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Cheer Up, Stephen (Canada)
Edmonton Sun ^ | 6-20-05 | Editorial

Posted on 06/20/2005 11:58:35 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy

 
Cheer up, Stephen
Mon, June 20, 2005

Stephen Harper is turning out to be the Rodney Dangerfield of federal politics. No matter how good a job he does, he "can't get no respect." If you believe the news stories, Harper is apparently a cheerless and dour stick-in-the-mud who can't muster the necessary charisma to sell the Conservatives to voters.

The Liberals, of course, delight in playing up the point, especially if it causes dissension and stress in the Conservative party, which, admittedly, is easy to do, considering the party was the result of a merger between the formerly sworn-enemy camps of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives.

Truth is, Harper has a quick wit and a charming, self-deprecating sense of humour. Sure, he takes the nation's business seriously. The TV cameras often catch flashes of anger and indignation as he queries the Liberals on their latest outrage. Who can blame him for that?

Let's compare his charisma quotient with the last two men who held the job for which Harper is currently vying. Jean Chretien cultivated a jovial country-bumpkin-from-Shawinigan image. He loved to joke about things like pepper spray and golf balls, even though behind the scenes we know he was a ruthless manipulator with a tyrannical temper. It looks like his greatest legacy will be the worst scandal to rock Canada in a century.

Then, of course, we have Paul Martin who, when not stricken with an expression of apoplectic nervousness, is chuckling maniacally at some incomprehensible remark he's just made to deflect attention from the latest Liberal transgression.

No wonder Harper has such a hard time turning off the outrage.

Harper is planning to create a round of public appearances this summer to soften his serious image. While the Tory leader has been criticized as a colourless tactician more at ease with policy than people, truth is, he has become an infinitely more polished practitioner of the political art during the short time he has led the Conservatives.

He's a quick study who knows image is important in the sound-bite world of modern politics. While it's important for a leader to take the job of running the nation seriously, it's also imperative that his countrymen perceive him as someone who can relate to their concerns on a human level.

Harper's already cracking jokes about his image that reveal he's hardly a brooding political apparatchik.

On a deeper level, he can be forgiven for criticizing the Liberals relentlessly for their transgressions. That is, after all, the job of the Opposition leader. But under the glare of an often-hostile media spotlight, and spin spit out by a sophisticated Liberal machine, Harper needs to work harder at persuading voters that the Conservatives, as he himself has put it many times, can be trusted to form the next government.

This is a message better delivered with a smile than a scowl.



TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: canada; eh; stephenharper


Stephen Harper

1 posted on 06/20/2005 11:58:35 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy

The guy should step down and let Peter MacKay take over. He took a solid lead and screwed it up. Scenes like

"Alarmed by the positive poll readings Martin garnered recently from his encounters with pre-voting-age Canadians who appear to enjoy the Prime Minister's company, Harper's handlers arranged a photo-op of their own at a Wallaceburg, Ont., rehab centre for children.

...the Tory leader was miscast for the assignment. He watched silently, not knowing what to say to these kids. Until, that is, one of the finger-painting toddlers leaned toward his tailored suit.

"Don't touch me," Harper said."

Good one Harper, what a Mr Burns moment. I know alot of conservatives north of the border who would be happy to see you go.

Rant off the guy just really disappoints me.


2 posted on 06/20/2005 12:53:52 PM PDT by JNL
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To: JNL

The only way Conservatives are going to be elected is if they swing further left than the Liberals. It doesn't matter who the leader is.


3 posted on 06/20/2005 12:59:14 PM PDT by deadrock
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To: JNL
what a Mr Burns moment

LOL! Harper needs an epiphany of some sort, soon, or he'll be gone.

Danny Williams has the balls to fight an election, and perhaps poor Peter MacKay also, though I haven't seen any particular manifestation of courage on his part, I'm just maintaining a vague hope.

4 posted on 06/20/2005 1:03:14 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: DEADROCK

Well I think the problem with the Conservatives is that they already lean way too far left. They still have the boogeyman that was the the Reform Party hanging around their necks and it just don't play in Ontario.

Take the recent tape scandal, for example, it was "everybody run away" at the first sign that they had been doctored. The libs spun it right back at Harper and the gang and made the doctoring the story not the scandal that should have been brought to light.

The liberal media machine in Canada will crush anyone who wobbles, even for a second. Brian Mulroney (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Mulroney) knew how to grind right back at them, but sadly I don't think he's coming back.


5 posted on 06/20/2005 1:57:15 PM PDT by JNL
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To: JNL

A better link


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Mulroney


6 posted on 06/20/2005 2:06:29 PM PDT by JNL
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To: JNL
The guy should step down and let Peter MacKay take over. He took a solid lead and screwed it up. Scenes like "Alarmed by the positive poll readings Martin garnered recently from his encounters with pre-voting-age Canadians who appear to enjoy the Prime Minister's company, Harper's handlers arranged a photo-op of their own at a Wallaceburg, Ont., rehab centre for children. ...the Tory leader was miscast for the assignment. He watched silently, not knowing what to say to these kids. Until, that is, one of the finger-painting toddlers leaned toward his tailored suit. "Don't touch me," Harper said." Good one Harper, what a Mr Burns moment. I know alot of conservatives north of the border who would be happy to see you go. Rant off the guy just really disappoints me.

