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I don't think attacking teachers today - suggesting they're crazy for demanding BASIC rules and resources to keep schools safe...
("Everyone else in Canada gets along with us!" he said)
Will go over well. Doug Ford is rapidly blowing up the tentative good will of Ontarians.
("Everyone else in Canada gets along with us!" he said)
Will go over well. Doug Ford is rapidly blowing up the tentative good will of Ontarians.
The constant fatal flaw of this govt is partying like it's 1995 and assuming the public is hostile to teachers.
That world is gone.
And it also ignores one of the core reasons PCs lost so badly in 2003 and were beaten by unpopular Liberal govts in every election until 2018.
That world is gone.
And it also ignores one of the core reasons PCs lost so badly in 2003 and were beaten by unpopular Liberal govts in every election until 2018.
In 2003 Ontarians weren't just angry about about Walkerton and SARS, they were sick to death of petty wars they blamed on the PCs.
They wanted it to stop.
And that's a big reason voters were scared of voting PC even when McGuinty pissed them off.
They wanted it to stop.
And that's a big reason voters were scared of voting PC even when McGuinty pissed them off.
I know that because I knocked on doors in that election for Janet Ecker because I was her MO staff. Every second door "you guys are constantly fighting, year after year. No more. Get the hell off my porch."
Or they would reference family who were teachers or nurses.
Or they would reference family who were teachers or nurses.
That election was my final official moments as Conservative. (In fact 2003 was my first vote for the NDP which I kept pretty quiet 
.)
The PCs lost FOUR elections in large part because the voters don't trust them with teachers and education: they want labour peace. Not war.
.)The PCs lost FOUR elections in large part because the voters don't trust them with teachers and education: they want labour peace. Not war.
It's only in 2018 that enough voters are willing to give the PCs a chance, and only in a blind rage over hydro bills.
*YET they hesitate.*
Voters still don't trust them. They're second guessing. And feeling the NDP are a viable alternative to OLP. The NDP begin surging.
...
*YET they hesitate.*
Voters still don't trust them. They're second guessing. And feeling the NDP are a viable alternative to OLP. The NDP begin surging.
...
The key moment of the 2018 election:
After this debate - with this line having the biggest impact - the PCs regained lost ground and marched to a majority, arresting the NDP surge.
This crafted line together with racist false outrage attacks, stole back hesitating voters.
After this debate - with this line having the biggest impact - the PCs regained lost ground and marched to a majority, arresting the NDP surge.
This crafted line together with racist false outrage attacks, stole back hesitating voters.
Doug Ford promised respect for teachers and public servants!
"No one will lose their job" = labour peace = don't worry I won't go to war with teachers and unions.
*The PCs had to overtly promise voters they wouldn't be the Mike Harris PCs to get over the top.*
"No one will lose their job" = labour peace = don't worry I won't go to war with teachers and unions.
*The PCs had to overtly promise voters they wouldn't be the Mike Harris PCs to get over the top.*
The "I'm not Mike Harris I won't go to war!" strategy was actually initiated early in the first days of the campaign.
Apparent here in an exchange with Premier Wynne at the City Debate:
Apparent here in an exchange with Premier Wynne at the City Debate:
Voters obviously didn't buy Doug's "I'm not Mike Harris I like teachers and nurses" line. Hence NDP surge (plus a well calibrated campaign).
That's why for the final debate - the voters' last impression - Ford pleads with a desperate promise to prove he won't war with teachers.
That's why for the final debate - the voters' last impression - Ford pleads with a desperate promise to prove he won't war with teachers.
