Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW

Categories: Capital Read, Inkless Wells

Another right-wing hack on the Conservative payroll

by Paul Wells on Friday, October 16, 2009 2:32pm - 168 Comments

My kickback from the Harper PMO didn’t arrive in time today, so you’re going to have to make do with that other notorious rightwing lackey of the Conservative master schemers, Chantal Hébert. In this column, no doubt motivated (as is all such base criticism of Our Michael) by a fiendish desire to sell newspapers,* she argues that Michael Ignatieff’s semi-annual discovery of the Earth’s natural environment seems to be targeted at the fleeting headlines, rather than stemming from any convictions or ideas. I heartily urge all Liberals to do the one thing that has always guaranteed electoral success: question Chantal’s motives. That’ll help.

*You mean political columns that criticize an opposition leader aren’t a major driver of newsstand circulation? Now you tell me.

Tags: Chantal Hébert, that's sarcasm

More by Paul Wells

http://theplaceofbiff.blogspot.com biff

Angus Reid is out today.

Another day, another poll showing the CPC headed for majority territory and Iggy headed for political oblivion.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is why folks are so cranky at Paul Wells. He just happens to be the messenger of the painfully truthful bad news.

In fact, I can't recall the last time I saw every poll, every astute observer, and every informed columnist all pointing in the same direction the way they are right now.

Nor can I recall the last time the Liberals were down among so many groups and in so many regions.

BCer in Mtl

I can't recall the last time I saw every poll, every astute observer, and every informed columnist all pointing in the same direction the way they are right now.

Oh, I remember . . . . how about Paul Martin and a 200 seat majority?

kcm

This question of bias is interesting, and like a lot of things not what it obviously appears to be. Are journalists biased? Well, yes. But it's a good bias, just a part of being human. Perhaps bias is the wrong word. There is no such thing IMHO as being truly objective or completely balanced. We take a view on something, someone; hopefully by reviewing data, what that someone says, does or doesn't do. We measure, we weigh, we take a view which may or may not prove accurate. But the point is we adopt a position. We may keep it to ourselves, we may not. That position may change or evolve, it may not. However, sooner or later you take a view. That opinion may or may not be an informed one. It becomes your bias. It's natural and even good.If you don't take a postion on anything then you're nowhere.
Ideally the professional journalist should strive to be above the petty and merely snide or cheap. But to not expect them to have likes and dislikes makes no sense to me. Bias in this sense is good and natural. We should place less emphasis on being balanced and neutral. If you can defend and back-up your bias/opinion logically and credibly that fine with me.

kcm

Of course one of the counter arguements to this is: what happens if the individual really is biased; has an agenda; is simply out to get the other guy for personal or pollitical reasons? I guess there's still arguements to be made, the ndividuals previous history might indicate bias.
that's the downside of late night posting. there's noone to argue with but yourself…sniffle
Heh PW. Any suggestions for late night reading on the whole question of bias or not, in the media! In particular Canadian media.
kcm

Oh god! I think iv'e just made an arguement in favour of Styne. Scrub it! Wipe it out! I didn't mean it, i'm just being biased!

kcm

Is Chantal saying that the Ignatieff's recent green pronouncements are disingenuous because they make no mention of where the money willcome from – which Dion's green shift did? This i could support if he doesn't tell us where the money will come from. But i hope she isn't implying it is particularly hypocritical. After all, SH suddenly discoverd the envrionment once he'd had a look over Dion's shoulder.
http://azmattressoutlet.com mesa mattress

ignatieff is the best politcian in canada at the moment, that's not saying much, but it's true.

Scott M.

ignatieff is the best politcian in canada at the moment

I would say Duceppe is probably the best federal leader in Canada at the moment. A topsy-turvy world, indeed.

http://intensedebate.com/people/DeliciousLattes DeliciousLattes

I'm not questioning Hebert's motives, and I'm certainly not questioning the general premise of her column. Would be nice to see some scrutiny being given to the government's position leading up to Copenhagen (since they are the government and set policy in this country), but all columns cannot be all things to all people.

However, I would challenge you to look at her recent columns and find one that could not be categorized as "horserace-y." This is problematic for a lot of readers who care about the direction of the country more than poll results.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Inkless Inkless

It got me this far…
jarrid

I'm fast coming to the conclusion that Michael Ignatieff's leadership is not salvageable.

Liberals – hopefully you've learned your lesson. Democratic leadership conventions exist for a reason. As Bob Rae succinctly put it on his blog on December 8, 2008:

"All weekend, I'd been hearing rumors about this, but today I was really surprised to read press reports about various MPs moving for an immediate vote to elect our Leader next Wednesday, in the Commons caucus.

I thought I'd seen a lot of politics over 30 years of public service, but this one really came from left field.

The idea of taking away the vote from tens of thousands of grassroots activists in every part of Canada, and reducing the franchise to just 76 men and women seems so out-of-step with the modern world. It makes you shake your head."

What has happened to the once-great Liberal Party of Canada?
Anon Lib

"What has happened to the once-great Liberal Party of Canada? "

1) The two right-wing parties merged and stopped the vote splitting, while the the progressive vote continues to be split 4 ways.

2) Chretien and Martin decided their personal pissing contest was more important than beating the Cons

Next question.

And your concern is touching by the way.
dan in van

Good thing there is no government for Paul to try to 'keep accountable' or retort about. I guess if there wasn't a big ol' magazine subsidy cheque (non-novelty division) being issued on a yearly basis, perhaps Wells' job as the anti-Wherry would have to fall to someone less talented.

John W.

Tough for Wells to talk about keeping them accountable after the Piano Man cover, which pretty much evened things up for the subsidy and more. Don't forget they're counting on a Harper majority to get rid of the CBC, a big competitor for national advertising dollars.

Orson Bean

Yeah, like that's gonna happen.

dan in van

If that imaginary majority could occur, you'd be seeing a lot of things happen that has been on many a scary-wacko's wish list. Take health care, for one, and post secondary education, for another. Immigration is already shifting away from its former axis to a more picky, more 'discriminating' nature, you might say. And the 'crime and punishment promised land of Texas will be replicated in Kingston et al…
Now you'll get a few CONbots rejecting such notions as possibilities, but you won't find any who don't want to see them happen.

William

And you still think those scare tactics will work on intelligent voters. Unbelievable.
John W.

It's all on the record.

kcm

Concessions in Meech? There were certainly proposeed concessions in the SP and possibly the senate. It was all so long ago. I'll try and get back with more facts.
kcm

"Revisionist history." That's pretty rich. Any one who has even remotely paying attention would be aware of the PQ's penchent for revisionism. It's a sad fact that a number of their myths have now come to be accepted as fact in this country.
KOL

Sorry about the spelling.