Stephen Harper: The Al Gore of Canadian Politics?

[jimmy123]

I just finished reading about the Conservative Party's plan to have Stephen Harper go on a summer barnstorming tour of Ontario and Quebec to try and present a more relaxed, personable image of Mr. Harper to Eastern Canadian voters.

This reminded me of the move by Al Gore's team to try and soften his image in the 2000 American Presidential campaign with the softer colours, no ties, and relaxed photo op settings.

I see a lot of similarities between Stephen Harper and Al Gore. Both are intelligent policy wonks who seem tailor-made for backroom work and nuts and bolts politics, but don't seem to have the charisma and love of public politics - the "shaking hands, kissing babies, enjoyment-of-the-spotlight" kind of demeanour - that most successful national leaders possess.

It will be interesting to see how well Mr. Harper can re-brand himself, and whether or not Eastern Canadian voters will see it as sincere. However, I think the Conservatives are already starting off on the wrong foot: If you are going to try and recast your leader's image, you don't alert the media to it in advance since it looks like you are trying to get Stephen Harper to act his way into the hearts of voters and make him something that he is not, further feeding the skepticism about who Mr. Harper really is and what his agenda would be if he should attain power.

 

[Vanni Fucci]

It will be interesting to see how well Mr. Harper can re-brand himself, and whether or not Eastern Canadian voters will see it as sincere. However, I think the Conservatives are already starting off on the wrong foot: If you are going to try and recast your leader's image, you don't alert the media to it in advance since it looks like you are trying to get Stephen Harper to act his way into the hearts of voters and make him something that he is not, further feeding the skepticism about who Mr. Harper really is and what his agenda would be if he should attain power.

My Pappy used to tell me "It doesn't matter how much you polish a turd, it's still gonna stink"

 

[Reverend Blair]

However, I think the Conservatives are already starting off on the wrong foot: If you are going to try and recast your leader's image, you don't alert the media to it in advance

There isn't much then can do to avoid it, realistically. We live in the age of full press access so the goal is to get the press on your side. If they had tried this without alerting the press, it would have turned the press against them and it still would have been covered.

I see Harper more as the Dan Quayle of Canadian politics...a born loser who seems to go out of his way to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.

 

[bluealberta]

However, I think the Conservatives are already starting off on the wrong foot: If you are going to try and recast your leader's image, you don't alert the media to it in advance

There isn't much then can do to avoid it, realistically. We live in the age of full press access so the goal is to get the press on your side. If they had tried this without alerting the press, it would have turned the press against them and it still would have been covered.

I see Harper more as the Dan Quayle of Canadian politics...a born loser who seems to go out of his way to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Actually, probably more like the modern day Robert Stanfield: Best prime minister Canada never had. Too bad sizzle is better than steak, although how that explains Martin is beyond any logic.

 

[The Philosopher]

Harper is kind of like post-election Gore. Gore's running around with damning evidence against the government and no one is listening.

 

[no1important]

RE: Stephen Harper: The A

Harper looks to stuffy and constipated all the time. He needs to loosen up a bit, dressing more casual would not hurt. He does remind me of Dan Quayle now that I think about it.

 

[bluealberta]

Leaders oozing charisma have led Canada down wrong path
Qualities that count

Calgary Sun

Stephen Harper is turning into the Rodney Dangerfield of federal politics. No matter how good a job he does, he "can't get no respect."

If you believe the news stories, Harper is apparently a cheerless, dour, stick-in-the-mud who can't muster the necessary charisma to sell the Conservatives to voters.

The Liberals, of course, delight in playing up the point, especially if it causes dissension and stress in the Conservative Party, which admittedly, is still suffering from growing pains after a merger between the Progressive Conservative party and the Canadian Alliance.

Truth is, Harper has a quick wit and a charming, self-deprecating sense of humour.

Sure, he takes the nation's business seriously.

The TV cameras often catch flashes of anger and indignation as he queries the Liberals on their latest outrage.

Who can blame him for that?

Let's compare his charisma quotient with the last two men who held the job for which Harper is currently vying.

Jean Chretien cultivated a jovial country-bumpkin-from-Shawinigan image. He loved to joke about things like pepper spray and golf balls, even though behind the scenes we know he was a ruthless manipulator with a tyrannical temper.

It looks like his greatest legacy will be the worst scandal to rock Canada in a century.

Then we have Paul Martin who, when not stricken with an expression of apoplectic nervousness, is chuckling maniacally at some incomprehensible remark he's just made to deflect attention from the latest Liberal transgression.

Martin loves to make people happy. So much so, he'll say anything to anyone in an attempt to get them to like him. Trouble is, he seldom says what he means, or means what he says.

No wonder Harper has such a hard time turning off the outrage.

Admittedly, Martin is a pro at glad-handing, schmoozing and kissing babies when the TV cameras are rolling and flashbulbs are popping.

Harper is planning a round of public appearances this summer to soften his serious image. Yesterday, he and his family attended a strawberry social at a seniors' home.

As any of the old folks in attendance would've been happy to tell him, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

While Harper has been criticized as a colourless tactician more at ease with policy than people, truth is, he has become an infinitely more polished practitioner of the political art during the short time he has been leader.

He's a quick study who knows image is important in the soundbite world of modern politics.

While it's important for a leader to take the job of running the nation seriously, it's also imperative his countrymen perceive him as someone who can relate to their concerns on a human level.

Harper's already cracking jokes about his image that reveal he's hardly a brooding political apparatchik.

On a deeper level, he can be forgiven for criticizing the Liberals relentlessly.

That is, after all, the job of the Opposition leader.

