Comments on: It's a very vertical DonOLO

By: shirley

shirley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:56:23 +0000

I was wondering if the promotion of former Premier Doerr to Washington was because Harper wanted him out of the way in case people get "sick" of Layton and choose Doerr as NDP leader, after all, he is "younger-ish", not too bad looking and would probably garner more NDP votes thus hindering the "sought-after" majority for Harper, what about that idea??????

By: madeyoulook

madeyoulook — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:01:51 +0000

Thanks, hollinm, but I cannot accompany you all the way to "nothing to do with her current job." It makes perfect sense that she would be the health critic for the official opposition party. I even recall her congratulating the Health Minister, on the floor of the House, many months back after the Minister invited Bennett in on some public health meetings at the beginning of the "crisis." It's just too bad she chooses (or allows herself to be coerced) to beclown herself like she has lately.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:08:46 +0000

Why is it that you didn’t tag your post here with Pat Sorbara’s name, while you noted every male principal in the 0L0 org chart? Gender-specific oversights like that say something about you.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:18:06 +0000

It's raining idiots allright. http://tinyurl.com/yjopm6b

By: hollinm

hollinm — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:52:33 +0000

Orson Bean…..Funny….it may be the hairdo etc but the more I see of her the more I think she looks like Granny Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies. I didn't know if anybody on the board would know who I was talking about. Thanks for acknowledging it.

By: hollinm

hollinm — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:49:52 +0000

madeyoulook…….I agree with you. Granny Clampett's (Carolyn Bennett) credentials as a physician has nothing to do with her current job. I could care less what she did prior to going into politics. However, what it does say is she is a smart, educated woman. However, the way she acts as an MP is disgraceful. When she asks questions she is way over the top and sometimes looks like she is about to become unhinged.
This is how people judge her when they see her acting like a partisan hack. If she wants to be known for her medical skills she should go back to practicing as a doctor.

By: PhilCP

PhilCP — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:17:43 +0000

But when it works badly, it’s chaos, gridlock, and an organizational version of a Little League soccer team where absolutely every kid chases the ball instead of playing position.

That brings back some memories from when my children used to play soccer…I'm sure it took years off my life.

By: madeyoulook

madeyoulook — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:31:35 +0000

Thanks, Paul. No I am not questioning her credentials as a physician. I don't know enough about her accomplishments in medicine. Be my guest: quote her CV all you like. But I do know this: She of all people should know better than to do what she's been up to this last couple of weeks.

By: Orson Bean

Orson Bean — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:45:10 +0000

BTW I do like the crazed Granny Clampett comparison. Yesterday it was SCTV. Today it's Beverly Hillbillies. Keep 'em coming, folks.

By: Orson Bean

Orson Bean — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:40:15 +0000

Harper's inner circle is, and has been for some time, significantly populated by Ontario Tories in particular, lots of whom hail from the provincial Tory machine there. There is no comparison to the situation with the Liberals — many, many commentators have noted this issue with the LPC. I still haven't seen any kind of a credible plan — really, any plan whatsoever — articulated by the LPC or its supporters for building up LPC support in the vast areas of this country (e.g., the entire province of Alberta) in which the LPC is currently shut out. Have you? Or is your attitude (which I have heard expressed by a disturbing number of Liberals and Liberal supporters) that it doesn't matter, or that you don't care?

By: Mulletaur

Mulletaur — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:15:34 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg_D9jYoXKE

By: frenchie101

frenchie101 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:34:44 +0000

Even better.A whiff of Ad scam and they are going to drop like a stone.

By: VinceClortho

VinceClortho — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:10:34 +0000

The person that makes this chart work is Ignatieff himself. If he wont respect the lines of authority that are put in place then it will be continued confusion.

I say this with one small caveat, Iggy does need his own way of finding stuff out without the advisors. But this is always the problem of having a leader with no political base or roots in the party.

In the short run though, Iggy should enthusiastically embrace the new order and make it work. ONly when he finds his feet should he start to make his own phone calls.

The other interesting speculation…..if you hermetically seal off the leader, likely a requirement here, then the leader also becomes a highly replaceable commodity, since none of the participants owe their loyalty to him but they do to the party, One of the hazards to farming out that skill set. Only time will tell if this was just the first step in a transition.

