Michelle Malkin on election trauma
From Michelle Malkin:
After the 2004 election, so many American liberals came down with depression that medical professionals coined a new phrase for their unhinged condition: post-election selection trauma (or PEST).
One wonders what malady Canadian liberals will contract after they lose at the polls in today's election.
Good question. It's hard to say. Given that the American election in 2004 between George W Bush and John Kerry could have gone either way on the day of the election, and that it followed on the heals of the Bush-Gore nail-biter in 2000, American liberals were, on two occasions, taken to the edge of victory, then denied.
For Canadian liberals, the situation is a bit different. Though things might still go badly for the Conservatives, the polls have been suggesting otherwise for weeks, and that foreknowledge will help temper the blow.
Also, in the Canadian system, there is the consolation prize of holding the Conservatives to a minority. If a minority Conservative government is elected today, that will provide some solace.
On the other hand, so many on the Canadian left have convinced themselves, though not others it seems, that Stephen Harper is Canada's own George W Bush. The American left, and the left worldwide, including in Canada, have invested a great deal of pseudo-intellectual effort in demonizing the President. It is a very personal and visceral hatred that goes far beyond political debate.
The Liberal Party attack ads of the last few days, and Paul Martin's rhetoric in his most recent speeches, certainly attempted to tap into that feeling. The infamous "military ad" is a perfect example of this attitude. The fact that the ad was even made reveals one of two things.
At best, strategists at the highest levels of the Liberal Party were ready and willing to indulge to hard left in their paranoia in order to win votes.
At worst, strategists at the highest levels of the Liberal Party actually believe in the Stephen-Harper-is-evil-like-George-W-Bush dogma.
The fact that a plurality of voters nation-wide, and a huge number of Quebec voters, in excess of the number supporting the Liberals, are looking likely to vote for Stephen Harper means the worst nightmare is about come true for the hard left in Canada.
It is a nightmare of their own making, of course, constructed out of the apocalyptic proclamations from America's shattered left wing. For that reason, I don't think I'll be reaching out any time soon to comfort these people. It might do them some good to let them rant and rave.
If nothing else, it is likely to be entertaining.
[More observations at Captain's Quarters.]
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Comments
The 'Military ad' showed clearly the lie of Liberal 'Inclusion'. If it is in the perceived best interests (ie. to help woo a larger voter segment) of Paul Martin to demonize one segment of our society, whether it be the Military or Christians or Albertans, then rest assured that segment of our society will be demonized. Demonized as thoroughly, as continually and as vilely as Paul Martin can.
All Canadians should be grateful that such a vicious and cowardly man will no longer be our Prime Minister.
Posted by: Lyle Bert at January 23, 2006 08:47 AM
Well, we know that Robert McClelland of MyBlahg fame has already braced himself for a crow breakfast (http://myblahg.com/?p=543), and he's cautioning his fellow travellers (such as they are) about doing the same.
I doubt very much that they'll listen to him.
Mind you, though, I don't think the hard lefters are going to be as traumatized as people seem to think. If the NDP and the BQ come out of this with increased numbers they'll have greater consolation than the Democrats.
No, it'll be those with an actual stake in the Liberals being in power who will be the most traumatized (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1137970209922&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467).
The main reason for the Left's trauma in the States is that they had a genuine opportunity to unseat an unpopular president, and they failed. In this case, the Left was being invited to support a clearly incompetent leader against someone who MIGHT create a Bush-league government. It's not exactly the type of situation that will lead to nightmares.
Posted by: PhantomObserver at January 23, 2006 09:19 AM
Phantom Observer speaks sooth. Up at Neal News right now there's a brilliant quote from Harper to the effect that Canadians don't generally induge in hate and fear unless its about hockey. This is true for the wide swath of people in this country.
Who it isn't true for is the Robert McClellans of this world, the true, pink to the core socialists who think Harper winning is the end of days. There will be much wailing and rending of clothing on university campi accross the nation tonight should Harper carry the day. Of which there is not much doubt.
I'm just mean enough to smile at the prospect. Any group who supports then likes of Paul Martin, who's spent the whole campaign trying to create hatred and fear -where there is none- deserves a bit of anguish.
That it is self inflicted and idiotic anguish just makes it a little sweeter. BWAHA!
The (other) Phantom
Posted by: The (other) Phantom at January 23, 2006 09:37 AM
I see Michelle Malkin's PEST theory applying possibly only to the conservatives for the following reason.
