For the second time on two days the Liberals have made a major announcement regarding some questionable actions by the Conservatives regarding stimulus spending and government advertizing.
Being the Opposition Party these announcements will be largely ignored at this time. However, what the Liberals are doing is setting up their attack lines for the next election when people will be paying attention.
This is actually a positive sign for those of us who want to see the back of the Harper government. What we have been seeing in the last few weeks is exactly what Opposition Parties are supposed to do.
Of course, they also have to offer alternatives to what the government is doing and we are also seeing the beginnings of that.
It would appear the Liberal Party is finally getting its shit together.
6 comments:
I would respectfully disagree the Liberals are gaining any traction.
They have refused to keep their powder dry and have been used hyperbole for months under Iggy.
Without going into great in the 500 Press Release since January 2009 demostrates they have found fault nearly every single day.
The new leader got a bump in January and it ended in June 2009. They have recovered from 26.3%. The range went to 35%-29% as a result of the Sudbury repositioning.
It was a mistake for the NDP and now the Liberal to adopt that role of voting against everything.
The Bloc at least pretend to read the bill before voting against it.
The public is not interested in returning to the Polls at this time. The only party demanding we return is the Liberals. The voters understand the Liberals stand to gain 20-30 seats but don't understand why we need to have an election.
The public relations stunt at Burlington attacking the City Park is backfiring. Wrong field. Burlington Mayor and Liberal MPP are benefitng from the infrastructure, why alienate provincial, municipal levels of government?
CPC are being attacked for too slow, too little, stimulus. In their ridings its is favourtism. In Lib,NDP, Bloc ridings they are buying votes.
The Liberals attack them when they invest in Toronto $ 200 million.
The public does not care what party uses their own tax money to help repair roads, improve schools, water treatment plants.
They would have more luck if the PMO used his office to build a fountain, push a the BDC to make loans for a friend.
They are "crying wolf" about the government on too many occassions. The public is tuning out the Liberals.
I know folks really want to talk over you, ottlib. CS is everywhere these days, always taking several paragraphs to yell, "Wrong!"
But your point is actually valid. Before recent events, any criticism was immediately met with the either spoken or unspoken commentary of "If Harper is so bad, then why are the Liberals supporting them when it counts?"
The conservatives have seen a mild bump in recent polls, though I have noted some of that is because pollsters shifted from general polling to "committed" voters, which I find interesting.
But the Liberals have actually held fairly steady. Being able to act as a true opposition party was necessary. And, as time goes on, beign able to establish themselves as a government in waiting will yield benefits.
That remains true no matter how much some may want to yell, "yada yada yada" at your observations.
Attacking the Cons on infrastructure spending means also attacking the provincial Libs.
After 13 years in government , some ridings have been totally ignored.
as reported in the TorStar:
''...Ignatieff's partisan strategy did not enjoy a lot of support yesterday at Queen's Park, where 25 Liberal MPPs share ridings with Conservative MPs.
"I'm telling you, I get a lot more from my Conservative seatmate than I got from the Liberal MP who had the seat before," said one unhappy Liberal MPP.
Another Liberal MPP whose riding is held by the Tories federally also felt McGuinty and Harper have worked well together to ensure the infrastructure largesse is spread around fairly.
"These are not just `Conservative' ridings, they are `Liberal' ridings, too," the MPP fumed.
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/700814
or point in another direction . . .
I would remind CS and wilson that no one cared about the Accountability Act the Conservatives unveiled when they were in Opposition.
It received one day of media play and then was forgotten. The polls showing the Liberals having a comfortable lead over the Conservatives did not budge either way.
However, once the election began that Act began to gain traction, showing that the Conservatives actually played it right.
That is how Opposition Parties set up governments for defeat. They begin talking about something the government has done when no one is really paying attention and then follow-up during an election.
The Liberals failed to do that before the last election, which is one reason why their criticisms of the Conservative record did not take. This time they are doing it right increasing the chances of having their message resonate during a campaign.
Like I said the Liberals appear to finally have their stuff together.
Ottolib,
I think it is wonderful you cheering for your team but ignoring facts does not help win elections.
The loss of voting blocs has taken years and will not return because of some super secret impressive plan.
The CPC have slowly grown and gained confidence of the voters. (Current Polls and October 2008 results)
The Liberals benefited greatly from a divided right of centre vote.
Finances and a clear option have resulted in a clear choice for those unhappy with the Liberal party.
The McGill Study show the loss of liberal majority lead, rural, visible minorities, roman catholic vote over eight years.
A six week campaign in 2009 or next spring will not change the voting pattern in a substantive level. Are you suggesting turnout will change? More or less people in the next election?
How much did the OBAMA/McCain election boost the numbers as a %?
Do you think we have 8 years of Bush and an OBAMA factor in Canada?
Nik Nanos leadership scores reflect the polls closely.
Being realistic about voting intentions, I think we may decrease another 1% in voter turnout as 70% are not interested. As much as 35% of confirmed Liberal voters are NOT interested in returning to the polls this year.
Are you suggesting 1-2% of those confirmed voters may NOT show up again?
The CPC are running suppression ads that will are designed to drive down support for your leader. This is pre writ. When a campaign start the Bloc and NDP will also step their attacks.
The ADS right now are framing him and the LPC ads are unlikely to help.
Check out Curiousity Cat he is a Liberal but is not stuck on the leader. Read his posts about strategy.
Goodluck have a good nite.
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