Hacks & Wonks

"Gary Doer is going to raise the PST " , won't go over very well.

No. The headline should be:

"Hugh McFadyen to support municipalities infrastructure needs"

The 1% tax would be a separate third-line tax, not an increase of the PST. It'll be sold as dollar-in, dollar-out to infrastructure (hardly anyone is going to complain about that).

The knee-jerk thing is to say, "All tax increases are bad," but in actuality, this sales tax would make sense and leave a revenue stream that would allow the province and municipalities to continue cutting taxes in areas that do far more harm. (Payroll, income tax, business tax)

And the winner of this situation is that the Tories would have allies in their fight against the NDP. The AMM, Sam Katz and hundreds of other local politicians (who know a thing or two about getting elected) would spend the next three years telling people about how the PCs get it and the NDP do not.

Or, we can keep doing what we've been doing for ten years - "No new taxes ever" - and see if something different will happen this time.

Is it just me or are the Tories missing the point more often than not provincially? Since last spring with the filibustering they've been invisibly but for the odd quote in the Free Press on topics that disappear that day. It seemed they were focussed on issues and mounted an impressive assault, as Opposition should, but it fizzled like a cheap firecracker. They pop up occasionally on issues like this but it's knee-jerk. What's occupying their time and energy these days and why aren't they a force to be reckoned with like they were for a month last spring? Anyone with info? I was on their website last week and it's a joke they've done nothing since summer. Have they closed up shop? Dr. Jon and that other off-kilter Liberal guy can muster good ideas with a well-executed follow through so why aren't the Cons creating a few good battles? They worked for a couple weeks got attention and credibility then sent staff and MLAs on holidays?

Anon describes a ship that appears rudderless.
I think Anon is accurate.
Why is it rudderless?
Yes, I can see why.
When will people have the will to fix it?
That is a whole other question.

Yeah, go ahead & show your political savvy & run on that: "Let's reverse the fed's GST roll-back!!"

But about the prov. party: I'm annoyed w. them right now for another reason than just their general ineptness: I got a boiler-room call from them this very A.M., from what sounded like a stuck-up babe who wouldn't talk to me in real life, saying something like, "Is this xy? I'm z, calling from the MB PC Party, trying to identify support. X, do you support our party?"

I'm annoyed not only by the existence & purpose of the call (don't we have free elections so we can keep our party pref's secret if we want to), but esp. by her condescending tone, and using my first name. I wanted to say -- at least -- that's _Dr._ Y to you missy, and I'm twice your age, so show a little respect to your elders, esp. if you're trying to find supporters! (But I just growled "No" and hung up.) Maybe you can identify your core supporters this way, but at the expense of alienating swing voters. 'Way to go, backroom boys!

Dr_Y

Sleazy does not sell. There is no question they have abandoned core supporters.

Similar to the progress of some serious diseases, a simple pill will no longer work.

Amputation might but even that might not if left to fester much longer.

Post-election/pre-PC Party AGM Hugh seemed to be everywhere. Now he's completely MIA. I guess he feels safe now and the party is happy with being totally off the radar.
Doer fought battles that mattered to Manitobans and made people feel like he was one of them during his time in opposition while Filmon was out of touch, hiding in his office with his cronies. that led to his downfall. Hughie should reconsider which playbook he's using.