Wednesday 5 October 2011

2011 Liberal Campaign Post-mortem

The creepy medical term belongs in a 2011 Manitoba Liberal election campaign review title. A lone Doctor wins, health care a major issue....

... death of the Manitoba Liberal party the headline.

My two top favorite Grits, Roldan and Paul, did not win their seats. There were many other Libs running who would have served Manitoba well, yet the loss of Paul and Roldan for such good public office smarts in most all of our pants. We got a double-ass-kick there.

So thanks first-past-the-post. Thanks NDP fear-based campaign. Thanks inept PC campaign. Big thanks to the Federal Liberals for the last election (our Grits dropped 2 points overnight in May, check 308 and see it graphed out all pretty and simple. The Strawberry crush took a major hit, hard to get traction during... such speculation about the Liberal brand Federally. That is the big story never really told.)

Thanks a bunch, all of ya'.

Dr. Gerrard's win has me looking around the 'hood with more respect this morning. I admit being concerned last week. The NDP and PC campaigns added together might (and I say _might_) have given the Gerrard team a problem in certain alternate universes. Thankfully, back here on Earth 1, Dr. G. will represent the good people of River Heights for 4 more years. Good job, River Heights.

And so will Dr. Gerrard be the MB Grit leader, you ask...?

Who knows, right? Maybe as a job, maybe as a role model. Either way, he leads us by example. The rest is semantics and duty sets.

I'll tell you this: I am a selfish beast. I would rather have Jon just be our MLA. Not anyone else's. Just ours. Creepy how selfish I am, eh? But this is my true heart speaking. If he worked 80% as much, but just focused on River Heights, imagine....

Let's see what happens. We have him 4 more years in any event. Phew.

In the meantime.

Martin Morantz, the fiery tough-on-crime-and-crappy-back-lanes newbie from River Heights, gave the Grits a lesson in campaigning. Learn up, Grits, 'cause Professor Marty showed you something important.

A campaign does not start 1 year (or less) before the election, unless you love losing very, very badly.

In your case, Bison Grits, the next election starts today.

Or not at all.

Get brave today, or extinct tomorrow.

Get creative today, or silent tomorrow.

Get busy today, or sit the next one out.

Best look deep in your souls, folks. See if a true public servant lives there. Look for the nerve to do the deed. Check for ability, dedication, cooperative tendencies, vision, and principles.

If you find them, use them right now. Right now.

If you don't, then figure out something... different. Seriously. Best of luck, no hard feelings.

If you can't figure out what is really wrong with the government in Manitoba, then go home. If you have not learned by now (from Marty and Jon) how one campaigns effectively, then you likely never will.

If you don't understand the lessons in Dr. G's living lecture, then deal with it, and move on.

(Cheat Sheet: Its all about public service, right?)

Move on, and give us our MLA back. You have had him long enough. We'll elect him as an independent if he runs again. We'll elect him as a Green. We'll elect him as a Tory, or a Dipper. Or some new party even. No matter what, we'll elect him for another solid 4 years of good effort.

Get it?

You better hope you get it.

(And hey, oh, ummm... Federal Liberals. Catch this: if the MB Grit party folds, you likely fold next. Mark those words, kids. I really like you, Sheila, and you too, Bob. Still, prophecy is prophesy, and a soothsayer told me so.)

I will 'blog' for 4 more years, regardless. Sound fiscal management and social justice, right?

Right.

See you soon, Kings and Queens of Orange.

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