The Conservatives Face-off

Ibbitson, and Macgregor weigh in on the debate....

Macgregor leans into Stronach here:

It is hard, at times, not to have a little sympathy for Stronach. Who, under the current circumstances in Ottawa, wouldn't have a soft spot for someone who brags that one of her plusses is that she is not a professional politician?

And how many viewers, we wonder, caught the raised eyebrow that Clement shot Harper as Stronach claimed to be the force that finally united the right?

Two against one is as unfair in debate as it is in arm-wrestling.

Viewers could, of course, raise their own eyebrows. She called the current sponsorship mess "the most serious scandal to hit this country in its history." Let's just be polite and place it somewhere on the scale between tainted tuna and the Pacific Scandal.

She also had a terrible time answering straight-forward questions on such matters as two-tiered health care and, later in a scrum, how exactly she would have "supported" the United States when America decided to attack Iraq.

As for exactly how she intends to pay down the debt, increase the military, bring in a measure of mortgage deductibility, maintain health standards and still cut taxes — don't even ask. Something to do with employee incentives, I think, before she went completely off track in her answer.
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i only saw the cbc approved choice cuts of the debate, but stronach did not look strong. she is becoming something of a publicity stunt, one time shot in the arm for the party. all style, no substance...

here's the whopper of the week, by stronach:

"Give me 40 days in the campaign trenches with Paul Martin," she promised, "and I will give you the keys to 24 Sussex Drive."

yikes. i'll give her a big hug and say "its over, let's just win your seat, okay?" i really gave her all the chances to win me over, but she's terrible. let's be blunt. she has no ability to speak well, come up with coherent policy positions or even take one on the chin from her counterparts. she would barely survive in a room full of foreign leaders and i don't want to put her in that position either. i'm glad she's in the race, and i hope loses too.

harper is truly looking like the best candidate. a steady hand, full of unflappable confidence and intelligence. i hope he eats martin for lunch in the political arena.