— Feature, Musings —04.17.2025 08:27 PM
Campaign notebook latest: how to win without losing
Mark Carney gave an uneasy smile.
Fifteen minutes in, it was a pile-on, and Carney was at the bottom of it.
The Liberal Prime Minister looked a bit tired, and he displayed a bit of exasperation. It mattered, too: the experts say that most viewers watch only the first 20 minutes or so of a political debate, and then they change the channel to White Lotus.
But Carney was responding to attacks in English, and the first segment was about the economy, too: at that point, the Grit boss was figuratively swaddled in a warm blanket, in his total comfort zone. As a former central bank governor, it was a world Carney knew the best. It showed.
In that first segment, Carney fired off some quotable quotes: “We have to have control of our economic destiny.” And: “We can give ourselves more than Donald Trump can ever take away.”
You could almost picture those words slapped onto a Liberal campaign ad – and, actually, you have: Carney has uttered variations on those themes over and over in this election contest. So, too, his favourite defensive line when under siege: “My record is a month long as Prime Minister.” He says that a lot. And: “Catalytic.” He invokes Trump’s name a ton, too. And: “Three points.” He loves his three points.
It’s easy to forget that Carney has been in the big leagues of politics for only a few months. Whether you like him or not, he jumped into the deep end of the pool, and he didn’t drown. Carney’s hidden superpower, we’ve learned, is to be boring and pedantic, and to somehow exceed expectations.
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Blanchet to Carney: why exactly are you the best equipped to manage the Trump crisis?
Carney: no response to the beach-ball question.
Why!!!
This was really good. Anyone who doesn’t think that was from the heart was likely someone who bought Justin’s performances the last 10 years.
https://x.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1913037302487474501
I didn’t see much that changed my opinion (none of the above). I though Mr Carney looked fairly relaxed, and actually cracked a smile or two. I couldn’t believe Mr Blanchet claimed Mr Carney was being “disrespectful” (please get over yourself Yves). Mr Carney saying he shouldn’t be held responsible because he’s only been there a month was disingenuous (and he was called out on it). Yes, the deck chairs on the Titanic have been shuffled, and there is a new Captain at the helm, but it is still the Titanic and we’re still heading towards an iceberg. I thought Mr Poilievre was okay, but I don’t think he changed any minds. Mr Singh was yappy and buffoonish, and when his Party is wiped out, they will only have themselves to blame for electing a dilettante. IMHO.the election is still Mr Carney’s to lose.
The White Lotus aired Sundays and its finale was two weeks ago.
Carney won. I’m pretty sure he’s gonna win the election – the outcome is better than expected – he’s not a bad debater at all because he’s intelligent, and that’s what Canadians want
A decent night for Carney, but frankly I expected him to do much better.
Poilièvre was strong.
Blanchet was impressive.
Singh was … well … if you can’t say something nice about someone …
I’m biased I guess, I don’t like Poilievre, but he doesn’t look prime ministerial to me. Not even a bit.
Fixed it for you:
“I’m biased I guess, I don’t like Poilievre”
We know.
Yup, you’re biased
Really?
Carney struck me as a man who is ‘entitled to his entitlements’.
Warren,
It’s ironic that you’re more unbiased than anyone else posting comments here. You should be drinking champagne while the rest of us are still chugging our Kool-AidTM. LOL.
I want to believe that if Carney was elected PM in 2015, this country would not be in the mess that it is, today.
That said, another four years of Liberal rule with essentially the same corrupt, incompetent dopes is too much for me.
I can only hope that the Conservatives can make it close, on the 28th.
But I doubt it.
Likely worse. He is smarter than Justin and would have doubled down on the carbon tax, etc.
