Thread by @danspeerin

Here's a thread about the Rempel & Scheer Cons using a heinous crime to drive off a cliff to "own the libs". I REALLY want to say this is rock bottom for #cdnpoli but then I look south & remember we have room left to fall. theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl…

FIRST OFF, I can't imagine what the Stafford family is going through. Do not mistake this thread as a defense of the prison transfer decision or being flippant to their loss. This thread is simply an examination of shrewd politics and false advocacy for political points.

Let's start with the basics. if you're for democracy and especially if you're against "Big Government" you really can't have the govt telling our law enforcement how to imprison specific people. That's sort of civics 101. Which is why we have procedure. But the Cons know this.

But you're saying "I can't think of a worse criminal, the LIBS should DO SOMETHING" Well perhaps we should ask Conservative Steven Blaney when he had Goodale's gig under Harper. He said THE SAME THING. (But the Cons know this) guelphmercury.com/news-story/392…

To recap so far: Blaney's is the exact same approach Goodale has taken in 2018 in regards to another despicable murderer. This works. Scheer wants our govt to begin telling our legal system how to imprison ppl. That's the definition of "Big Government". But the Cons know this.

Michelle Rempel disagrees, but she's being disingenuous. Her proof is that the Liberals did this before in 2002. But then too, it went through the same proper procedure. There was even a hearing on the subject. But the Cons know this. ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer…

But the Cons are also quite confident that you didn't have the time this week to look all of that up. They're also quite sure that their base will donate and click on propaganda like this "to own the libs". If the non-partisan happens to see this fake news in their feed - BONUS!

The Cons also know, that friends in their old reliable media circles will be there for them too. Putting the exact spin they need on it, with that usual subtle Post Media/Sun touch. And we haven't even got to the fake news brigade yet.

You can bet that they know, they have friends in online media (Scheer's former Campaign manager was an OG "Rebel") to share Rempel's rants. And you know if that outlet just happens to find a racial angle? Well that doesn't "speak for the party" 🤷‍♂️

And the Cons know as well, that if you build it, they will come. Because what's online media without fake news? Enter Ontario Proud right on schedule with the concept - that a killer is loose? Except kids, when we have bad actors in office, they can just go full Spider-Man meme.

And the Cons also know, that some times you get lucky. You play dirty and your opponent fumbles followed by a spectacular face plant. Now you can count on all of us to focus on the "real issue"... name-calling. Bonus points if you can sneak in that misleading talking point!

Of course by this point Conservative pundits can move on from that really gross thing you began with & focus on the drama of it all. And because some politicians and digital media outlets have driven off a cliff, this now feels like reasonable discourse.

And that's how we get from completely misrepresenting how democracy works to suggestions that a killer is loose. This wasn't about justice it was about PR and "owning the libs". But when the system works (because Goodale followed proper procedure) expect them to take the credit.

We're not in a 'constant campaign', we're in a constant branding exercise. It's not about democracy, or rule of law or good government, it's just marketing. Anything to get the base frothy enough to donate, share and show up. Welcome to the worst era of politics yet. #cdnpoli