Attack ad

Rick Mercer gives us a different ending for a Liberal ad. Hilarious.

You, yourself and you

Selfishness -- it's become a theme lacing through all kinds of political commentary of late.  In The Globe this morning,  columnist Jeffrey Simpson wonders whether we're too self-interested to do anything about the environment, while Rick Salutin wonders whether Michael Ignatieff is too self-absorbed to be a national leader.

The whole debate over Tim Horton's versus the UN has been cast as a feud over Canadians' self-interest too; do we care more about our reputation (UN) or our wallets/appetites (Tim Horton's)? In the Ottawa Citizen, Susan Riley rather dismally predicts that the Liberals are going to have to embrace the politics of voter self-interest if they want to take on the Conservatives.

Meanwhile, a new book by Brian Crowley, titled Fearful Symmetry,  laments how we've become a nation of takers, largely because of demographics and Quebec separatism.

Could it be that we're starting to get at what's really turning people off politics and, more broadly, federal policy debates? Is there anything interesting or redeeming about a conversation  that's a tug-of-war between self-interests? It's not just that politicians are self-absorbed -- it's that they assume you are too. The  ascending art of political marketing (insert self-promotional  plug for own article on this subject, thus proving point) is all framed around  the reductionist view of citizens as consumers.

  I choose to see this emerging theme as an optimistic sign -- the first step in solving a problem is admitting it exists.

Doughnut economics

Beyond the politics and optics of the Tim Horton's silliness this week, there are some real, economic questions to be asked, argues Erin Weir, over at the Progressive Economics Forum.  The two most important ones:

As a registered Canadian corporation, will it be paying any additional tax to the Canadian government? Will it be relocating any facilities or jobs north of the border?

The answer seems to be No.    And that raises a third question: why should "average Canadians" -- the voters to whom this stunt was addressed --  be rejoicing in a corporate decision to contribute less to the economy?

Muzzle by overnight courier

 I predict that this is the last we'll ever hear of Gordon Landon, the would-be Conservative MP for Markham-Unionville.

City TV's Richard Madan reported on Mr. Landon's rather startling admission -- not once but twice -- that the riding is not getting any money until it's no longer held by a Liberal.  (John McCallum currently holds the riding.) 

We are a bit confused in our office. One here wondered: wasn't something like this called a "sponsorship scandal" a few years ago -- giving government money to politically friendly ridings?  (Note: Technically, it was government money going to Liberal-friendly ad firms, who then funnelled the cash back into the party.)

No doubt this is why the Prime Minister moved quickly to say that Mr. Landon was mistaken in his understanding of things -- and why Mr. Landon will be wearing a muzzle when we next see him.

PMO: Liberals hate Tim's

Via  @stephen_taylor, here's what the PMO has to say about why  Harper chose doughnuts over diplomacy yesterday. 

Today the Prime Minister was in Ontario to promote Canada as an attractive place to invest and a great place to do business. The occasion was the landmark decision by Tim Hortons to reorganize as a Canadian company.

Michael Ignatieff has criticized today’s focus on the economy, claiming that the Prime Minister should be at the United Nations talking about climate change – not back home focused on the economy.

In synchronized attacks, the Liberal Party issued a press release denouncing the Tim Hortons visit, while MP Bonnie Crombie and a handful of Liberals carrying United Nations flags protested outside the PM’s announcement – essentially picketing a Canadian economic success story.

Our priority is the Canadian economy. Nothing takes precedence over the economy.

The decision to picket the Canadian homecoming of Tim Hortons is shameful: further proof that the Ignatieff Liberals care more about political games than the Canadian economy.

The Prime Minister’s speaking spot at the U.N. General Assembly (Friday, 5:00 p.m.) conflicts with attendance at the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh. The PM is attending the G-20 summit because our priority is the economy.

The Ignatieff Liberals feel that speaking to the United Nations is more important than working on the economy with other G-20 leaders. We disagree.

Nothing is more important than the Canadian economy

By the way, the Liberal attacks conveniently omit key facts: Prime Minister Harper and other world leaders worked on climate change at a U.N. meeting last night, and today Canada’s seat in the General Assembly will deliberately be vacant during the speech by Holocaust-denier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

(It’s also worth noting that if Michael Ignatieff had his way, this week we would be in the middle of an unnecessary, opportunistic election. So much for his concern about attendance at the U.N.)

Dimitri N. Soudas
Associate Communication Director/ Press Secretary
Directeur des Communications associé/Attaché de presse

Prime Minister’s Office
Cabinet du Premier ministre

Donut diplomacy

The Prime Minister was at Tim Horton's  today while the rest of the world was watching Barack Obama at the United Nations.

I am off work on Wednesdays now, spending some quality time with smart people at Carleton University. I'm working on a long-term project about where Canadian politics meets consumerism. And look what happened while I was away... the Prime Minister goes and proves my point.

So while I guess while others may feel a bit squeamish about our PM ordering double-doubles and dipped donuts   while the world, literally, moved on without him, I, for one, am grateful. The leader of our country has chosen to re-announce a three-month-old decision by a donut company instead of taking part in a conversation at the United Nations. In so doing, he's given me a whole bunch of fodder for research about how politicians see us now as shoppers/eaters now instead of educated citizens. Thanks, PM.

An ambassador, at last

The Canadian-American Business Council (host to the PM's New York speech last week) gives us the news this morning -- Canada now has a U.S. Ambassador, nine months since the last one stepped down. We assume Ambassador Jacobson should arrive in Ottawa soon. Here's the CABC announcement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 23, 2009) – "Last night the United States Senate unanimously confirmed David Jacobson as U.S. Ambassador to Canada. The Canadian American Business Council congratulates Ambassador Jacobson on receiving the most plumb posting in the diplomatic corps. The opportunity to represent the United States in Canada is the chance of a lifetime. The issues are huge and the challenges complex. From stewardship of our shared continental environment, to intelligence collaboration, economic recovery and border management, Ambassador Jacobson arrives at a crucial moment in the Canada/U.S. relationship. That President Obama is sending Ambassador Jacobson as his personal representative is a tremendous compliment to Canada and an important statement about the value the United States places on the bilateral relationship." Scotty Greenwood, Executive Director, Canadian American Business Council.

Overexposed

I appear to be everywhere today, sort of by accident. Tonight I'm one of the guests on TVO's Agenda show about minority government Parliament (you'll understand if you see the broadcast). And  here, at Ian Capstick's lovely MediaStyle blog, there's an interview with me about blogging.

If you're at all curious about how I feel about blogging, comments, etc., take a look at Ian's blog. And watch The Agenda too -- not because I'm on it, but largely for the very interesting stats from Prof. Ned Franks and also the ongoing debate between Globe columnists Jeff Simpson and Rick Salutin.

Harper on CNBC

That money spent on U.S. media advisers keeps paying off... Here's a notice that just arrived in our email inboxes...

The Prime Minister will be doing an interview with Maria Bartiromo.


The details:
DATE / LIVE interview time: Tues. 22Sept2009 @ 1515ET
Program: Closing Bell w/ Maria Bartiromo (CNBC)

Ignatieff goes rural

My colleague, Tanya Talaga, snapped this photo of the Liberal leader at the plowing match this morning in Earlton, Ontario.