Harper hypnotism

While watching the 2011 English language Federal Election debate, I had the sense that Mr. Harper was trying to hypnotize me -- all viewers for that matter. It was his voice, so flat and unmodulated, droning away, saying the same words and phrases over and over, his lips moving, but only just, his wide eyes staring at me, trying to hold my gaze. Those lips, that voice, the unending drone, the straight-ahead eyes had the effect of one of those old-time movie illusionists, the ones who used to chant, "watch the watch", who told us that we were getting sleepy, our eyes were getting heavy, and I expected at any moment to be clucking like a chicken or voting Conservative! I found myself getting up from the sofa and walking around to shake off the queasy feeling of leaving myself, of being sucked into the yawning void of "a majority", afraid I'd wake up and Canada would be led by a full-fledged Harper government, by Canada's Party, as I'm sure I heard Mr. Harper call his party at one point. If it hadn't been for Messrs Layton and Duceppe and their full-volume passion, and Mr. Ignatieff's occasional outburst of indignation, I might have fallen asleep, but then I might have dreamed about the wide-eyed stare and that terrifying, droning voice that made me wonder what he was hiding, made me ask myself, "What's he building in there?" (Thanks Tom Waits!)

Then on Tuesday, we tuned into the French language debate, sometimes listening in French because even with my mostly non-existent French I could pick up the pattern of the debate, partly from having heard most of it the day before, and partly because there was more than a hint of Ed Broadbent's wonderful French pronunciation (mine too, I confess), which leaves very little to the English -- or any other language -- imagination. When we switched to the translated debate, well, suddenly it was like watching tête à claques -- http://www.tetesaclaques.tv/oncle_tom_vid30_serie6 -- and there was Willy Waller trying to sell me a potato peeler! I know that with four men and four translators it was necessary to have very distinct voices, but the effect of the mix of accents, one very Scottish one, was to place me distinctly on the edge of giggling (sometimes giving in to the need) all night long.

My feeling today: I didn't get hypnotized no matter how effective some pundits thought Mr. Harper's performance. I wasn't convinced by Mr. Ignatieff to vote Liberal, though I was listening closely to him, so I'll wait for my local MP, Mr. Eyking, to come visit and tell me why I should. I was impressed by Mr. Layton's nothing-to-lose passion, his won't-back-down stance and his for-the-people policies. Mr. Duceppe clearly had his constituents in mind and though I'm always more than a little perplexed at having Separatists in Parliament, they have been elected and their leader does what he has been elected to do: work for Quebec's interests. I wondered how Elizabeth May would have adjusted to the format, forcing her to have quiet times, but also what she would have brought to the debate with her quick mind and her passion.

So half-way through this campaign I remain undecided, except for the fact that I won't vote for Mr. Harper.

By the way, there are some interesting web pages going up to get young people and women to vote. Here are a few worth checking out, and they will make you smile & maybe even cheer:

http://leadnow.ca/

http://shitharperdid.tumblr.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn5RzQCx7So&feature=youtu.be