The Canadian and American political scences are reciprocated.
In general terms, America leans to the right, and Canada leans to the left.
In America, for the last few year liberals have been shut out of power, and in Canada conseratives have been shut out of power.
On American election night, if you recall, around 7pm eastern, John Kerry thought he had it in bag, slam dunk. Major PEST followed around 10PM.
Today, most conservatives seem to think this election is in the bag.
If the CPC wins, expectations met.
If the Liberals win a minority government, the CPC will be expirencing major PEST around 10PM
Posted by: Pete at January 23, 2006 09:50 AM
"...the Canadian left have convinced themselves, though not others it seems, that Stephen Harper is Canada's own George W Bush."
And the Daily Telegraph's hack in Ottawa is convinced too if you check out the link at Nealenews. (Maybe he's trying for a job at the NYT?)
Posted by: andycanuck at January 23, 2006 10:18 AM
Maybe they will seek refuge status in the USA.
Posted by: Jim at January 23, 2006 11:12 AM
It's been almost sad, in a gleeful sort of way, to watch the decline of the Liberals. They just don't seem to get the fact that they don't have the support.
What will truly be sad at the end of the day is if we have such a poor voter turnout again. I'd be all for making voting mandatory, just as Australia has done. Their voter turnout is in the 90% range.
Posted by: Heather Cook at January 23, 2006 11:29 AM
well, speaking as a left wing liberal, this is hardly a nightmare. truth is, the conservatives are going to govern from the centre for fear of being a one-term government. IMHO, this could turn out to be a nightmare for conservatives. In the hopes of preserving his government over 2, 3, or even more terms, Harper will probably temper his most right wing members in order to keep the liberal majority in this country on his side. This means no scorched earth battle against abortion or gay marriage, no sudden sending of our troops to Iraq. Harper is a pragmatist. He knows that US style conservatives can barely get elected in this country, much less govern for an extended period. A conservative in name only, ready to turn aside the most right-wing and conservative elements of his platform to keep the majority of the country on his side, and his government in power. not much of a nightmare to libs, if you ask me.
Posted by: Dave at January 23, 2006 12:51 PM
This little fact won't be of any help to many:
Today is the most depressing day of the entire year.
Who picked this as election day? We oughta vote whoever it was out of office!
Posted by: Paul O at January 23, 2006 01:43 PM
Dave, it's very presumptuous of you to suggest Harper must be conservative in name only to remain in power. That suggests that the only way to govern Canada is the Liberal way; the divine right of Liberals who are entitled to rule. It's that kind of thinking which is why Paul Martin is about to be dragged, kicking & screaming, out of the PMO... Good riddance.
I don't have a problem with Harper tempering the extreme right wing in the Conservatives and moving the party toward the centre. That's what party politics is all about, after all. If everyone were extremists (left or right) government would be chaos regardless who is in power.
Don't try to kid yourself, Dave, in believing that Harper will govern from the centre-left and I firmly believe his government won't be marred by the same kind of excesses which typified the Mulroney government. Mulroney, after all, was yet another arrogant multi-millionaire from Quebec. Harper is none of those things.
Why do you suppose Jack Layton moved his party toward the centre? If anyone threatens the continued existence of the Liberals (other than their suicidal tendencies demonstrated of late) it's the NDP, not the Conservatives.
Posted by: Mac at January 23, 2006 02:38 PM
Hi Mac,
It's actually pretty presumptuous of YOU to say that I think the only way to govern is the Liberal way. I never said that. Of course you'd like to believe I said that, because it's far easier to label liberals (note the small l) as arrogant, corrupt and power hungry than to actually consider what the person (not the label) has to say.
Now if you want to know what I really meant, it's this: If Stephen Harper thinks that he can hold on to power by pandering to the furthest right segment of his base, he's nuts. And he isn't. He's smart enough to know that his far-right base was able to lay the foundation of his party, but if he wants to actually govern, he has to keep the Liberals who have parked their votes with him happy. After all, they parked the votes, but they kept the motor running.
And I never said that Harper would govern from the centre-left. He'll run things from the centre-right. And in any other country in the world, our centre-right looks like the left. Whether we're hard core or moderate, we're a nation of lefties.
And you're right, Harper will do a better job of governing than Mulroney, Chretien, or Martin ever did. And if he governs from a fiscally conservative, socially moderate philosophy, he'll be PM for a long, long time. And I will be nothing less than thrilled at having a reasonable, thoughtful, democratic government.
