55dB

Election Spending Redux

Apparently people believe that the Tories illegally spent more than they should have

So here’s the question I have. The Tories are notorious for centrally planned election campaigns (ironic, isn’t it?) - and really, if you’ve been in any organization (especially political parties) where branding is treated as an afterthought, you would understand why it’s important to have most things from the top. Maybe not what policy is best for your area, but definitely in look-and-feel…

Ok, now really, the question I have. What constitutes an advertisement used to “directly to promote or oppose a candidate during an election period?” Does the advertisement have to be solely the candidate’s? But if the party is trying to do central-based branding, and thus wants the ad to look a certain way, doesn’t it save everyone money to re-use parts of a national ad for a local candidate (fiscally conservative, at least) - so how much of that ad needs to be ‘candidate’ - 5 seconds? 10 seconds? half of a 30-second ad? all of it?

I think you see where I’m going with this. Someone has to either draw a line, or we have to accept the idea that one could put the candidate’s name on it and effectively it now directly promotes the candidate.

Remember, though, public opinion is something very different. Just because something is legal doesn’t make it right in the public’s eyes. The Volpe incident is perfect proof of that. Yes, he *could* and *did* accept $5,000+ from two children… technically… but that didn’t make it right. And he paid for it [figuratively]. The Tories may be in the same type of situation… but to be perfectly honest - I suspect what they did will be seen as legal. It will remain to be seen if the public sees it as right.

30.Apr.08 Uncategorized Read more Comments (0)

2008 Season

Got my tickets!

(this also means I get first dibs on these seats for the 2009 Grey Cup!)

28.Apr.08 Uncategorized Read more Comments (0)

Town Hall

The incumbent had a town hall tonight in Tuscany, which he shared with two well known Alberta Conservative MPs Art Hanger and Myron Thompson, where they discussed the justice system in this country, especially as it pertained to children. As you probably know, I tend to lean to the social conservative side when it comes to the justice system, especially crimes against children, so I found myself agreeing with quite a few things at the town hall (although definitely not all).

The town hall itself had about 30 people, most of which were very visible (and audibly at times) big supporters of the incumbent and his party. In fact, I recognized two of them who were at the court case last year regarding the constituency association’s nomination process that re-elected the incumbent. There were about 5 people, I’d say, who were visibly NOT supporters, although they tended to be pretty quiet and listened patiently. One fellow stormed out when they talked about the incumbent meeting the Dalai Lama.

It was worth going to for me, especially when Thompson said to me in passing, “How’s it going there, young feller?” That, and at one point one of the people from the court case whispered something to an organizer and then they both glanced in my direction. They might not have been talking about me, but it’s fun to imagine they were.

25.Apr.08 Uncategorized Read more Comments (0)

RMR

My HR Mgr went to a conference where a Mr. Mercer was the keynote. She brought me a present…

24.Apr.08 Uncategorized Read more Comments (2)