Just read a long CNN article on how the Republicans relied heavily on robocalling while the Dems opted for door-to-door personal contact… I’m just not sold on the effectiveness of robocalling – seems like a lazy approach that is at best minutely effective and at worse detrimental to a candidate.
Unless, of course, you pretend you’re Elections Canada and send folks to the wrong polling stations.
*sigh* I miss the good ‘ole days of Ontario politics
when the OLP had a social-liberals like David Peterson
as opposed to neo-liberals like Dalton McGunity, when
the ONDP had social-democratic leaders like Stephen
Lewis as opposed to third way socialists such as Bob
Rae, and when the Ontario PC Party had Red Tory
leaders like John Robarts and Bill Davis as opposed
to American Republican-style neo-conservatives such
as Harris and Hudak. I personally think it all took a
turn for the worst when the Baby Boomer Generation
who believes in abandoning principals for expediency
and stooping to dirty political tricks took the reigns of
power from the GI Generation who believed in the
post-war consensus and so-called Grandparent
diplomacy…
Best post I’ve seen in a long time. We’re just nostalgic I guess.
Remember when the three leaders in Ontario were Bill Davis, Bob Nixon, and Stephen Lewis??
Thanks J.W. Yes, I do fondly recall a more civil and gentler time
in Ontario politics when Davis, Nixon and Lewis were the leaders
of the OPC, OLP and ONDP respectively. At the federal level, the
years of Pierre Trudeau, Ed Broadbent and Joe Clark were the
leaders of the LP, NDP and PC respectively are even more
nostalgic for me!.
Here in the City of Toronto, I fondly recall the good ‘ole days
when we had consensus building Mayors such as Red Tories
John Sewell and David Crombie as well as social-liberals such
as Art Eggleton. Contrast these gentleman to far-right figures
such as Rob Ford, far-left figures such as David Miller, and well,
shameless populists such as Mel Lastman!.
Using “American” as a pejorative is distasteful. What exactly makes Robocalls “too American?” A whole slew of telco technologies including automated switchboards, long distance calling and yes, automated recorded calling was invented by Nortel. A company as Canadian (and Ontarian) as hockey and universal health care. So in reality, robocalls are a significant part of our GOTV traditions. The Americans should bemoan our political culture negatively impacting theirs if anything.
That is your opinion AJ. I am one of these Canadians and Liberals who
will always view the USA in a fundamentally negative light. I guess you
could call me a Carolyn Parrish Liberal!. You should attend some political
events in Europe. Unlike, the Conservative Party of Canada and the Liberal
Party of Canada who are pretty pro-American, you will mostly find seething
contempt for the USA in terms of its culture, politics, economics and mind set
in Europe. I have attended rallies for their British Conservative Party, British
Liberal Democrats and British Labour Party, which are the ideologically
equivalents of the CPC, LPC and NDP respectively, and I can tell you that
the very words USA and America are, for the most part, dirty four letter
words over there. However, that is actually quite tame, compared to how
Americans and the USA are viewed in France, Germany, Italy, ect.!
PS: You won’t find many fans of the USA in Quebec either, but in
English Canada many people still seem to salivate over Ameri-KKK-a.
In my experience, most such Canadians tend to be of Anglo-Saxon
decent.
With the connotation that robocalling has in Canada since the last election, you’d think it would be a definite absolute no-no for any kind of grassroots organizing. It’s like anti-organizing. “What? you’re robocalling me? errr, no, I’d rather vote NDP, uh… thanks”
Got the call last night. Thought it had a nice tone to it actually. Upbeat and positive. Didn’t feel comfortable declaring my support by pressing 1, 2 or 3 though. Just assumed they got the number through the LPC lists. Meh!
About robocalls in general though, I think they are a legitimate and accepted political practice when used honestly to send a message or verify support. The Harper Cons went one step further however, they used calls to find out non-supporters and then returnedwith calls, robo and not, that were deliberately misleading and intended to interfere with those non-supporters casting votes.
Big Difference.
I wasn’t offended by Wynne’s robocall, I was surprised… quick start.
I got hte call, but I missed the first moment of it, so I didn’t know who it was until my wife told me later. It was not a good message although I don’t mind getting the robo-calls from candidates, if there is something of value in it.
I’ll tell you, though. I still remember getting a personal call from Paul Martin Jr. (as he was referred to then) in his first run. I was youngish, impressed, and flattered.
I was actually reading a whole bunch of Tweets about the robocalling when mine came in. I don’t really have a problem with it, though. I think I’d prefer a live body though giving me a call.
I am not a new Liberal and I got one of those calls last night. After I had deleted an email from her earlier that day. So impersonal. And I will never support her. Not happy with her work as Education Minister and her attitude toward education workers.
And for once, there’s more than one woman running. I’m behind Sandra all the way. Love her down to earth approach.
Number is from 416.964.8556. Can someone record it and put it on as a reply?
http://people-address.ca/milton-chan-toronto-4169648556
States it is Milton Chan. Anyone know him?
8:58 Just got the Robocall! Press 1….Press 2….Press 3….Wow where did they get my number from?
Just read a long CNN article on how the Republicans relied heavily on robocalling while the Dems opted for door-to-door personal contact… I’m just not sold on the effectiveness of robocalling – seems like a lazy approach that is at best minutely effective and at worse detrimental to a candidate.
Unless, of course, you pretend you’re Elections Canada and send folks to the wrong polling stations.
Was one of the lucky ones to get a robocall. “Interesting” how they got my number. Not impressed with the strategy.
