yammering away

yammering away

A really good roundup of last night's English-language debate among the leaders of the four major political parties in Canada is at andrewcoyne.com under the Donnybrooks link.

From that source and others, this is what I gather the score was:

Paul Martin, Liberals: If he got hit with a question he didn't like, he babbled. Came across as surprisingly unintelligent for a man of his stature in society. Got hit hard early from three sides about Adscam, with multiple other hits later on other issues, particularly from Duceppe and Layton. Used the word "fundamental" a lot.

Stephen Harper, Conservatives: Came across as by far the most intelligent man on the stage, and the most polite. Waited his turn, didn't interrupt, looked cool and collected all night. Never went for the knockout, though he had many opportunities.

Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois: Had nothing to lose as his party is only fielding candidates in Quebec, and he addressed his power base in the French debates the night before. With fewer than 80 seats available in Quebec and nearly twice that required to form a government, has no chance of becoming Prime Minister, so being in this debate was just bonus face time for him. He used it to score several direct hits on Paul Martin but no knockout blows. Best debater of the four in this format.

Jack Layton, New Democrat Party: Came across as oily, talked incessantly, interrupted constantly. Thinks the impossible can happen somehow.

All other parties not invited to the debate: screwed for the forseeable future from participation in these debates by Layton and Duceppe, poseurs who have no chance of becoming Prime Minister.

Craig Oliver, reporter: ought to be fired for not even attempting to cover up his own bias in his questions. If Paul Martin wins, look for Craig Oliver to be appointed to the senate.

Canadian people: Five million watched - that's the equivalent of fifty million Americans watching the US presidential debates. For them, they will look at Stephen Harper and the "scary" slur will simply not stick anymore. They see Duceppe and Martin and Layton for what they are, too.