The life of a Conservative staffer

 Some interesting glimpses of the life of Conservative staffers in the papers this morning. Via The Hill Times, we learn of this bureaucratic monstrosity called an "MEP" -- proof that truth is stranger than farce. 

After a prolonged search, The Hill Times obtained an example of a MEP, a three-page document. An exhaustive document, the Message Event Proposal amounts to a sort of media shadow play that attempts to predict how information will play out in the press. It asks for a "desired headline" and "desired sound bite," "web highlight caption," "desired picture," "key questions and answers," and "official talking points." It also asks for details on event backdrops, props, speech length and tone, and attire of the speaker.

And then, in The Globe today, the story of how Jason Kenney's office handled the barring of George Galloway and his attempt to come to Canada. Really looking forward to the outrage from all those Anne Coulter fans.  

Comments

[Wascally Wabbit]

I'm sure Mr. Kenney's communications person will be re-reading their MEB even as I write Susan - and distributing to the (is the collective "swarm of"?) always alert CONBOTS the talking points of the day - starting with the oldest chestnut of them all - "Susan Susan Susan - taking the side of the Liberals again - aren't you!!"

[Aongasha]

Susan
Re Anne Coulter
Well if she's been raising money for a terrorist organization that's been banned in Canada - definitely keep her out.
Free speech rights do not apply to terriorist organizations or their supporters, try to twist the pretzel as you will.
BTW
Surely it must be evident how much credibility the media has lost in recent weeks with the general public? Take a walk down main street outside of Ottawa if you don't believe me. Politicians never had any for a long time, but now you folks have joined them. Surely it's time the press started trying to restore its' non-partisan reputation? This kind of looney left stuff won't help.

[anon]

Newspeak is now official government policy.

[A reader]

How can you have covered politics in Ottawa for so long and not have realized that these event planning templates are standard operating procedure?

As in, regardless of the party in power.

In fact, given the delight the PPG takes when any little thing goes wrong, it would be surprising if communications planners didn't take such care in the planning of an event.

Or, did you think these things happened naturally?

[Cam]

As soon as I hear "looney left" applied I tune out. Especially on something as centrist as open and accountable government... you know, like the one Harper promised.

Since when did calling out a government on broken promises become a pillar of the "looney left." The Reform Party made a cottage industry out of it. (See, they were on the right. But they are now extinct, along with any of their ideals.)

[MJH]

I always enjoy Monday morning anti Conservative (but non partisan) stories from Susan and the Toronto Star. Liberals -good; Conservatives-bad!

[MyThought]

Oh, here we go again - attack the messenger (media). Cry and weep Liberal bias.

This is so pathetic and so childish you wonder if kids are writing the comments.

Hmmm....Liberal bias? Good grief, at least 95% of our media is conservative leaning.

[Aongasha]

The loony left comment was regards the Anne Coulter remark. Anyone who would suggest barring her from Canada because of her right-wing political books and speechs in comparison to Galloway's admitted raising of funds for a Canadian designated terror organization like Hamas is a left wing loon.