Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Brian Jean Maverick Watch

by Aaron Wherry on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:12pm - 29 Comments

Conservative MP Brian Jean laments for our discourse.

Jean admits he doesn’t like the current attack ads his party is running on TV which call Igantieff’s character and motivations into question. ”But they seem to work,” he says. “I don’t like them, but that’s not my job.”

(The story in question is not yet posted on the newspaper’s website. So we shall have to take that not disinterested blogger’s word for it for now.)

Tags: attack ads, Brian Jean, Michael Ignatieff

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http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

"I don't like them, but that's not my job".

That's it? Wow Aaron. It doesn't take much for you to declare a Conservative candidate a "maverick", does it?

And you call BCer a "not disinterested" blogger? Pot, kettle, black.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

"But they seem to work. I don't like them, but that's not my job".

That's it? Wow Aaron. It doesn't take much for you to declare a Conservative candidate a "maverick", does it?

And you call BCer a "not disinterested" blogger? Pot, kettle, black.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

I took the headline to be ironic, rather than literal.

http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Still…the point is, people complain that Harper is authoritarian, that MPs/candidates/etc. are just expected to be mindless partisans parroting the party line. And yet even the mildest deviation from that party line leads to, frankly, garbage like this from our media.

Make up your minds. Do you want politicians to speak their minds or not? If so, stop taking such a partisan interest in making hay out of statements like this.

John.K

Satisfy my curiosity – how would you have headlined this?

http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

I wouldn't have even thought it noteworthy to bring to regional attention, let alone national attention.
Foreigner

When a Canadian Conservative MP expresses what appears to be independent thought, it is most certainly newsworthy. And not just nationally…globally.
John

The universe takes notice… watch tonight, the stars will wink.

wilson

He wants the focus OFF Liberals.
The new Leger poll showing Libs in a nose dive and Cons at 21% in Quebec.
The Buy American issue about to be solved by the Prime Minister

Oh and the Cons MP that got ditched, Gordon nobody, it turns out 14 projects were submitted and 14 projects were approved for stimulus funding, in his riding……

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

It's well known that Wherry single-handedly drives the Canadian news cycle. From his blog.
Dave

Not so well known is that he blogs it in his underwear, in his mother's basement. Tis true.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

How did the "not disinterested blogger" (our friend BCer_in_TO) get the story before it was posted to the newspaper's website?

Not that the story is particularly interesting. We know that there are many MPs of all stripes who are uncomfortable with negative advertising, including Glen Pearson. And why shouldn't they be? Attack ads may be the new lingua franca of political messaging in this country, but they still leave a bad taste in one's mouth.

http://intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

Negative ads have been around forever….the bad taste comes if there is nothing positive to take away the taste. Kind of like driiking tequila without the lime afterwards.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jack_Mitchell Jack Mitchell

I wish those MP's would reach across the aisle and seize power.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

I think the fine citizens would have to give some sort of signal for that to happen. As it stands, popular complaints about negative advertising resemble one wanting to lose weight, while consuming a double cheeseburger and a chocolate shake.

Foreigner

"How did the "not disinterested blogger" (our friend BCer_in_TO) get the story before it was posted to the newspaper's website? "

How indeed. Obviously, a Literal conspiracy of some kind, weaving its way through unknown and mystifying channels of communication.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

A Literal conspiracy? As opposed to a Figurative conspiracy?

Foreigner

*tsk* "Literal." I meant lateral of course.

…only if that make you even more paranoid. If it just occasions another boring retort, please disregard.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

No problem there! I tend to disregard anything you have to say, but your trollish comments are so lame and error-prone that it's hard to resist sometimes.
Foreigner

Boring.

http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

But the issue is – Con MP's MUST NOT show any difference of opinion to their Kahuna – not allowed.

He spoke without PM approved notes? How dare he.

dan in van

I didn't know a 'Brian Jean' existed before. Now I do but we know he won't for long (as the current your-it-maverick)…

http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

Stephen will pour a shovelful of sawdust over this and the carnival will roll on with one less barker and one more mime
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jack_Mitchell Jack Mitchell

Stop insulting Wherry, it's extremely tiresome.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jack_Mitchell Jack Mitchell

You can't take anything those Figuratives say at face value.
wilson

And once again,
Maclean's bloggers just feet first into a story, where the facts were not checked…..wafergate, again, good for at least 3 Wherry and ITQ should not be far behind.

Foreigner

Hope Critical Reasoning doesn't see this comment or you'll be in for it.
http://intensedebate.com/people/KadyITQ KadyITQ

You know, I do wish you'd stop pretending that you have any idea what I'm going to do. It's a bit tiresome.

http://intensedebate.com/people/zamprelli4731 Zamprelli

Oh, but it IS your job to say something, Mr. Jean. Helping change the tone of Canadian politics is among the most important work you can do as an MP right now.