I must respond to your posting....

Being relatively "new" here in Canada (in the last two years), I have had time to reflect on what it is like to be a Conservative in a largely (understatement) LIEberal province (Ontario). Simply put, it is rather deflating to see how the LIEberals win elections time and time again with the support of -- you guessed it -- the province of Ontario. If it wouldn't be for Ontario the Conservatives would be running things right now.

It seems to me that since the province of Ontario is the "keys to the power" (the capital -- Ottawa -- is also like the Washington, DC of Canada) the key to the Conservatives gaining ANY traction in this province is to continue to hit on key "voter issues" that DO differentiate themselves from the LIEberals.

Two of those such issues are "same-sex marriage" and "private" health care.

The Conservatives HAVE been holding their own on these two important issues -- and (to me) it doesn't seem that it really matters WHO is the head of the Conservatives -- the LIEberal media up here in Canada will ALWAYS side with the LIEberals, largely due to the fact that the LIEberals will NEVER waiver on those two issues.

Stephen Harper had a LARGE job in unifying the Conservative fractions up here (about four parties into one) -- and he is to be given TOP CREDIT for that.

The other Conservatives who were vying for the head of the Conservative Party (one of them Belinda Stronach) -- at least to me -- didn't have what it would have taken to keep the Conservative coalition together -- especially through the no-confidence votes of recent memory.

Stephen Harper is a decent, God-fearing man. I see that it him. He might be a little "tentative" in the public eye, but he has the right motives/beliefs inside him. Believe me.

I'm just reminding everyone that no matter WHAT he does the LIEberal media will pounce on him at every turn; remember that it is the LIEberals who are "mainstream" while the Conservatives are "out of the mainstream".

(Unfortunaately) it is the same way up here in Canada that it is in the United States -- the Conservatives (Republicans) can't beg, borrow or steal a break while the LIEberals (Democrats) are ALWAYS given a free ride. That is a fact of life -- like death and taxes.
7 posted on 06/20/2005 2:22:45 PM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: JNL
The liberal media machine in Canada will crush anyone who wobbles, even for a second.

A big affirmative on that -- it is SO true...
8 posted on 06/20/2005 2:25:07 PM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: JNL

9 posted on 06/20/2005 2:27:04 PM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy (11th FReeper Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Unnecessarily Excerpt)
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To: JNL

Link to quotes please


10 posted on 06/20/2005 2:31:34 PM PDT by kanawa (Faith, Freedom, Family)
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To: JNL

"Good one Harper, what a Mr Burns moment. I know alot of conservatives north of the border who would be happy to see you go."

Those people are what we call Red Tories-Liberals in denial.


11 posted on 06/20/2005 2:38:55 PM PDT by youngtory (Liberals in Conservative clothing are bigger liars than the liberals themselves.)
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To: youngtory

Not true at all. It's not denial to realise that with Harper as the leader (unless he gets a fantatic publicist)the Conservatives will not take Ontario. Without Ontario no government, it's that simple.

Pointing out the obvious does not make one a liberal.


12 posted on 06/20/2005 2:53:35 PM PDT by JNL
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To: JNL
Mulroney is just the type of liberal that could lead the Conservatives to the promised land.

As for leaning left, they have not leaned far enough for the Province that counts.

13 posted on 06/20/2005 3:10:21 PM PDT by deadrock
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy
"it doesn't seem that it really matters WHO is the head of the Conservatives..."

Ding ding ding...we have a winner.

14 posted on 06/20/2005 3:12:12 PM PDT by deadrock
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To: DEADROCK

too true, maybe they should come up with a little red book, promising everything but really delivering nothing. Hey it works fot the liberals.


15 posted on 06/20/2005 3:16:48 PM PDT by JNL
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To: headsonpikes

Danny Williams? I don't think so ... he's a liberal in the guise of a Conservative methinks. He's pressed very hard for the CPC to accept the liberal budget so that the Atlantic Accord could be pushed through at all costs. He's also voiced his support for SSM. His stock has plummeted in my book.


16 posted on 06/20/2005 8:02:40 PM PDT by NorthOf45
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To: ConservativeStLouisGuy

Now that's a nice looking Canuck. Place him next to the last two and there really isn't much of a choice for who Canadian women would like to see on their TV screens.


17 posted on 06/20/2005 8:08:16 PM PDT by McGavin999
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To: NorthOf45

John Crosbie was my candidate in '84 - I've always had a soft spot for Newfies!


18 posted on 06/20/2005 9:20:12 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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