Manning Sound Bites 2 - Listening

The first installment of Manning Sound Bites deals with the Minister's propensity to blame others or avoid answering at all - questions regarding background, experience, and suitability for the job.

Today we will deal with - listening.

As Paul Davis touts that his administration will listen to the people - one would expect Ms. Manning to be a good listener.

This sound bite and the others I will write about all come from Ms. Manning's interview with David Cochrane (On Point). Listen HERE 

Cochrane: You mentioned just a few minutes ago that you're contemplating legislative changes as part of the public safety Agenda. I guess I'm curious - how do you plan to advance that public safety agenda where you're not elected because legislative changes are legislation which has to be done in the House of Assembly. So you can't table legislation - you can't champion it and you can't debate it in the House. How do you make this work from outside the legislature.

Manning: Well I'd just like to correct you a little - on one point there. I'm certainly sitting at the Cabinet table and I'm certainly able to champion legislative changes at the Cabinet table.

The first thing Manning does is correct Cochrane on something that he was not incorrect on. Cochrane was surely referring to all the things she could not do in the House and asked her specifically what she could do outside the House. Sitting at a Cabinet table is not in the House of Assembly and Cochrane's reference was certainly championing inside the House. You should also note the continued condescending tone Ms. Manning uses with Cochrane with phrases - such as "I'd just like to correct you a little". The Minister comes across as patting a little child on the head and helping to correct the mistakes they might make.

The Minister continued...

Manning: You're absolutely right I will not be sitting in the House until such time as I'm elected and I'm looking forward to having that happen as soon as possible.

Right after applying a little correction she points out on the matter of her not sitting in the House - that Cochrane is absolutely right. Wow - she gave Cochrane that one - imagine he was right that she would not be sitting in the House. It was a perfect display of patting the child on the head and encouraging them for at least getting half of his statement right.

Secondly of course is the false and misleading statement that she's looking forward to getting elected as soon as possible. Clearly Ms. Manning has chosen to avoid that opportunity - and very publicly so. The Minister is NOT listening to the people and neither is Premier Davis. It is abundantly clear the people want her to seek election now - in one of the by-elections. That will not happen.

On the continued claim that Minister Manning is under unusual scrutiny - well yes if you compare it to an elected MHA moving into a Ministerial portfolio. The people of the province usually provide a honeymoon period - wherein they mostly overlook flubs - however - this individual received an extraordinary appointment. When the Premier reached outside the body elect and plucked this person out of thin air - there is no honeymoon - as the extraordinary talents and experience she must possess for such an extraordinary appointment would mean she's hit the ground running right?

To date Minister Manning is not demonstrating a real talent for listening - instead the message seems to be - look at me - I am polished - listen to me - I am well-spoken - and by all means understand that I empathize with anybody beneath my station. Arrogance and unjustified superiority? Ms. Manning comes across as feeling entitled - and as such why should she have to justify anything?

Ms. Manning does not seem to understand the basic premise of her position. She is there to serve the people not to address her subjects from a respectable distance.

A PC Interim Leader on the way

Listening to our Premier today convinced me that Ms. Dunderdale is on her way out. She is now musing about reflecting, reviewing, revisiting, and reacting to the very loud and disapproving voices of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Dunderdale even mused on a leadership review - a sure sign that this by-election was not just another seat. If the Tories had retained the district - the grumbling government members might have bought the Ross Reid happy message a little longer. The loss of Carbonear - Harbour Grace - coupled with crashing polls - spells an end to her leadership.

So the dance begins - which of the upstarts wants to put the political knife in first? No doubt she's feeling a couple of them already.

I guess the permanent back-up finance Minister could do the Interim Premier bit as well. But with the Tories unable to come up with even an interim Finance Minister (other than Marshall - over and over) the talent pool appears shallow for an interim leader.

I think Darin, Terry, and Keith have a plan - the boys kind of see themselves as the male version of Susan, Joan, and Kathy. Just imagine their glee when the girls leave the roost.

Our Premier seemed really confused when interviewed today on the by-election loss - looked to the sky and wondered how they got to this place.

Muskrat, Abitibi, Fishery, Ferries, Roads, Come by Chance, and spending like drunken sailors comes to mind. Then there's the secrecy, arrogance, and dismissal of local small businesses. Yes that's right I almost forgot - 65 of them spread throughout the province - speaking to hundreds of people each - every day. Lastly there is this continued confusion about who our Premier works for - Danny? Nova Scotia? Emera? Ed Martin? or Stephen Harper?

I believe the Premier is going to have a snowy walk moment any day now and either Roving Tom is going to fill-in or the boys aforementioned will start implementing their plan.