The stupidity of Christy Clark (and her advisers)

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      I’m sure there are some readers who’ve been questioning Premier Christy Clark’s intellect for a while. Sure, she’s glib. And she’s demonstrated remarkable political street smarts to rise to such a lofty position in our province.

      But when it comes to wrapping her mind around complicated issues—such as addressing historical wrongs meted out to aboriginal people or dealing with sky-high pharmaceutical costs—she doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. And she’s proven herself to be remarkably inept in responding to climate change.

      The B.C. Liberals’ answer to these obvious shortcomings has been to turn Clark into a champion of the economy.

      That’s all she talked about during the leaders’ debate and at every campaign stop.

      Unfortunately for Clark, most British Columbians care about far more than just the rise in the gross domestic product or the latest employment numbers from Statistics Canada. (They haven’t been good for the governing party.)

      Voters are keenly interested in health care, education, fairness for aboriginal people, a better environment, housing, and honest government.

      In sharp contrast to Clark, NDP Leader Adrian Dix is talking about these topics on the campaign trail and his party has addressed them in the platform.

      Some might not like what Dix and the NDP are saying, but at least these subjects merit their attention.

      Clark, on the other hand, has brought a laserlike focus on the economy—and she and the fools managing her campaign actually think this is all that voters want to hear.

      This reflects a small-minded and dim view of the electorate. 

      Meanwhile, there's a Vancouver commuter paper out today with a front-page ad of Clark featuring more idiocy from the B.C. Liberal campaign.

      Under the headline "Comeback Kid", the paid message cites an Ipsos Reid poll showing that 44 percent of respondents thought that Clark sounded most like a premier during the recent televised debate. She was well ahead of the others.

      The same poll revealed, however, that 35 percent of respondents thought Dix won the debate. This compared to just 30 percent for Clark.

      More than a quarter of the Ipsos Reid respondents felt that Clark had lost, compared to just 11 percent who thought Dix was the loser.

      The "Comeback Kid" ad is yet another example of the B.C. Liberals treating voters like they're all a bunch of dolts.

      Is it any wonder that Clark and her friends are so far behind in the polls?

      Comments

      54 Comments

      RUK

      May 1, 2013 at 9:55am

      Eh...I don't know anyone who would vote for either party because they were better on First Nations, but the Xeni Gwet'in court decision may have killed the BC Treaty process anyway - interesting times for whoever gets this portfolio.

      I think the Libs are down because of Basi, Virk, and HST: in other word(s), Campbell, who resigned when his approval rating was something like 9%.

      Crusty is doing fantastically by comparison.

      As for her strategy, I don't know what else they can do but harp on the NDP as tax 'n spenders, untrue as that might be.

      Dan

      May 1, 2013 at 9:56am

      Absolutely moronic advertisement, truly displaying the desperation the Clark and the Liberals. Clark has constantly disputed the polls, not she is paying for a deceitful ad for her party touting them. Comeback kid……..from where, what a lark!

      I also love how the Liberals have been skewing every on line poll that can be skewed – 24 hrs., CKNW – you know the routine – delete history, refresh your page and repeat. I have no doubt there are many working on this scheme, because the legit polls are certainly not in favour of Clark! On-line polls – it’s a miracle – kind of like the Prosperity Fund and LNG! Oh, and that balanced budget!

      The only poll you can trust are the ones that cannot be manipulated – so that pretty well rules out the on line ones……..the Liberal operatives are hard at work!

      Farmsalmon4ever

      May 1, 2013 at 9:59am

      The liberals dont have 60,000 union members paying dues year round and campaigning year round on their behalf. By comparison this ad is peanuts. Many uniuon members are PO'd having milliuons taken fromn their paycheques being used to campaign for NDP

      Dianne

      May 1, 2013 at 10:27am

      Such generous thoughts Mr Smith....she's glib as is the party platform because the Liberal party is convinced many of the public dont care about serious issues that are mentioned in this article.

      They are so out of touch with real life for the so called average resident. Their judgement is skewed because of their silver spoon privileges.

      Too distant from what poverty and inequality bring, too uncaring about public funding for critical services like education and child care, housing and health care, and quite comfy with the 2013 version of users pay, individualism reigns supreme and "let them eat cake".

      Absinthe

      May 1, 2013 at 10:28am

      Given the fact the economy is shedding jobs right now, we've got a negative net intraprovincial migration, the lower mainland has become a gated resort for the absent wealthy, and the only people making money are RE related while we watch tech, film, etc. flee... I'm not so sure "economy" is a winning solution for Clark. And then, look at the sales numbers this spring in RE! Development and construction has been the biggest and loudest sector, at the expense of all other sectors, but this spring has already shaped up to be the end of the party. What happens when the beast dies? There will be no economy left. The smart money has already walked.
      So, no. Clark's economy stinks.

      sweep!

      May 1, 2013 at 10:49am

      Have Dix or Clark or cummins for that matter ever had a "real" job. You know, something we can relate to. We have 4 candidates in my riding, the big 3 and some nutbar dad angry with social services. Guess who gets my vote.

      MarkFornataro

      May 1, 2013 at 10:53am

      If BC's top lawmaker Christie Clark's stupidity litmus test was based alone on her running a red light with a reporter witness and her son in the car, and during an election campaign in which she has to pull out all the stops, she would pass with flying colours.

      cHriSTy

      May 1, 2013 at 11:09am

      If she's such a great "leader" as she claims, why has she tanked so consistently in public opinion polls?

      canali

      May 1, 2013 at 11:53am

      doesn't matter about crusty...i certainly won't be voting ndp either...(remember glenn clark and fast ferries, among other nonsense, anyone)...i'll vote conservative, ...heck even the marijuana party vs those losers in the NDP

      Alex T

      May 1, 2013 at 12:40pm

      Does Clark imagine that global warming will not impact our economy? That seems wilfully blind.