Hidden agendas are the salvation for boring Canadian elections
Cats: Canada, Uncategorized, politics, slack woman|The USA has Sarah Palin. They also have Obama. Rock and roll candidates, in other words.
Canada on the other hand (yes there is a federal election here too!) has the Canadian charisma triplets – Curly Harper, Larry Dion and Moe Layton.
Canadian elections are boring. Canadian politicians lack charisma. Their groomers file off all the rough bits to create beige, cold-porridge, not-a-hair-out-of-place cardboard-cutout characters.
Ho-hum. Yawn.
But we do have one saving grace in Canada: the hidden agenda. The hidden agenda gives voters something to get worked up about, something to talk about.
Our politicians tell us one thing, but we know that if they get elected, they have something else in mind. Our prime minister has the most to hide. That’s why he puts muzzles on his team. The last thing he wants is for the electorate to know what he’s got up his sleeve.
He’s already promised American-style fix-election dates. And then when that was not convenient for him, he changed his mind and changed his election dates.
All voters can do is speculate and gossip about what they have up their sleeves. It’s an act – a Canadian act – of democratic activism.
Praise the hidden agenda: is the only oxygen left in the Canadian election.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Good Lord! You have all those trees and this is the only oxygen you get?
Locally we have a Dr. Peter Ferguson who is running for commissioner and all I can think of is, “You must be a pretty bad doctor if you are getting into politics. You would make much better money.” Boring.
Doc
September 19th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Your current election season makes one long for the heady days when Brian Mulrooney was running things.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I had a moment of terror at the concert last night, when the front man came onstage wearing a white shirt and tie and leather vest and a new haircut and for a brief horrible moment, I thought it was Harper. But Harper could never shred like that.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I’d rather have our election then the fanfare that is the US election. But we would still hear about it regardless, thanks 24 hour news.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
How do we end up with the Three Stooges out of ~33 million people?!
I have a theory:
The majority of people who get high up in politics are not there because of their ability to manage a country, but because they are financially independent shmoozing tea party goers.
These are the nerds that were our student union. These are the nerds that attend political rallies as a way of experiencing purpose and acceptance.
Their goal is to become important at any cost.
They probably watch soap operas. They are city folk with manicures.
The End.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I thought the day of the puffin was rather a lot of fun. I also have been looking forward to the daily miscues of the Conservatives especially when one of the muzzled breaks free for a shining brief moment foot in mouth disease.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Is Larry Dion related to Celine? Is he zee greatest politician in zee world?
September 21st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Doc, couldn’t agree more about the docs in politics. You aren’t running are you?
Dr. Monkey, me too, although we do have his son Ben Mulroney
doing Canada’s copy cat American Idol
Barbara, what a terrible thing to have happen at an otherwise pleasant event
Dick, having lived beyond these borders, my theory is that Canada is a country in love with mediocrity. That is why we end up with such Dilberts in power.
It’s really sad because the country is capable of so much better…
Allison, dont you think it would be good for Canada to have an Obama-like rock and roll candidate in to inspire hope and change? Trudeau did that for Canada. I wish we had another Trudeau candidate.
toccata, yes I too look forward to them, but I fear they will get in power and they are a bunch of unruly, crass, mouthy cowboys. If they get a majority they can do what they like
Beckeye, hahahah. They couldn’t be different. Her ego would drown him.
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
“He’s already promised American-style fix-election dates. And then when that was not convenient for him, he changed his mind and changed his election dates.”
I’m sorry dear, you misheard him. He promised fixed elections whenever he gets around to it, have you learned anything about the right?