The Liberals think they can win by being dull, boring, middle of the road and above all nice. The Liberals strategists seem convinced that if only the Liberals successfully put the Canadian people asleep, when they wake they will vote Liberal in droves. This is the only way of making sense of those moronic Michael in the woods ads and party's complete unwillingness to release interesting policy.
Of course the ads are more than just a complete waste of money. It is hard to think of an ad campaign that could do more harm. Ignatieff has all the charisma of a funeral home director --- and rather than distract Canadians focus they draw attention to this very fact. To add insult to injury, the ads build on the campaign the Conservatives unleashed against Dion. The Conservatives successfully painted Dion as a wimp. Apparently, the Liberals decided that why stop with Dion? Why not portray the entire Liberal party as wimps? The Liberals can support any number of brain dead Conservative crime bills. It will not do a lick of good if the Liberals are spending millions having Igantieff say some motivational crap in the middle of a forest. He is sweater short of Mr Rogers. Nothing says soft on crime like a forest setting, cheesy music and promise that "we can do better".
If the Liberals truly wanted to counter the Conservative ad campaign, then they could first unveil some bold new policy. With no Liberal platform to speak of, the Conservatives are having a easy time portraying Ignatieff as in it only for himself. The Liberals can also start firing back. That would at least show that public that Ignatieff was not a wimp like Dion was. Be more like Trudeau. He literally told his political opponents to fuck off.
The Conservatives have made Ignatieff's past an issue. So make Stephen Harper's past an issue. Juxtapose Harper's serial Canadian bashing with Ignatieff's academic, and journalistic achievments. Yes I know that would mean bringing the cosmopotain Ignatieff out of the closest. However, the notion this was something to be downplayed and did play well in seats that the Liberals actually have a chance of winning is ridiculous. For the hundred time the Liberals need to regain what they lost in suburban Toronto, and Vancouver and hope for breakthrough in Quebec. The flip side of dragging the cosmopotain Ignatieff out of closet is that doing so might stop Ignatieff from turning every other speech into a talk about his long dead relatives.
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9 comments:
Amen
I agree on the ads. Not even close to tough... And tough walks hand-in-hand with "capable" as far as voters are concerned... Watch a Ford F150 ad, or even a Toyota Tacoma ad, then watch a Prius ad. Our ads are the Prius ads...
The bright side is that these - like the sweater ads are simply to frame the so-called "high road" (which I loath)... I hear these are very soon to be followed by ads with teeth... I just hope we don't let them frme him - and us - in the meantime...
I agree but didn't they say these ads were just the begnning (to introduce canadians to iggy) and that the attacks would come out after that? Maybe we are running out of time. They do need to explain what they stand for though. He can't keep pushing it off til the election. We need a bold vision for Canada and clear policies that average Canadians will support and can relate to.
Oh for crying out loud... when will the Sorry Tories quit trying to force the Liberal to out their election platform. Saying nobody knows what Ignatieff and the Liberals stand for is being dishonest and an out and out lie. But then like Hitler, the Sorry Tories believe that if you repeat a lie often enough it will be believed. Hey they got elected on lies before so it must be working... :p
Well, this Michael Ignatieff ad will wake them up -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2xJstJ_2nw&feature=fvst
As an issue, sometimes you choose the environment. Other times, it chooses YOU!
I like this ad better
Totally agree with the post. It is like the Liberal's aren't even talking to people outside of the room. Who was it that thought that not having a set of "Hi I am ... " after the coronation wasn't a good idea? Canadian's don't know this guy. Hell, Michael barely knows Canada. We needed an introduction.
The Conservative's did it for the Liberal's. For free even. The Conservative's told Canadian's that Iggy is an egg head, a narcissist, and a foreigner. Everything he does and says is now seen through that pre-existing prism.
Why didn't the Liberal's see this coming?
It's been said before, but it bears repeating, if you don't define yourself to the public, then your opponent will do that for you. ...and you can bet what they say won't be pleasant.
The problem with the Liberals is that they don't understand that being on the opposition bench means that you HAVE to spill your platform to the public. You can't hold it secret until the last minute since the opposition will have already defined you to the public. If the Tories 'steal' your ideas, then you can tell the public that your ideas were so good the opposition stole them for themselves.
The ruling party doesn't have to lay out their platform since they can run on their record. (whether you feel their record is good or not) So it is up to the Liberals to define who they are.
What's worse? Putting out a GOOD platform that get's copied, or putting out NO platform and having the opposition put one out for you?
Susannah,
Yeah I saw it.
I think it is just too ugly. I wouldn't use ads like that except in response to that level of ugliness. People say a lot of things. They are allowed to change their minds and re-think circumstance. Ignatieff's strengths include the wide range of his views. He shouldn't be ridiculed for them.
It's the same as Harper being pilloried by Martin and since for making speeches that reflected his thoughts before 2006.
It is of no consequence except to show an evolution and growth of character.
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