10 things we can do without

Last week, the Public Policy Forum released a list of the top 10 ways to improve Parliament, as discussed at its conference in Ottawa. Thus inspired, here's my list of the top 10 things that should NOT return to the Hill along with MPs today, after the long summer break. They're mainly media-related, since, well, that's where I work. 

1. Talking points for political panels on TV. Seriously. For years, we've known that these noise-fests are bad TV and even worse politics, but MPs/strategists keep showing up on the sets of those shows and thinking that it's best to use these occasions to repeat oft-said party lines. Enough. 

2. Anonymous "senior Liberal strategists." Come on. We all know that everyone in that party seems to think of him/herself as a senior strategist, but for decades now, people have been using that anonymous cloak to trash the leader and complain that no one is listening to the brilliant communications advice that is being offered off the record to the media. I'm a bit bored with that now. Ditto for suggestions that the Liberals need a better leader, who turns out to be the person who didn't win last time. That's so 1984-2008. One more revolt/mutiny, and your party is done. And then where would all you senior strategists be? 

3. Speaking of strategists, it's probably time to wind down the declaration that the Prime Minister is a superior tactician. See "summer of 2010." 

4. The "culture of deceit." The phrase, inserted into every Liberal question last spring, is tired now and, uh, we get that you're repeating it over and over and want us to say it too. And that's why we won't. 

5. Questions to Jack Layton about his health and whether he's well enough to ___________ (show up, bring down the government, etc.) Clearly he is recovering, able to do his job  and he wants to keep this cancer struggle private. So let's wish him well and leave it at that. 

6. Every day, before Question Period, Conservative backbenchers read prepared attacks on Michael Ignatieff that usually feature "tax and spend Liberal" and "just visiting" and "he's just in it for himself." I keep wondering what these backbenchers' constituents would feel, seeing this show. Is that why they sent their man/woman to Ottawa? And it's not true that the more you say it, the more likely I am to insert that in a story. See points #2 and #4. 

7. Media conspiracy theories. On both sides. Confession: we're too disorganized to start a conspiracy. We think in terms of one day; sometimes, given the rapidly shorter news cycle, one hour. We simply don't have time for meetings on how to bring down the government and install a Communist or far-right regime. For those who persist in believing this, two words: Kory Teneycke. Look how well that worked out. 

8. Anonymous, vicious  commenters to blogs. Personally, I've never been overly bothered by anonymity in the comments section, but in practical terms, the policy has run its course. The anonymous attacks are so silly and predictable now that no one is paying attention to them anymore. In fact, they're officially a joke among us and yes, we do believe that you live in your parents' basement and/or that you're drunk when you press "send".  (Sorry to you who put all that effort into writing that vitriol. It's now part of the wallpaper, like bathroom graffiti.) 

9. "Tips" to the media on the state of some politicians' private lives/marriages. Blanket answer: uh, yes, we've heard that before and have you considered that we're not writing that because it's simply a nasty rumour and nothing else? Trust me, if you've heard it at a cocktail party hundreds, thousands of kilometres away from Ottawa, we've heard it too, probably looked into it, and found it's not much more than an urban legend. 

10. And finally, a flurry of meaningless phrases. "Going forward" is the one that  I find particularly irksome, but also "at the end of the day." Narrative is a fine word, when it means something -- ie, a coherent story, with beginning, middle and end -- but it is not a synonym for "reason," as in, "That politician lacks a narrative to call an election." 

Feel free to add your own additions to this list in the comments section. If you want to do it anonymously, fine, but you lose your right to complain about politicians' courage. Standing behind your beliefs, in public, is sort of the point of politics, right? 

Comments

[David Gagnon]

Excellent list.

[ck]

An ambitious wishlist.

Conservative MP Michael Chong wants to change Question Period as well. Again, a nobel ambition.

I guess we can only hope that Politicians and commenters alike will behave, but perhaps that's wishful thinking on our parts?

All that said though, I am anxious to see if Michael Ignatieff's new found confidence coming off his bus tour will translate into a more fierce opponent to Stephen Harper.

Time will tell.

[Catherine]

'Let me be clear...'

The phrase that furrows my brow when I hear it overused.

Great column. 'Must read' suggestions for all politicians before their return to Ottawa.

[John W]

Thanks for #9.
A short little burst of a rumour about the Harpers broke out on a Maclean's blog thread last week. I was shocked. That's MSM and it was not immediately removed.
You may be right about the anonymous posting too. Not sure on that one.

[Sara-Anne Peterson]

Actually it's 'Let me be perfectly clear.'

[Yticilef]

I particularly like what she said about the 'senior Liberal strategists", about as parasitical as a political hanger-on can be.

Great column, absolutely top-notch.

[Joan W]

The the one that gets me is having a 'conversation'. How about forgetting the 'conversation' and actually getting some work done.

[Climber]

Stephen Harper is the worst Prime Minister in Canadian History!

(senior unaffiliated strategist

[Mill St.]