But under the glare of an often-hostile media spotlight, and the constant spin that's spit out by a sophisticated Liberal machine, Harper needs to work harder at persuading voters that the Conservatives, as he himself has put it many times, can be trusted to form the next government.

This is a message better delivered with a smile than a scowl.

And it's obvious the Conservatives need to beef up their own spin machine to get their message out.

Even the greatest quarterback needs blockers to clear the way for a touchdown. It's tough for Harper to deliver positive messages about his party when he's constantly forced to fend off hostile attacks.

We're confident Harper would never sacrifice substance for style, unlike his less worthy adversaries. He has depth as a leader, policy maker and consensus builder capable of taking this country in a new direction.

All Harper and his party really need to accomplish is to shine enough light on these qualities for voters across Canada to see them.

Harper's image problem is marginal compared to that of the leader of the Liberal party, which has become so corroded, it might be impossible to repair.

Sadly, as Martin has illustrated, once you take away the style, there's not much left.

Canada deserves better.

 

[Reverend Blair]

:roll:

 

[Karlin]

Re: Stephen Harper - Global Poll tells lies?

Sunday, Global TV news report at 5:30 said their polls on the feder al leaders was:
Libs were the same,
Harper was up and
NDP down.

I don't have the numbers, sorry, but it is this general trend of Harper moving up in the polls that really really seems like a lie. I simply cannot believe it.

Sure, the Liberals are not going up while the Gomery sponsorship inquiry is going on, but Harper has been coming off as a lunatic and a petty little snivling rube lately.

Actually, in June, Martin has not said or done anything, so his dropping in the polls is odd also. Any fallout from Gomery was in last months numbers, so why down in June?

And the NDP should be going up as the only choice without horrid bagage attached. Why did they drop?

Global TV, being such a corporate RW minion, would really appreciate any polls where the conservatives are going up, and the NDP down.
And LO!! thats exactly what THEIR poll showed.

DO YOU THINK IT WAS BOGUS?

 

[gordo]

DO YOU THINK IT WAS BOGUS?

Nope looks good to me. [/code]

 

[Vanni Fucci]

Hey blue,

That article didn't mention anything about the scary hidden agenda...how are they going to gloss over that, I wonder... :lol: :lol:

 

[gordo]

Hey blue,

That article didn't mention anything about the scary hidden agenda...how are they going to gloss over that, I wonder... :lol: :lol:

I have yet to see this "scary hidden agenda" I've asked several people about it and nobody can point me in the right direction.

Do you have a site with what’s in this agenda I’d like to see it first hand?

Thanks.

 

[Vanni Fucci]

http://www.intheirownwords.ca/harper.html

You know, I find the Conservative ignorance to be quite appalling...it's all quite clear those who understand that what the CPC wants to achieve has nothing to do with the values that Canadians hold dear...

...and yet you, and your ilk will feign ignorance and ardently support a party that would implement a regressive social policy to pander to their corporatist/neoconservative masters...

...shame on you all...

 

[gordo]

http://www.intheirownwords.ca/harper.html

You know, I find the Conservative ignorance to be quite appalling...it's all quite clear those who understand that what the CPC wants to achieve has nothing to do with the values that Canadians hold dear...

...and yet you, and your ilk will feign ignorance and ardently support a party that would implement a regressive social policy to pander to their corporatist/neoconservative masters...

...shame on you all...

Thats the list ?

Which Canadians are you speaking of BTW ?

 

[Vanni Fucci]

Thats the list ?

You didn't ask for a list, you asked for a site, which I was kind enough to provide for you. I could have told you to find it yourself, but I'm feeling charitable tonight. I suggest you read that site in its entirety, because it's all there, what they plan, and what they're about, right from their filthy f**king mouths...

Which Canadians are you speaking of BTW ?

The ones that vote for political parties that are diametrically opposed to any that you'd vote for...in other words, the majority of Canadians...

 

[no1important]

RE: Stephen Harper: The A

Global should be renamned the Neo-con network. I can't find story on their web site.

CTV says personnal approval ratings are 44% for Martin and 40% for Harper. That is not party ranking though. No mention of Jack Layton though.

Ctv Results

a snippet:

For example, Harper came across as aloof, angry and unable to talk about anything other than Liberal corruption. His approval numbers dropped 10 points between May and June polls.

 

[gordo]

Thats the list ?

You didn't ask for a list, you asked for a site, which I was kind enough to provide for you. I could have told you to find it yourself, but I'm feeling charitable tonight. I suggest you read that site in its entirety, because it's all there, what they plan, and what they're about, right from their filthy f**king mouths...

Which Canadians are you speaking of BTW ?

The ones that vote for political parties that are diametrically opposed to any that you'd vote for...in other words, the majority of Canadians...[/quote

the majority of Canadians

No I don't think so, right now it's a minority Government.

That doesn’t hold much water now.

If you said a minority of Canadians that would be more believable.

But whatever floats you boat.

 

[Vanni Fucci]

No I don't think so, right now it's a minority Government.

That doesn’t hold much water now.

If you said a minority of Canadians that would be more believable.

But whatever floats you boat.

You're not paying attention...

I said nothing about a minority government, or the party in power...

Are you denying that those that would vote for all parties excluding the Conservative party would be a majority of Canadian voters?

Get it together gordo...

 

[gordo]

No I don't think so, right now it's a minority Government.

That doesn’t hold much water now.

If you said a minority of Canadians that would be more believable.

But whatever floats you boat.

You're not paying attention...

I said nothing about a minority government, or the party in power...

Are you denying that those that would vote for all parties excluding the Conservative party would be a majority of Canadian voters?

Get it together gordo...

Your counting the bloc in your little poll. ?

 

[peapod]

You got it right on the money vanni, the majority of canadians will never vote for a conservative government. :twisted: