FLASHBACK: Teddy Kennedy’s uninspired response
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@stribe39 agreed!
Stephen Taylor - email@stephentaylor.ca
Stephen Taylor is a scientist, political analyst and a blogger. Taylor writes here regularly and is the founder of bloggingtories.ca. Taylor has contributed to Macleans, CTV, talk radio and has been a featured speaker on new media at numerous events including the Western Standard Cruise and the Forum for Public Policy. In December 2008, Taylor organized Rally for Canada, a series of rallies held coast-to-coast to protest the proposed coalition government.
October 9th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
uh-oh game changer!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
EVERYBODY needs to see this.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
PS – even if you gave him another chance to answer, he couldn't. Because there was nothing he could have done.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
The Liberals desperately tried to get them not to show this because they knew how damaging it would be. They wanted to hide the truth from Canadians.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Oh snap!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Unbelievable.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
So…do you get to start the “figurative” tape again as Prime Minister?
“No, no…I don't like the carbon tax now…let's start again…”
October 9th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
This is like a soothing balm to my soul!!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
We'll see how much traction this gets in the MSM, apart from CTV and Duffy.
If Dion didn't understand the question, as he claimed in the second take, then why did he answer it initially? It was worded exactly the same the second time. With that fact, how dare ANYBODY in the MSM suggest that this is a language issue. (note: just heard Mansbridge on The National chalk it up to a language issue … so there you go! I'll have to see how the “At Issues” panel in minutes analyzes this… if Mansbridge brings it up with them)
Yep! Not only has the slide ended, but this, I predict, will give the Tories a huge bump in the polls, and at a perfect time, just 5 days before voting day. The ads raising doubts about Dion as a leader were good, but this will
And good on Mr. Harper for making a comment and taking no questions. You know the throng of these Liberal-sympathizing reporters were furious with him and this latest development. The cheerleading was going so well for them up until now.
Also, I wonder if the Liberals will attempt to turn the channel on this by borrowing a page from the '97 campaign, saying that Harper is attacking Dion for being a Quebec politician.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
This is very serious! We have Dion who wants to be Prime Minister of English Canada as well as French Canada, and he is unable to understand a simple question? All Canadians should be demanding to have this video clip played on all national news casts so that all Canadians can witness first hand how dangerous Dion's limited understanding can be.
Glenn
October 9th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Wow. I can't even find joy in watching that….even as a Conservative. I literally stopped watching half way through…damn that's painful.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
This has hit the globe now:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RT...
October 9th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Well, I saw and heard it and still can't believe it. Matthew stole my thunder. It was a painful experience watching this and I felt very bad for Dion who, we all can agree, is a decent guy.
The water in the pool is just too darn deep for him.
On another topic: How about this phrase: “Prime Minister Dion with Bob Rae as finance minister” ?? If the sound of that doesn't strike terror into your heart then there is no hope.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I have to saw I often hear Dion using phrases and words in English that he would never use as someone who is not perfectly bilingual. In other words he has been fed lines and has memorized talking points written by others. He is like a talking doll – you pull the string and a phrase comes out. But this time the question was a bit like those jumbled letters you have to type to prove that your comment is from a real person.
Basically he wouldn't do anything really different from Harper and so couldn't answer.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Is this the kind of fool you want as a PM? Can you imagine what wars (literally!) he could start when meeting with foreign heads of state and government?
Let's face it: Dion is an embarrassment for the Liberal Party and for Canada.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Having it on Mike Duffy is good enough — that's pretty much all the MSM exposure this sorry display of Dion requires to spread the word.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Overtures, guard the lights, this is it , the night of nights, no more rehearsing, or nursing our parts, we know every part by heart!!!!!! (well sort of) good try Stephanie. What a maroon. Awh say! Awh say! your lips are a flappin, but you are not comprehending the question BOY!!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
First of all, definite kudos to ATV for airing it in the first place – we all know that almost all msm outlets would have burned the film as the Liberals requested.
Regan trying to pass that off as a “hearing impairment” is such total bs and it was pretty obvious to me he didn't even believe it himself. I was a bit disappointed (but not really surprised) that CTV/Duffy ran the piece with “Campaign exhaustion?” in large bold type on the screen like they are making an excuse for Dion's total lack of basic comprehension.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
The fact the Liberals requested this not be shown, the local media agreed but the network decided to show it is rather revealing. The Liberals are used to getting their way with the media who act as their Puffins, hiding their poop. Big shock to Jeff Reagan, he was purposely speechless. Looks good on them.
This is in the interest of the whole country, people have a right to know when a person is not able to communicate for whatever reason. Politics is all about communication. Dion is in over his head.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Only Taories are in crisis mode. Everone else is out looking for baraigns in the markets!!
