Right off the bat, I’ll say that Steve Paiken was the winner of this debate. He asked hard and pointed questions, resulting in an entertaining debate. As for the debators themselves…meh.<\/p>\n
Martin showed passion again but rambled off script a few times. The notwithstanding clause thing was just…odd. It’s obviously an attempt to change the channel and, in that respect, it likely will. The only question is what’s on the other channel. I have a hard time believing this is the sort of idea that will rally Canadians behind Martin. Also, the “Quebec is a nation” stuff really annoyed me.<\/p>\n
Harper didn’t wow anyone and didn’t steal the show, but he didn’t have to. He was dull and uninspiring but, like he said in his closing, he’s never been good at “spin or passion”. He got backed up on the defensive a few times but Martin was the one needing the knock-out tonight and he certainly didn’t get it.<\/p>\n
As for Layton, I really liked him in the first English debate, but he just didn’t do it for me tonight. Any time he’s on stage with Martin and Harper, it always helps him. But tonight he looked overlooked and marginalized.<\/p>\n
Duceppe was just bad tonight. He was almost incomprehensible at times and, while he got a few good one liners as usual, he was back on the defensive. Martin hit him hard and Paiken’s questions really showed the logical gaps in the separatist arguments.<\/p>\n
For a blow by blow recap, read on:<\/p>\n
Pre-Game<\/strong> 5:55 pm: Mike Duffy is reporting that the Ekos poll had it 43-29…oh…my…god…<\/p>\n Opening Statements<\/strong><\/p>\n 6:02 pm: Paul comes out on the tax cut issue.<\/p>\n 6:04 pm: Paul’s got the red tie, Stephen’s got the blue tie.<\/p>\n 6:06 pm: The first question is on the RCMP leak. It could be a long night… 6:12 pm: Now we get a CSL question…<\/p>\n 6:15 pm: The moderator asks a pretty hard hitting question to Harper about the Reform party. I’ve got to say, I like these questions a lot more than the “what can you do to help my dog?” questions we saw last time.<\/p>\n 6:20 pm: Paul wants to get rid of the notwithstanding clause? Holy bombshell batman! I guess this is the hail mary attempt of the campaign. According to section 38(1) of the constitution you need 7 provinces and 50% of the population for a constitutional amendment. Good luck with that! I’m sure Jean Charest will be on board! 6:28 pm: Paul says that electoral reform is “very important”. Uh-oh. Not “very very <\/em>important” Paul? It’s obviously quite low on his priority list, despite the eight Ministers in charge of it.<\/p>\n 6:31 pm: Duceppe has gone from saying “DEMON-cratic” to “DE-MO-cratic”. Man, I love listening to this guy talk.<\/p>\n 6:41 pm: I don’t know if there’s a fly buzzing around Paul’s head, but he sure is flapping his hands around a lot.<\/p>\n 6:43 pm: 43 minutes in and still no “Ed Broadbent” references by Jack. I’m also disappointed that no one has said “you had an Option” with respect to the Options Canada book.<\/p>\n 6:45 pm: We get the question on swingers. YES!!! This is a great chance for Harper to pick up some of the swing vote. (ba-da-bing ba-da-boom)<\/p>\n 6:48 pm: Gilles talks about “evolution”. Way to lose the Western Canadian bible vote Gilles.<\/p>\n 6:52 pm: Gilles now brings up the topic on everyone’s mind tonight: the anti-scab law. Canadians are riveted.<\/p>\n 6:54 pm: Jack mentions “results for people”. BINGO!<\/p>\n 7:03 pm: Martin confirms that aid to farmers is “very very important”.
5:37 pm: We get a Tory ad on the pre-game show…followed by the “hands in my pockets” commercial. Two ads for the price of one.<\/p>\n
Jack comes close to mentioning “Ed Broadbent” but doesn’t. You just knew he wanted to.<\/p>\n
UPDATE: <\/em><\/strong>It turns out Paul is only proposing a bill on this in the House, limited to federal jurisdiction. In that respect, I don’t have a huge problem with it, but it still comes across looking like a hail mary.<\/p>\n
Jack tells a heart warming story: “I met with a 28 year old farmer and he showed me his balance sheet. I didn’t understand it because I’m NDP…”<\/p>\n