Where does the buck stop?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 9:20AM Two recent polls have showed the Liberals closing the gap between themselves and the Conservatives. Polls are always interesting of course but become more important if over time they show a distinct trend emerging. So far we haven’t seen that. Now if the polls in September are still showing the same numbers or worse ones for the Tories, then they have real problems.
Conservatives can take some heart in knowing that these numbers are the result of self-inflicted wounds and not due to anything the Liberals have put together. From the fake lake to the G8/G20 costs, to the census issue the Conservative communication strategy has been weak and lacking substance.
PMO controls all communications across the government. They dictate which ministers will be going out to speak on issues, when they go out and for the most part what they are going to say. PMO also approves all of the ministerial communication plans.
Remember those MEPs? Perhaps PMO Communications should be paying more attention to them too. This summer PMO failed to anticipate and plan for the backlash on G8/G20 expenses. Their answers on the fake lake were inadequate and on the census issue they have been playing catch-up from day one.
With the Prime Minister back in the public eye after a well earned rest, expect PMO communications to improve. In the meantime, they have lost some ground that with hard work they should be able to regain against a weak opposition. The Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff has to shoulder some of the blame as he is ultimately responsible for what PMO does and what it produces. Does the buck stop on his desk or will it stop somewhere down the line with someone more junior. It will be interesting to watch and see.
Reader Comments (11)
So the media search thru the thousands of government initiatives and items of spending,
come up with a fake lake, then Greg Weston misrepresents the cost as over $1 million, when the truth is less than $60 k.
The government reports the G8/20 costs, as all inclusive, the media go ballistic, even tho the AG and PBO find nothing unusual about the true costs, which other countries never disclose.
I don't know how a government is expected to have predetermined 'talking points' about the 10s of thousands of issues that the Libluvin media can drag to surface, and then misrepresent.
The Chretien/Martin governments did not have to deal with a msm driven by contempt.
Case in point, Adscam was ignored by the msm for years.
Wilson:
You have a very short term memory.
The media loathed Chretien and drove him out of office as much as Martin. It was the media, not the opposition or the AG, who uncovered Adscam and Shawinigate etc. Some Libluvin' press!
And they turned just as quickly on Martin.
And they've never gelled with Ignatieff - just look at the coverage he has gotten over the last year and a half.
They love to build up a politician - as they did with Harper (the fawning last December for example was putrifying) - and then tear him down.
The post is about where the buck stops. Yet so many conservatives whine and complain and blame others for all their problems. This post is refreshing in taking responsibility instead of avoiding it.
We hear the PMO has hired more communication "experts". Well they need it. As a Conservative I am sick to death of a communication strategy that emphasizes Silence. Making an announcement and then running and hiding is not a effective way to communicate. So what happens. The left leaning media and the opposition parties ban together and the story is written. Meanwhile when the government does respond the explanations look facile. We need an aggressive communication strategy to effectively convince the population that the decisions being taken are based on some reality and are in the best interest of the country. We keep saying the opposition is weak. Well if it is so weak the Conservatives should be sitting in the mid 40's. They are not and at this point an election could turn into a crap shoot.
Unfocused communication is not the root problem with Harper's administration. The main problem is Harper himself. His muzzling of ministers, diplomats, public servants and MPs is so extreme it worries voters. His pathological distrust of, and war with the media makes worries voters. His obsession with secrecy, stonewalling access to information, tying up committees, dropping policy bombs with no consultation, worries voters. His aloof, bullying persona, juxtaposed with the sweater-vest version during campaigns, worries voters.
I'm kind of amazed that there isn't a vocal movement within the conservative community to replace Harper with a leader who could espouse conservative principles without coming off as an ideologue dictator. Given the weak and split opposition, the only thing holding back the Conservative Party is Harper himself.
Rob:
I'm not all that surprised there is no internal opposition. They all owe their political careers to Harper and bow to him just like the media does, Oliver Twist style... please sir may I have some more?
And they know the consequences of crossing him in the slightest way. Look at Garth Turner or Stronach, frozen out entirely for speaking independently and then kicked out or forced out. Look at what they did to Bill Casey and trying to get the RCMP to charge him with fraud and embezzlement. Look at what they did to Guergis. Or any other MP who acts like an MP and not a puppet.
Besides, look at what happens (like "sexy cancer", prorogation, G20, census) when Harper disappears and lets them speak for themselves. Far better for Conservatives to have them all STFU and let him do all the talking.
We had this trend repeat with constant barrage by the media and their latest outrage regarding "x" issue.
I agree the PMO should be more visible, do we know what the strategy is regarding Helena, Census?
Have they shifted their attention to ethnic media instead of the large National media?
Did the PPG cry foul over the snub at the latest press conference? CTV and SunTV get the English questions last week?
Are the CPC spending their resources wisely in reaching out to the community?
The Ottawa-Toronto-Montreal media driven gotcha journalism can't fix the Liberal Party. In 2000 Liberals won 50% popular vote in Ontario. 2008 they hit 33% in Ontario.
Carver nailed it, the economy stupid.
Harper came to power in 2006 and the economy had two years of growth, in late 2008 the wheels fell of the bus and a large loss of jobs were shed.
Most people think politicians are all the same (self-serving) and are held to account for policies and the economy they enact.
According to the statistics most of those jobs have been recovered.
The Real Shift:
The Federal Liberals pushed out the social conservatives, rural voters and lost their big tent party status.
The Democrats, Conservatives, Green, Separatists benefited at the ballot box. The fundraising numbers, membership and financial statements reflect the real shift.
Staff losses, star candidates continue to leave the Liberal Party. (They must feel the REAL SHIFT has already taken place).
In 2010-2011 Canadians will have a clear choice a coalition vs Conservatives. The CPC polled 46% in December 2008 in that poll.
The only time the media hate the liberals is when they get so bad that association with the media is costly for them too. Usually it is a love-in between the media and anything left of center.
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