This is literally what Pierre has been saying:
“Consider two millennials, “Inheriting Isabel” and “Nonbeneficiary Nancy”, who both live in London and earn more than 90% of people in the city (£100,000, or $126,000, a year). Given their pay, they both might expect to buy a 90th-percentile home in the capital. But that house costs on the order of £1.2m. Fortunately for Isabel, her parents have given her such a home. Nancy has no such luck. Although she works hard and puts away half her post-tax salary, she may never be able to pay off the mortgage on a house that pricey.”
https://archive.ph/KjJoJ#selection-1367.216-1367.744
That will continue and accelerate under Carney. He helped create the situation-THREE TIMES! That is why he has the support of the boomers. He will keep the grift going.
And now the NDP is going to vote with the coupon clipping wealth class. It is beyond belief.
I have not seen anyone argue with me yet when I bring this up. Anyone? The best they can come up with is that they acknowledge it but say Pierre won’t make it any better(or say he will make it worse-which is nonsense, of course). They ignore the fact that he is the only one who is talking about it.
Quite frankly, if Millennials refuse to vote in their generation’s interests, why should Boomers care? Millennials have the numbers to at least keep Carney to a minority. If they aren’t willing to fight for themselves why should other age groups do so on their behalf?
Now Boomers, there’s a generation that ALWAYS votes for more goodies for themselves, without fail. Rightly or wrongly they have wisely used the political system to enrich themselves, paid for by younger people. Millennials and Gen-Z simply aren’t as shrewd.
One of the problems are that the cotton tops and boomers are in full TDS. When Adolph Trumpler is mentioned their eyes tear up as if the Nazis themselves are coming across the channel.. I live in Winnipeg and encounter them on a daily basis and the one thing (at least in this area) is they are absolutely obsessed with trump and when you mention carney or he comes up in conversation their eyes glazed over and its as if Churchill himself is giving his most famous of speeches. For the moment the masses oldsters and for some reason NDP’ers are locked on and nothing that anyone can do will break the spell. Sad thing is when we reach the point that we hit under Trudeau, Carney will step down and the whole thing will reset….pending on who remains. IMHO. Sorry was watching the movie Dunkirk.
More pejorative generalizing about boomers. I sure see that a lot on online comment boards.
I’m sorry but generally speaking we deserve it. And look at the polls, how is that characterization wrong?
Well your generation pretty much brought it themselves.
Pedant,
You see Pedant, our job in this party is to consolidate the base and expand the tent in order to win. When a leader goes out of his way to telegraph to potential voters and supporters that he is a first-class asshole as represented by a particular class of television ads, well, surprise, surprise, when those ads lead to massive substraction in support instead of addition. Poilièvre needed at least two-thirds of Millennials and Gen-Z to win and he blew us out of the water with two rounds of those garbage ads. Sure, we will hold 40% of males in those categories but will lose 80% of females. Maybe, just maybe, Pierre needs to go back to school for a refresher in basic arithmetic and winning political calculus…he can sit right next to Byrne.
The Conservatives are at 37-40% overall which means they are WAY above that among under-40 men. Probably close to 50% if not slightly over. Women under-40 more like 35%.
I don’t think Poilievre’s ads had anything to do with that.
Pedant,
That’s because you can’t contemplate anything outside the CPC intellectual construct. You’re the deer and those dreadfile ads are the headlights coming straight at you.
Tell me about the makeup of those longs lines and if they’re consistent across the country. Better be an avalanche of supporters under 40 for your view to be even remotely credible. We shall see soon enough which one of us is right. Excuse the pun.
I don’t know what you’re even talking about Ronald. Virtually every poll has the CPC at 37-40%. Since they are not doing well with older voters (<30% with women 55+ by some polls) that would mean they are overperforming among the young.
I don’t expect the Conservatives to win this. Too much hysteria amongst the Boomers and too much apathy amongst the young.
I don’t know what ads you’re referring to. I don’t consume much traditional media and usually ignore online ads. I also haven’t been on Twitter in weeks.
