Scanning the headlines

Here’s some media: They’ve been complaining about their lack of media coverage, so it’s nice to see that today Gerard Kennedy gets the full Linda Diebel-profile treatment in the Toronto Star. It’s a very thorough piece that talks to many people and seems to cover all the bases, at times positive and at times tough. For most of the story I thought she hadn’t actually talked to Kennedy himself, she did but it doesn’t seem that much from the interview was used. Still, I think it’s a good piece. It also hits on one of his biggest challenges as seen over the campaign: managing expectations.

Calling Mr. Kennedy
He is seen as ambitious. Staffers work tirelessly because he never takes a break. Yet many point to his kindness and the value he places on friendship. The two sides of Mr. Kennedy

Oct. 8, 2006. 07:31
Linda Diebel
STAFF REPORTER

Politics are addictive; at no time more so than when players test themselves in a struggle for the leadership or at election time. They are a special breed who compete among themselves as vigorously as against any rival. Late on a Saturday night in Vancouver, a small group of such players in the Liberal leadership race dawdled long after the hotel-lounge pizza had been devoured, loathe to give up the passion of talking politics.
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Courting the media vote: Communications strategists always lament it’s impossible to get the media to write about policy; they’re far more interested in covering the horse race of politics, polling results and war room intrigue. Except, of course, when the policy is about the media. I say this as a journalist, but no one who is not a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery gives a crap about this story. If the media suddenly have a hankering to start writing about policy in this leadership race can I suggest they ask the candidates about education, health care, you know, stuff actual Canadians care about?

Candidates pledge ban of reporters ‘list’
Grits vow openness, won’t restrict who can ask questions
By STEPHEN MAHER Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA — All eight candidates for the leadership of the federal Liberal party have promised that, as prime minister, they would end the current government’s practice of demanding that reporters put their name on a list if they want to ask the prime minister a question.
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Bogedy-bogedy-bo: Stephen Harper tells the ultra-Liberal Calgary Sun that he kicks so much ass the Liberals have to make up stuff and construct elaborate boogey-men to attack him with, since he has done nothing that can be fairly criticized. Excuse me while I go expel my breakfast…

OK, I’m back, sorry about that. Anyway, as I was saying, as an example Harper mentions last week’s kerfuffle over the “Defence of Religions Act.” Harper sayeth:

“It’s completely false and just speculation.”

“There is no such proposal.”

Gee, now I wonder where those bastard lying Liberals got the idea that there was? Oh yeah, I remember now, it was from Harper’s minister of justice, Vic Toews:

While refusing to discuss specifics, Justice Minister Vic Toews confirmed the government's intentions yesterday in an interview.

“The nature of the concerns that are being raised with me are relating to freedom of religion and freedom to practice religion [and] freedom of expression,” he said.

Now, I find Vic a bit creepy myself, but I wouldn’t call him a bogeyman. But then again, Steve has always demonstrated a somewhat malleable view of reality.

And finally, I leave you with this thought. Is it just me, or does Saturday Night Live really suck bad this year? About the only decent bit last night was that Andy Sandberg jogger from 1982 bit, and that was like 30 seconds long. I recall nothing memorable from the premiere last week.

A Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to all.

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