Most assuredly. It's already started* and I've already begun sending some of the more blatant examples to my CPC e-lists.
My point is that it could have been largely overcome last time out by staying focused and on message. Desperation has a real stench about it and hopefully the Libs and their media lapdogs will grossly overplay their hand in the days to come.
*here's a real barf-bag example of already begun msn shameless Liberal ass-kissing:
Sat, April 16, 2005
LONDON FREE PRESS
Liberal senses political winds By CHIP MARTIN
Back when he was a member of London city council, Pat O'Brien wasn't much of a team player.
So it was no surprise when the Liberal MP from London-Fanshawe threatened to bolt from the party that has so upset him on the same-sex marriage issue and, more recently, the federal sponsorship fiasco.
O'Brien sensed an opportunity to prolong his political career by distancing himself from the Liberals as they sag in public opinion polls.
And while he says he's decided to stay and fight his battles within the party, O'Brien has made his point and no doubt hopes he'll benefit from his talk of independence.
His short-lived act of defiance included likening the head of his party's Ontario caucus to "a blond bimbo," a barb he soon regretted and for which he later apologized.
In his explanation, O'Brien said he felt Toronto-area MP Sarmite Bulte had "high-sticked" him when she complained Liberals who talked of fleeing the party were like rats fleeing a sinking ship. He said his insult was a "knee-jerk reaction of anger" from an "old hockey player."
The hockey player analogy was meant to explain his over-the-top retaliation. But it was ironic coming from a politician who has seldom been a team player, always looking for ways to ensure his political survival.
In fact, O'Brien is more of a street fighter than a hockey player. He can't resist a good counter-punch.
In the recent past on radio, he said he wouldn't stoop to the level of those who call same-sex opponents such as him "bigots." In the same breath, however, he called them "mini-minds." He later said he regretted that remark, too.
O'Brien, now 57, has been around politics a long time. The former high school history teacher was a trustee on the London board of education from 1980 to 1982. He was Ward 3 councillor from 1982 to 1993, when he won London-Fanshawe in the Liberal party sweep of 1993.
On council, he served as chair of London Transit and of several committees. He and wardmate Bernie MacDonald fought relentlessly for their east-end ward.
Despite his teaming with MacDonald, O'Brien had an independent, contrary streak noted by his colleagues on council. Former mayor Tom Gosnell, a one-time football quarterback, traditionally huddled with council members before important votes to ensure consensus on important issues and to avoid nasty outbursts on the council floor.
Gosnell complained to this scribe that he never knew for sure how O'Brien would vote. O'Brien was famous for ascertaining who was packing the public gallery -- and then voting to please them. An opportunist, he could sense the political wind and capitalize on it.
As an MP, he has twice served as chair of the Commons standing committee on national defence and veterans' affairs. In that latter capacity, he is chair of a committee looking into Canada's controversial purchase of four submarines from Britain. A fire aboard one of them, HMCS Chicoutimi, claimed the life of an officer. The report from that committee is expected next week.
The backbencher has also pushed for a mid-winter national holiday and for closer ties with Ireland.
A Roman Catholic, he has consistently opposed abortion and same-sex marriages -- contrary to his party's stance, which he openly criticizes.
He first talked publicly about leaving the Liberals a couple of months ago. There is no question he feels strongly on these matters, on moral grounds.
By happy coincidence, he has been able to gain traction on both issues that transcends party lines.
This weekend, for instance, he's a headliner at a rally organized by a variety of groups opposed to same-sex marriage. The applause-seeker will be winning supporters among those who have traditionally supported Alliance and Conservative candidates.
During the last election campaign, O'Brien was the darling of the local Muslim community, which is a growing force in his riding. At an all-candidates meeting held by the Association of London Muslims, O'Brien distributed campaign material in Arabic. He stressed the opposition he shares with them on same-sex marriage. And he reminded the crowd of 300 he supports Arabs and Palestinians, opposes Israel's wall around Palestinian areas and that he played a big role in the election of Khalil Ramal, the first Muslim MPP elected in the region.
When O'Brien was first elected to Parliament Hill, he rode a Liberal wave as Canadians had grown weary of the government of a Conservative government under Brian Mulroney and Kim Campbell.
Now that polls show the Liberals have fallen out of favour, O'Brien doesn't mind the perception he's created that there remains some distance between him and the brand he finds sometimes troublesome.
Time will tell whether the strategy of this not-really-a-Liberal continues to work.
Chip Martin is a "political reporter" with The London Free Press. His column appears on Saturdays.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/London/Chip_Martin/2005/04/16/999511.html