The Changing Game of Political Attacks

In other words, standard negative campaign literature, which, while distasteful to many, is entirely legal -- and, as noted above, is used by virtually every party. Interestingly, it seems that Trudeau did not opt in. According to Liberal caucus press secretary Kate Monfette, "he never used the cards referenced by the Conservatives."

That may have been a wise decision, as it would seem even the now standard negative campaign tactics employed by all parties can turn off potential voters

 

The Tories are masters of voter suppression - er, supporting the disengagement of opposition supporters.  They love their attack ads.  They believe politics is a bare-knuckle fight where whatever you can get away with goes.  As a result, they believe everyone else is playing the same game they are.  As such and with a growing burden of scandals of their own, Harper's Tories are doing the only thing they know how - digging up potential dirt on opponents and attempting to bait and switch.

 

Oops.

 

See, their way of playing the game isn't the only way of playing the game - in fact, I'd argue their approach is rather short-sighted.

 

When you aren't weighing the pros and cons of doing something you know is wrong, or of not thinking an action through, you're spending more time doing what you know to be right and making sure you've thought through the consequences. 

 

We'll see how committed the CPC are to their current approach - after all, that which adapts, survives.