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English Language Leader's Debate - Round 2
Jan. 9th, 2006 08:19 pmTwenty minutes into the 2nd English language leader's debate and here are my thoughts:
What pod being has replaced Jack Layton? He seems far less "used car salesman" than he usually does. His handlers have obviously been earning their paycheques.
As Paul Martin stammers, acts defensively and gets flustered ... well, the prospect of a Conservative government seems more and more likely.
Martin's promised to get rid of the Notwithstanding clause at the federal level. It's about damn time. That silly cause is like training wheels on our consititution. The best thing Martin's said tonight.
Once again, Duceppe and the Bloc seem scarely impressive.
8:25 pm: "We've got to have a more intelligent debate." Martin said as he's annoyed and defensive again. He's scared and on the run, not a leader. Eek!
This debate is much more lively than the last one. Steve Paikin is a very good moderator, with some pointed questions.
8:39 pm: Ah, healthcare.
"I support the Canada Health Act." This sounds like when Martin talks about supporting the charter, it's distancing his policies from his personal feelings. Mind you, as I write this, Martin is getting angry.
Now that Layton isn't quite as smarmy, he is a trifle more sedate.
8:47 pm: Martin brings up America. "America is our neighbour. It is not our nation." That's a pretty good quotation, actually.
8:52 pm: The gap between the rich and the poor. Martin talks about redistributing from the rich to the poor. Hmmm... I seem to recall some other guy with that policy. Martin's very passionate on child poverty. And then Layton throws a bit of cold water on it. Layton's pointing out what things that the NDP brought to the government policies.
As with the last election, the Bloc and the NDP seem aligned on many issues.
A cut to the GST says Harper. Hmmm... which party brought the GST in? I have to wonder if some version of the old manufacturer's sales tax will be revived.
8:58 pm: A tiny bit of Layton's smarminess is poking through. It vanished quickly.
9:10 pm: Martin on education, and I agree.
9:10 pm: Duceppe's got it easy. He only has to address the interests of one province, not balance the interests of an entire country.
9:31: "Quebecers built Canada!" A very passionate plea for federalism by Paul Martin. Martin's passion has overcome his early defensiveness.
I started dozing a bit for the last half hour. So, who won? Well, Harper didn't make any big slip ups. Martin was often on the defensive, but he had inner fire ... possibly desperation. Layton might not have been as passionate, but he was genuinely polished and less sleazy. Duceppe continues to be the most experienced of the party leaders. None of them really stood out for me. I suspect that Harper might benefit the most because Martin wasn't able to knock him out. But Layton was the most improved player.
What pod being has replaced Jack Layton? He seems far less "used car salesman" than he usually does. His handlers have obviously been earning their paycheques.
As Paul Martin stammers, acts defensively and gets flustered ... well, the prospect of a Conservative government seems more and more likely.
Martin's promised to get rid of the Notwithstanding clause at the federal level. It's about damn time. That silly cause is like training wheels on our consititution. The best thing Martin's said tonight.
Once again, Duceppe and the Bloc seem scarely impressive.
8:25 pm: "We've got to have a more intelligent debate." Martin said as he's annoyed and defensive again. He's scared and on the run, not a leader. Eek!
This debate is much more lively than the last one. Steve Paikin is a very good moderator, with some pointed questions.
8:39 pm: Ah, healthcare.
"I support the Canada Health Act." This sounds like when Martin talks about supporting the charter, it's distancing his policies from his personal feelings. Mind you, as I write this, Martin is getting angry.
Now that Layton isn't quite as smarmy, he is a trifle more sedate.
8:47 pm: Martin brings up America. "America is our neighbour. It is not our nation." That's a pretty good quotation, actually.
8:52 pm: The gap between the rich and the poor. Martin talks about redistributing from the rich to the poor. Hmmm... I seem to recall some other guy with that policy. Martin's very passionate on child poverty. And then Layton throws a bit of cold water on it. Layton's pointing out what things that the NDP brought to the government policies.
As with the last election, the Bloc and the NDP seem aligned on many issues.
A cut to the GST says Harper. Hmmm... which party brought the GST in? I have to wonder if some version of the old manufacturer's sales tax will be revived.
8:58 pm: A tiny bit of Layton's smarminess is poking through. It vanished quickly.
9:10 pm: Martin on education, and I agree.
9:10 pm: Duceppe's got it easy. He only has to address the interests of one province, not balance the interests of an entire country.
9:31: "Quebecers built Canada!" A very passionate plea for federalism by Paul Martin. Martin's passion has overcome his early defensiveness.
I started dozing a bit for the last half hour. So, who won? Well, Harper didn't make any big slip ups. Martin was often on the defensive, but he had inner fire ... possibly desperation. Layton might not have been as passionate, but he was genuinely polished and less sleazy. Duceppe continues to be the most experienced of the party leaders. None of them really stood out for me. I suspect that Harper might benefit the most because Martin wasn't able to knock him out. But Layton was the most improved player.
