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

The stakes

by Aaron Wherry on Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:45pm - 77 Comments

The latest spot from the Liberal side.

There’s also a suite of new French ads.

Tags: attack ads, election, Election 2011, liberals, Stephen Harper

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OriginalEmily1

That's quite an image Harper has built for himself.

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

It's a Liberal attack ad, genius. lol. Next.

OriginalEmily1

Oh I think everyone is well aware of that, genius.

It's still Harper's image…the one he built himself.

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Harper built these images in a Liberal attack ad, did he? No, genius, Liberal PR hacks made the ad, and you're desperately trying to thump it here. Like a robot you come on here, in fact. No independent mind at all. And then when someone calls you on it you lash out personally. The new Liberal vision. Ugh.

OriginalEmily1

Harper has built that image over 5 years, deliberately.

So no one buys the kitten-hugger stuff for a reason.

Please…dilute the koolaid before you blow a gasket.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Really. He built these terrible images of himself deliberately, did he? You can't even get your accusations straight. This is desperate. This election is desperate. The opposition is desperate. You're desperate. This is why we're having our fourth $300 million election in seven years. Thanks!
OriginalEmily1

Yup, he did.

Your nervous breakdown, notwithstanding.
Jan

Con talking point alert – no one wants this election. For a writer you certainly have troible coming up with anything original. There are two more weeks left of this, Dennis. Judging by the little hissy fits you're having on here, you should really try to calm down.

Stewart_Smith

For an attack ad, it seems like they were pretty careful to stick to the facts.

HOWEVER, showing that jiggly tummy of Harper was just uncalled for.

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Really. Let's go through each one.

-Demanding more time in power.

No, he's campaigning in an election.

- Tax cuts for oil companies and banks.

No, keeping corporate tax rates to where Liberals once said they should be.

- Less protection for the environment.

Based on what? The Liberal record? Lack of a carbon tax Canadians don't want?

- Curbs to health care.

Bogus. More desperate Liberal fear-mongering. What curbs? Where?

-Less gun control.

Since when is the long gun registry about gun control?

- Billions on fighter jets.

Same billions the Liberals would spend if they somehow got power.

- Billions more wasted (with headline on G8)

Undocumented. Unsourced. AG report will detail, but election opposition demanded delayed that, didn't it. Even so, any cost overruns won't be "in the billions."

-An economy that leaves "you" behind.

Who's "you" and says who?

-Attacking anyone who stands in his way.

Rubbish. Why isn't he allowed to fight back against an opposition determined to get him? They even launched a separatist backed coalition to get him. And this frivolous election, too.

-The stakes are too high.

Yes, for an opposition leader that will have to go back to Harvard if and when he loses.

Sticking to the facts? lol. Whatever.

The same people who yell and scream about Tory attack ads think Liberal attacks ads are the truth. Then they say we really needed this fourth $300 million election in seven years. Again, whatever!

Andre

"Sticking to the facts? lol. Whatever."

Yes we all know where you stand on using facts.How do you produce your material again?

"with little or no research" – Dennis Furlan, Freelance writer

Dennis_F, the Anti-factist

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

a) Interesting to see that you can't rebut one FACT that I produced in my post.

b) I don't produce my material "with little or no research." I sometimes rely on other people's research and expertise, or have enough of it on my own to produce copy on demand.

Like I keep saying, this is just more desperation from people who keep telling us this election is about "democracy." My butt. It's about sticking it to opponents. Like now. Next.

André

Why bother, you've spend a great deal of effort rejecting reality and substituting with your own and resume is a long list of proof that you have no intention of basing any of your thoughts on actual facts. You'll even go as far as admit it yourself.

Debunking your arguments would require to render you brain dead because that brain of yours just ain't wired to face reality.

I'd rather just deal with you like I deal with any other troll.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

You're something else. You post anonymously. You personally smear me. Then you have the gall to suggest that I'm rejecting reality or that I'm a troll. Notice: you can't rebut even one fact I posted about this ad. Instead, you engage in the very politics you accuse your opponents of. Shameful. Shameful.
André

"…we don't just have rainbows, we have rainbows on FIRE!"
GALL!!

GALL GALL…
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Yup, a lot of it on here. Thanks!
Jan

You're just too good for politics, Dennis. Maybe you should take up crafts.
frobisher

It is said that he is a master of martial crafts.

http://stumblingabordeaux.posterous.com Pato31

I'll give it to Dennis_F. I'm just not a fan of these ads. Other than for the fighter jets and gun control, the message is obviously exaggerated and along with the music it's rather laughable. It shows desperation. I'm still an undecided voter (although I've ruled out the conservatives) and this ad makes me less likely to vote Liberal. I wanna hear a positive message. I don't want to vote liberal because Stephen Harper is scary.

chet

Sick People,

In our streets,

We're not making this up.