Pedant,
I will try again: the only way we win this thing is with consistent, good visuals, from our perspective, that destroy Carney. Visuals of Carney being rude, arrogant, entitled, patrician, presumptuous and all of the other assorted negative traits that this guy possesses. No other type of CPC ads will put a significant dent in LPC support. This guy suffers from a divine right of kings mentality. Any sentient Conservative can see that. So pull out the video and film and bombard the Liberals with it right up until election evening. Let Carney, by his own actions, soften and reduce his support. It’s all already in the public record…why aren’t we using that exclusively in our ads? And once again for the record: no distorted facial features and no from the depths of hell red banners in those ads.
Warren,
I missed all but the last fifteen minutes but really liked when Pierre got emotional. He never came off as more genuine than in that moment. Hope he keeps that up for the rest of the campaign. Our version of Straight From The Heart.
Will get back to you on the debate.
Warren,
Liaison: Liberals +5;
Mainstreet: Liberals +1;
Nanos: Liberals +8.
Warren,
When the CPC was leading by 25-30 points, one wondered where that support was coming from. Certainly not from NDP supporters. So that can only mean that anti-Trudeau Liberals were supporting the CPC. Now that he’s gone, Liberal support has solidified and NDP voters voting strategically has added icing to the cake. So, in the end, turnout will call the tune. We will get out all of our vote but will it be enough to win? Maybe but only if LPC and NDP support at the polls in favour of the Liberals is somewhat neutralized.
Initial turn out in the more liberal/NDP area of Osborne Village in Winnipeg is high. 1 hour wait in most areas.
90 minutes this morning in Brant.
What is going on with Mainstreet Research? Just saw this on Canada 338. They have a decent rating on this site.
Libs 41
Cons 41
NDP 6
Green 2
Block 6
PPC Who cares.
Anti-Trudeau Blue Liberals, Martin-John Manley Liberals etc. were supporting the CPC. I saw this among my social and professional circles. And a lot of them have come back to the Liberals. Carney gave them a permission structure to support the Liberals and most of them have embraced that.
Doc,
Precisely. So, in the end, our 30-point consistent lead was nothing more than meringue. Somebody better get Pierre to clue in to that and fast.
They are “embracing” a “permission structure”. Hilarious.
That literally looks like something that should be submitted to https://www.lssu.edu/resources/about-lssu/traditions/banishedwords/ for consideration.
They are ridiculous, self-serving grifting boomers giving the finger to their kids and grandkids:
https://x.com/CarymaRules/status/1913414583051604089
At least I am self aware to know(and have the receipts) that if we are stupid enough to vote for Carney it will (continue to) be very good for my net worth(and my clients) and I know whose expense it will be at. Viva la wealth shift! I don’t know why they don’t just admit greed is good a la Gordon Gecko(no doubt their hero and role model as they were rising through the ranks). They should just embrace THAT.
Did you miss the past 2 years when Poilievre was the only leader consistently talking about the generational unfairness of a housing crisis with no end, deliberately caused by Liberal policies and exacerbated by the Bank of Canada?
Maybe you meant to say “stuff that ordinary people *over 50* really care about”? But then he’s been talking plenty about crime. Are older Canadians so insulated from everything that even rising crime doesn’t register with them?
You really really want to make this a generational thing, that’s pretty clear. Look I’m just describing what I’m seeing among people I know. I’m not making any value judgment on it. I’m Conservative sympathetic but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to criticize the Conservatives when I think criticism is due. I have no time for blind partisanship.
Warren,
Well, thanks, Pierre, for finishing us off with another round of those stupid and dreadful red ads. How can you be that much of an idiot?
Get rid of him Ronald
Curious,
I tried to get rid of Harper along with Jamieson because we actually cared about the party then. This guy goes out of his way to cut his own throat and ours collectively. So, to hell with it. All I will live for now going forward in CPC circles, is to make sure that the not so hidden traitor doesn’t become our next leader. Yes indeed, sometimes the truth does hurt.
A contrarian indicator has entered the chat. Thanks for that.
