Impression on Last Nights Debate

If you were watching the Canadian English Language Leaders Debate last night, good for you! If you were watching the Biden vs. Palin debate don't you feel ripped off? I mean the excuse that 'what happens in the US deeply affects us' doesn't really work. The US Vice President doesn't affect us very much and doesn't even affect the outcome of the US election very much. So people who watched Biden v. Palin really just wanted to see Palin crash and instead nothing happened, she didn't score, she didn't blow it. The Canadian Leaders debate on the other hand was really very good.

So, one at a time:

Stephen Harper came across as pretty vacuous. He defended the Conservatives but didn't really say what they wanted to do. He provided no excuse for the Conservatives not having a platform and didn't really talk about what they wanted to do. His general theme seemed to be 'everything is fine, we don't need to do anything.' Now if you've watched Stephen Harper over the years you know that the Conservatives want to do SOMETHING and the fact that they won't really say what it is or why they need a majority is just scary.

Stephen Dion was very clear on what he wanted to do. The sad fact is that if Stephen Dion didn't have such a strong French accent he would be running away with the election. His ideas are clear and reasonable. His math works, everything is paid for without raising taxes (shifting but not increasing). Sadly it would appear that racism is alive and well. In a bi-lingual country candidates are still at a disadvantage if they have a strong French accent to their English. (The exception being Jean Chretien who spoke neither official language).

Jack Layton had by far the best one liners of the debate. What you heard from Jack though was pretty much what you expected to hear from the NDP. Jack is, by all accounts a great guy, and a good leader unfortunately I think the NDP is stalled and only a new leader with a broader agenda and appeal will move the party forward.

Elizabeth May, what can I say about Elizabeth May? I've heard it several times today - 'the Greens are here to stay'. Obviously the Greens aren't going to break out and win this election. However I think they will continue to grow, they will continue to draw supporters from other parties (they seem to be a natural home for ex Progressive Conservatives who do not feel at home under the Alliance/CPC). The platform is fiscally responsible, environmentally friendly and socially progressive. To me May was the clear winner of both debates, but instead of winning the election she has won validation for her place at the table and a strong future for the Green Party.

Gilles Duceppe, had he not been a separatist might have made a good Prime Minister. He is always smart, articulate, well informed and has a platform that would resonate with alot of Canadians if he didn't claim it for Quebec only. Perhaps, some day, if the racism mentioned above dies down and Francophones are more at home in a broader Canada Duceppe and the Bloc will merge with another party and bring to all of Canada the good things they want for Quebec. You do not, after all, have to be separate from the other parties in order to look out for your particular province.