Although Delacourt does not appear inclined to read these comments, I'd really like her to consider a problem I have with her point #7. (ALthough in general I liked the piece).
Sure, there are nuts out there - and too many on the internet - that talk about conspiracies.
BUT there are lots of very sane people who feel that the media is biased. And it's precisely because you are so rushed that the bias comes out -- you don't have the time to filter out your prejudice.
Different camps think that bias tilts different ways (personally I think the media slants things too much against the left) - but one point most can agree on is how quick the media is to dismiss new and innovative ideas. If there's one thing that need to be added to this list of thnigs we can do without, it's media people saying "that will never happen."
You should know bettern, given how many stunning developments we've seen in politics, the economy, etc. Public discourse would be a whole lot better if you be a little more carefull and a lot less smug.

[MyOwnView]

"The fact of the matter is ..." can't die soon enough for me.

[j bro]

thanks, susan. let us all spend a little less time beating dead horses.

[Saskie]

Another thing are those annoying conservative backdrops at every single sentence uttered ...Is it to remind themselves what propaganda am I spreading today? Who's paying for them?

[Debbie]

Susan regarding your #8. You write about ignoring the vicious commentaries by bloggers in the commentary section as they are "silly and predictable now that no one is paying attention to them anymore". I agree with you and a lot of the comment sections of the papers have been taken over by them and are not worth reading anymore. This can also be applied to a lot of newspaper columnists and editorials. They too have become silly and predictable. It has to do with a media bias that you won’t acknowledge. If you only think in terms of that day or sometimes that hour it explains why you are unable to see the forest for the trees Funny you should mention conspiracy theories that you don’t have time to be a part of since you are so good at spotting them among politicians and their parties or at least some parties..

[EM]

I would have had more faith in an improved atmosphere in the current parliament had PM Harper put a minister capable of compromise in as Government House Leader; former minister Michael Chong comes to mind.
Then with Liberal Glen Pearson and NDPer Libby Davies , I would have enjoyed
the House members' struggle to contain their ugly instincts.

Instead on QP today, it was just ....sigh.

[Bud]

I wish the Harper Conservatives would stop beginning every response in question period with, "Nothing could be further from the truth."

[Mike D]

This is probably more a shot at media -- the electronic media in particular -- than pols, but I really dislike the phrase "on the ground". It has become pretty much a ubiquitous replacement for "there"... as in, "For more on the Gulf oil spill, let's go to our reporter on the ground in Louisiana..." As opposed to what? Hovering? Please stop. It's utterly meaningless.

[Paul]

We could do without the hyperbole from the Opposition in the House of Commons, for it undermines the credibility of any debating point, and just poorly reflects on the speaker, and causes voters to tune out. Criticize the government when they fall short on something specific, but when criticizing, make sure there is a constructive alternative to propose. Also, be prepared to compliment the government when it appears to go in the right direction. Conservatives are not always wrong, and it is not only the NDP that speak "for the people". Liberals are also not more circumspect than the Conservatives (have we already forgot their nation-wide scandals) Beyond the hopeless diehards who will say anything for their team regardless, the average political observer sees through the smears and innuendo. I would like to hear a higher level of repartee to skewer the opposite, not street level name-calling and feigned outrage. Spare us the histrionics and make real points with substance, and propose a better way...or shut up.

[Gabby in QC]

Ms. Delacourt, I prefer to keep my moniker "Gabby." But here are my comments on your 10.
1. And who or what would fill that air time vacated by MPs and strategists?
2. Any anonymous source for a story line pursued by a journalist. If you can’t put a name to a quote, don’t use it.
3. Time also to wind down the many declarations about the PM being a control freak who muzzles all his MPs.
4. Time to retire “You had 13 years …” and “He’s just in it for himself …”
See? I AM able to recognize some irksome things about my own party.
5. I agree. Politicians are people too.
6. Members’ statements should be strictly limited to what’s going on in a member’s riding, and nothing else. Hefty fines should help members toe the line.
7. Maybe not a full-blown conspiracy, but a definite lean to the left. For those who persist in NOT believing this, two words: Kory Teneycke.
8. Since anonymous commenters provide such merriment for you and your colleagues -- “they're officially a joke among us” -- why deprive yourselves of such hilarity?
But seriously … anonymity & viciousness need not go hand in hand.
9. Perhaps everyone should be reminded of the difference between political analysis/commentary and gossip.
10. Meaningless phrases? I've heard a few ...
“The reality is …”
"... based on ideology ..."
"... throwing some red meat to their base ..."
"American/Bush-style ..."
“The banks are gouging …” -- as if there weren’t thousands of average Canadians who’re employed by banks
“The climate crisis …”
“Let’s have a public inquiry!”

[Gabby in QC]

Sorry, I just remembered another phrase, one that should be struck from Gilles Duceppe's lips:
"Well, I mean, if it's good for Quebec ..."

[Gabby in QC]

Another oft-used phrase: "They just don't get it ..."

That one, however, is not "meaningless."
It encapsulates all the contempt the people who use it have for those who don't share their views.

I haven't counted the number of times Jack Layton or anyone else has used the phrase, but let's just say the phrase often crosses the lips of people on that side of the political spectrum.

Culture war? What culture war?