A few thoughts on the new Conservative TV ads

[Sandeep Chauhan]

So, a few brief thoughts on the latest TV spots featuring our Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

1. Isn't it unfair that Harper's ads were in semi-heavy rotation a week in advance of an election announcement? I hope Chretien or Martin call 24 Sussex Drive: "Hello, kettle? This is the pot. Guess what? You're black." If you're going to argue for fairness then maybe you should try playing the game yourself.

2. Is anyone fooled by the new, cuddly Stephen Harper? Isn't this the same chap who is letting Canadians rot in prisons across the globe? Who, in 2006, thought that carpet bombing Lebanon was a rational choice. A man who thinks that the best way to treat addicts is to lock them up?

3. Is that Harper trying to smile? Really?

[Eric Pettifor]

Well, according to a clip I saw on the CBC, he would like to be considered as a fruit -- sweet and colorful. I've never really thought of him as either of those things, so it was a bit confusing. Does he really believe that? Was he trying to deceive? Was he possessed by a Hallmark Card spirit? Dunno.

It was even more disturbing than the picture of him in a cowboy hat and black leather vest. One could imagine that getup representing some sort of suppressed shadow side, but I don't think he even has a suppressed sub-personality that's "sweet and colorful".