October 9th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Oh super snap!
October 9th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
This little gem did not make it to CTV National news with Lloyd Robertson. All of Canada needs to see this, but CTV is still protecting Dion. One has to wonder how much of this goes on in the MSM
October 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Wow! I don't see what hearing has to do with it as Regan suggests. Mr. Dion started to answer the question initially, stumbled badly and then asked to start the interview again, and again. Obviously he's forgotten the party line already.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Wow. The failed attempts were bad enough, but the actual answer is even worse in that it reveals that Dion hasn't got a clue about how to handle a multi-billion dollar economy. It was Martin-esque in its grandiose call to do everything, and thus, do nothing.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
This is unfair.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
How in name of hell is this not on CTV's own election website?
October 9th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
The CBC is in damage control mode. Nothing at cbcnews.ca (it's 10:47PM EDT now). But I did find this story… and what's most striking is the timestamp…
DION LATCHES ONTO HARPER'S 'ENDORSEMENT'
Last Updated: Thursday, October 9, 2008 | 9:44 PM ET
Compare that to the G&M's story and its timestamp…
PARTIES TRADE SHOTS OVER DION INTERVIEW
Jane Taber
Globe and Mail Update
October 9, 2008 at 9:18 PM EDT
So what are we to conclude from this? That instead of posting something on this Dion gaffe, the CBC chose to use that time to update an older story… predictably one that is slanted to favour Dion.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
If the networks don't want to show this why couldn't it be used as an ad ? His garbling about 30/50 was pathetic as well.
This is serious stuff, it could be the answer to Bob Rae's prayers! Whatever, Dion is not fit to govern.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
A Green party candidate withdraws and endorses Liberal in Quebec
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/1...
Appears the “deal” is starting to unfold OUTRAGEOUS
October 9th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
A Green party candidate withdraws and endorses Liberal in Quebec
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/1...
Appears the “deal” is starting to unfold OUTRAGEOUS
October 9th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
What comes to mind are the immortal words of a particular wascally wabbit “What a maroon!”
October 9th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
DION=PALIN
This is our KATIE COURIC interview! NO ANSWERS FOR SIMPLE QUESTIONS!!
Dion’s done. He’s going to get hammered in English Canada with this. Kind of ironic how he kept criticizing Harper over the last week but couldn’t say what he would do.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I read in the Metro News about how Dion got asked about the Bank Act and said a few things that indicated that he really didn't understand it or know what he was talking about.
Looks like it is getting a lot of traffic on youtube if not in the MSM. What a surprise!
October 9th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Say good night Citoyen, you are toast, and this happened in my neck of the woods. The maritimes comes through again, never underestimate us…..Ah well, back to the single malt…..argee
October 9th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
It's about bloody time the media asked dion that question, what the hell took them so long? they should have been asking him and Layton, from the first day they started yelling about Harper to “do something”. No point asking Layton now, because his war room will be feverishly up all night preparing a response – probably Googling “what to do when you have a world financial crisis”.
I'm so glad this video is being played by some MSM, it is absolutely imperative that Canadians get to see it before election day.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Great job Stephen…you did it again!
October 9th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Roberto, good Looney Tunes references..As a trailerpark boys fan, i prefer the shit anolgies…
1) he looked like he was trying to climb up a shit rope
2) shitliner just came into port
I am actually starting to feel sorry for him
October 9th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I think we need to get more details behind Dion's plan – maybe Jaqueline Thorpe or some sharpie from the Post can get his views on the Fed's action on liquidity. The writers who have been sitting on their pens and the interviewers who have been using their kid Liberal gloves have been exposed. If they had asked the questions they would have known that he didn't understand (you can tell by the words he uses – Jack doesn't get it either)
I didn't understand that the 30 days was to get these two up to speed that banks loan out the money that they take in as deposits..
October 9th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Liz J
“This is in the interest of the whole country, people have a right to know when a person is not able to communicate for whatever reason. Politics is all about communication.”
Since the conservatives were elected, why has Harpers team not been able to openly speak? If Harper wins this election ( not likely now with his continued indifference shown towards mainstream Canadians), eventually his team will tire of his monopoly. You know what happens to a puck hog on a hockey team. He's the ultimate puck hog.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Anyone who is genuinely concerned about Dion's obvious lack of cognitive ability in English should contact their local talk show host to seek their analysis on this video clip. This could force some in the MSM to deal with this issue. For example, Bill Carol on CFRB in Toronto has been emailed.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
It will unfortunately change nothing … the MSM will not give it any more coverage and have already chose instead to focus on the bill for Afghanistan … it is pathetic! And the fact that it is on this blog site will change little as it is just preaching to the choir
October 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Just saw “at Issue” -
No talk on the Dion gaffe/brain freeze/deafness/not understanding English.
