negative ads?

[cowman]

Just what is a negative ad?
If you state the facts, is that a negative ad?
Now I would suggest the old Chretien ad where they implied he was a moron or something because his mouth was funny, was a negative ad? And when you say your opponent "might" have a secret agenda...that might be considered negative?
But when you point out the record of your opponent...is that really a negative ad? Is any reference to the actual events that happened, negative?
Should we require all past actions to be deleted from any campaign?
I think all Canadians realize the Liberal party is corrupt to the core? I don't think it is necessary to tell anyone that...if people are dumb enough to let the fox back in the henhouse...well what can you say?
Thieves generally don't reform. They usually stay thieves, just get smarter and harder to catch!
I am amazed the Liberal party is doing so well in the polls? I wonder if your average eastern voter sees them as "Robin Hood", stealing from the rich to give to the poor? Or maybe the east sees them as their partners in organized crime...one hand washes the other sort of thing, as you share in the stolen loot?

[cowman]

Liberals are losing ground in the polls in Ontario and that is where it matters.

[farmers_son]

There is a discussion of negative ads at:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060103/ELXN_attack_ads_060103/20060103?s_name=election2006

"Even though the Conservatives have been warning Canadians that the Liberals would be launching negative ads against them, the Tories launched an attack ad ('Entitlements') Monday night that has some observers saying it's among the most negative ever."

The election is really being fought over about 60 swing ridings that elected their MP by 5% or less of the popular vote. Apparently one of the hoped for results from attack ads is not so much as to change peoples mind on who to vote for but rather to turn people off from voting. Attack ads are really anti democratic. I am waiting to see the Liberals ads but contrary to what the pundits say I am expecting them to be positive and portray a vision of Canada that we have come to know with the insinuation that Harper would turn back those reforms to create a Canada more like the United States. I think the Liberals would do well to play upon anti Bush/U.S. sentiments but they have to get the momentum back on their side after Harper hijacked the campaign during over Christmas.

Was it just my impression or did Harper break the Christmas truce on electioneering during the holidays. Somewhere along the line maybe people will figure out the Conservatives break their promises, that is how the party was formed. For sure there are thieves in the Liberal party, but there are some high positioned Conservatives that broke some pretty important promises to the Progressive Conservative supporters and his initials are Peter McKay. So who do you vote for, liars or thieves. At least there is honor among thieves.

[cowman]

Well I don't think there ever was any kind of formal truce and in fact Martin had been out and about electioneering at "social functions" before Harper? I liked what Harper said " Why shouldn't I be out working? A good portion of the Canadian public has to work...why shouldn't I?"
Hmmm a liar or a thief? I think I'll take a liar over someone who steals my money! But then how about a liar and a thief? Does this fit Paul Martin? When he tells you he knew absolutely nothing about what was going on in Quebec...was he telling the truth? Do you really believe him or is he a liar?
How come you now think Peter MacKay is evil or something? Earlier you thought he was a much better choice for a leader than Harper...I think you said you might even consider voting for him? Please correct me if I got that wrong?
I find it very funny that the Liberal party says it doesn't want this campaign to be a mudslinging match? I can't blame them for that...there is one hell of a lot of mud to sling and it is going to be very difficult to wipe it off...because it is the truth!
The fact is they are corrupt. The fact is they don't keep their promises. The fact is they are liars. The fact is they will do anything to stay in power, including sacrificing the country.
No one should be voting for these gangsters...and that is exactly what they are.

[carebear300]

Well said cowman!!!!!!! I don't often give other people credit but this time I couldn't have said it better.

[rookie]

Voter turn out will let us again know how much Canadians actually care.

[farmers_son]

You are right, I was a Peter McKay fan until I remembered he sold out the Progressive Conservatives. But Harper is coming across a lot better in this election, not so scary this time around.

The Conservatives will do anything to get in power too. And they have been running a pretty good campaign up to this point. I saw Link Byfield quoted as saying the Conservatives should not say how they really intend to run the country, just stick to reducing taxes and GST. Link is probably right on that one.

There can be no doubt however that the Conservatives could only form a minority government at best and it is for darn sure the NDP will not join with the Conservatives. That leaves the Bloc holding the balance power in Ottawa. For the most part the Bloc was formed by Conservatives who left the party so the union will come naturally.

It is all about getting elected and neither of the two major parties has a monopoly on being liars or thieves.

