Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 8, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba The View a9associate editor from newest John Sullivan 697-7293 Winnipeg free press a forum for ideas and opinion thursday july 8, 2004 lies facts and elections and were sympathetic to that american warmonger George w. Bush. The messages were entirely negative. They were untrue. But they worked at least in Ontario and Atlantic Canada in the Short run. While negative campaigns May be successful Over the Short term in the eyes of those who plan and execute them the longer run implications for democracy in Canada Are disturbing. More and More canadians Are simply turned off by Nega Tive campaigns and the hurling Back and Forth of lies and caricatures of leaders parties and their Mun cations Arena ? and Render purely negative messaging and campaigning less effective and less attractive to political practitioners yes there is. Citizens non partisan groups and responsible Media need to organize fact campaigns to counter and even pre empt the lie campaigns which Are at the heart of negative political campaigning. I once had an instructive discussion with a conflict Resolution consultant who had Cut his Teeth on negotiating some of the More contentious Sec in the cold Light of Dawn Preston Manning to think votes were being counted Elmer Mack buy a major scandal handed to it on a All along we argued that one plus one t he election is Over and the in 2003, from the Helm of the Alliance a proudly told the nation this Long Platter by the auditor general an would not equal two. We said the Merg great Experiment of uniting the Stephen Harper told tory members they trying election night would to have Hap incumbent government without visible or was the takeover of a moderate main right has been put to the peo must choose Between a coalition with opened without Peter Mackay and his moorings seeking a fourth mandate and Stream party by the Canadian ple. David Orchard or with real conserva sons work was about to Bear fruit for no shortage of serious issues of Discon Reform Alliance and would be seen a since 1997, the mantra has been that if Tives. To help them choose the pc con the Canadian political tent in the Countryside ? it hit the same such. We pointed out that canadians Only the Reform Alliance and Progress Stit ution was mangled and 20,000 perhaps in the cold Light of Dawn it Wall As the Alliance and Reform have never elected a party with a right Sive conservatives would get Ogeth Alliance members were allowed to join is Worth examining this fruit. Before it. Wing platform nationally that Only Are then vote splitting on the right the pc party and then vote twice on the in the 1997 election the combined vote next morning from Calgary conserve Broad progressive party with roots i would end. On the altar of this logic the merger ? . In both parties ? in a for the pcs and Reform was 38.2 per Active party partisans complained bitter All regions of the country could defeat pc party of Canada was sacrificed. It Sham ratification process quickly Trum cent 80 seats and 4,959,785 votes. By about Eastern voters. Some raised the liberals that any narrow regionally was regrettable to bring to an end Cana Peter to the nation As a 90-per-cent in the 2000 election the pc and the tired refrain that Alberta might based party or one demanding Western a a oldest political party but necessary. Endorsement of the merger. Alliance total was 37.7 per cent 78 seats have to separate. Party officials Power would not achieve majority one party Rule Peter Mackay a signed pledge not to and 4,843,927 votes. Declared that voters had been fright support. Would end merge with the Alliance and to honour in 2004, after destroying the pc party ened by Liberal advertising. For a party in the aftermath rather than ques democracy would the pc Constitution Given in Exchange removing it from the ballot and uniting that prides itself on its business Orien toning the Wisdom of the voters thebe restored. For the tory leadership was tossed to the right the conservatives received tation one would have thought the Cus conservatives might Ponder the Possi those who the wind. Never mind the constitutional 29.6 per cent of the vote 99 seats and Tomer is always right. Ability that canadians watch their Politi raised their Voic and ethical niceties ? politics is a blood 3,994,333 votes ? a drop of 849,594, or now the conservative leadership has cans closely understand what they say is in defence of sport and besides the end was Worth it. 17.5 per cent from the Alliance pc vote announced that for the first time it is and expect them to keep their word. The Only party that Liberal Rule would be Over. In 2000. Going to meet with its members write a it could also be that canadians believe has Ever Defeated from a position of great moral Supe in . And new Brunswick the vote Constitution after All and allow policies that the Means matter As Well As the end. The liberals were priority Harper and Mackay attacked the fell a whopping 32 per cent and 35 per to be voted on by the grassroots. Those treated to a Cho liberals for their Lack of ethics during cent respectively from the combined of us former pc members standing by rus of Boos. Could the Campaign. Brian Mulroney warmly 2000 Alliance and pc vote. In Nova so the Roadside clutching new unsolicited we not do the embraced Harper and told us the Merg Tia it fell by 27 per cent behind the membership cards we received during David Orchard is the author of the fighter was a Good thing. He told canadians Dps showing in Quebec by 25 per the election Campaign Are expected it for Canada four centuries of Resis merged the new party would receive that this election had the Hallmarks of cent in Saskatchewan by 22 per cent in seems to step up and get with the Tance to american expansionism an both parties votes. In fact we were his 1984 sweep. Alberta by 13 per cent and in Ontario program. Ran for the leadership of the Federal pro assured one plus one would equal More Harper announced that his new party by six per cent. But if the unite the right chorus would Gressie conservative party in 1998 an than two. The new party would exceed was headed for a majority. The liberals thus in an election of unprecedented finally pause to take a breath perhaps 2003. He farms at Borden so and cantle combined total of the two parties. He said on the eve of the june 28 vote Opportunity for the new party ? Riding those who resisted the destruction of the be reached at Tel 306 652-7095, email when Joe Clark stood against the were about to receive the most Humilia wave of Cash and All the advisers party that created Canada might be or Reform drive to take Over the pc party rating defeat in their history. As the strategists and pollsters Money could fitted a moment to speak. in the late 1990s, he was admonished by Winnipeg free press editorial Board members Are Nicholas Hirst Terence Moore Gerald flood Catherine Mitchell Tom Oleson cartoonist Dale Cummings submissions to the View from the West Are Welcome. Contact associate editor John Sullivan 204 697-7293 / ;