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The Conservative Machine, which clever Harper was pushing seems to be lacking momentum. The indispensable Quebec vote has declined, the gap between the Liberals and the Conservatives is diminishing, and the majority government which appeared so likely might never occur.
So what went wrong?
I've been wondering if Harper could pull off his "by the fireside with the sweater" ads trying to appeal to those who think he's a distant, unsympathetic leader. Well, after his gaffe on the Stock Exchange, Dion has run off with the gift that Harper inadvertently gave him. Harper is a phony, after all. In fact, one thing that struck me about those ads was his weird inability to make a sincere eye contact with the camera (of course this means with us.)
But, surely, it is the message that counts, not the home-spun sweaters. Well here is a more telling youtube:
when Harper was secretly (deviously) appealing to the immigrant communities. Someone adroitly superscribed words that Harper spoke only a few years ago over the video, where he was stating the problems inherent in the "we are a nation of immigrants" mentality that all Canadians seem to have. I think Harper still believes this. But, anything to get the vote! In fact, just before the election call, Harper sent one of his emissaries to announce an $11-million pledge for new immigrants in Toronto's suburbs. Why are such pledges not part of an open election platform? I've already said that Harper is trying to get his votes in any way possible. He has to juggle hard not to alienate competing groups. So, immigration, despite wise advice to include it as a separate issue, has been bundled up under "Jobs for the Future."
But, he's losing those feisty Brampton "Indo-Canadians", and he was obliged to turn out "public notice" ads back in April exclusively for the "ethnic communities" telling them not to worry. Of course, what they are worried about is how to get the sister, mother and grown son to come and join them in this land of plenty. This is obviously a territory Harper wasn't willing to tread. How soon, though, before he succumbs?
All this, together with whatever he has done to irritate the Quebeckers (the media says it is something to do with his lack of acknowledgment of "culture" funds) is diminishing his hopes.
Cold expediency soon catches up with you.
He never tried the real Conservative way. He will never know if it would have worked or not. So far, his gamble to do it "his way" is not giving the dividends he was banking on.
A true gritless man.