Though in fairness to Ford, I don’t think anyone could have been expected to predict that result, and it’s questionable whether the ad was a cause or merely a pretext. I think the decision to stop running the ad was the right decision but that’s not to say it was a bad decision to run the ad in the first place. That logic goes in the direction of saying there’s nothing anyone can do but cower in fear until Trump’s appointment with the grim reaper materializes.
Hopefully, the Supreme Court will declare these tariffs ultra vires. If not, I can imagine some will suggest the Supreme Court is bought and paid for something I would never say.
Essentially it weakens Trump's position even more.
You mean the Canadian ad weakens Trump's position?
FWIW, with Trump, it's kinda hard to discern a DIRECT connection between any one of his embarrassments or scandals, and any damage to his political fortunes. Not that there hasn't been damage to his political fortunes, but you can't really pinpoint an exact event that pushed things in that direction, or in what way. Everything just kinda melts into a miasmal mist of negative publicity for the guy.
(Not saying he's neccessarily down for the count, just that, to whatever extent he IS damaged by the controversies surrounding him, it tends to be in an amorphous fashion.)
Hopefully, the Supreme Court will declare these tariffs ultra vires. If not, I can imagine some will suggest the Supreme Court is bought and paid for something I would never say.
I'll be interested to see how the opposing blocs line up on the SCOTUS for this decision, because tariffs are one of those issues that don't break down cleanly along the political spectrum, but possibly moreso on the jurisdictional one.
I have a theory about how at least one particular justice will vote, but I don't wanna drag this too far away from Canadian politics.
Though in fairness to Ford, I don’t think anyone could have been expected to predict that result, and it’s questionable whether the ad was a cause or merely a pretext. I think the decision to stop running the ad was the right decision but that’s not to say it was a bad decision to run the ad in the first place. That logic goes in the direction of saying there’s nothing anyone can do but cower in fear until Trump’s appointment with the grim reaper materializes.
Fair enough. Everyone's pretty just helplessly improvising on acid when it comes to handling Trump. I will say that I think that, while negotiations may have been proceeding along in a fruitless and irritating fashion, the precise timing of the recent suspension was, in fact, closely connected with the ad. I doubt Trump's logic was "Hmm, I need an excuse to break off negotiations with Canada? What's that? They criticized me in an ad during the World Series? Well, how d'ya like them bananas. Okay, go with that, I guess."
What was there to apologise about? Telling the truth?
I assume Carney is not thinking in terms of the platonic forms of right and wrong. Probably closer to the mental template of a hostage-negotiator planning out how to address a ranting bozo who's waving a loaded gun around in a strip-mall parking lot.
That being said, I do remain pretty undecided about whether it was Ford or Carney who made the right calls in this whole political event. I suspect Carney is taking his cue more from the early-Trudeau/Trump relationship(see photo-ops with Ivanka at the Resolute Desk; Pierre referenced in 2017 SotU), whereas Ford for whatever reason thinks a more antagonistic, in-your-face approach will work.
Ford is vulnerable to the charge of cheap populist-postuting, given that he's not directly answerable for the fate of the negotiations, but I still can't say with pure certainty that his approach is unhelpful.
My impression is that there is probably some level of communication between the feds and Ontario on questions of approach, with Ford saying some things that one might want to have said but which it would be impolitic for Carney to say. Though obviously Carney and Ford are very different people with different ways of doing things generally.
My impression is that there is probably some level of communication between the feds and Ontario on questions of approach, with Ford saying some things that one might want to have said but which it would be impolitic for Carney to say. Though obviously Carney and Ford are very different people with different ways of doing things generally.
Yeah, I was speculating there might be a good cop/bad cop routine going on.
Though, assuming Carney's not lying, he HAS stated that he was shown the ad, but counseled against running it.
I wouldn’t be inclined to treat Carney’s public comments as evidence under oath… but that said, it’s obvious that Carney’s basic way of doing things is very different from Ford’s and it’s entirely possible he sees Ford more as giant pain in the backside than as a useful ally. Historians will eventually enlighten future generations about this, though unfortunately I think our chances of knowing what anyone in power really thinks here and now are basically zero.
I don't think anyone wants another election right now - certainly not the electorate.
In other news Ford confirms that Carney asked him to pull the ads - although he seems to be rather whiny about the whole thing. David Eby in BC has apparently decided not to run they ads they came up with - discretion better part of valour or something like that.
I wouldn’t be inclined to treat Carney’s public comments as evidence under oath… but that said, it’s obvious that Carney’s basic way of doing things is very different from Ford’s and it’s entirely possible he sees Ford more as giant pain in the backside than as a useful ally. Historians will eventually enlighten future generations about this, though unfortunately I think our chances of knowing what anyone in power really thinks here and now are basically zero.
I keep hoping that a Pepys sits hidden at the cabinet table, and reports to his diary the PM's post-cabinet-sherry comments....
Comments
You mean the Canadian ad weakens Trump's position?
FWIW, with Trump, it's kinda hard to discern a DIRECT connection between any one of his embarrassments or scandals, and any damage to his political fortunes. Not that there hasn't been damage to his political fortunes, but you can't really pinpoint an exact event that pushed things in that direction, or in what way. Everything just kinda melts into a miasmal mist of negative publicity for the guy.
(Not saying he's neccessarily down for the count, just that, to whatever extent he IS damaged by the controversies surrounding him, it tends to be in an amorphous fashion.)
I'll be interested to see how the opposing blocs line up on the SCOTUS for this decision, because tariffs are one of those issues that don't break down cleanly along the political spectrum, but possibly moreso on the jurisdictional one.
I have a theory about how at least one particular justice will vote, but I don't wanna drag this too far away from Canadian politics.
Fair enough. Everyone's pretty just helplessly improvising on acid when it comes to handling Trump. I will say that I think that, while negotiations may have been proceeding along in a fruitless and irritating fashion, the precise timing of the recent suspension was, in fact, closely connected with the ad. I doubt Trump's logic was "Hmm, I need an excuse to break off negotiations with Canada? What's that? They criticized me in an ad during the World Series? Well, how d'ya like them bananas. Okay, go with that, I guess."
"Jurisprudential", not "jurisdictional".
This should be on a brass plaque handed to anyone planning trade strategies.
And on that theme, Carney has now apologized for the World Series ad.
I assume Carney is not thinking in terms of the platonic forms of right and wrong. Probably closer to the mental template of a hostage-negotiator planning out how to address a ranting bozo who's waving a loaded gun around in a strip-mall parking lot.
That being said, I do remain pretty undecided about whether it was Ford or Carney who made the right calls in this whole political event. I suspect Carney is taking his cue more from the early-Trudeau/Trump relationship(see photo-ops with Ivanka at the Resolute Desk; Pierre referenced in 2017 SotU), whereas Ford for whatever reason thinks a more antagonistic, in-your-face approach will work.
Ford is vulnerable to the charge of cheap populist-postuting, given that he's not directly answerable for the fate of the negotiations, but I still can't say with pure certainty that his approach is unhelpful.
Yeah, I was speculating there might be a good cop/bad cop routine going on.
Though, assuming Carney's not lying, he HAS stated that he was shown the ad, but counseled against running it.
In other news Ford confirms that Carney asked him to pull the ads - although he seems to be rather whiny about the whole thing. David Eby in BC has apparently decided not to run they ads they came up with - discretion better part of valour or something like that.
I keep hoping that a Pepys sits hidden at the cabinet table, and reports to his diary the PM's post-cabinet-sherry comments....