Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 12, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page 1 thank god its almost Over the dirty deed Campaign 2008 itself arguably the least substantive in Canadian history. Never before have so Many candidates and Campaign staffers been forced to apologize or resign. The cleanup Job the next Federal election will see All prospective candidates pass not Only a Basic background Check but a five second Google search. The aftermath the electorate grows cynical about politicians. Or More cynical. Colour commentary theress a lot a stake come e Day tuesday. Not just for the politicians but for All of us worried about our jobs our savings and our future. So before you head into the voting Booth take just a minute to look around the world and ask yourself one simple question who is Best to Lead Canada through a period of global economic turmoil for sure Stephen Harper has his flaws. He is stubborn autocratic and unflappable to the Point of appearing insensitive. However he deserves a lot of credit for sailing straight into the Eye of a storm this election Campaign and standing firm while All other leaders around him rendered themselves useless. A person of fewer principles would have done the politically expedient thing to earn our votes and told us exactly what we wanted to hear. Instead he took a Strong stand for Canada and told us the unfurnished truth. Swimming against the tide of Public opinion Harper reminded us that while Canada is not an Island we Are very different from the us which is at the Brink thanks to the arrogance of Slapdash spending and borrowing. Possessing the strongest banking system in the world Harper has reason for Confidence in Canada As should we All. Poll after poll canadians report that they re in search of an honest politician. This week Harper proved he is exactly that a Flag waving Western Canadian who is prepared to stake it All for the Sake of a Strong future for Canada. I dont know about you but when the economic chips Are Down ill take a seasoned economist and a dyed in the Wool fiscal conservative any Day and you can Bank on it play of the week Stephen Harper for separating himself from the rest of the Centre left tax and spend pack. Momentum lets Hope momentum swings conservative. Prediction tories 134 Libs 88 nip 34 by 52 Colour commentary two weeks ago it would have been reasonable to predict that the conservatives were headed for a majority government and that the nip was poised to form the official opposition. It would also be plausible to suggest that if there were still two weeks remaining in the Campaign the liberals might very Well fight their Way to the most unexpected political upset since Well Ever. The reality of course is that after a month and a half of underwhelming campaigning on both sides the two major parties Are now essentially locked in a stalemate. How did this happen its Clear that harpers major weak spot has been his inability to properly manage expectations and demonstrate empathy. Hers spent weeks Over stating the imperviousness of the Canadian Economy and along the Way accused anyone who listen of being a wet Blanket whiner. Thing is while members of the conservative Cabinet happily accept harpers chiding Canadian voters generally dont tolerate lectures from their political leaders and Many will say so on election Day. The liberals on the other hand dont Lack compassion. The trouble for Dion is that the environment aboriginal issues and child poverty All part of his social Justice themed Campaign Arentt winners at the ballot Box they re issues you tackle after you become prime minister. The Economy has and will always be the electoral Trump card. Indeed the fact that Dion did not gain traction until he started to consistently remind canadians that its the liberals and not the conservatives who have the most solid economic and fiscal track record proves this Point. And so in a tight election conventional Wisdom suggests the party that succeeds in getting its vote out will win and Here the conservatives have traditionally held the advantage. However harpers polarizing effect on canadians is anything but conventional. Could this be the year that strategic voting gains mainstream Appeal Well find out tuesday night. Play of the week Dionys speech to the economic club of Toronto was uplifting passionate and prime ministerial and contrasted nicely with the message of fear Harper delivered to the same crowd a Day earlier. Momentum liberals finish Strong. Prediction tories 96 Libs 97 nip 52 by 62 Green 1 Colour commentary a week is a lifetime in politics and week five proved the old adage True As tory Stock plummeted like the tax. It does not matter that Fouron one Isnit a fair fight Stephen Harper was wounded in the debate. And he a snot been Able to regain what hers lost. Harpers opponents used the forum to highlight his soft spot the Economy. Conservatives Are typically perceived As solid fiscal managers. Harper was banking on this when he ignored warnings and opted for a Stea Dyas she goes approach to the economic storm South of the Border. What he underestimated and badly was just How worried canadians really Are. Harpers Brand of bully politics is also backfiring. Big time. Hers fighting unnecessary Battles in Newfoundland Quebec and Ontario Over equalization culture and the Economy. All were avoidable. And All Are attributable to harpers own mean spirited know Best approach to running whats really a gentle nation at heart. The nip and Liberal leaders have gathered strength and capitalized on harpers failings. Jack Layton has run the strongest Campaign of the big three. The nip will pick up seats. But will it be enough to silence the doubters conditions have never been better for the party. Yet of becoming to Days de Broadbent everyone likes Best but will never get a Chance to paint 24 Sussex drive Orange. After a Rocky Start Stephane Dion is exceeding expectations. The tory slide and nip and Liberal surges have pundits predicting another tory minority. Another deeply fractured parliament will see Harper Layton and Dion Wake up on oct. 15 to a whole new set of questions about their future As leaders. Play of the week Harper uttering the words prime minister Dion in a desperate move that is the Hail Mary pass of politics. Voters might just discover they like the Way that sounds. Momentum Dion. Prediction tories 120 Libs 100 nip 31 by 56 other 1 t his is a tale of two debates one that made me despair As Many canadians have this election for the state of our state and another that restored my Faith entirely. First i went to Kildonan East collegiate where an energetic teacher organized an