Let's stay on message: Harper's legacy of shame

A heartening first week, yes, but too early to say whether the wheels have come off the Harper Machine.

We can't be distracted by sideline drama over debate formats and whether or not Elizabeth May gets included. Or astroturfers trolling for trolls on Craigslist. Or Conservative senators calling reporters rude names.

Harper imploding? Let's not start the chicken dance just yet

Well, yes, the early indications are heartening.

Mr. Sinister thinks we're a couple of unscripted questions away from a meltdown.

Torontoist catches up with Craigslist troll catchers

... or does it?

Link here.

Story's got legs, but whether it passes the smell test is another matter. Harpobots are too obsessed with message control to leave something like this sloshing around on the floor.

(H/t BigCityLib.)

CBC gets it wrong on Elizabeth May and leaders' debates

We're going to hear a lot more obfuscation and misdirection before the controversy over leaders' debates settles down, but The Corp's performance this morning didn't help.

On Metro Morning, Matt Galloway was asking, in essence, if so many people want to see Elizabeth May included in the debates, why don't more of them vote for her?

I had to give my head a shake.

Um, Matt? Wanting to see someone included doesn't have to imply partisan support. It could just as easily be a matter of principle.

Carry on.

Elizabeth May, the 'consortium' and our democratic dysfunctions

  

Too many bytes, too much ink and attention devoted to the looming Iggy-Harpo smackdown. (Any time! Any place! Bring it on, mofo!) It may happen, it may not, and I'm still undecided about whether it's a good thing or not.

Lost in the drama, I think, is the discussion of how the door got slammed in Elizabeth May's face.

Iggy and Harper, one on one?

 

Two white guys in ties

Tricky business, this. What's a good non-partisan guy supposed to do?

Looks like Iggy (14:44 this afternoon) and Harper (16:33) are getting set to drop the gloves. (If anyone's got a screen grab of Harpoon's initial tweet, email me.)

Elizabeth May excluded? What Coyne said

Seriously? What century is this? Can you say "arbitrary?"

Welcome to OB's inaugural edition of What Andrew Coyne said. Dude's been making good use of the Tweeter on this one.