Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Pre-budget videos

Michael Ignatieff made his question period debut as interim Liberal leader and opposition leader this afternoon. In the opening questions, his subject is (naturally) the economy as he rightly calls-out Stephen Harper for his slowness to admit there was an economic problem needing action. I find it amusing Harper says his government took action on "this crisis" a year ago, when during the election he was saying "no crisis" and in the economic update spectacularly failed to act and laughable predicted a surplus.



This clip is rather amusing. A seating-chart for a photo-op? The PMO is taking the stage-managing to a new level. One wonders if they also scripted the forced joviality and banter between the ministers, and focused-grouped the idea as well: suit jackets on, or no? Sleeves up, or down. Personally, I think Stock's coffee cup is too small. Almost looks like an espresso mug. That won't play in Portage La Prairie!

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5 comments:

Steve V said...

Jeff

At 2 minutes 15 seconds, does Harper not say we are in surplus for "this fiscal year"? Flaherty just admitted a deficit of 1.1 billion for this fiscal year in the budget, two hours later. Wow, things are really unraveling fast. What's the deficit tonight, 4 billion?

Jeff said...

Steve, that's what I heard too, and it also gave me pause. Bears further looking into I think.

Steve V said...

Harper will just say that nobody could have forecast the speed of the economic downturn between 2 and 4pm.

Barcs said...

Unusual that they drew up a seating chart.... but I am not sure I have ever seen a photo op that was unscripted. Even for family photos the nice lady with a camera directs us to stand on a spot. Can you imagine that a political parties communications person would be any different??

I think the nice lady is a little against Mr. Harper.... and trying to make a novel out of a piece of paper.

Jeff said...

Not everything is a major scandal, I just found it odd, and a little creepy. And it is the first time the media have been given such a chart. But with Harper's cabinet, it is hard to tell the players without a program...