But if Stephen Harper thinks that he can go all hard core, Pat Robertson conservative as soon as the polls close, it'll be a short reign, followed by 26 years, not 13 in the wilderness. Harper has one chance to convince ALL of Canada that he's qualified to lead. Smart money's on him turning his back on the far-right christians that got him where he is, and extending an olive branch to the rest of the country.
Awww...what a shame, even when they win, conservatives lose. It's like a bizarro USA.
Posted by: Dave at January 23, 2006 03:24 PM
I dunno Dave, I read that the same way as Mac did. But perhaps the point is that you only THINK that Stephen Harper is waaay far on the right. Could it be perhaps, just a suggestion, that many Canadians are neither far right nor far left. It seems to me that the Liberal agenda has been to point fingers at Stephen Harper and talk about how FAR RIGHT he is, when perhaps he's just farther right.
I'm not a far right Christian, I'm not a far right anything. I just think that the Liberal's time is over. I believe there are far more moderates in Canada than any on the left would care to believe.
I liked your quote: "And if he governs from a fiscally conservative, socially moderate philosophy, he'll be PM for a long, long time. And I will be nothing less than thrilled at having a reasonable, thoughtful, democratic government." That is what I look forward to as well.
I do not believe that we are a nation of lefties any more. Look at the last election, just 60% or so of us showed up at the polls and the Liberals squeaked by. What would happen if the majority voted?
Posted by: Heather Cook at January 23, 2006 03:43 PM
hi Heather...
You're actually preaching to the choir. I agree with just about everything you said, except for the part about us not being a nation of lefties.
Truth is, we're not a nation of left wing caricatures. That is to say, a nation of pot smoking, peace-sign waving, tie-die wearing, give peace a chance-ing pinkos. But we are a nation of lefties. If you don't believe me, go to a shopping mall, and set up a booth advocating a strict pay-for-use health care system. Or US style post-secondary education funding. Or environmental deregulation. People may not think of themselves as liberals, but that has more to do with the definition of the word than people's intentions.
And you're 100% right. the Liberals time is over, but the time of the liberals is just beginning.
Posted by: dave at January 23, 2006 04:28 PM
I stand by my words. That's what conservatives do because we still believe in outdated concepts like honesty, morals, honour and integrity.
Whether the "L" is upper case or lower, you're convinced Canada is fated to be lead by the left; the divine endowment of liberals to rule. Your last sentence in your reply to Heather proves it.
Not all right-wingers burn crosses in their neighbour's front yards while drinking beer and eating popcorn. If you don't believe me, set up a booth in the shopping mall, advocating unionizing all workers in Canada, deregulated immigration, making all companies Crown corporations or paying the rest of our salaries to taxes to purchase free education for all. People may not think of themselves as conservatives but that has more to do with the reluctance to be labelled by regressive by liberals than people's intentions.
Posted by: Mac at January 23, 2006 06:57 PM
It seems to me that right wingers have something in common that Mac hasn't mentioned. They seem to think they 'know' what's best for the rest of the country and they assume they speak for all Canadians. Most of the right is afraid to confront the fact that the total number of actual voters who don't agree with conservative principles outnumbers those who do by a huge margin. [Just add the Liberal+NDP+Bloc results together. That's the reason the Liberals have been in power so long. As long as they respond and reflect the majority they've controlled the government. To pretend anything else is nonsense.]
Also, remember how often during this campaign Harper prefaced his comments by words to the effect that he was reflecting what Canadians think; about corruption, about access to health care, about relations with the US, about Quebec/Canada relations. In the final analysis we want peace, order and good government and that hasn't been what the Liberals under Paul Martin have delivered.
But Harper was so busy telling voters that he's just like them that he never once disclosed what he actually believes. That's why many Canadians (not all of them left wingers either) are nervous about the prospect of him winning a majority - because they really only have the record of his previous incarnation to go on.
Time will tell if he's really a moderate - he's certainly avoided dealing with the question himself.
Posted by: g west at January 23, 2006 08:27 PM
The scene: Bush's first official visit.
Harper will nicely ask for him to pay back the $5 billion in illegal software lumber tariffs that the U.S. stole.
Bush will change the subject.
Harper will be destroyed in the Canadian media, and will look as weak as Martin. A few months later, there will be another election, and the Liberals will be back in.
Thanks alot guys!
Posted by: BC at January 24, 2006 11:25 AM
 
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