LEAVE IT TO THE CANADIANS TO ELECT A TV STAR DOG:

Harper can learn from Diefenbaker campaign (ALLAN LEVINE, Jan. 3, 2006, Toronto Star)

Across the country, voters had had enough. The Liberals had displayed an unacceptable arrogance — and for far too long. They had rammed through a controversial bill to build a pipeline; shown wanton disregard for taxpayers' money; and introduced a less than satisfactory budget. Their leader looked old and tired.

Worst of all, they maintained, despite all evidence to the contrary, that they knew what was best for Canadians.

When Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent called an election in the spring of 1957, the Liberals had been in power since William Lyon Mackenzie King had defeated R.B. Bennett's Conservatives in 1935. They believed that they were the "natural governing party" and entitled to rule for as long as they deemed fit.

Sound familiar? [...]

As prominent Ottawa journalist Blair Fraser wrote a few months before the vote, "Political historians may well conclude that the Liberals fell, not because of any one policy, and certainly not a pipeline policy of which the average voter knew little and cared less, but because they failed to observe the proper limits of power."

As for Diefenbaker, he was a charismatic force on the campaign trail.

Whereas, St. Laurent appeared weary and was portrayed as "yesterday's man," Diefenbaker, although he was 62 years old (St. Laurent was 75), seemed fresh and honest.

He railed against the Liberal "dictatorship" and the party's "mockery" of Parliament during the pipeline debate. More important, he had a vision about a "new national policy" and "one unhyphenated Canada" that would restore the country's sagging spirit.

Dump Harper and nominate Constable Benton Fraser.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 6, 2006 5:03 PM