Lately, our premier has been trying to fly under the radar.
She is making public appearances to boost her self-image. She touts the fact that the polls taken show her popularity as going downhill faster than an avalanche show nothing as they are Angus-Reid Polls. Nice way to say that she’s shaking in her boots but doesn’t want to show it.
She is beginning to put on some body armour in the hopes that no one will notice. The false sense of bravado and references to “what do the polls know,” don’t really fool people.
It’s too late for the armour. There are chinks in it. Some of these are: selling the fast-cats at scrap metal prices; unresolved B.C. Rail fiasco; the supposed Family First program; the dissension in the party ranks; the crossing of the floor by John Van Dongen; the teacher issues and the strong promise of a multitude of jobs in relatively short order and the ineptness of some key Crown corporations (e.g. B.C. Hydro and B.C. Ferries) just to name but a few things. These alone can create big chinks in the would-be Kevlar body armour.
To pretend that all’s well with the world might prove to be her undoing. The Liberals are badly wounded. To think that small band-aids here and there will make things better would be pure folly.
If things don’t change within the party, don’t be surprised to see more defections. Ms. Clark cannot pull off the “stiff upper lip scenario” that Sir Winston Churchill did.
The smug, false bravado put forth through public appearances will not play well with the average voter. The damage appears to be done. The polls would seem to indicate this whether she likes it or not.
Adrian Dix has not had to do much to improve his image or that of his party. The Liberals have assisted in this greatly through their inaction on promised issues and irrational action on some specific issues that needed proper addressing like child poverty, health and job creation to name but a few. Issues like these make Adrian Dix and the NDP look good. However, as we all know, looks can be deceiving. It brings up the question of “do we vote for positive change or the lesser of the evils?”
Damage control itself won’t be enough, in my opinion. There would have to be a party regenesis for any chance of recovery in the polls.
The chances of that happening seem pretty remote based on the attitude of the premier on prime issues like B.C. Rail and Families First along with the dumping of the Fast Cats for pennies on the dollar.
Ron Barillaro
Penticton