreign relations?"
I actually think non-substantive issues have a place in elections. We know politicians often break promises, we know that it is hard to get things done in a minority parliament, and we know that unexpected events can happen that change the circumstances in place when platforms were written.
In contrast, when Michael Ignatieff eats hot-dogs, he is sending a clear message (and it isn't "I'm a regular guy"): he wants the support of hot-dog eaters so much that he is willing to eat regurgitated raccoon meat.
Vote-seeking motivations will usually trump ideology, and offer a more consistent basis on which to predict how a candidate will govern. That is why voters are not stupid to vote for people that make naked appeals to them. You don't know whether a politician will keep their promises, but if they need your vote, they will try to keep you happy.
By
french wedding cat, at 4:06 p.m.
You don't know whether a politician will keep their promises, but if they need your vote, they will try to keep you happy.
Unfortunately I live in Alberta, and nobody needs our votes.
We're the nation's great whipping boy. A leader could propose a new policy forcing Albertans to eat a spoonful of poo for every tonne of CO2, and win in a landslide.
In fact, I think that's an actual NDP policy.
By
Robert Vollman, at 5:38 p.m.
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love, at 10:37 p.m.
"Did Opit just use the word "negro"???" Why, yes he did, a proper anthropological category of persons ( even if many of those in the USA are unlikely to qualify as such. ) . The word he did not use was that redolent of people being victimized by a 'niggard' - a person too cheap to offer his slaves proper equipment and support.
By
opit, at 1:18 a.m.
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