No talk about the Green party supporting Liberals – The death of he Green party? The underhanded schemes foisted on Canadians to have an extra voice piling on Harper in the debates.
No talk of bringing back PM Adscam.
With these 3 major events happening on the same day it will be hard to identify the turning point of the election. I guess the “at issue” panel will be shocked with the shift in the last 5 days of the election.
I thought earlier in the day Harper saying PM Dion would bring back more than iteda few votes when it sinks in that they might realy be Green-shifted and have more than Puffin poo dropped on their shoulders.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Either Dion gets hammered over this or the MSM. I would prefer both. We can't let this slide. Someone just got caught with their hand in the cookie jar…ready to take the heat Mansbridge and company or will you serve up Dion on a silver platter.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Canadian voters need to see this shocking video.
Stéphane Dion and this Liberal cohorts are either incompetent in economic policy, national leadership and judgment to govern Canada, or Dion has a fundamental lack of comprehension in one of the Official Languages of Canada.
I think the most logical explanation is his incompetence to govern.
Clueless.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
TELL EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
This video willl go viral on it's own. The PM and CPC should stay above the fray. The CPC should be going after the libs for flip flopping on the Green Shift. Dion says it won't be delayed, Ignatieff says it will due to the economy. Which is it?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RT...
October 9th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Funny how the MSM had no problems playing over and over Harpers remarks ……………..
Some good buys in the stock market, Duffy or head commie Mansbridge never said maybe harper is
tired from tons of campaigning.
MSM = Lib mouth piece.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Dion gets the interpretation correct “if I were elected PM 2.5 years ago?”, Duffy dismisses this (implying an incorrect interpretation by Dion) and reasks “no, if you were PM now”. Duffy is dishonest and Dion is maybe too passive for not correcting Duffy, or too untrusting of his own english in not correcting Duffy's semantics game. Duffy might have been able to catch Dion offguard. Then Harper has a Kim Campbell moment.
The CPC was genuinely tolerant in 2006. It isn't now; ask Quebec. Why even bother running minorities or women?
October 10th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Absolutely incredible. I've never seen anything like it.
Likewise Mr Reagan's peformance. Does Mr Dion have a hearing impediment ? Mr Reagan apparently does when it suits him.
Oh dear. I feel embarresed for Mr Dion. He should retire after this election. Stephen Harper is the only option and I feel the Canadian voter will return him office, however reluctant they might me.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:26 am
As intelligent as Mr Dion may be, his main problem might be that his mind is totally stuck on his Green Shift Carbon Tax plan. Mr Dion hasn't seemed to have much trouble understanding English questions in any of the media scrums, previous interviews, nor in the English language debate. The ballot day choices are between the safe, sound and stable performance of the Harper Conservatives, OR one of a wide selection of socialist and/or activist types of individuals with no concept of what goes on beyond their pet project(s), most of which are related to increased taxes and increased spending and absurd environmental rescue schemes.
October 10th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Dion understood the question, that much is obvious. But, then he tried to pull a fast one after the interviewer specifically said 'today' by pretending to not understand the 'when'. Now, given that Garth Turner is always trumpeting democracy and truth, he absolutely must come out and speak against his party for asking that the interview not be broadcast as this would be hiding the truth; a request which violates the basic principle of his much-heralded democracy. Given that Garth works for his people and NEVER for his party, as he so demonstrated when he was a CPC, I would call upon him to denounce this request. I know that Garth has no compunction when it comes to criticizing he own party so I believe that it is only fair (and Garth does believe in fairness) that he call his party's ethics into question over this matter. I await his response.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:46 am
OMG! Just watched the morning news on CBC Newsworld.
The news anchor Heather Hiscox asked Terry what to make of Dion in this video. Milewski: “Not much.”
Terry then went on to say that it doesn't look good for Harper that he stopped his event schedule midstream to comment on this, and added his own sweater man comment. And the news anchor chimed in, almost in a panic-like state, saying, (paraphrasing) “And look at all the comments, the consensus is that this is a mean spirited attack and that it's unfair for someone to be attacked for their language skills.”
It was a Live interview but they usually run snippets (hopefully the whole thing) at the top of the hour and someone can get this up on YouTube.
Stephen this is gold! Doing pieces on stuff like this is your forte. Hopefully you can get the interview and do a write up. It's the CBC caught RED-HANDED trying to undo the damage it's done.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Shocka: CBC radio one had substantial clips of the interview on the 8am news. Rather thought they might try to ignore it altogether – perhaps even the liberal cheerleaders are beginning to see that Mr Dion isn't quite fit for the big show.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Speed Kills.
