Election Perception – Jack Layton

Well, there is no doubt that Jack Layton scored big time, in this election.  After all, he is now the Leader of the Opposition with just over 100 elected members.   ( And already there are signs of foot & mouth from his members. )

So what did he do differently this time around?

Well for starters, he actually acted like he wanted to be Prime Minister. Hell he even said it, and proceeded to campaign like he actually was gunning for the top job. That alone was a huge difference in the NDP than ever before.  It was kind of, well infectious too, as one liked the notion, that he could dream that high.  Now he is close to that actuality.

Yet is this a one shot wonder?

The thing is, there were other factors, that I think added to his sudden surge. One of the major reasons I think is, that Jack Layton stood up to Stephen Harper & his bullying. That gave him an aura, a sense of actually that he might be one who could lead, who could stand up for Canadians.

Now that perception is an elusive one to grab hold of. Yet Jack Layton seemed to exude that, this time around. Now I saw him at a rally, and it was early in the election, but he wasn’t the same Jack Layton that he is now. He changed during the course of the election.

He grew some Kahunas  ( balls for those who don’t know )

The other factor, I think that put him into second place, so solidly, was the Liberal Campaign strategy. Michael Ignatieff didn’t go after Harper, nor did he respond to the Attack ads, while Jack did.

Granted there weren’t a large number of attack ads aimed at the NDP, until the last week, but when they came, Jack responded. He put them where it belonged, on the sidelines. He turned the so called ‘leaked massage’ attack where it belonged, in the trash. He made it into an advantage for him, while at the same time, standing up to the bully himself.

Ignatieff didn’t do that, hence his 30 seats only.

Jack did, hence his 100+ seats.

Jack also created the perception that he actually would fight for me. Something the others couldn’t, or wouldn’t do. His campaign struck a chord with many, who are tired of the Harper plan to support only the rich, and only for big business. It was enough to get him second place.

The other aspect, or perception, as I saw it, was he adapted during the campaign. That say a lot about a possible leader. It means he’s prepared to switch course, when something isn’t working.  Something that Harper doesn’t do easily. This perception gives a clear difference between the two.

One problem, I think was the perception that he was not a good manager for the Economy. That may actually have been the defining perception, that prevented the NDP from gaining more seats. It is the one perception that has haunted the NDP for decades.  Jack didn’t do much to dispel that perception either.

So I guess my question is, can he move to the next level?  Can he show more Economic sense than a died in the wool Ultra Right Wing Conservative?

Going to Green Party Rally Monday

Jack had his turn last Thursday.

Now it is Elizabeth May’s turn this coming Monday in downtown Victoria.  Going to be interesting to compare how the two leaders handle things. I mean going to Layton’s Rally was like attending a Rock Show.  I mean the music was blaring, right up until Jack took the podium.

So I am wondering, just how will the Green party manage its rally?

Will there be some warm up speakers, or will it be like the NDP rally?  Cold.

Going to be interesting to watch the crowd as well.  Then there is David. Will he find some interest, or will he wind up the same as after the Layton Rally, feeling disinterested?

I mean, honestly what is it today? Why can’t Leaders Ignite the people who come to see them, to hear them speak?  I am hoping that perhaps Elizabeth May will be different, but to be honest, I am not holding out much hope.

Just Who Are Political Rallies For?

Seriously, who are these events for?

The Party Faithful?

To Massage the Leader’s Ego?

Or to Convince the Undecided to Support the Party?

The wife & I went to hear Jack Layton speak. We are definately Undecided Voters, and I have to say, both of us left very unimpressed.  David more so, but I have to honestly say, as much as I respect Jack Layton, he wasn’t at top drawer level tonight.

I wonder if his health is really an issue? He didn’t look good, tired perhaps, but maybe it is more than that? I don’t know, but his talk wasn’t exactly awe inspiring for me.

Sure the speech played well among the faithful collected there, or did it? Yes, lots of hollering, stamping of feet, but how much of it was from key people put around the room, how much of it actually out of genuine support?

IF this was to boster the party faithful, I’d say it gets a C+ or B-.

IF this was to boost the Leader’s resolve, then I’d say it got a D

IF this was to convince undecided voters, like me & David, then I’d say it got an F

Thursdays NDP Rally Should Be Fun

I wonder, I had to RSVP on Facebook, so does that mean I’ll be pre-screened to see if I can attend Jack Layton’s Rally in Esquimalt? LOL  Know if I was going to a Harper One I’d not only be blocked from going, but probably get my ass thrown in jail for being a damn Fag & Rabble Rouser.

Hey, what can I say, Stephen Harper don’t like Queers, nor does he like Dissent.

You would think, that for someone who wants a Majority Government, he would be encouraging those who appear to support another party, to come to his rallies. I mean how else do you plan to convince them to vote for you?

Oh right, I forgot, you make them afraid of the other guys, bully them into voting for you instead of actually convincing them you have the best policies.

See, I learned something today.  I learned that standing up to bullies can get you kicked out of political rallies. Being honest and wanting to know about a Parties Policies gets you an invite from the NDP, but might get your ass thrown in jail if its Harper’s Rally.

I am looking forward to Thursday for one major reason. This time around Jack is actually saying he wants to be Prime Minister. Now THAT is a big leap forward for him, & the NDP. So yep, I am gonna go, and who knows, he might erase that one strike he has with me. LOL

I’d Support a Credit Card Cap

Jack Layton is suggesting that the NDP would seek to cap the rates charged by Credit Card copanies, to 5% above the prime rate.  NOW THAT makes sense to me.

There are two big issues, in my mind, that caused the economic melt down, and is continuing to hamper any recovery.  One was ( and is ) the high price of fuel. As long as that continue to remain unregulated, and speculation is allowed, then high fuel costs will continue. 

That translates directly in raised prices for virtually everything. From food, to medicine, to law enforcement.

The second main cause, I believe is the way credit has been doled out. Every Tom, Dick, & Harriet were given credit that far exceeded their ability to pay it off in their lifetime.

Why? Simple, look at what it costs banks to get money, 1% or 2%?  Yet they can charge ( and do ) up to 29.5% for loaning you that money.   Like you will NEVER pay it off, if you can only afford the minimum payments. NEVER!

The idea to Cap the amount they can charge does two big things.

1. 1. It makes credit affordable. I mean seriously, you can actually afford to pay it off, without going bankrupt.
2. 2. Banks will stop handing out Credit like it is penny candy.

Now that will hurt some of us, because the more credit we get, the more we spend. Yet if we know that credit has to be earned, perhaps we will stop spending so much on luxuries, start saving more, and more importantly, start demanding better quality of goods.

Right now, we pay high prices for crap, that won’t last as long as the payments needed to pay for it, but we don’t care. After all, our credit limit just got upped.

Every politician talks about preventing another repeat of the economic melt down. Yet none of them offer us any reasonable method of doing just that.  One of the issues is in regulating the greed of Big Business.  The other is to control how credit is given out.

Putting a cap on what a Bank can charge for Credit, especially credit cards, will do that. It won’t be pretty either, but you know, it will work.  I know it would hurt me, but then again, I kind of want to be able to afford to drive and buy my groceries.  As long as this cycle of greed is allowed to go unchecked, that isn’t going to be easy to do.

One point for Jack Layton & the NDP