, 01.18.2021 02:31 PM

My latest: when they’re attacking you, they’re losing

When they start braying and screeching, you know you’re winning.  When they ignore you, you’re losing.

This writer has managed political war rooms for many years, from coast to coast.  And that’s what I always tell the fresh-faced youngsters who make up these war rooms: “When the other side start going after you personally, you know you’re on the right track.”

(Other war room truisms: “Let your detestation for the other side wash over you like a purifying force.”  And: “Get your foot on their neck, and don’t let up until the day after the election.”)

The war room truth about braying and screeching, above, was particularly true this week.

This week, Canadians – and the world – started to see how the Justin Trudeau government has dropped the ball on obtaining vaccines to fight the coronavirus.

To date, 1.448 per cent of Canadians have received one shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.  Israel has vaccinated 30 per cent of its population.  The United Arab Emirates, 20 per cent.

As my colleague Brian Lilley reported on the weekend: “Despite being a G7 nation, and one of the first to approve both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Canada ranks 12th in the world.  Why? A lack of supply.  Provinces can’t deliver doses if the federal government doesn’t deliver them.”

And the feds just aren’t delivering them, or delivering them fast enough.  Pfizer, for example, has told Ottawa it is dramatically cutting back on the number of vaccines it will be sending us.  But the European Union countries won’t be facing any delay at all.  None.

Like Lilley, I wrote about how poorly the Trudeau regime has done in acquiring potentially life-saving vaccines.  I also quoted what the likes of the Washington Post has said about Canada’s vaccine performance: “Canada has lagged behind the United States, Britain, Israel and others in getting shots into arms.”

And: Canada’s vaccine effort has “lacked urgency.”

And: Canada’s rollout has been “slow and chaotic.”

And: In Canada, “joy and relief have given way to exasperation.”

When this writer reported on what was said about the Trudeau government by the Washington Post – no raving, ranting Right-wing rag, last time we checked – Liberal MP Adam Vaughan went bananas.

Vaughan tweeted that I was “alt-Right.”  

Alt-Right. That’s a quote.

For the purposes of clarification, the Merriam-Webster people define “alt-Right” as those who “espouse extremist beliefs and policies typically centered on ideas of white nationalism.”

Having spent more than three decades exposing and opposing the neo-Nazis, white supremacists and Hitler freaks who comprise the alt-Right – and having received no shortage of death threats for same – Adam Vaughan’s insult was a bit of a surprise.  My daughter, who is Indigenous, certainly thought so, too.

After briefly conferring with David Shiller, one of Canada’s best libel lawyers, a polite note was sent to Vaughan, and – poof! – his alt-Right tweet swiftly disappeared into an alt-dumpster.  Vaughan posted a new tweet, proclaiming that he shouldn’t have ever, ever, ever associated Yours Truly “in any way” with the alt-Right.  “I thank Warren for making it clear where he stands,” Vaughan chirped. 

Now, one shouldn’t make too much of stupid Adam Vaughan tweets.  Vaughan makes a lot of them.  You could fill several Hansard volumes with the tweets he’s had to walk back.

But what is revealing, here, is what it reveals: Trudeau’s Liberals are clearly deeply, profoundly nervous (caucus members have privately said as much).  They know that they are vulnerable on vaccines.  If the perception grows that they have botched vaccine acquisition – because they have – they are toast.  They are done like dinner.

And no amount of stupid tweets will change that, Adam.  Because your stupid tweets tell us something important:

You’re scared.

[Kinsella has chaired war rooms for federal and provincial Liberals since 1993.]

 

29 Comments

  1. Douglas W says:

    Trudeau’s Liberals, extremely vulnerable on vaccines.

    Opposition: take note.
    Libs are incompetent.
    It’s your number one talking point.

    Start driving that message home.

    • faithless elector says:

      Voters will give Justin a pass. No one voted for Justin because they thought he’d make plans about getting anything done.

      Moderna and Pfizer don’t care about Canada. They know Justin’s brand isn’t about results.

      And yes, I did comment on Douglas W. just to put this at the top of the page.

