He actually did what?!: Energizing politics and other unacceptable antics

Do not adjust your television set. We are firmly in pre-election mode. The majority of CPC talking-boxes may reject this claim (even though their own fund raising material say otherwise) but Peter MacKay isn't going to dance to the party tune. Today while speaking to the media in Winnipeg, MacKay admitted that the CPC has talked about the "possibility" of an election.

Meanwhile, Ignatieff spoke to party faithful in Ottawa today and delivered a focused, driven and energized speech. Jane Taber and Roger Smith drew a poor comparison to Howard Dean which just goes to show how little the MSM cares to truly analyze issues driving (what seems to be) an imminent federal election. To Taber's surprise (along with the collective shock of the nation, I'm sure) Ignatieff became excited and passionate about what his party offers to Canadians during his address.

To quote Taber's astonishment:

There was that Howard Dean moment early in the speech in which he actually screamed “yes, yes, yes,” in answer to his own question about whether his party was ready to govern and fight for Canadian families.

The CPC talking-box translation:

"There was that Howard Dean moment early in the speech in which he literally went insane - foaming at the mouth, screaming and ranting into the microphone to the horror of 300 Liberal supporters."

What comparison is Taber trying to make? That his behavior during the speech is the beginning of the end of Ignatieff's election chances? Does Taber really believe that his presence on stage was so embarrassing that voters will turn on the Liberals and vote Conservative? The word "actually" infers dismay at his behaviour and to call his tone "screaming" is being pretty loose with the definition of the word. The audience shouted, "YES!" to his questions and he joined in with them to hammer his points home.

What a lunatic.

To bolster Taber's and Smith's lack of analysis - only the NDP and LPC were targeted as drumming up support for an election. The hypocrisy of the PM and his cabinet ministers as they fanned out across the country, making announcements, denouncing coalitions, and attacking the personalities of Jack and Michael - were mentioned in passing. As if this these types of activities are "all in a days work" for a government representative. I guess who can blame them, that kind of tripe almost is considered "normal" after the last 5 wasted years.

I saw Michael Ignatieff when he was in Saint-Boniface in Winnipeg and he spoke to a much more subdued crowed. Watching today's rally was much more the sort of thing I think we should expect from the leader of the opposition. If the Liberals want to be seen as the government in waiting they ought to act like they are ready to govern - and enthusiastically so!

The gloves are off and the Liberals are ready to talk about the issues that matter to Canadians. What is Harper afraid of?

Perhaps if he was not there wouldn't be the need to instruct and organize the character assassination of his opponents via talking-heads like Taber.