[cowman]

Well I don't think the "union" of Conservatives and BLOC will come all that easily? The BLOC is basically a pretty left wing group and not into much that the Conservatives represent?
However they do share a common desire to decentralize the country...which I think is a very good thing? Perhaps the only solution if this country is to survive?
Lord help us if Harper ever finds it necessary to rely on NDP support! We would have a situation where a ragtag bunch of socialists would run the country! Talk about a disaster waiting to happen?
It always amazes me that someone could vote for the NDP? Maybe if you were raised on the government tit and depended on being a parasite all your life? And it truly amazes me that rural people could support them? Don't they know the NDP is and always will be anti business and the enemy of anyone trying to be responsible for their own lives?
As you might see I really don't like the NDP party!

[ivbinconned]

"Harper hijacked the campaign"...very cute...farmers-son, you could get a job working for the CBC!

A "hijacking" of a campaign can only be done by someone of influence but not directly involved...like a Ralph Klein or Jean Cretian!!

[FarmRanger]

I saw that ad.
So how is pointing out the fact that they're a corrupt Liberal government riddled with scandal an “attack ad”?

Quote from your cited article:
"Attack ads misrepresent or misconstrue," Yaroslav Baran told CTV.ca in an e-mail Tuesday. "This is an accountability ad, and merely repeats statements by Mr. Martin, by the news media, or by independent third party authorities such as Judge Gomery."
University of Toronto political scientist Nelson Wiseman defined an attack ad as "an ad that focuses on your opponent rather than on yourself, and it does so in a negative way."
On the other hand, Wiseman pointed out, the Conservatives are right in that it's "not an attack ad because the criticism is being levelled by others implicitly." Endquote

Even the CTV article you quoted doesn’t back your attack ad claim. Why dont’t you tell us where you really got your propaganda from?

The only ones trying to say its some kind of attack ad are the Liberals, who are looking for an excuse to bring out their own real attack ads. Martin is always speculating (negatively and publicly) on what Canada will be like if Harper forms a government and that’s not an attack? He certainly can’t be proud of his government’s own record, unless corruption is a Liberal value. I guess thats why the Liberals want to get the "attack ad" campaign started. Typical Liberal spin that they also want to blame it on the Conservatives.

[cowman]

I find it funny that Martin likes to crow that Gomery cleared him of any possible wrongdoing or knowledge of adscam? Is there anyone in Canada who believes he was lilywhite?
I think down on coffee row in just about every area of the country the boys took that one with a grain of salt and had a good chuckle?
Paul, you were the finance minister? Paul, you were Chretiens Quebec lieutenant? How could this possibly be? Either you are a completely incompetent idiot or you are lieing and a crook? Now which one is it?

[FarmRanger]

Googled “Liberal Gomery Earnscliffe” and came up with this little gem.

http://www.helenaguergis.com/pr-Nov01-05.htm
“ISSUE: Paul Martin claims that he gave the Gomery Inquiry “unlimited” terms of reference. This, however, is not the case. In fact, Justice Gomery’s terms of reference were specifically curtailed.”
• “Clause A – Justice Gomery was limited to reviewing only Chapter 3 and 4 of the Auditor General’s report. He was specifically excluded from reviewing Chapter 5, dealing with polling and research, that touched upon Martin’s allies at Earnscliffe (http://www.gomery.ca/en/termsofreference/)
• Clause K – Justice Gomery was specifically excluded from assigning criminal or civil responsibility (http://www.gomery.ca/en/termsofreference/)
• On June 1st, Martin voted against a motion that read: “That this House call on the Government to amend section (k) of the Gomery Commission's terms of reference to allow the Commissioner to name names and assign responsibility.” (Division No. 93) .”

What would Gomery have found out if his investigation hadn't been limited?

[cowman]

It is my fervent hope that if the government changes hands on January 23 that the new government will actively pursue the thieves...no matter where that leads? If Chretien or Martin are guilty they should go to jail?
I do hope that Stephen Harper will live up to his promises to root out the corruption and put a stop to this den of thieves that seem entrenched in Ottawa and Quebec?
He might have to build a few more jails to hold all the Liberal crooks!

[cowman]

I think that victims of violent crimes will hold Harper and Co.'s feet to the fire to ensure that they do follow up on their campaign promises of getting tough on crooks, if the Conservatives do form the government. Of course, all this hinges on whether or not its a minority government and if so, whether the NDP or the Bloc will support any legislation brought in. You can bet the Liberals won't support anything the Conservatives bring forward regardless of whether its good for Canadians or not !