Your numbers start to slip in the polls. You relaise what you are doing is not working. You need to do something else.
SO you start to get desperate. You need SOMETHING, ANYTHING to turn it around. But what?
So you latch on to something, something that seems so good at the time you feel giddy…
But soon the rumbilings start to come back to you… what have you done…have you made things worse .. are people feeling sympathy…wait a minute..
Stephen Harper. Best political strategist since Kim Campbell.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Of course they did, it's the Liberal way…
October 10th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Agree, it's already on my facebook, and I'm mailing it out to everybody.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Phillip Huggan you have been posting that drivel on every blog I've seen. Dion did not say he didn't hear the question. He said he didn't understand the question. What part of that do you not understand? Are we now going to learn that Dion also has an expressive language disorder? That instead of saying he didn't understand the question, he actually meant he didn't hear the question.
Nobody is suggesting Dion is stupid. I'm certain he is a very bright man, as are Jack Layton and Elizabeth May, but we do not choose our leaders solely based on IQ. There are a myriad of other considerations. But one of them being the ability to field any range of questions from reporters and accept that you may not be given several chances to compose a response. As a leader, you won't get to claim fatigue. You won't get to claim disorder. You won't get to claim a language barrier. You won't get to claim unfair. At least, that is, unless you want to sound like a perennial whiner. You will only get to own your answer and if you are savvy, at the very next opportunity you will say something to the effect of, “Yes, I'm afraid I didn't answer that question very well, I'd like to elaborate”.
Frankly, Dion could have easily avoided this by saying, “I really don't understand your point, but this is our plan.” His problem is, he's a know-it-all with too much pride/arrogance/faith in his intellect to recognize when he has made an error and move on. He simply can't accept that he's made a mistake. In his mind it's more important that we understand things from his perspective then for him to understand them from ours. This is an egocentric character, not an empathetic one.
By the way, Duffy was not doing the interview.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Approve
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
October 10th, 2008 at 11:14 am
If Stephane Dion has a hearing problem then why does he not wear a hearing aid? …that would be the prudent thing to do, NON?
Hmmm funny though, his hearing at the debates seemed okay…His hearing in French language seems okay.
Maybe it just disconnects when he can't answer a lowball question for a justification of his obfuscation of the economic health of the Demented Dominiom.
Dion couldn't put his finger on the name of his impairment which by the way he volunteered originally.Well he's had 5 weeks to phone up his doc and then let us all know.
'Doctor ,what is the name of my impairment s'il vous plait ?”
“Ah Stephane,good news…it is not your hearing, it is your eyes my friend…you cannot read the teleprompter!”
October 10th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
This is unbelievable — I'm still here with my mouth wide open…how in the world did this guy get the leadership of the party? If this does not finish him, nothing will.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
The reporter's “clarification” was misleading, but worse: Haper's reaction is mean-spirited and petty. Could we go back to that national debate question on personal attacks?
October 10th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Seems the prime minister is making all the right moves while Dion is gasping for air. It's going to be a warm, enviting thanksgiving. Canadians have a lot to be thankful for given the looming uncertaintly.
Vapour-locking on such a simple question Defines Dion much more that Harper ever could. Harper confirming the self-evident truth in Dions repeated fumbling around trying to find a limb to hold onto, while he drops into the abyss, was truly pivotal.
What I really want to know is will he identify himself at the polling station, without a picture drivers licence he must then provide two pieces of government approved identification and swear out an oath as to his address that day at the poll.
f all else fails a neighbour, who is a valid elector, can vouch for Mr. Dion, as is the election law.
Having voted in the advance poll my drivers licence and voters registration card got me the express lane, by golly!
Now that's democracy and identity politics all rolled into one easy efficient vote.
Here in my neck of the woods the advance poll had line-ups hundreds deep. Waiting just steeled my resolve to ensure my vote counted when it was needed the most, at the ballot box.
Every Canadian should consider it their duty to mark their ballot with an x for the person they want representing them and the party they belong to, there are even a few Independant candidates standing for election.
Please vote.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Jason Cherniak said that the only way the Conservative “Not A leader” campaign would work if if was true.
I think this interview says all.
October 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Craig, one might feel very sorry for a jockey who can't ride, but, really, would you think it insensitive and bad form to let bettors in on that fact?
(For a conservative, IMO, your analysis is sadly lacking.)
October 13th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
The claim of a physical impairment is such a pathetic attempt to replay the Chretien face deal…
October 14th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Go Green bitches!!!! PC is going to ruin this beautiful country. The rich get richer and Stephen Harper protects useless people that “work” in the government.
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:31 am
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