Here's the problem with the Liberal attempt to scare voters:

Harper is not an unknown quantity. The Libs are telling Canadians not to trust themselves and what they've come to believe about Harper over the last several years as our leader.

Then again,

the Libs really don't have anything left, so bringing out the laughably tired "hidden agenda" is befitting a desperate party.

Remarkably the media seems still willing to lose all credibility by parroting this in support of their guy. I would have thought that they'd pivot after all appeared lost in an attempt to distance themselves from thier apparent cheerleading,

but they seem content to go down with the ship.

Anon

It's not so hidden anymore.
austinso

Indeed. Why focus on likelihoods, when you can go by established fact?

Take the absolute incompetence when it comes to handling the publish purse.

Like, for example, promising to buy the most advance fighter jet in the world, and telling everyone it is only 75-million a pop, when it is actually about $100 million according to the guys who are actually building these things.

But get this: you have to pay extra for a freakin' engine. The engine is not included!
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Canada+Engine…

What kind of boneheaded purchase is this? Like spending $80-million for gazebos in the freakin' Muskokas?

The CPC and Harper in particular is full of complete boobs. And you blindly adhere to them like a freakin' cult.

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

You're making the accusation that they're "complete boobs" when it comes to the public purse based on complicated costs that will be a part of any jet purchase made by any party? Never mind a trillions of dollars economy that they're presiding over with what most economists say is competence.

You're hypocritically throwing eggs at a jet purchase the Liberals would most certainly make anyhow, and let's not even talk about their record when it comes to the purchase of military equipment. You've already used up the term "boobs," so we'll just leave it at that.

This is why we're having our fourth $300 million election in seven years, is it? That's competent handling of the public purse, is it?

austinso

Complicated?! Puahahahaha~!

You've just answered your query. The Harper government is agreeing to purchase planes WITHOUT ENGINES! Maybe they should have made that consideration, eh? You know…that planes need engines to fly. Pretty complicated stuff right? Puhahahaha~!

And who caused the previous 2 elections, Dennis? Who prorogued parliament to avoid another one? It was Harper and the CPC. You know, despite the fact that there are supposed to be fixed election dates according to legislation brought to you by the CPC.

And you guys buy this crap. It is freakin unbelievable what you will blindly swallow.

And just in case you weren't aware, Dennis, it was work by the previous Liberal government that stabilized the economy…work that the CPC is taking credit for. Work that was squandered in a couple of years. Ironies of ironies that the CPC would actually take credit for Liberal policies that they were against. What kind of spineless unprincipled self-serving ingrates would take credit for the very things that they were against?

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

I'm not an expert on jet purchases. Neither are you. So much of this is just egg throwing that started the second the Liberals decided to make this an election issue a few months ago because they didn't have much else to run on. And this campaign certainly shows that, doesn't it.

Many of you on here engage in an odd bit of logic. You think you're smart, but you resort to not-so-smart arguments. For example, what you say about the last three elections says absolutely nothing about why we're having this one, does it? The opposition forced it. They have to tell us why, don't they. And, after three weeks of an election campaign, most Canadians still can't figure out why. That's not good for you, is it. Oh well.

You can get angry at people telling you the truth all you want. It just exposes your agenda, and its lack of substance. Thanks.
austinso

I'm not an expert on jet purchases. Neither are you.

That maybe so. But I at least have enough basic intelligence to know that planes need engines. You know, to fly. That is what they are for, are they not?
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Like I said: egg throwing. Defence officials have shot down the notion that the planes won't have engines. But, hey, why ruin yet another bogus attack from an opposition that has nothing in an election they said was about something, right?

Atchison

"a jet purchase the Liberals would most certainly make anyhow"

The began the procurement process in 2001 did they not?

OriginalEmily1

'A' purchase….not an untendered purchase of aircraft without engines.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

I'd hate to shoot down yet another desperate attack from the opposition and the media that Canadians are ignoring at an increasingly greater rate but, yes, the jets that the Liberals would still probably purchase, or pay more for, will have engines intact. Thank you. Next.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/artic…
OriginalEmily1

Don't worry….you haven't.

The planes are a stupid purchase by either party….but if you're going to buy some, you need a better plane than this. That's why we have a tendering process.

Having engines would be a good start….not even the worst used car salesman would try to sell a vehicle with no engines.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Canada+Engines+…

You're welcome. Next.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

The article I posted shoots down – forgive the pun – the article you posted.