  2. Phil in London says:

    Not only is supply an issue but this insane idea you can write your own prescription as to time between doses. I get that the provinces are making that decision but it’s happening because the supply is a problem.
    There have been stumbles from day one. Remember it might be a good idea to buy some extra cold medicine but we’ll be largely unaffected in Canada? Remember it would be racist to close borders and airports? Remember don’t wear a mask it may be harmful? What about the shit show around rapid testing? Was only a few days ago they did not buy more Moderna because they had ample Pfizer coming.
    This government should be scared and the opposition should be united in holding their feet to the fire.
    Months ago this government should have invited the brightest Conservatives and New Democrats to join a coalition to fight a common enemy but they were content to politicize from day one.
    I do not believe for one moment the alt-right sludge that speaks of the Liberal cabal. I do believe the alt-centrist view that this class of ministers deserves an F minus on many counts.
    What I cannot understand is that no political leader can crush the black-faced silver spoon fed buffoon and his very unaccomplished minions.
    If Trump has blood on his hands for incompetence which was the case made months ago, then so does Pierre2.
    Our little prep-school leader may not have caused insurrection but he’s been a buffoon on the major files of his administration. Covid relief and integrity. Funny how they are linked with this twerp.

  3. Steve T says:

    To some things I’ve posted previously on your website, this is becoming the standard-issue playbook when those on the left are attacked.

    You are a racist for saying this…
    You are alt-right for questioning this…
    Your views are invalid due to “white privilege”…
    Take your medicine like a good little colonizer, and shut up.
    Etc…

    The left knows these tactics, while not always successful long-term, are sufficiently successful short-term to change the channel. So they keep doing it.

    And, as I have written before, this is why dangerous politicians like Trump get support. Good honest people are tired of having their concerns thrown in the dumpster with false allegations of racism.

  4. Shawn says:

    Liberals aren’t worried. Their paid media and the gang bangers in Toronto will put blackface back in power pronto. If the caliber of the Canadian citizen was as good as it ounce was previous, this idiot wouldn’t have been elected a back bencher in the house let alone dog catcher and they know it. The Sun just needed a column to fill some space and so they insert this dribble.

  5. Douglas W says:

    Adam Vaughan had a famous father.

    Just like his boss.

  6. Chris Scott says:

    It’s the lack of urgency that I see from the PM and cabinet members over the vaccines that has me so upset. They keeping repeating the same line “Canada is still on track to meet it’s target of giving every Canadian who wants one a vaccine by the end of September “. But wait, what makes them think that Canadians are satisfied with a September date? Which Canadians gave them the impression that September was acceptable? What person will remain content in lockdown until September.
    I guess they’ve totally under appreciated the suffering that millions of people are living through if they think September is good.

    I know one thing for sure:
    Most Canadians have been too distracted by watching the extraordinary events down south to notice they’re being left in the cold by their own government. But, after Wednesday there’ll be a new sheriff in town. Once Canadians start comparing the Canadian response to a “competent “ USA response they may not be as forgiving about September as they seem to be now.
    Cheers,
    Chris Scott

  7. Nick M. says:

    Good he retracted, no one, particularly an MP should be allowed to falsely accuse someone as an Alt-Right character over simple philosophical differences.

    You know the Feds failed at getting vaccines, he thinks otherwise.

    I had a bump in with him in the Annex when knocking on doors for an NDP endorsed candidate for city council. Definitely not a pleasant memory.

  8. Ronald O'Dowd says:

    How can I put this? I note that Vaughan, repeatedly, isn’t part of The Ministry. Geez, I wonder why? Over to you, Prime Minister.

  9. Ronald O'Dowd says:

    Like I said several times before: the upcoming vote is O’Toole’s to lose. And best of all, Erin ain’t no Harper.

    • Douglas W says:

      With 78 seats in play in Quebec, O’Toole needs to form a strategic alliance with the CAQ.

      Ronald, will that happen?
      Can it happen?

      • Ronald O'Dowd says:

        Douglas,

        I can only speak for my neck of the woods. Around here, there is an informal alliance based on joint memberships. That means that on a one-to-one level, you see a large crossover as people help out the CPC federally and the CAQ as well. But bear in mind that other parts of Quebec City are strong Liberal seats, at least for now. Think of Duclos or Lightbound.

