"All words are symbols that represent unspeakable realities. Which is also why words are magical." (Donald Miller tweet)

Friday, April 08, 2011

the contestants

As mentioned - Canada votes on May 2. Except me. I'm at a conference. I vote before May 2. (I need to find out when that actually happens...hmmm....)

Anyway, for your information, I list for you each party's website and my first random impressions, based on a 10-second scan of that website.  Listed in backwards alphabetical order.  I am NOT reviewing the Bloc Quebecois.  Because I'm not.


New Democrats
First thing I saw - Jack Layton is BIGGER. I think the point was that there's an NDP app for the ipad which of course is bigger than the iphone, and so there's a change in size. But it made me giggle. Also, I saw a headline about cheating Senators and immediately thought hockey. What has happened to me, that I think hockey before government when I see "Senators"? Wow. That was a personal surprise. This website has a lot of orange and a place to find your candidate.

Liberals
Red. Ignatieff is skinnier than I thought. Instantly saw the "read our platform" headline and it made me happy.  I wanted to click, but 10 seconds isn't enough time. But I will definitely go back and click it. Lot of Harper-hating. Of course.  Hmmm, what are the odds that I'll see Ignatieff-hating on the Conservatives' page?

Greens
Simple. Clean. Inviting. Wow, apparently I like the colour green, and I like the use of the phrase "turn over a new leaf". Get it? Greens are environmental - "leaf" - oh come on, you get it, right? I noticed a headline at the bottom that said something sinister like, "What the networks don't want Canadians to know." I kinda want to read that, only because it sounds like the beginning of a conspiracy-theory movie.

Conservatives
Blue, with a lot of Canadian red. Glossy. A picture at the bottom of Ignatieff, which certainly will not be friendly, but I didn't look closely. Something about lacing shoes for a skater. I see photo opps, lots of video and pics. And not just Ignatieff-hating. Layton and Duceppe are in there too.

So there you are, and here's a radical notion - maybe click on any of the above links and take a look yourself at the platforms and policies. I know, crazy right? Does anyone DO that?

*small voice* I do. Sometimes.

Also, and this is important, you can make money off our federal election. What would YOU do with $160? Oooohhhhh, the possibilities!!!!

See you on debate night. For a preview of my debate-reviewing-style (as well as a good laugh), click here. It is definitely more entertaining than any of the other click-ables in this post.

PS Feel free to express your political opinions in the comments, but if you get super ranty or obnoxious I might mock you a little bit. Or delete you. Because I can.