I'm just over it...I know how I will vote so whatever. I am appalled by the reversion of the east parts of our country back to the Liberals again, but what can you do but just leave it. It is what it is. I was bolstered by a friend who told me about this Poilievre rally in Penticton. So I had a look...nothing about this on any news that I saw...but it was streamed on YouTube. Crowd estimate 6500 (Penticton is a small city) but streaming count was 9500. I don't get it.
Very little on the news bc the mainstream news, of course, are paid to NOT report it. Yes it was a huge rally, drawing ppl from throughout the Okanagan, in support of PP and the CPC, bc British Columbians are FED UP with the disastrous backroom dealings of the Liberal/NDP coalition both federally and provincially. We Want Change!!
Debates are irrelevant, certainly to me. It's a staged performance; mere theatre with disproportionate stakes, that seems to serve the needs primarily of media companies, who love to be the circus ringleaders, for a moment the centre of attention. The prized "gotcha" moments are unlikely to actually sway decided voters, particularly in these polarized times.
I understand that committed Conservatives are waiting breathlessly for Poilievre to "take down" Carney, with his supposed superior debating skills, but this is more about the performance, I'm sure; a return Brazeau vs. Trudeau fight, where Poilievre gets to figuratively punch a figurative Trudeau in the face... finally!
But for all his presumed debating chops, Poilievre's style rests on his bottomless supply of belligerence and his endless willingness to misrepresent, rather than a serious demeanor, firm grasp of the facts, sharp analysis and insight, all of which he seems to care nothing about. He is in other words safe only in the controlled, low stakes parliamentary arena of Question period.
In past debates, it's the nosiest candidate that tends to get the most air-time, and slack from debate organizers. I suspect that it will be no different this time around. With everything stacked against Carney in this circus, where ironically he'll be confronted by a real carney, his best bet is probably to ignore most of what Poilievre says, as Poilievre will ignore anything clever that he says. This "debate" then will inevitably be anything but; instead more probably a series of monologues, with the occasional viperous attack by Poilievre, and a stuttering mis-step by Carney. None of us will be any wiser after the performance, and certainly no better off.
Debates are useful in terms of confirming or refuting political narratives. They tell you nothing about who'd be good at running the government, but if you think Joe Biden is senile or Michael Dukakis is a cold fish or Stock Day doesn't understand "no props", debates are where you can go to be proven right.
I must admit, I'm fascinated by how these debates will come out. As I've said here before, the only time I had seen Mark Carney speak before 2025 was in a committee hearing a few years ago where he and Poilievre faced off, and Poilievre's doing his thing, "Everyone knows Liberals took bribes from the Martians, and Canadians demand to know when the spaceships landed, date and time, date and time, DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME", and Carney can't even get a word in.
A few weeks ago, the media reported that Carney got hostile with Rosemary Barton, saying that he said she "starts from a prior of conflict and ill will". There was quite the little discourse there for a few days about whether a prime minister should be saying a journalist "starts from a prior of conflict and ill will". I felt at the time like I was the only one who noticed that Carney did not say that; he said, "I mean, you start from a, you start from a, agh, uh, uh, uh, a prior, of, of conflict and, uh, ill, ill, uhhhhhhhhhh, ill will." This guy is not a great speaker.
If we still cared about the same things that we cared about a month ago, the smooth-talking belligerent jerk would simply be at a huge advantage over the guy who needs four tries to say "ill will". But I feel like we care about different and more important things now.
"we care about different and more important things now."
Indeed George, we do. But does Poilievre care?... and if he did, does he have the capacity to instead be reasonable?
I agree that there are indeed "things to be learned" regardless, that may come out of this. Perhaps I simply don't have the fortitude to tolerate what feels like, when a child, one's parents fighting.
Well Optimist, I challenge you to consider and compare Mr. Poilievre's ability to "care" AND to apply a reasonable approach to any situation while running our country with those recently displayed talents of our late PM Trudeau or his soldier-at-arms Singh. If you come up with anything let me know.
It amazes me how so many ignore what a great job Mr. Poilievre did in opposition. He questioned Liberal policy on immigration, the carbon tax, capital gains tax change and many more, he brought discussion forward on the WE charity scandal, Chinese interference (that was ignored for years by Trudeau), ArriveCan and many other topics and he was continually insulted as being a racist, a denier, a flat earther willing to let the planet burn and then an election is called and all of a sudden the Liberals agree with everything he was saying. And they are busy pilfering many of his ideas and tacitly admitting he was right all along.
