Nigel Wright, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, opened up his swank downtown Toronto home to the Ontario Tories last month, playing host at a $250-a-ticket wine and cheese fundraiser for Mike Yen, the PC candidate in Trinity-Spadina.
This summer, Mr. Wright warned federal Tories not to become the story in provincial elections. Now he’s done just that.
Real people don’t watch debates the way journalists or hacks do. They’re not looking for a “defining moment” or a “knockout punch” – or who got off the best nasty quip or insult. They dislike politics because of that kind of stuff. They think there’s too much of it already.
To Joe and Jane Frontporch, a debate is a televised job interview. In something like last night’s Ontario leaders’ debate, they wanted to see who looked and sounded most like a Premier.
Hudak and Horwath were applying for the jobs they already had – opposition leaders. That left my guy to look and sound like a Premier. That’s why the only post-debate poll said we won.
More here about what a debate is, and isn’t.
“You heard it here first: a Liberal Majority on October 6, 2011. Hudak, you blew a 10% lead and your party will need a new leader.” –Tarek Fatah, Newstalk 1010
“McGuinty defended himself solidly under fire.” – Barry McLoughlin, communications advisor to Conservative ministers
“Experience matters and experience showed tonight. The Premier spoke at a completely different level… I’m not sure Mr. Hudak once mentioned the world beyond Ontario’s borders… The Premier’s experience was on great display.” – Jim Coyle, Toronto Star
“[I] declare McGuinty the debate winner.” – Ken Gray, Ottawa Citizen
“McGuinty held his own.” – Jeff Ferrier, NDP advisor
“None of [Horwath’s] plans make a lick of sense.” – Kelly McParland, National Post
“McGuinty largely held his ground against attacks from Horwath and Hudak.” – CBC News
“McGuinty was really strong when defending the HST.” – Steve Ladurantaye, Globe and Mail
“If experience matters, experience showed tonight, and the Premier spoke at a different level than [the others]….He’s one of the elder statesmen of the Canadian federation now.” – Jim Coyle, Toronto Star
“I was kind of disappointed in Horwath. I had high hopes, but she was kind of disappointing overall.” – Matt Gurney, National Post
“The big advantage Dalton McGuinty had was the big picture. He brought up the global economy more times than we could count, brought up Ontario’s relationship with Ottawa, the health accord, the global economy…” – Huffington Post
“Dalton McGuinty has come a long way since his first debate [in 1999]” – Allan Bonner, media trainer
“Hudak [is] coming across as slick and processed.” – Kady O’Malley, CBC News
“[I] don’t think this debate wins Hudak any more voters.” – David Akin, Sun News
“[There was a] strong attack by McGuinty on Hudak’s “foreign” comments.” – Globe and Mail editorial board
“Hudak wouldn’t say what he’ll cut to save two cents on a dollar outside health and education ministries.” – Paul Bliss, CTV News
“Horwarth and Hudak’s [false] smiles at each other make me uncomfortable.” – Steve Ladurantaye, Globe
“Hudak’s impressive-sounding list of possible cuts yields few actual dollars” – Karim Bardeesy, Globe and Mail
“Horwath, stop interrupting.” – Tabatha Southey, Globe and Mail
“Hudak is repeating himself.” – Mike Crawley, CBC News
“Problem for Horwath and Hudak: Not clear that one or the other is delivering McGuinty knockout.” – David Akin, Sun News
“Hudak would do himself a favour by mentioning more ideas of his own.” – Adam Radwanski, Globe and Mail
“Hudak was awfully quiet in the legislature when his federal party was giving Ontario billions to help bring in HST.” – Paul Bliss, CTV News
“Dalton_McGuinty says he’s with Bill Davis…throws PC icon at Hudak. Ouch.” – Rob Benzie, Toronto Star
“Hudak has still not said how he’s paying for it.” – David Akin, Sun News
“[One] question was about lack of bold ideas in [the election]. McGuinty talked about stuff he’s already done. Hudak talked about McGuinty.” – Adam Radwanski, Globe and Mail
So, we heard yesterday that radio shock jock Lowell Green, the Ground Zero of Conservative Causes, had gone ape on Tim Hudak. His words inspired a video, below.
Well, we were listening to that video, and it sounded to us like there was a natural cadence – a rhythm if you will – to Green’s words. So one of our super-smart young guys here at Ontario Liberal HQ turned into a remix.
Here’s the video version – and here’s where you can get an MP3 to upload to Facebook and Twitter!