afternoon forum tuesday for the Elmwood Transcona candidates. Thatus one of the Cit yes tightest contests where the nip Are hoping to hang on to retiring my Bill by Aikiens seat. The tories Are hoping to steal it and they ave drafted tory Thomas Steen the former Winnipeg Jet to get or done. At Kildonan East Steen was slated to emerge from hiding and finally do Battle with Naper Jim Maloway at an Al candidates debate events tories across the country have been shunning. Ive been to a lot of student debates and i am often impressed with the Quality of the questions. Sadly not so at Kildonan East. There were few queries and they were largely inane. The candidates were an even sadder collection. Jim Maloway the perennial provincial Bac Bencher blustered a Little about the Disraeli Bridge reconstruction his pet Issue in the Riding. Maloway the Maverick has represented the provincial half of Elmwood Transcona for 23 years to Little effect. Several people within the party were dejected when it became Clear he was the Best candidate the nip Muster up in such a Safe seat. Then theress Steen who Only answered questions when he had a tabbed Page in his briefing Binder he could flip to for a pre written answer. When he did not have one he either declined to speak or apologized with an ism new at this. He read virtually every word he uttered with a bemused and gentle smile. He is by All accounts and appearances a Lovely and honourable gentleman he made a Bee line for Maloway after the debate to shake his hand. But he is radically out of his depth muzzled by his party and unfamiliar with the issues. After the debate he signed autographs for students something hers spent a lot of time doing at the Doorstep. Just recently the party put out a flyer Orange on the front so it looks like nip propaganda that painted Maloway As a do nothing Bac Bencher and Steen As a Strong voice in government for the Riding. Nowhere on it did the words conservative party appear which suggests the tories Hope voters will be a Little Star struck and wont look much past that and the party or the politician. Continuing on Down the debate table the Liberal candidate was downright bizarre rambling about communists at one Point. Only the Green Guy teacher Chris Hrynkow made any kind of coherent impression. The student moderators agreed and he was clearly the student Favourite. Standing in the Back As the Liberal went on another Wacky Tangent and Steen ruffled through his notes i wondered if i a snot witnessing the end of democracy As we know it. This is As bad As it gets. Then i drove to Altona to cover an All candidates debate in the school Board office there. I went to Check out tory candidate Candice Hoeppner in the flesh since she is almost sure to win Portage Lisgar the safest tory seat outside Alberta. She is a Force to be reckoned with. Sheds uber organized smart Well spoken Well connected and lets just say it attractive. Its not supposed to matter but it does. That the tories found someone other than a backbench Tim server to take Over a Safe seat is a refreshing change. I suspect sometime in the future ill be writing Manitoba ass senior minister before her name assuming the tories stay in Power. Hoeppner is a very Fine candidate amid a Batch of Fine candidates. Unlike Elmwood Transcona any one of the five people running in Portage Lisgar would make a credible my. Voters there can choose Between Opp haired and Earnest Young Farmer Charlie Howatt for the greens the rather erudite labour activist Mohamed Alli yes that is my name. I love it who is running for the nip and the Plain spoken Ted Klassen for the liberals. He kicked off the night with an eloquent plea for tolerance and Equality that set the tone for the evening. Even Christian heritage candidate Len Lodder whose party tends to Send cringe worthy nominees to these kinds of debates was confident likeable and Well spoken. Fine candidates Are one thing. Smart voters Are icing on the cake. The questions from Alto nans were wide ranging intelligent and pointed but polite. They covered copyright Law colombian human rights abuses the Lister Osis outbreak sports funding and roads. The candidates tried to answer even the stumpers and they needled each other just enough to keep it interesting. Everyone knew everyone else and they teased each other a Little. The debate ran like clockwork with just enough latitude for some older folks Whord earned it. It was an honour to sit in the Corner. Pundits and the Public have been saying this is the worst election in recent memory with Cut rate candidates and no substance. If i lived in Elmwood Transcona id probably agree. Luckily i got to go to Altona. Maryagnes. Welch free press. My. Ca Mary Agnes Welch Campaign snaps saturday oct. 4 the in siders a 6 Winnipeg repress. Com the voting Booth Winnipeg free press sunday october 12, 2008 conservative insider big Blue nip insider Orange crush Liberal insider True grit the free press has assembled a panel of insiders from the tories liberals and nip who have helped run campaigns and Are political animals through and through. Each week they will bring their analysis of the electoral week that was. Well refer to them by code name in order to protect their identity so they can give you the Frank est assessment of their teams performance As Well As their foes. Shaking hands kissing babies everybody hang Chung tonight the dirty deed after agreeing not to air an embarrassing a a with hearing impaired Liberal Leader st � Phane Dion the ctr affiliate in Halifax decided canadians needed to see the tape. The cleanup Job none but tory Leader Stephen Harper seized on the Liberal leaders poor comprehension to suggest the grits have no idea what they re doing. When you re running a $ 1.5 trillion Economy you dont get a Chance to have do overs Over and Over again Harper said. The aftermath former u. S. To personality Connie Chung appeared on the scene to complain ctr Halifax stole her modes Operand. She then proceeded to ask Dion what he really thought of Harper whisper it to me just Between you and me. Dont give up Hope. Yet this week in mudslinging a compendium of trash talk and bad behaviour on the Campaign Trail. By Bartley Kives a u Aslo by of wit n up s. L Edh d d it Layton is in danger Advent the Guy Nathan Denette / the Canadian press archives jump on a Jet Jack dont you come Back nip Leader Jack Layton sits on his Campaign plane As he gets ready for another speech at the Airport during a Stop in Charlottetown Pei. Layton is sticking to the idea of becoming prime minister even though the a Dps support Isnit soaring anywhere near High enough. Connie Chung a _ 06_ oct 12 08_ Smyk. Ind 1 1 0/ 11/ 08 7 17 44 pm ;