Saturday, December 06, 2008

Dion for Prime Minister?

In a previous post I had mentioned the left seemed to be message challenged.

The left seems unable to communicate a coherent message, not because of the vast right-wing cabal arrayed against them, but because they're incapable of forming a message they can competently broadcast.


EXHIBIT A


This doesn't look like a "Youtube" video because it's hosted on Youtube, but because the focus is wrong, it's not shot at broadcast quality and they'd done less preparation than I do for a blog post.

  • 6:15-6:30 - The Liberals miss their promised deadline to deliver Dion's statement to the television networks.
  • 6:40 - Liberals arrive with a single tape at the press gallery in Ottawa. They were supposed to deliver two tapes: one in French, one in English. They arrived with a single tape in DVD-minicam format, which is not broadcast quality.
  • Shortly after 6:40 - The Liberals decide to run back to their offices -- a block away -- because the French portion of the tape needs another edit.
  • 7:05 - Liberal staffers are still in their offices as the networks go to air with the Harper address.
  • 7:07 - Harper's statement finishes and network anchors are forced to kill time as they wait for Dion's address.
  • 7:10 to 7:15 - Liberal staffers arrive back at the press gallery on Wellington Street with a DVD-minicam player that they had taken from their own offices, along with the associated cables. There is still only one tape, not two. A press gallery official tells the Liberals that the gallery is not the feed point and an argument ensues. The Liberals ask why they weren't told that earlier. The feed point is next door at the CBC building, which is the long-established feed play point for all network pools. The Liberals are informed that they need to be walked into the building by authorized staff.
  • 7:20 - English network anchors are still live on television, wondering where the tape is. CTV has still had no communications from the Liberals about Dion's address.
  • Approximately 7:15 - CBC receives the tape and begins dubbing into French and English versions. This takes about 10 minutes.
  • 7:28 - CTV decides to go off-air and back to regular scheduled programming at 7:30. CTV has still not seen a feed of the tape.
  • 7:28 - CBC incorrectly punches out the finished feed only to their network.
  • 7:30 - CTV signs off broadcast at scheduled time.

Dion and the Liberal party have to deliver the speech their lives and this is the best they can manage?

Having the video arrive late might be forgiveable if it was a brilliant, inspirational, passionate speech with perfect timing.

A speech which inspires a country to rally around a leader and challenges us to work together towards a common goal is what was needed.

Instead, we get amateur hour.

Related Links
Liberals apologize for late delivery of Dion video [CTV]
Miscues behind Dion TV address [Canoe]
Dion's missing TV tape: These guys want to run the country? [National Post]

Bonus Video

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