Robocalls are just too American for my tastes.
*sigh* I miss the good ‘ole days of Ontario politics
when the OLP had a social-liberals like David Peterson
as opposed to neo-liberals like Dalton McGunity, when
the ONDP had social-democratic leaders like Stephen
Lewis as opposed to third way socialists such as Bob
Rae, and when the Ontario PC Party had Red Tory
leaders like John Robarts and Bill Davis as opposed
to American Republican-style neo-conservatives such
as Harris and Hudak. I personally think it all took a
turn for the worst when the Baby Boomer Generation
who believes in abandoning principals for expediency
and stooping to dirty political tricks took the reigns of
power from the GI Generation who believed in the
post-war consensus and so-called Grandparent
diplomacy…
Best post I’ve seen in a long time. We’re just nostalgic I guess.
Remember when the three leaders in Ontario were Bill Davis, Bob Nixon, and Stephen Lewis??
Thanks J.W. Yes, I do fondly recall a more civil and gentler time
in Ontario politics when Davis, Nixon and Lewis were the leaders
of the OPC, OLP and ONDP respectively. At the federal level, the
years of Pierre Trudeau, Ed Broadbent and Joe Clark were the
leaders of the LP, NDP and PC respectively are even more
nostalgic for me!.
Here in the City of Toronto, I fondly recall the good ‘ole days
when we had consensus building Mayors such as Red Tories
John Sewell and David Crombie as well as social-liberals such
as Art Eggleton. Contrast these gentleman to far-right figures
such as Rob Ford, far-left figures such as David Miller, and well,
shameless populists such as Mel Lastman!.
PS: John Tory is the best Mayor we never had!
Using “American” as a pejorative is distasteful. What exactly makes Robocalls “too American?” A whole slew of telco technologies including automated switchboards, long distance calling and yes, automated recorded calling was invented by Nortel. A company as Canadian (and Ontarian) as hockey and universal health care. So in reality, robocalls are a significant part of our GOTV traditions. The Americans should bemoan our political culture negatively impacting theirs if anything.
That is your opinion AJ. I am one of these Canadians and Liberals who
will always view the USA in a fundamentally negative light. I guess you
could call me a Carolyn Parrish Liberal!. You should attend some political
events in Europe. Unlike, the Conservative Party of Canada and the Liberal
Party of Canada who are pretty pro-American, you will mostly find seething
contempt for the USA in terms of its culture, politics, economics and mind set
in Europe. I have attended rallies for their British Conservative Party, British
Liberal Democrats and British Labour Party, which are the ideologically
equivalents of the CPC, LPC and NDP respectively, and I can tell you that
the very words USA and America are, for the most part, dirty four letter
words over there. However, that is actually quite tame, compared to how
Americans and the USA are viewed in France, Germany, Italy, ect.!
PS: You won’t find many fans of the USA in Quebec either, but in
English Canada many people still seem to salivate over Ameri-KKK-a.
In my experience, most such Canadians tend to be of Anglo-Saxon
decent.
I hung up.
Yep I got one.
I got one! It threw me off because it didn’t sound like a robocall at first.
Press 1 if we have your support
Press 2 if you need more information
Press 3 if you are supporting another leadership candidate
With the connotation that robocalling has in Canada since the last election, you’d think it would be a definite absolute no-no for any kind of grassroots organizing. It’s like anti-organizing. “What? you’re robocalling me? errr, no, I’d rather vote NDP, uh… thanks”
Got the call last night. Thought it had a nice tone to it actually. Upbeat and positive. Didn’t feel comfortable declaring my support by pressing 1, 2 or 3 though. Just assumed they got the number through the LPC lists. Meh!
I got a call too, pressed 3. No way will OLP win with a leader from TO, even if its Wynne.
It goes like this: Wynne win lose, or Wynne lose win.
About robocalls in general though, I think they are a legitimate and accepted political practice when used honestly to send a message or verify support. The Harper Cons went one step further however, they used calls to find out non-supporters and then returnedwith calls, robo and not, that were deliberately misleading and intended to interfere with those non-supporters casting votes.
Big Difference.
I wasn’t offended by Wynne’s robocall, I was surprised… quick start.
Hey WK – a Kathleen Wynne message just showed up on my fb page news feed. She’s not a friend. How’d she get there?
I got an e mail to my work address, which I have never given to the party, from Glen Murray.
I have attended events put on by a certain ministry as part of my job. Hmmmm
I have too Michael where the only info. they’d have at all is on a sign-in sheet.
Do political parties have access to that info.?
I got hte call, but I missed the first moment of it, so I didn’t know who it was until my wife told me later. It was not a good message although I don’t mind getting the robo-calls from candidates, if there is something of value in it.
I’ll tell you, though. I still remember getting a personal call from Paul Martin Jr. (as he was referred to then) in his first run. I was youngish, impressed, and flattered.
ED: you’re banned. You’re not allowed on here using a fake name to defame others. We’ve kept your IP and other identifying info. Buh-bye.
I was actually reading a whole bunch of Tweets about the robocalling when mine came in. I don’t really have a problem with it, though. I think I’d prefer a live body though giving me a call.
Didn’t Milton work on the Ignatieff campaign ? Just sayin’.
I am not a new Liberal and I got one of those calls last night. After I had deleted an email from her earlier that day. So impersonal. And I will never support her. Not happy with her work as Education Minister and her attitude toward education workers.
And for once, there’s more than one woman running. I’m behind Sandra all the way. Love her down to earth approach.