1st Debate: So How'd They Do?
Justin Trudeau Our guy did good. Articulate. Didn't stumble (though I missed his closing remarks, which I hear weren't so great). Scored points in the one-on-ones, got off a few good lines: "And then they were 9. And so shall that number be 9." and etc.
Stephen Harper Played defense all night, for the most part well. Some shots got through on the economy; he admitted we're on the verge of a recession. And he stumbled re the issue of all of his Senate appointments who are prison bound. He was weirdly articulate on environmental issues & pipelines, displaying detailed knowledge re Alberta's carbon pricing system. So, perhaps, a weak point well covered. Not that I liked his answers on these questions, just that they were relatively well delivered.
Elizabeth May Did well, although at times to me she sounded like she had stumbled in from a wonkfest. She actually forgave Harper for some of his past-policies. But if I was in the "throw them all out and vote Green" mood and I stumbled onto the debate and watched her, I would be favorably impressed.
Tom Mulcair had weird body language issues. I don't think he blinked once the whole debate, and he tried so hard to avoid the "Angry Tom" persona that he wound up sounding sedated. He took a few hits from Trudeau on Que. Separatism and the SCC (Trudeau's "And Lo! Nine Judges appeared in the East" line), but later on spoke forcefully (although still in an oddly subdued tone) on the Senate.
The Debate Format Nobody expects CDN political debates to be exciting, but this one was probably as entertaining as it was possible to make it. The format forced interaction between the candidates, which I think actually worked against Stephen Harper. He appeared diminished. A mere mortal among mortals.
Stephen Harper Played defense all night, for the most part well. Some shots got through on the economy; he admitted we're on the verge of a recession. And he stumbled re the issue of all of his Senate appointments who are prison bound. He was weirdly articulate on environmental issues & pipelines, displaying detailed knowledge re Alberta's carbon pricing system. So, perhaps, a weak point well covered. Not that I liked his answers on these questions, just that they were relatively well delivered.
Elizabeth May Did well, although at times to me she sounded like she had stumbled in from a wonkfest. She actually forgave Harper for some of his past-policies. But if I was in the "throw them all out and vote Green" mood and I stumbled onto the debate and watched her, I would be favorably impressed.
Tom Mulcair had weird body language issues. I don't think he blinked once the whole debate, and he tried so hard to avoid the "Angry Tom" persona that he wound up sounding sedated. He took a few hits from Trudeau on Que. Separatism and the SCC (Trudeau's "And Lo! Nine Judges appeared in the East" line), but later on spoke forcefully (although still in an oddly subdued tone) on the Senate.
The Debate Format Nobody expects CDN political debates to be exciting, but this one was probably as entertaining as it was possible to make it. The format forced interaction between the candidates, which I think actually worked against Stephen Harper. He appeared diminished. A mere mortal among mortals.
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