Interesting piece in the Globe today that offers some insight into Steve Harper's Karl Rove, CPC campaign chairman Dough Finley. Apparently he really turned on the charm in a recent trip to New Brunswick.
First, Doug told the local peasants that they'd damm well better have a candidate nominated by March 23, or he's just would appoint one himself. An appointed candidate, the horror! I agree, nomination meetings can be so pesky Doug, good thing you and your supporters have never gotten on pious soapboxes about grassroots democracy and the importance of local nominations...oh wait, never mind. My bad. But why such a hurry Doug, why March 23? After all, you don't want an election any time soon...
On that note, no matter what spin you hear later about who precipitated the election, Doug has already made it clear HE will be picking the election date:Some local party members also say Mr. Finley said that the election date would be determined by himself and Mr. Harper -- and perhaps chief of staff Ian Brodie. Others say he indicated that he would work collaboratively with the party's national council.
He also had kind words for Conservative minister Greg Thompson, who had previously told locals they had some time to do a proper candidate search to find the best candidate:Some of the people who attended the meeting say Mr. Finley suggested politicians like Mr. Thompson should stick to cutting ribbons and passing out cheques rather than messing in the business that is usually conducted in the backrooms. One man who heard those remarks said he believes they were made in jest.
Yeah, I'm getting the sense he's a real joker, that Finley. Charming fellow. Just get your talking points from the PMO, Mr. Thompson, and smile like a good boy...
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
And he'll send you to your room without dinner too!
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8 comments:
There is nothing more cynical than the Conservatives' claim that they are standing up for the middle class (which, for them means the Soccer Moms, the Tim Horton's crowd, the Canadian Tire crowd...) And this little story just illustrates how much the Conservatives actually hold the middle class (which would be the overwhelming majority of us) in demonstrable contempt...little rubes to whose class prejudices they can pander and who can be ordered what to do.
As for governmental policy that actually addresses substantive issues that matter to the middle class? Well, the Conservatives are just hoping Joe Sixpack (another one of their favourite expressions of contempt) won't actually notice that there really aren't any.
Steve Harper's Karl Rove, CPC campaign chairman Dough Finley.
Seriously Jeff, you're better than that.
Whooee! Well mclea, I don't reckon Jeff's the only one who sees Finley as Steve's Rove. He's got the same job an' the Cons ain't bashful about usin' tactics that Rove used t' keep their Republican brethren in power in Merka. They use the same "support the troops" "soft on crime" "soft on terrism" slogans that the Merkans use.
Maybe callin' Finley "Rove" is too generous, though. Rove wannabe, sez I.
If the HarpoonTossers get a majority, watch fer King Steve t' refer t' Finley as "the architect."
JimBobby
There is nothing more cynical than the Conservatives' claim that they are standing up for the middle class (which, for them means the Soccer Moms, the Tim Horton's crowd, the Canadian Tire crowd...
Agreed, especially given that Steve actually favours Starbucks...
Seriously Jeff, you're better than that...
Appreciate the vote of confidence mclea, but what was wrong with the Rove/Finley comparison. They are each their leader's respective right hands, and savvy political operators. Sure, I think Karl is a jerk, but I'm sure Doug would be flattered by the comparison which, I agree with my friend JimBobby, seems apt enough.
You should reserve your indignation over candidate appointments until it is determined how Dion meets the 1/3 female quota -- if he does.
Here's a case in point. In the riding of New Westminster-Coquitlam the Cons' riding executive nearly resigned en mass after Harpor's people refused to green light 2 long-time members as candidates for nomination... Among the exec's who resigned are a couple who's membership goes back to Dief's day. It seems the upper-management had this riding pegged as needing a 'liberal' candidate in blue, so they recruited a local Korean-Canadian school teacher (the nomination meeting is this weekend and she is being opposed by a retired army dude). The Harpor people feel the only way to recover this riding is to offer middle of the road, who if elected will become back of the house (altho Harpor does treat his women and minority MPs like visual props...).
I'm hardly indignant Joan, I'm just amused once again at the wide gap between Conservative rhetoric and Conservative reality. As for the 1/3 thing, they're certainly going hard to meet it. Frankly though, while I support the purpose I've never been a fan of quotas. We'll see how that works out.
You should reserve your indignation over candidate appointments until it is determined how Dion meets the 1/3 female quota -- if he does.
In other words, Joan Tintor says "Look over there...ADSCAM!"
...why they bother, I'll never figure out. Maybe self-reflection is simply not conservative.
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