In other news, Carney is in the house shortly in a cute little location.
https://www.brantbeacon.ca/inside-brantfords-newest-brewery-sassy-britches/
They tried to get another location but wanted it for free.
Warren,
From: The National Post
“Liberal candidate invited head of suspected secret Chinese police station to campaign event”
“MONTREAL — A Montreal-area Liberal candidate invited to a campaign event this week the head of two organizations suspected by the RCMP of operating a secret Chinese police station.
The invitation by Alexandra Mendès, the Liberal incumbent running for re-election in Brossard—Saint-Lambert, sowed consternation within the Liberal party, which has faced scrutiny over multiple candidates’ comments about or apparent links to the Chinese government.”
Boy, Carney and those Liberals. They sure love the Chinese Commies…
Mr. Blanchet said everyone has disclosed his assets except Mr. Carney. I thought it was an important moment of the debate.
Gilbert,
It’s not important because the so-called progressive left are eagerly giving Carney a pass. You know, THAT’s OK because it’s Carney who’s doing it.
And when Canadians finally find out even the massaged nature of Carney’s true financial worth, they will quickly come to regret their choice. But it will be too late. What can I say.
I was thinking yesterday how one thing Carney will do over the next 4 years will be to reinvigorate the NDP once they realize who was REALLY in the pocket of the rich.
Martin,
Agreed, provided that Singh loses his seat. Jagmeet is the worst political leader ever to grace the modern era. Singh is the reason why the Liberals are so grateful for political brothels. It’s thanks to Singh and him only that the Carney Liberals will get to wipe the floor with the doofus Jagmeet. Too fucking funny! I feel sorry for Jack. I hope he can’t see what this fool has done to his party.
Look I don’t support the Liberals, but I don’t think the average Canadian really cares all that much about Carney’s net worth.
For their own sake, I wish that hardcore CPC supporters would stop focusing on this and focus on stuff that ordinary people really care about.
Doc,
With respect, Pierre has almost exclusively focused on that since before Day One of this campaign, and we’re still losing, so it’s not working. Just Visiting worked. The OLO hasn’t had a similar strategy to that not once in this campaign, and it shows.
They sure would if they knew the details. That is the point.
At least he’ll have the champagne corks popping in Davos. His good buddies will be elated and eager to pig out, at our expense.
Just heard that the Liberals are going to spend upwards of 10 million in advertising during the last week of the campaign. Seems like a lot for a party with a lock. And in other news, Carney was in the house yesterday as was Caryma Sa’d. She got some pretty funny stuff. Here is this guy literally giving the finger to his kids and grand kids. I am so proud!
https://x.com/CarymaRules/status/1913414583051604089
Reasonably funny. X temporarily blocked me for sharing that post a couple of times.
So it hit me yesterday that keeping a baby boomer’s income below 90k artificially(which is doable), will not only preserve 100% of their OAS but allow them to get free dental. What a country!
Martin,
Absolutely. I will be signing up next May, and we all know that I’m far from being financially stretched. I don’t want to leave all the spoils ONLY for Carney’s billionaires and millionaires, both at home and abroad. God bless socialism. Vive le Canada!
Might as well get in on the action.
And they will still tell us that they’re on a “fixed income” which, while technically true (for the vast majority of retirees), evokes a coupon-clipping old lady in a tiny and bare apartment 50 years ago. Today, the “fixed income” seniors that use that language, trying to dupe everyone into thinking they are poor, usually live in paid-off homes purchased for a $1.50 that are now worth millions through no effort of their own.
Every single social program should have both net worth tests and income tests that look through their indirect income that is earned through trusts, estates and corporations.
I was watching Carney stump in Whtiby. He’s doing a great job!!! He’s really what Canadians are looking for – progressive inclusive values, standing behind our programs and transfers while at the same time offering impeccable visionary stewardship of the economy. When he talks about the economy it’s refreshing to hear from a pragmatist with real Canadian Values!!! He’s extremely bright, but with an easy manner and he speaks with purpose and clarity. Doing a great job!!!