By: peter

peter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:04:48 +0000

Just goes to show ya, never get in a war of words with a guy who buys inkless by the barrel :)

btw it's distracting trying to get the kids ready for school and fed while "ranting" (it's early on this side of the continent)

By: hollinm

hollinm — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:51:58 +0000

You can insult us all you want inkless but the fact remains Carolyn Bennett is not a practicing physican today she is a back bench MP. If she wants respect as an MP she needs to earn it. Her shenanigans as an MP do not do her justice. Many MPs come with previous careers i.e. lawyers. Do we say Chretien was a great Prime Minister simply because he was a lawyer before entering politics?

By: the realist

the realist — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:50:53 +0000

They had plenty. They have now all been abandoned so they can concentrate on two priorities; remaining in power and lining conservative pockets. Of course item 2 is dependant on item 1.

By: tobyornottoby

tobyornottoby — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:36:35 +0000

Yes better to have representatives from outside your power base. And I imagine the Conservative org chart mostly has people from downtown Toronto and Montreal, sprinkled with northern Manitobans, and a couple from Saltspring Island.

By: jolyon

jolyon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:36:24 +0000

"But don't make me quote Bennett's cv at you."

I had no idea that Bennett was a well-considered doctor until you mentioned it and then I had a look at her bio. Everyday is a school day, as my nan says.

I would never have guessed with her performance during QP that she was a distinguished doctor. It makes it all the more depressing that she asks those asinine questions instead of really holding Cons feet to fire.

By: Inkless

Inkless — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:33:11 +0000

I stand corrected. It's raining idiots with a shaky command of Latin spelling.

By: peter

peter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:24:34 +0000

My GP, who delivered my three children, insists on being called "Doug". BTW Ad Hominum is a bully tactic. If indeed she is "one of the most distinguished physicians of her generation" perhaps she should reconsider her career options because she she sure seems to be failing as a parliamentarian.

By: Inkless

Inkless — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:02:16 +0000

Wow, it's raining idiots today. Carolyn Bennet is one of the most distinguished physicians of her generation. It's a simple point. I make no claim, here or ever anywhere else, about her political skill. I'm saying her medical career deserves respect. It's not even a complicated point.

By: hollinm

hollinm — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:59:14 +0000

The fact is I couldn't care less what Carolyn Bennett's cv looks like before entering politics. As pointed out by another poster her boss comes with a great cv as well. She looks like granny clampett unhinged when she asks questions in the House. She is so over the top in her rhetoric and tries to feign outrage so bad she sometimes looks like a complete fool. As Inkless says she is a doctor in real life with some repute. She should ask questions on swine flu based on medical expertise not like a partisan hack.
By the way I agree with Peter. It is her supposed pandemic plan that is being implemented by the government. Does this government have to fix everything that was done by the Liberals over 13 years of do nothing years? The fact is everything they touch has to be reworked or started over from scratch.

By: peter

peter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:46:36 +0000

Sounds like inkless is dissing a profession to me, perhaps explains a bit. Just for the record you may recall that Carolyn (she gets no honorific from me) would have been Minister of Public Health around the time the money tap for pandemic planning was opened in Ottawa (SARS). As the Christians would say "as the shoot is bent so grows the tree", so the agency currently failing in its pandemic mandate was a creation of her watch.

BTW would "Dr." Suzuki fit that definition as well? I know many other PhDs who claim the title, are they suspects too? I rarely take exception to your stylings, but this is uncalled for in my view.

Speaking of "impressive CVs" Carolyn's boss has one too. How's that working out?

By: Inkless

Inkless — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:31:32 +0000

MYL, your general point is perfectly valid, but I hope you're not questioning Carolyn Bennett's credentials as a physician? The Commons is lousy with people whose claim to the honorific "Dr." is flimsy at best — Ruby Dhalla, Gary Goodyear, basically the entire Spine-Cracking Caucus. But don't make me quote Bennett's cv at you. She was, frankly, a hell of a lot more distinguished as a physician than she has lately been as an MP, and it's beneath your usual standards to joke about that.

By: VinceClortho

VinceClortho — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:31:07 +0000

Well I agree with Zoe, I would like to see charts of Harper OLO and Layton's office.

One of the tenets of these things is that structure follows strategy. However, given that they havent had time yet then it isnt surprising that Mr Donolo would put together a traditional structure and peopled it with individuals he is sure can get along and work together. No time for Web 2.0 experimentation in new theories of organization or coddling of 20 somethings who are used to "self organizing".

