Thoughts On The Debates

I didn't like the new format. I don't mind the round table, but cancelling the opening and closing statements to allow more time to debate the economy - I think it was a bad idea. Instead of giving each party leader a couple minutes to clearly state who he is and what he stands for, we got an extra half an hour of chaotic arguing. If more time was needed to debate the economy - they could have just make the debates half-an-hour longer, with the extra time coming at the expense of all those post-debate observations and interviews. The question "what would be your first action as a Prime Minister" which gave each party leader the opportunity to speak uninterrupted for 45 seconds wasn't enough to compensate for the lack of opening and closing statements.

Who is the best at bashing Harper? That's how the debates could be summarized. I heard it was Harper who asked for more time to debate the economy. What he ended up getting was more time during which his opponents compared him to George Bush. I bet that's why Gilles Duceppe took his time to participate in the English language debates - so he could bash Harper as "pro-American" and "pro-George Bush" a few more times.

Then it came to arts. Every time Harper tried to mention his proposal to offer tax credits for parents who enroll their children in art classes - they wouldn't let him finish. They talked about artists who live in poverty - guess what - myself I would love to have an opportunity to become a full time freelance writer with my living expenses paid for by the government. Guess what - I can't. I have to work full time (often - overtime) to make ends meet. And I still find some time to write an article or two every week. I guess all those artists who are to get broke due to the government cuts could do just that.

With all that preoccupation with the economy, the environment and the jobless losers who call themselves artists there was no time left for social issues. No time left for civil liberties issues. Only once, when Elizabeth May suggested that freedom of expression is a fundamental value - there was an opportunity to answer her that the HRCs are much bigger threat to the freedom of expression than cuts in arts programs. Harper chose to miss that opportunity...

Too bad for you, Stephen. The left doesn't trust you. They still find you scary because of your NCC/Reform/Alliance past and they don't care that you've promised not to reopen the abortion debate or that you could find some kind words for Jack Layton. You had a chance to appeal to the undecided voters from your own camp; to those who are not sure whether or not it even makes any sense to get out and vote; you had a chance to win back those who thought you've made too many concessions to the left to keep your minority government going - you blew that chance. So I don't care what the journalists say about your performance in this 4-on-1 debacle. In my opinion - you lost.