        But officially, no Premier in living memory has formally endorsed a federal party since Duplessis and that’s one hell of a long time ago.

        As for yours truly, I usually vote Liberal in provincial elections but not last time. My vote went to the NDP.

    • david says:

      Horseshit.

      How do you know he ain’t Harper. There is no difference. Who do you think is still pulling the strings.

      Yeah, go ahead and elect cons
      then accept your fate
      as they rip off your mask
      and cough in your face
      Harper style.

      no thanks. been there done that.

  10. Derek Pearce says:

    Well I see Sloan is FINALLY booted out of the Conservative Party. O’Toole was wise to bite the bullet and do this.

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      Derek,

      I prefer censure as it’s far more tactical given his level of support in the party. But either way, it’s moot given that O’Toole is seemingly on the record as not willing to sign his nomination papers. God, how many times did Harper pull that one? More than a few times. Won’t mention names however.

    • Steve Teller says:

      I don’t like Sloan either, but don’t you think this particular “issue” is a bit overblown? Any given politician receives donations from thousands of people. They are supposed to name-check every single one of them, against some mystery master-list of “bad people”?
      If I were O’Toole, I would have waited for Sloan to make a bigger mistake – it’s bound to happen, especially with the party’s national convention coming in March.

  11. Martin says:

    I watched Vaughan during the WE hearings. If there is anyone more disagreeable and angry on the liberal benches, I don’t know who that would be.

  12. Robert White says:

    Every time I read these retractions I, for one, wish I took law instead of Experimental Psychology.

    Best chuckle I’ve had in over a month. Thanks for that, Warren.

    P.S. One last day with Orange Menace bad person/politician and we are free at last!
    I’m going to keep my boot on Trump’s neck for a few more months just in case he turns into a Zombie. And my other boot will remain on Republican necks for another four years at minimum.

    RW

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      Robert,

      In short, bless you! Those fuckers deserve to be in opposition — at every level — for at least eight more years, if not more.

  13. Dork in East York says:

    Vaughn is a well known muckraker who doesn’t play well with others. That style of politics worked fine when he was a city councillor, but not in party politics. It’s no coincidence that despite being a “star” candidate in the 2014 by-election, he has never been in Trudea’s cabinet.

  14. A. Voter says:

    There is a GlaxoSmithKline facility in Quebec City that makes vaccines. They make our annual flu vaccines and provided millions of Canadians with H1N1 vaccines. Former GSK CEO Paul Lucas has a column about this in the Financial Post. Why aren’t they making vaccines for COVID? Why did the Trudeau Liberals shun our allies and our plant to turn to China? Why are the Liberals lying to Canadians about our ability to make vaccines, saying PM Harper shut down vaccine capability in Canada?

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      AV,

      Cause Madam Liberal and her so-called boss think people are even more stupid and gullible than that office is. They got rolled on COVID-19 vaccines and people are paying for it with their lives on a continual basis. Sink them in the next election. That’s the very least they deserve.

    • He wants a more corporate friendly patent regime in exchange for more vaccine.

    • Derek Pearce says:

      So essentially it boils down to having cheaper evey day drugs for diabetics or heart disease seniors and thus less access to new stuff in an emergency like Covid, vs paying higher patent-prtotected prices every day and having easier access to new emergency stuff in a pandemic. Hard call but I’d say stick with the pricing regime we have…

      • There is the option of nationalizing the pharmaceutical industry and you get the best of both worlds.

        • Ronald O'Dowd says:

          Darwin,

          That’ll never fly. But the NDP could go with its national pharmacare on an opt-in basis. Going forward, all social programs should be means-tested and targeted to cover up to the lower upper class. Otherwise, it’s fiscal insanity.

          After all, health care delivery is primarily in provincial jurisdiction. In Quebec, we’ll keep our plan but the rest of the country needs to catch up. A choice between food on the table and medication is never acceptable in a so-called enlightened society.

          • Doesn’t “up to the lower upper class” cover 80% of the population. At that point means testing isn’t worth the effort. You can just increase taxes on the rich to cover thier share.

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