Any tendering process on the purchase of these jets would most likely increase their costs. This is what happened when Liberals agitated about helicopters the last time they got power. History is repeating itself.

The Liberals had nothing to run on, so they flip-flopped on jets they're going to buy anyway. This is why we're having our fourth $300 million election in seven years, is it? Terrific.
OriginalEmily1

Mmmm no it doesn't. Sorry.

And I know you're rattled…but please update your material.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

The article that I linked to is the most recent. Funny how all these agitations from the opposition and the media keep falling flat. Canadians aren't buying it. My guess is that it's just making a Harper majority that much likelier. People must be saying: Let's end this nonsense with a stable four year government once and for all already!
OriginalEmily1

Never took those Remedial Reading classes eh?

It shows.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Never had any facts on this issue, or reasons to force this election, eh? It shows. Next.
OriginalEmily1

Boy…yer memory is shot altogether Denny….only 3 weeks and you've already forgotten contempt of parliament.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

So has everybody else, including the opposition parties who used it as an excuse to force a fourth $300 million election in seven years that only they and their ludicrously out of touch supporters wanted.
OriginalEmily1

Nobody else has forgotten it….sorry.

Get help.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

Yes, we're having this election so you can engage in this garbage. Unbelievable. Next.
OriginalEmily1

LOL now yer carrying your own door around, just so you can bash into it!
craigola

I tried to tell him, but he's really touchy about it.
OriginalEmily1

LOL I blame the look-say method, and a faulty memory.
chet

It is quite remarkable that a significant portion of the CPC platform was supported by the Liberals just a short while ago. Indeed the Liberals were very real proponents of corporate tax cuts, and this very fighter purchase.

Now that we're in an election, and the Liberals are faced with no discernable policy difference the sky is suddenly falling over the CPC platform.

Layton is getting traction during the middle part of this election precisely because he's pointing these very real truths out.

The simple fact is, Iggy is now acting hysterical against programs he himself supported just a short while ago.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

You'll also note it's not the Conservatives who are pointing these things out, either. That tells me they're staying above the fray, and the election is proceeding as they hoped – for now.
chet

Above the fray is correct.

Harper also did a masterful job in the debates, staying above the petty bickering.
BCer in Mtl

Part 2 . . .

One other point, this bit about the engines – its common to have powerplants supplied as 'Buyer Furnished Equipment' (BFE) in such procurements (I didn't seriously think they were buying aircraft with no engines, I think everyone was just having a bit of fun . . . but about as truthful as the CPC claims iPod tax) but that fact makes the $75M unit cost per aircrraft even more unbelievable. That is clearly a fictitious number . . . even if the aircraft, powerplants and armament were built in Chinese sweatshops, they would still cost upwards of $120 million apiece.
chet

Aside from highly partisan Liberals, who it seems would believe Iggy if he told them he would turn into a pig and fly above Ottawa if elected,

no one believes if the Liberals were elected, they wouldn't have to spend the same money on Jets, that whatever jet purchase was made, that it too would be subject to potential cost overruns.

This whole jet opposition seems to be an attempt to play to the base. In fact much of what Iggy's done seems like that. Then again, that might be the only objective Iggy can realistically hope to accomplish in this election.
BCer in Mtl

Well given what is presently available in the market, there's a good chance that whatever is procured other than F-35 would be less expensive. The key is to define the requirements properly so as to determine what we need to be shopping for.

Of course, cost overruns are a risk with any major procurement, however the risk to cost and schedule would be lessened if we went with a proven platform, either off-the-shelf or derivative. Which by the way begs the question, didn't the government commit, as recently as May 2010, that there would be a competition and that the selection would be from a platform that was already in service? There was no competition conducted by Canada, and the F-35 is far from being in service.

Jenahlin

Check your facts – The engines are included

austinso

Really now. At what price? You know, how much we actually have to pay so that the F-35s can actually do the things it is supposed to do.

You know…like fly. Puahahahaha~!

Anon

I think it's hilarious that the Youtube clips that are opffered when the ad is over are for High Stake Poker.

It's high stakes poker indeed for the country now.

Curt

Are the Libs placing this on TV or is Mr. Wherry just giving frr air time for this ad which in my opinion is trecthing a few thins. Automatic rifles could never be registered by private citizens as they are illegal. Canada is not buying verticle take-off jets.

OriginalEmily1

LOL chill out dude….you are already over the cliff doing the Wiley Coyote air-pedalling thing.

Just Joe

Wiley Coyote air-pedalling thing.

Like Brilliantine on dry hair. (Over Dennis_F's head)

He will never understand how misguided he is, that's my bet. Twenty years from now he'll still wonder how "his side" lost.

