Tuesday, June 15, 2004
The Canadian federal election English debate
The English debate for the 2004 Canadian federal election just ended. Here are some brief thoughts...
Paul Martin got ripped down pretty bad, I think. Aside from the fact that he only answered about one in twenty questions, he was jittery, obviously panicking at times and just annoyed me to no end. I don't think he realized, but he got set up bad during that debate. Since one of the major topics in this election is accountability of government, the other three candidates focused on that and continually attacked the Liberal regimes of the last decade. However, it took me some time to realize that even when the topic wasn't specifically on accountability, the issue was still there. The following question came up from the other candidates several times to Martin: "Will you take responsibility for XXX problem?" Each and every time, Martin avoided the question and didn't take responsibility. So where's the accountability of government that Martin claims the Liberals will have in the next term?
Stephen Harper remained calm and patient throughout the debate. Overall, he made a very good impression on me as a person who would make a civil leader. Unfortunately, his obvious connection to religious institutions and his refusal to actually make a stand on the gay marriage and abortion issues makes me wary of the man and his party. I think there is still far too much Canadian Alliance/Reform Party in the New Conservatives.
Jack Layton came across as a bulldog. As a prime minister, I'm not sure how he'd be, but as the leader of the opposition, I think he'd be great. Unfortunately, that bulldog-ishness got somewhat irritating throughout the debate, as he continuously pounded his own ideas into people's heads as he was asking questions. In fact, he rarely allowed people to form an answer. That's not a debate.
Gilles Duceppe frustrated me to no end, although he put on quite a good performance. After all, what does he have to lose? He's got no chance in hell of being prime minister, and that's not what his ultimate goal is. He wants a sovereign Quebec. He's there to be the separatist voice. And that's what pissed me off. Quebec is still a part of Canada at this point (and possibly forever), yet he continuous referred to Quebec as a sovereign nation -- "Quebec and the provinces" or "Quebec and Canada." That just irks me.
Unless something big happens that warrants comment, this will be my last political post before I place my vote. On election day, I'm not afraid to say who I'll be placing my vote for. However, I won't say another word until I've cast that ballot.
Paul Martin got ripped down pretty bad, I think. Aside from the fact that he only answered about one in twenty questions, he was jittery, obviously panicking at times and just annoyed me to no end. I don't think he realized, but he got set up bad during that debate. Since one of the major topics in this election is accountability of government, the other three candidates focused on that and continually attacked the Liberal regimes of the last decade. However, it took me some time to realize that even when the topic wasn't specifically on accountability, the issue was still there. The following question came up from the other candidates several times to Martin: "Will you take responsibility for XXX problem?" Each and every time, Martin avoided the question and didn't take responsibility. So where's the accountability of government that Martin claims the Liberals will have in the next term?
Stephen Harper remained calm and patient throughout the debate. Overall, he made a very good impression on me as a person who would make a civil leader. Unfortunately, his obvious connection to religious institutions and his refusal to actually make a stand on the gay marriage and abortion issues makes me wary of the man and his party. I think there is still far too much Canadian Alliance/Reform Party in the New Conservatives.
Jack Layton came across as a bulldog. As a prime minister, I'm not sure how he'd be, but as the leader of the opposition, I think he'd be great. Unfortunately, that bulldog-ishness got somewhat irritating throughout the debate, as he continuously pounded his own ideas into people's heads as he was asking questions. In fact, he rarely allowed people to form an answer. That's not a debate.
Gilles Duceppe frustrated me to no end, although he put on quite a good performance. After all, what does he have to lose? He's got no chance in hell of being prime minister, and that's not what his ultimate goal is. He wants a sovereign Quebec. He's there to be the separatist voice. And that's what pissed me off. Quebec is still a part of Canada at this point (and possibly forever), yet he continuous referred to Quebec as a sovereign nation -- "Quebec and the provinces" or "Quebec and Canada." That just irks me.
Unless something big happens that warrants comment, this will be my last political post before I place my vote. On election day, I'm not afraid to say who I'll be placing my vote for. However, I won't say another word until I've cast that ballot.
// posted by Chris @ 10:02 PM 
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