Who Cares?

With that question PM Carney voiced the frustration that most Canadians are feeling with regard to Donald Trump and his administration. 

Then he followed it up by stating that it was a poor choice of words.

I do wonder if it was as much an off-the-cuff question or whether the whole thing was calculated. 

That sentiment would resonate with most Canadians. The Conservatives, ever predictable, decided to try to make political hay from it and then he walked it back making them look kind of silly and reminding Canadians that when it comes to Donald Trump there is some doubt the CPC can be trusted to fight for Canadian interests.

Or the put it another way the Conservatives failed to read the room yet again. That should come as no surprise. After all there was a poll that came out a few weeks ago that indicated that a large majority of Canadians are very unhappy about what Donald Trump is doing. It indicated that over 80% of non-Conservatives were unhappy but only around 50% of Conservative were unhappy. That is, around 50% of Conservatives are quite happy with what Donald Trump is doing. The Conservatives appealing to their base at the cost of appealing to the broader electorate has become the MO in the last few years. Maybe they believe it will eventually win them an election, and they could be right, but I do know that appealing to a broader audience would almost guarantee them a victory. However, as a Liberal supporter I hope they keep doing what they are doing. It decreases their chances of winning.

The old "elbows up" never meant that the government would fight the Trump administration on everything. It was always going to be about picking their spots. The PM did just that in South Africa this week.

Nicely done.