The Harper Rally
Last week I received a phone call inviting me to attend a rally of Conservatives at the Congress Centre, on the 25th. (Today, in other words.) On a whim, I decided I’d go, and on the whole it turned out to be a good experience. A few observations:
1. The room was crowded, but not jam-packed. Which isn’t bad for a Friday when everyone wants to get out of town.
2. Someone with a yellow “media” pass round his neck told me that it was impolite to wear a fedora indoors. I took it off — but then I remembered I was a blogger, and therefore didn’t worry about politeness, so I put it back on again.
3. Yes, it was a stage-managed event, but it was a very well-managed stage event. I thought some of the hand-lettered signs were a bit too obvious; someone’s been watching too much WWE. But apart from that it came off pretty well.
4. Stockwell Day made the introductions. Told a joke about Stephane Dion not asking NATO to invade Ottawa, which got a polite laugh from everyone.
5. Say what you will about Harper, the man does give a good speech. A joke on Robbie Burns Day foozled — the punchline was a bit too obvious, I think — but once he got going, you knew he had his audience well in hand.
6. The item in his speech that got the biggest (and longest) round of applause was his comments on national unity and sovereignty. The child care benefit and the rebuilding of the Canadian Forces tied for second place, I think.
7. Interesting comments on the Manley Report — it was the one item on the agenda where he didn’t attack the Liberals, congratulating them instead on starting the mission and taking it seriously. He also praised the Report, saying everyone should read it. While not actually endorsing its findings, I think it’s a signal that he’s willing to collaborate with the Liberals pro-stay MPs to implement the Report recommendations. It’s something to keep a watch on.
8. He loves his sports — got a lot of cheers for mentioning the junior hockey championships and football. His tone of voice on these items was more relaxed as well.
All in all, I think he did well. No “wow” items or anything like that, but you get the impression that he’s happy with the way things are going and he’s braced for everything, good and bad, that will happen once Parliament starts up again.
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January 25th, 2008 at 21:58
I went to one in Edmonton, it was very well done, Deb Grey got huge applause, and she was only in the audience like the rest of us. My son almost got to shake the PM’s hand, but some adult butted in, and I didn’t think fast enough to spike him with my heels. Maybe next time.
Two years and this slim minority is still ticking, and all the media has is a non-issue like Afghan prisoners, I bet he’s feeling good. Funny no polls out this week, bet they were bad for the Liberals and are getting buried.
January 25th, 2008 at 22:15
I would have loved to meet our awsome PM I will always be at the conventions in spirit I guess.
January 25th, 2008 at 22:40
I watched this on CTV, it was horrible TV.
It took forever to start and Bob Fife talked about Nuke issue, Detainee/Buckler issue and how pissed people were that the PM had them waiting for an hour and a half beforehand.
Then, the speech appeared pretty long and passionless.
Can only go up from here.
January 25th, 2008 at 23:41
Wow, would have been there except I have to work to keep paying taxes so umm well so some schumck can keep a job in the government. Kinda brings a tear to my eye… the thought of all those conservatives vibing off each other.
January 26th, 2008 at 01:47
Thanks for the good read, and I will, with no doubts, vote for him in the next election.
He will stand tall for the troops, he has since day one and will on his last day.
The chatter and silliness that is coming from the liberals is making me have no respect for them. Get some money and a new leader and then try the election to rid us of the nasty Prime Minister Harper.
January 26th, 2008 at 03:55
[...] January 26, 2008 | 2. Someone with a yellow “media” pass round his neck told me that it was impolite to wear a fedora indoors. I took it off — but then I remembered I was a blogger, and therefore didn’t worry about politeness, so I put it back on again. the phantom observer [...]
January 26th, 2008 at 08:44
I was at the event, not sure what Fife was taking about on CTV. I did not get the impression that people were upset with the delay. The Prime minister wasn’t showing up till 4 pm, so he ran a bit late no big deal. Lots of excitment in the crowd, it was good to see all the MP’s as well, Rona looked awsome it the black dress with fishnet stockings!! The only thing missing was singing Oh! Canada.
January 26th, 2008 at 09:03
I was at a similar rally in Toronto a while back. The atmosphere was electric! Met a few bloggers there as well.
I am very proud of our Prime Minister.
January 26th, 2008 at 09:39
Roy, I was very fortunate to have met our awesome PM a few years ago at a gathering in Southwestern Ontario, a riding, BTW, that returned a Conservative MP to Parliament after years “in the desert”(!) under a Librano incumbency of a good ol’ boy with whom, as it turns out, I had had a few telephone run-ins. It always irritated him that I knew my stuff and didn’t accept his canned responses to my questions…To his credit, he actually apologized to me for “being a little rough” on me…but that’s another issue.
Stephen Harper, not yet our PM, was unprepossessing and humble. He had given a fantastic speech–you can’t help detect the focused intelligence and understated strategic brilliance of his thinking–and when I had introduced myself, I encouraged him to not “allow” the MSM and the Opposition to paint him as “scary,” with a “Hidden Agenda.” His response, “Yeah. I’ve never really understood what they’re talking about.” I suggested he needed to be somewhat more forward in countering this kind of smear. He was thoughtful and his way of dealing with the smears has been brilliant.
‘Basically ignore them and keep moving forward. When he comes to a fork in the road, largely manufactured by the Librano$ and the MSM, he goes straight ahead. Yea! That’s our PM Stephen Harper. Go, Harper, Go!
January 26th, 2008 at 09:41
[...] Phantom Observer | The Harper Rally [...]
January 26th, 2008 at 10:10
You can watch the video of Prime Minister Harper’s speech on CTV here:
http://tinyurl.com/yqj5yv
January 26th, 2008 at 11:05
The media grumbling…not making for “good” TV? hahaha…I heart PMSH.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:46
A fedora? You must be branding yourself as the Roger L Simon of the North .. will Pajamas North be next? … let’s hope so… :>)
http://www.rogerlsimon.com/
January 26th, 2008 at 12:47
CTV’s Fife, standing on a “soapbox” to make himself larger than life, gave his report from over my right shoulder. Rambling on about what PM Harper was going to say (all the regular MSM bugaboos), I found the better-half was paying attention to his every word, her face growing ever red and stern. Finally, she started retorting in his direction to his statements. Didn’t let that go too far, however…. go girl go!
While waiting for proceedings to begin, played Name that MP with rally neighbours. Did quite well methinks.
January 26th, 2008 at 18:48
Can I have , for five hundred, who is smarter…Steven Harper or CTV editors???