Funny how the themes are about message control, limitation on spokespeople, per the Globe this am, and discipline. Sounds familiar…cue the screams of but this is different…sorry to tell you it isnt, this is how you run a profesional politicial org,

I still find it more interesting that Iggy had no sense that this thing was out of control or that the office wasnt organized approriately. Suports the point that he really doesnt know what he is doing….lets put it this way, he is used to an Individual contributor role, not a role as leader of the team.

It will be up to Iggy to enforce the structure.

By: Inkless

Inkless — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:27:59 +0000

So sleeeeepy

By: james curran

james curran — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:01:30 +0000

UMMMM. Pasta and a movie.

By: SpencBC

SpencBC — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:54:15 +0000

It seems to me that Iggy has to be surrounded with people who can prop him up because he cannot stand on his own two feet. These people are his crutches. Why not dump Iggy and install Donolo. You did it with Dion why not with Iggy! How can any Liberal in this country expect us to vote for such a weak, wishy washy person like Iggy. Honestly after the last year and a half you Libs are expecting us average Canadians to do an awful lot of forgetting and swallowing. Forget it! It will not happen. How any of you can support this guy Iggy is beyond me. I'd rather vote for Layton! And he is an Idiot.

By: s_c_f

s_c_f — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:40:21 +0000

The whole party needs to go.

By: s_c_f

s_c_f — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:38:50 +0000

Children dropping like flies?

My flies were dropping like flies from the virus. Even the mosquitoes are keeling over.

By: TwoYen

TwoYen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:48:10 +0000

I was also wondering what happened to Kevin Chan. Anybody know?

By: madeyoulook

madeyoulook — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:47:09 +0000

If nothing else, showing everyone they have been thinking and are actually organizing into a gang that actually might accomplish something sometime (beyond *cough* Doctor *cough* Bennett beclowning herself), well, that has to count for something.

Now then: Policy, people. Show us some policy, please.

By: madeyoulook

madeyoulook — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:42:12 +0000

Those marks? You don't recall punching walls in anguish when the kids — will no one think of the children — were dropping like flies from H1N1? Thousands and thousands. Oh it was awful…

By: Phil N

Phil N — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:05:21 +0000

And the first thing the new boss does is welcomes back another name that is connected to the Adscam. At this rate they will have to change their name to the Adscam party.

By: Dave P

Dave P — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:37:50 +0000

Since when has the Count been a team player? Look at his C V. Always the chief and answerable to no one. No—- someone is behind the curtain, running the show. Like the post above "Puppet and Marionette". Who is it? C'mon you supposed journalists, get with it!
This revelation is very helpful to the CPC. Revel in your glory Liebs.

By: hollinm

hollinm — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:19:06 +0000

Hey Zoe….this is not about Harper. It is about the loser leader of the official opposition he has no fresh ideas and is simply retreading the old advisers from the Chretien era.
It says something about the Liberal party and Donolo's efforts to attrack fresh talent with experience. So he has to go back to the future.
However, the leader is the face of the party. It is he who has to effectively communicate with the electorate. To date he has done an incredibly bad job and the polls show it. How is changing the deck chairs on the titanic going to change that.

By: Mulletaur

Mulletaur — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:33:49 +0000

'les Cons' are obsessed with Kinsella. He must really scare them.

By: Mulletaur

Mulletaur — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:32:25 +0000

Wow Bean, a bit touchy about the very thin skin of your boy Stevie.

By: wilson

wilson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:27:04 +0000

'Sources confirmed late Tuesday that Kevin Chan, executive assistant and director to top federal bureaucrat Kevin Lynch, has joined Ignatieff’s team.'
As Lynch’s right-hand man, Chan would presumably have had top secret clearance and access to all government confidential plans.'

By: wilson

wilson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:11:39 +0000

The Puppeteer and the Marionette?

By: wilson

wilson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:04:44 +0000

Or Dion suing Duceppe for linking him to Adscam.

By: VinceClortho

VinceClortho — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:03:40 +0000

beats reading about Iggys scraped knees from his time at UCC

By: VinceClortho

VinceClortho — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:58:57 +0000

Just for fun maybe you should publish the COn and Dipper org charts as well. Or at least Harpers OLO org chart from way back.

But your org point is quite valid, flat vs hierarchical.

But isnt the real point that LoO had no idea about how the OLO should be organized. Is he really just "the product"

By: VinceClortho

VinceClortho — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:54:11 +0000

the warroom can be a function of cimmunications or Political operations. I suspect it is the latter.

The Inkless response is very good starting point on specifics though.

By: Zoé

Zoé — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:53:50 +0000

Hey Wells,

Give us the Chart for Harper. I want to compare and contrast.