This has got to stop! Who is running the show at CPC Headquarters? Is anybody running the show at CPC Headquarters?
Minister Emerson scheduled a teleconference this afternoon instead of having a live press conference. Then he cancelled the teleconference citing "traffic". I think that traffic is on the phone with panicked phone calls. A little advice; get your acts together and fast.
Whatever changed between the election campaign and now - change it back.
I am now waiting for the other shoe to drop because something is obviously going on behind the scenes.
Comments (20)
The putative Chief of Staff - Ian Brodie - and the Communications Director - William Stairs - should not be in those roles. They should be moved into advisory roles in the PMO, or encouraged to move into Minister’s offices.
You need a tough guy as Chief of Staff. Brodie is not that guy, intelligent though he may be. Stairs is not qualified to do anything remotely resembling communications.
It may also be time to horsewhip MacKay once more just to remind him how dispensable he really is. Garth Tuner too.
Posted by ANON | February 9, 2006 9:02 PM
Posted on February 9, 2006 21:02
Bring in David Frumm or Peter Kent perhaps ??? CPC spokesperson should be doing briefings to fend the wolves as well as “disgruntled” fellow CPC parliamentarians off PMSH , and put an end to this gong show of a media circus. The Libranos are out for blood to keep CPC off balanced from the get go to divert attention away from them. All their dogs including CBC and CTV are out for the kill. Bringing out even ghosts of stories past (Airbus scandal and Hon. Brian Mulroney) I keenly await for a purge in CBC as well as the unravelling of all corrupt Libranos and their cohorts in the Fed Public Service..
Posted by Ron | February 9, 2006 10:26 PM
Posted on February 9, 2006 22:26
Greg, this will go against your nature but stop talking about this. You are acting as a defacto Liberal stooge. The press is already quoting blogs about this story. Please put a sock in it. Its a non-issue, unless you want to spend many long years writing about future Liberal governments. You’ve said your piece now let it go.
Posted by Colin | February 9, 2006 11:49 PM
Posted on February 9, 2006 23:49
Breathe. I realize it’s been a few years since the Conservatives held power, but you really must breathe.
Posted by Occam's Carbuncle | February 9, 2006 11:58 PM
Posted on February 9, 2006 23:58
Colin does have a point Greg. Let this puppy go.
Posted by pat | February 10, 2006 1:12 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 01:12
“I am now waiting for the other shoe to drop because something is obviously going on behind the scenes.”
I don’t think it’s that sinister. It’s just incompetence, in both their commmunications strategy and political judgement. Sure, they may have looked good in the election, but that is an artificial environment that doesn’t say anything about their ability to govern. I can cram and do well on a psychology exam, but that doesn’t suggest I’d be a good psychologist.
As it stands now, the Tories would be well served by taking a page out of Chretien’s book: play down the criticism and don’t overblow the situation. If needed, have a cabinet shuffle, call a by-election, whatever. They just need to keep their heads and not try to make the situation worse with a “mad as hell” tour.
Posted by Dwayne | February 10, 2006 1:30 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 01:30
Chalk me down with Colin, OC and Pat.
Your bona fides are well established - no Tory lapdog are you.
But there are bigger fish to fry. Let’s stop sucking our thumbs and get at it.
Posted by Sean | February 10, 2006 1:31 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 01:31
If you want a one-day story to be a two-day story, all you have to do is react in some new way, providing more news.
Turner has done exactly that.
It doesn’t help much that it’s a quiet time of year for the Parliamentary beat.
Posted by Paul O | February 10, 2006 4:35 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 04:35
Take five minutes and go out and talk to an average person (not one that reads political blogs - a normal person with a real life to worry about), and see how much they care about floor crossing and the intracacies of that political convention.
When the GST is cut, and the childcare checks start to flow the average Canadian will think of one thing: “holy shit Harper actually cut the GST, he kept his promise.”
Harper was elected on the Tim Hortens/not Starbucks platform, and he’s running the gov’t the same way.
Harper’s written off again? We’ll talk in three years (about the time the Libs will be ready for another election).
Posted by Chester | February 10, 2006 5:26 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 05:26
Chester - didn’t you predict a CPC majority?
Posted by yadayada | February 10, 2006 8:45 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 08:45
Let me get this straight. Criticizing the moves, which go against the Tim Horton’s platform, is off limits.
Criticizing the CPC for a complete failure in communicating said moves, off limits as well.
Maybe I should just fall into line and let PM Harper become the next PM Clark. Do you think I enjoy this? They are stearing this gov’t straight into the rocks and I am using this platform to hope they change direction and get back on course.
Posted by Greg Staples | February 10, 2006 8:52 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 08:52
“They are stearing this gov’t straight into the rocks…”
You’re still not breathing, Greg. It’s very important to breathe.
Posted by Occam's Carbuncle | February 10, 2006 9:21 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 09:21
I agree with the others on just chilling. It’s like you just did an agressive driving move and nearly caused an accident. Just focus on the road ahead and don’t make a big deal about it.
Posted by Dave E | February 10, 2006 9:40 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 09:40
To clarify, I didn’t mean “you” as in Greg, but “you” is in “someone”, as in the CPC or the PM.
Posted by Dave E | February 10, 2006 9:41 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 09:41
Occam, I understand that ‘patronizing’ is your default setting in disagreements, but could you tone it down a little?
That is, unless you truly believe Greg has all the composure of a panicked child, in which case, what possible attraction could his blog have for you?
Posted by Damian | February 10, 2006 10:22 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 10:22
It is ok Damian, I find it funny, which is what I think OC is trying to achieve.
But as other people have referenced, I may have a weird sense of humour.
Posted by Greg Staples | February 10, 2006 10:34 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 10:34
Damian:
I like Greg. I like his blog. It’s one of the best out there.
He’s horribly wrong, of course, as he disagrees with me. That’s the point I’m trying the make. The horribleness of his wrongness and such.
Everyone breathe. One and two and one and….
Posted by Occam's Carbuncle | February 10, 2006 10:43 AM
Posted on February 10, 2006 10:43
Whilst I agree with Greg that the whole Emerson/Fortier situation stinks, I also agree with the move along crowd. We’ve voiced our displeasure and I’m sure that that displeasure has been noted by the powers that be.
What is to be gained from continuing to go on about this? I just don’t see any positive outcomes.
Posted by Ian | February 10, 2006 1:07 PM
Posted on February 10, 2006 13:07
“trying the make”?
but in trying the make to point with the wring words, the print trends too get messed
Posted by Occam's Carbuncle | February 10, 2006 1:23 PM
Posted on February 10, 2006 13:23
Yadayada,
I predicted the Libs would suffer their worst defeat in thier history (though I may have said CPC majority).
I’ve gone through a period of introspection and self-reckoning, and I now feel that I can again contribute to the blogging world without shame.
Chester’s back.
Posted by Chester | February 10, 2006 9:29 PM
Posted on February 10, 2006 21:29