If I may make a hifalutin cultural reference: there's an episode of "Friends" where Joey is sitting in a chair, and the other friends are up to some shenanigans, and Joey doesn't want to take part. "I wanna sit in my chair!" he whines. I haven't been able to get that moment out of my head for a couple of weeks, because here we have another fellow whining, "I wanna say, 'Everything............feels............broken!'"
I like this format. Get to the point in 25 mins or so. Thank you. I was listening to one this morning where it was 2 people simply bantering about important subjects but no new content. Left it after 5 mins of 40 mins of no new content.
Great chat Paul et al … the lull week = prep, prep, and more prep (platforms, debates, last fortnight tour and messaging strategy and adjustments). And Paul, even if it is insomnia, don’t watch markets or their indices, it only perpetuates insomnia and depresses one further. ;-)
Great episode Paul! I'm waiting with baited breath for next weeks episode!! Given all the scandal that seems to be coming Carney's way! Jason Lietaer commented...."we really don't know this guy"..boy are we discovering that!! The decision to move $25 Billion of Brookfields money to Bermuda to avoid paying what 3 or 4 Billion dollars of Canadian taxes?? I LOVED Judy Trinh from CTV holding Carney's feet to the fire!! What about the $150 Million to the CBC?
In the middle of an election? Seems a little tone deaf to Canadians struggling to put food on the table! What about the Chinese interference that looks like it was targeting Christia Freeland in the Liberal Leadership race and it sounds like Polievre was a target too! Carney's connections to China are just starting to leak out! As I heard a journalist say the other day...Polievre has been in politics for 20 years. He has no skeletons. Carney on the other hand seems to have a basement full! How to set Polievre up for success!! Oh yeah and how about the HUGE rallies for Pierre? I'm looking forward to seeing all of this get processed next Monday. It's so refreshing watching professionals debate this respectfully. It helps us all! Thanks Paul!
Because it’s good to discuss the things we can control vs what we can’t. Orange man isn’t going away but neither are the issues that plagued this country before the election was finally called.
I'm just over it...I know how I will vote so whatever. I am appalled by the reversion of the east parts of our country back to the Liberals again, but what can you do but just leave it. It is what it is. I was bolstered by a friend who told me about this Poilievre rally in Penticton. So I had a look...nothing about this on any news that I saw...but it was streamed on YouTube. Crowd estimate 6500 (Penticton is a small city) but streaming count was 9500. I don't get it.
Perhaps it would help if they allowed the press to attend and also allow them to ask questions
Very little on the news bc the mainstream news, of course, are paid to NOT report it. Yes it was a huge rally, drawing ppl from throughout the Okanagan, in support of PP and the CPC, bc British Columbians are FED UP with the disastrous backroom dealings of the Liberal/NDP coalition both federally and provincially. We Want Change!!
Debates are irrelevant, certainly to me. It's a staged performance; mere theatre with disproportionate stakes, that seems to serve the needs primarily of media companies, who love to be the circus ringleaders, for a moment the centre of attention. The prized "gotcha" moments are unlikely to actually sway decided voters, particularly in these polarized times.
I understand that committed Conservatives are waiting breathlessly for Poilievre to "take down" Carney, with his supposed superior debating skills, but this is more about the performance, I'm sure; a return Brazeau vs. Trudeau fight, where Poilievre gets to figuratively punch a figurative Trudeau in the face... finally!
But for all his presumed debating chops, Poilievre's style rests on his bottomless supply of belligerence and his endless willingness to misrepresent, rather than a serious demeanor, firm grasp of the facts, sharp analysis and insight, all of which he seems to care nothing about. He is in other words safe only in the controlled, low stakes parliamentary arena of Question period.
In past debates, it's the nosiest candidate that tends to get the most air-time, and slack from debate organizers. I suspect that it will be no different this time around. With everything stacked against Carney in this circus, where ironically he'll be confronted by a real carney, his best bet is probably to ignore most of what Poilievre says, as Poilievre will ignore anything clever that he says. This "debate" then will inevitably be anything but; instead more probably a series of monologues, with the occasional viperous attack by Poilievre, and a stuttering mis-step by Carney. None of us will be any wiser after the performance, and certainly no better off.
Debates are useful in terms of confirming or refuting political narratives. They tell you nothing about who'd be good at running the government, but if you think Joe Biden is senile or Michael Dukakis is a cold fish or Stock Day doesn't understand "no props", debates are where you can go to be proven right.
