I watched the entire Canadian debate from start to finish with little interuption and here's what I saw:
#5 - Harper got torn apart, and for me, the "Stay the Course" and "The numbers say things are good" didn't cut it for me and he avoided many of the main issues. Sure we may have gained more jobs then lost, but look at the details of those gains and loses. A lot of jobs have been created in the oil sands, but a lot of jobs all accross Canada have suffered and lost.... and while Alberta maybe getting a load of jobs, people and development (And good on them) there has been very little development elsewhere in the country, esspecially in the Maritimes.
Not bothering to give a sh*t about all the people who have lost their jobs and telling us "We'll put the money where there is a market, which is in new developments and new technologies, etc." doesn't cut it for these people, including myself. Most of these people are either not currently working because they got laid off, or they're working more then one job to keep ends met..... I highly doubt any of these people have the money in their lives to go back to college/university to get training into these jobs and to start their lives all over again..... most who've worked in their industries for 30 years or so...... what about them?
His whole concept of destroying the Universal health care in order to allow US private companies to come into our country and gain some money from us is totally unacceptable.
He basically kept on the route of staying the course and everything will be just fine..... well that didn't work for the US, and it's certainly not working here right now.
Him wanting to cut the arts funding is a joke. Just because those who don't work in the industry don't understand what that will mean, doesn't mean it's a good idea. We should be working more in our arts, not taking away from it..... that's where a lot of money can come from for the entire nation.
Rather then balancing the money, funds and programs for all Canadians, Harper wants to put all his money into the oil industry and the other projects that can bring in all kinds of money.... that might work good for some in the nation, but it doesn't work for everybody, myself included.
In my opinion, Harper did the worst in the debate when it comes to swaying my opinion.
#4 Dion I have to say did impress me..... ever so slightly. He has been working on his English and he did pretty good for himself through most of the debate. He did seem to lose his control of the English language near the end of the debate, however that didn't bother me so much. What did bother me was that like all other Liberals in the past, he sounded just like all the other Liberals before a big election. Harper sounded just like a Conservative and Dion sounded just like another Liberal, dishing out more promises and lacking in details.
He still never went into details about the faults in his Income Tax neutral plan, therefore that is still a big dent in his appearance for me. The Liberals conduct through most of the previous government was brought up, although a lot more nicer then I would have addressed, and Dion for the most part, didn't sway my view either. Besides his improved English and ability to speak soft and sensual to the camera once in a while, I didn't see anything impressive come his way.
#3 Dueppe He did pretty good I must say. He didn't give a big monster impression of wanting to destroy the entire country to serve Quebecs' interests, lol.... he did bring up some very good points, some ligit concerns, and several times, Harper avoided answering his questions. If I could have voted for him, he'd be my third choice. He does seem to be of some sound mind and for once, he didn't focus all his attention on Quebec this and Quebec that, but addressed many concerns that are felt accross the nation.
#2 May She did pretty good for herself. I was impressed for the most part, but she still lacks political professionalism when communicated with many of the other parties in the debate. Out of all the people in the debate, she seemed to be the worst of following the debate rules on letting one person talk at a time and continually interupting others when they were talking. She also tried to squeeze as much in as she could, even after being told to cut it a few times by the mediator/moderator.
Although I am completely used to her attitude and how she carries herself, as I was born and raised in the exact same place she was, it's certainly not how I would have carried myself in that debate. Her Attitude is good when you're hanging out at Acropole Pizza on Provost St. shooting the crap with other locals, but when you want to connect to the entire country, I think one should step up their professionalism.
While she had many good ideas and plans, I remember I think one or two that didn't sound all that right to me. Overall, she did well for her first time in the debate, but I don't think she is ready to lead the nation just yet. Perhaps in another couple of years, but not now.
#1 Layton In my opinion, kicked just about everybody's ass in the debate. While he did drag Dion and Harper through the alley in most of the debate, he had the ability to attack with his proposals and plans, while the others usually just attacked..... his debating was diverse and in my opinion, he did the best job in controlling the whole debate overall. He was very direct, easy to understand and he brought the frustration of average Canadians to the table and threw them in the laps of those who created them.
He, along with May, were the best at bringing focus to the middle class, those who have worked decades in a job they loved, who now no longer have one, he brought focus to the tax cuts for Exxon Harper gave, he brought attention to the level in which Harper is not doing anything for the environment, in regards to piss poor environmental policies which don't counter the amount of production in the oil sands. He brought out his plans, explained them very well, and when I boil it right down to the nit and grit, and to which person I think had the devotion, attitude and the balls (figure of speech to those who like May) to bring the concerns to the people in question..... to me, he'd make a good Prime Minister and I have yet to see anything as a major deterrant to the party's abilities.
Both the Liberals and Conservatives had the same old attitude..... they've been in their positions for so long, they seemed relaxed in their responses..... like they had a plan and it's all good. Layton and May, the new parties, had that typical worker's attitude.... you're there and paid to do a job, and so you get the job done. You being in the position you currently are in isn't a gift to the country, you're there to do something...... and they had that attitude that they were going to do something.
Moderator/Mediator Overall it was pretty good. There were a few times that things got a bit out of hand with everybody talking, but it wasn't for long. I would have been a lot more straight forward with them and kept things the way they should have, but every other debate I have seen in the past, there were always moments where everybody got a bit out of hand..... so I can't blame the mediator for all of it. He would have sucked if they went on fighting for a few minutes and he couldn't bring it down.... but usually it was just for a few seconds.
Debate Overall I was impressed, and although it did not change my position or who I plan to vote for, it did allow me to confirm or understand more of what the other parties intend to do.
Dion doesn't seem as much of a dork as I once thought, but I'm still not voting for him
Harper proved to me that he is a Terminator sent back from the future to kill mankind.
Duceppe showed me his not just an angry French Guy pissed off at the rest of the country and can debate other things.
May showed me that she's not all about hype of being something different, but she and the party has a few more years to go before I can put much confidence in their abilities.
Layton confirmed my views on how he carries himself, his party's objectives, showed that he's not afraid to go after the big guys when he has to, and 98% of the time, held his own on just about every subject or poop flung his way. He was very direct, very straight forward and didn't run around questions and avoid them like many of the other parties.
Added:
As it goes for the US debate with the Vices, I didn't watch any of it. I seen a bit of a run down by reporters on how they saw it, and apparently it was all "Soft, warm and fuzzy" as both were very friendly to each other, talked about each other's families and directed all their debate on the presidential runners and not against each other..... sounded pretty boring.