OriginalEmily1

I agree….he'll never venture outside that mind bubble he's in and meet the world

Joshua

I don't want a piece of sh– like Iggy, and the thieving former Prime Ministers (Sponsorship Scandal – Sidewinder Scandal), having anything to do with running my health care or my Country.
Wake UP CANADA…..It was the thieving Ontario Liberals who put us where we are now because of the billions of dollars they stole from the E-Health Scansdal and the Program that E-Health replaced….more billions of dollars stolen. Do we want this sh– running our country.
The only reason Iggy is going all out re the Health care, is because he knows nothing else he is doing is working. This is why he brought these people "from our past" in, to help him win this election.
I want a Prime Minister who is going to take me ahead, not behind to the 40 years where we came from. Get it As- Ho–

Jan

You give swearing a bad name. The trick is not to sound like a punk.

BCer in Mtl

I didn't think he sounded like a punk. He did sound like a drunk though.

Just Joe

Oh, jeez, Joshua. Please, please, Joshua.

There is a tree in the desert — the Joshua tree, with limbs that RISE UP to greet the sky. Yes, they RISE UP and pray for deliverance from the evil forces that make your life so tragic. The tree has a name, and the name yucca brevifolia is its name. Its name is the beginning and the end of all that is evil. If you take the time to study the natural world you will find a glossary to help you translate the evil words.

Here's a hint… yucca = Stephen.
Mummer2

Charming………….Is this the best the CP can muster…..Really?
JLPG

I don't want a Majority with that piece of robotic garbage that wants to spend my $35 billion on crooked American contractors now being invetigated by Washington for overruns. Or spend $10 billion so crooked owners of Privatized Prisons can put in tweens for stealing a loaf of bread. Read about the Amarican judge who went to jail for sending kids to his private jail buddies?
I didn't like my Toronto-trashing at the G20 and spending $1.2 billion of it on Con ridings!
Not a single WOMAN, Senior or Veteran is voting for the CRAP neanderthals this time! A B C

Just Joe

F-35s without engines Einstein? All your points are belong to us you silly juvenile excuse.

http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

They're not without engines, genius.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/artic…

It's just been one desperate attack after another, hasn't it?

This is why we're having our fourth $300 million election in seven years, is it?

chet

And "Just Joe"

is at a plus two for that display.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you today's "tolerant progressive left."

Mummer2

I have no tolerance for stupidity, lack of comman sense, or people who ignore science. I will vote accordingly.
craigola

Who cares? You?

avr

I look forward to election day. You people are going to be surprised at how little STEPHEN HARPER WILL MURDER YOU IN YOUR SLEEP ads move numbers.

Mummer2

I don't know. Attack ads work…right?

avr

Negative ads work best when they're plausible. Go too over-the-top and there's severely diminishing returns.

André

If it's true that STEPHEN HARPER WILL MURDER YOU IN YOUR SLEEP ads doesn't move numbers, and also true that MICHEAL IGNATIEFF WILL MURDER YOU IN YOUR SLEEP ads does move numbers, then it must mean that the general population is just not surprised that Steven Harper will murder us all in our sleep.

Jenahlin

Or it must mean you support Iggy

JLPG

Herr Harper looks like neo-Nazi with his eyeglasses and steely stare anyway. I wouldn't put it past this robotic CRAPPER!

TwoYen

The LIberals are in the gutter. They should be ashamed. Health care is an important issue and this ad demonstrates that the Liberals have no interest in a real debate over health care policy. I despair for my country.
Just Joe

Noticed chet garnered twenty-six responses to his bold assertions about how we Canadians view his Georg Heinrich Schönerer hero-worship vomit. We are, all of us, fortunate to have the freedom to share our depravity in the commons without fear of censure — so far. Look carefully, though. Fix your gaze on the man that chet defends. There you see a child-like little-boy face, mounted atop a pasty, bleached-wheat, push/don't pull body that shouts depravity. A kind of squishy Chucky dude that wants to hug your children. A hero for chet; a hero my neighbours would chase away for fear he'd steal the furniture from their backyards — or worse, try to argue his way into renting a room in a house on the street. Property values, you know. For heavens sake, chet and Dennis_F, stop promoting the evil in our midst!
RCM Laureen

THANK GOD, now we're talking about Health Care.

In the U.S. 64% of PERSONAL BANKRUPTCIES were filed because they couldn't pay their medical bills.

In Canada the percentage is 0%!!

But a Majority for Herr Harper will change all this of course! This Neanderthal woman-hater can' trusted–no wonder Laureen left him a year ago!