Stephen Taylor

Here is an example of headline extrapolation:

Liberals offer an extra $6 billion for day care

Well now, this is about as honest as saying:

Harper’s GST cut will save Canadians more than $500 trillion

As, ALW rightly points out, CTV and the Globe and Mail are all to eager to carry water for the Liberals announcing ‘increased’ funding (given a long enough timeline). In fact, assuming that the Liberal government forms government for the next 100 years, we could assume that Paul Martin’s childcare program will cost Canadians $100 billion. Now there’s a headline (and it doesn’t even account for inflation)

Here are some other extrapolated news headlines that we might see in the Globe soon:

NDP Plan Would Solve All of World’s Problems
Ingestion of pure (and positive) energy to replace soy by 2075.

Harper to Resign!
(sometime in the future, from some job)

Paul Martin so far one of the best Prime Minister’s of the 21st century
Chretien loyalists demand recount

I’m sure the uber-strategists in downtown Ottawa and on the primary campaign have figured out most of it (hopefully), but I was mulling over a few general strategies that the Tories should implement to boost their chances at forming government.

• Cite examples and anecdotes ad nauseum of discussions with lifelong Liberal supporters that are coming around to the Conservative message and that are finally starting to see a real choice to Paul Martin’s dithering corrupt government and that are likely to give Stephen Harper the nod because it’s time for a change.
• While respectfully disagreeing with Jack Layton on about 99.9% of issues, credit the NDP leader for being the true and unequivocal voice for people not voting Conservative in this country. Treat Paul Martin with disappointment, but respect Layton.
• Keep Paul Martin playing catch-up on Conservative policy announcements. Make sure to announce pivotal issues on Tuesday-Wednesday to reduce the amount of time the Liberals have to turn-around on the issue before the weekend.
• When you finally go negative on Liberal corruption, DO NOT use the Leader! Use safe Conservatives like MacKay, Solberg, and Kenney to hammer away at the Liberals. Do not allow Stephen Harper to get dirty.
• Save “black powder” moments for absolutely critical moments of the campaign. These moments would come, for example, a few days after a major Conservative gaffe in the second half of the campaign, or a week before E-day. “Black Powder” moments are major controversial plays that slam the brakes on the media’s current cycle and refocuses the entire campaign around the “explosive” revelation. An example of a black powder play would be the unearthing of an old video of Paul Martin admitting that national unity (as a topic) has been a successful tool for “manipulating voters”.
• Use the Harper family to emphasize the message that Stephen Harper is the Canadian everyman with a family, young kids and that he’s a guy that understands what everyday Canadians are going through.
• Emphasize at every opportunity that Martin is out of touch with the average Canadian.
• Canadians are going to be voting for vision and change. Paul Martin has been labeled “Mr. Dithers” and offers no vision. Work this seam of the election message.

When I was in Ottawa at the beginning of last month for the first part of the Gomery report, I had a chance to sit down for a chat with James Moore, the Conservative MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam in his office on Parliament Hill.

James was the Conservative Party’s transport critic in Stephen Harper’s shadow cabinet until the dissolution of Parliament last Monday.

With James Moore – Click to enlarge

In this podcast, James and I speak about a variety of topics from blogging to methamphetamines to Martin Luther King Jr.

James is currently running for re-election in his BC riding and is keeping a daily campaign blog. British Columbians would certainly benefit from his re-election to the House of Commons. Best of luck James.

James Moore podcast – (22:29) – 2.59 MB