One Final Word

Before the whole debate shambles sends me to an early grave through boredom let me just say a few words about the role of the media. On CBC's website today they say that May was originally not allowed to appear in the debates because 3 other parties opposed this. Are they saying that if the Liberals, Bloc Quebecois and the NDP opposed Stephen Harper appearing that they would go along with that too? No, I didn't think so. The media have a huge influence on any election and it is incumbent on them to be honest and to be challenging. So far the coverage has been neither. We are subjected to an array of press conferences with very little challenge to what is being said.

The networks are not just there to relay the news they are also there to speak for their viewers, to ask questions and to challenge.

The Green Party And Political Savvy

Watching CBC news last night there was a piece on the decision to not allow Elizabeth May to speak at the debates. In one clip she was shown shouting across the street to a supporter ;

"It's actually doing me a favour because it's getting me sympathy!"

Some advice- if you are gaining sympathy for a supposed wrong then you don't go shouting about how good that is, especially not in the street, and especially not with cameras on you. When the cameras are on you then you retain your sense of outrage.

The Green Party needs to show not just how earnest it is but also that it can be competent. So far, not so good.

Fair and Balanced?

The major networks have announced that the Green Party will not be permitted to participate in the nationally televised debates. It's difficult to see this as anything other than the bigger parties banding togeher to squeeze out a potential rival.