I must admit, I'm fascinated by how these debates will come out. As I've said here before, the only time I had seen Mark Carney speak before 2025 was in a committee hearing a few years ago where he and Poilievre faced off, and Poilievre's doing his thing, "Everyone knows Liberals took bribes from the Martians, and Canadians demand to know when the spaceships landed, date and time, date and time, DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME", and Carney can't even get a word in.
A few weeks ago, the media reported that Carney got hostile with Rosemary Barton, saying that he said she "starts from a prior of conflict and ill will". There was quite the little discourse there for a few days about whether a prime minister should be saying a journalist "starts from a prior of conflict and ill will". I felt at the time like I was the only one who noticed that Carney did not say that; he said, "I mean, you start from a, you start from a, agh, uh, uh, uh, a prior, of, of conflict and, uh, ill, ill, uhhhhhhhhhh, ill will." This guy is not a great speaker.
If we still cared about the same things that we cared about a month ago, the smooth-talking belligerent jerk would simply be at a huge advantage over the guy who needs four tries to say "ill will". But I feel like we care about different and more important things now.
"we care about different and more important things now."
Indeed George, we do. But does Poilievre care?... and if he did, does he have the capacity to instead be reasonable?
I agree that there are indeed "things to be learned" regardless, that may come out of this. Perhaps I simply don't have the fortitude to tolerate what feels like, when a child, one's parents fighting.
Well Optimist, I challenge you to consider and compare Mr. Poilievre's ability to "care" AND to apply a reasonable approach to any situation while running our country with those recently displayed talents of our late PM Trudeau or his soldier-at-arms Singh. If you come up with anything let me know.
It amazes me how so many ignore what a great job Mr. Poilievre did in opposition. He questioned Liberal policy on immigration, the carbon tax, capital gains tax change and many more, he brought discussion forward on the WE charity scandal, Chinese interference (that was ignored for years by Trudeau), ArriveCan and many other topics and he was continually insulted as being a racist, a denier, a flat earther willing to let the planet burn and then an election is called and all of a sudden the Liberals agree with everything he was saying. And they are busy pilfering many of his ideas and tacitly admitting he was right all along.
If I may make a hifalutin cultural reference: there's an episode of "Friends" where Joey is sitting in a chair, and the other friends are up to some shenanigans, and Joey doesn't want to take part. "I wanna sit in my chair!" he whines. I haven't been able to get that moment out of my head for a couple of weeks, because here we have another fellow whining, "I wanna say, 'Everything............feels............broken!'"
Not big on democracy, are you...
I like this format. Get to the point in 25 mins or so. Thank you. I was listening to one this morning where it was 2 people simply bantering about important subjects but no new content. Left it after 5 mins of 40 mins of no new content.
Great chat Paul et al … the lull week = prep, prep, and more prep (platforms, debates, last fortnight tour and messaging strategy and adjustments). And Paul, even if it is insomnia, don’t watch markets or their indices, it only perpetuates insomnia and depresses one further. ;-)
Thanks again Paul for an insightful and thoughtful panel.
Great episode Paul! I'm waiting with baited breath for next weeks episode!! Given all the scandal that seems to be coming Carney's way! Jason Lietaer commented...."we really don't know this guy"..boy are we discovering that!! The decision to move $25 Billion of Brookfields money to Bermuda to avoid paying what 3 or 4 Billion dollars of Canadian taxes?? I LOVED Judy Trinh from CTV holding Carney's feet to the fire!! What about the $150 Million to the CBC?
In the middle of an election? Seems a little tone deaf to Canadians struggling to put food on the table! What about the Chinese interference that looks like it was targeting Christia Freeland in the Liberal Leadership race and it sounds like Polievre was a target too! Carney's connections to China are just starting to leak out! As I heard a journalist say the other day...Polievre has been in politics for 20 years. He has no skeletons. Carney on the other hand seems to have a basement full! How to set Polievre up for success!! Oh yeah and how about the HUGE rallies for Pierre? I'm looking forward to seeing all of this get processed next Monday. It's so refreshing watching professionals debate this respectfully. It helps us all! Thanks Paul!
trump in the US….is largely ignored in this discussion …..yet the threat to global security is enormous…
Because it’s good to discuss the things we can control vs what we can’t. Orange man isn’t going away but neither are the issues that plagued this country before the election was finally called.