Curious,
There you go again. (I almost spit out my Clearly Canadian. I like Peach the best, but I digress.)
“[I]mpeccable visionary stewardship of the economy.” Come on. He’s ballooning the deficit and has no plan on returning to balance. A circus monkey could come up with a better plan than this so-called economist.
I love that he’s so strong on the economy and still has progressive values of inclusivity
Multiple exclamation points really does confirm you are a groupie. As he said today, he is going to blow the budget to smithereens but he calls the spending “investments”. Where have we heard that before. This is just going to accelerate the wealth transfer and I would like to thank you for your service!!!!!!! See what I mean.
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/mark-carney-liberals-platform-spending
1. if he is such a “genius”, why can’t he tell us when all this spending will result in a balanced budget.
2. remember when Freeland quit over deficits that were much smaller than this. That was so cute!!!!!!!!!!!
3. anyone under 40 who votes for this deserves their fate
Warren,
What do you think of the Harper ad? I like the compare and contrast that Harper evokes as their former boss. I find that to be adroit but will it be enough to turn the tide?
Haven’t seen it
Poilievre had a strong closing statement – much better than Carney’s. Otherwise he failed to land any real punches.
Carney scored a ‘victory’ by not losing.
I thought Blanchet was terrible. His polling must show the bottom truly falling out for the Bloc and it’s rattled him.
Singh was incoherent and the constant interruptions wore thin. He’s surely going to lose his seat and the absolute ceiling for the NDP this election is barely maintaining party status.
Ultimately, don’t see the debate changing any minds, especially when probably close to half the votes will be locked in by the end of this weekend.
Even Abacus, which has consistently had the best topline numbers for the CPC, shows bad underlying fundamentals for them. Poilievre has high negatives and trails Carney on best PM. CPC trails on the most likely ballot question – Trump – and is running even with the LPC on affordability (which is pretty extraordinary). Liberals have opened clear leads among those most likely to vote (i.e. older voters) – no wonder the CPC is carpet-bombing ads targeted at seniors and wheeling out Harper. The gender gap is a gender chasm.
The only positives for the CPC is that their support is rock-solid and motivated to vote. But even if they win the GOTV game, hard to see how they pull out a victory with their inefficient vote.
I do think they will have a strong enough showing that Poilievre will be able to stick around if he wants.
Gord,
Frankly, you’re a better political strategist than Pierre. Maybe if Pierre had had you in his inner circle, we wouldn’t still be making highly consequential mistakes so late in this campaign, nor would we still be losing.
Pierre better not leave, even if we lose, because a civil war is coming politically in this party if he does. Each side will consider the other a blood enemy, and both will go in for the kill from the get-go. I’ve already picked my side, especially if the leader leaves voluntarily.
If the Liberals win, I hope it will be a minority.
The latest Mainstreet poll has him at a higher vote percentage than Mulroney got in 1988.
Warren,
Ha, ha, ha, Pierre is going to bring back plastic straws. Come on, Carney, have a good laugh. But I don’t know about you, reader, but I’d rather bring back plastic straws and an across-the-board worker tax cut than deliberate tax dodges only for Carney’s rich friends: his billionaire and millionaire gang. Carney’s joke is on the rest of you. Hope you’re still laughing.
Warren,
It boggles the mind: where are the CPC ads under the title Is This How You Treat A Canadian? The ones showing the arrogant, entitled, patrician up to his usual handiwork: bullying and disrespecting reporters and laughing at another leader for an inconsequential part of our overall platform, which is already 95% public. That’s the real Carney on display with no need for visual distortions or ridiculous red banners. Do I have to write the fucking ads myself? Jesus Christ…
And if you know two-shits about good oppo research, you’ve already gone through all the tapes of his press conferences and other public events both in Canada and the UK for golden gems that will help take this guy down but quick. IF.
Warren,
Liaison: Liberals +5;
Mainstreet: Conservatives +4;
Nanos: Liberals +6.