Tuesday, June 30, 2009

LiberalVideo - Michael Savage on the Accessibility Fund

Earlier this year, Michael Savage asks why 95% of the Accessibility Fund spending has gone to Conservative ridings and whether the Accessibility Fund has been turned into a slush fund.



Of course, this is hardly the first time we've had clear evidence of extremely slanted Conservative pork and preference, is it? And it won't be the last.


Please send LVD your political and news videos and clips and, subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure (hey, its our blog afterall), we will publish it. So send 'em all along, folks, in the comments or by email to tedbetts (at) yahoo.ca.

Friday, June 26, 2009

LiberalVideo - Michael Ignatieff meets China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi



Please send LVD your political and news videos and clips and, subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure (hey, its our blog afterall), we will publish it. So send 'em all along, folks, in the comments or by email to tedbetts (at) yahoo.ca.

LiberalMinute - Michael Ignatieff "Silent Scream Iran Vigil"

A video from Jason Lamarche of "Liberal Minute" of Michael Ignatieff's remarks last night in Vancouver at the Silent Scream Iraq Vigil.




Please send LVD your political and news videos and clips and, subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure (hey, its our blog afterall), we will publish it. So send 'em all along, folks, in the comments or by email to tedbetts (at) yahoo.ca.

Monday, June 22, 2009

LVD EXCLUSIVE - 52Gray - What Does Stephen Harper Stand For?

Exclusive release, that is. Sent to us just a few minutes ago, here's a new video ad from 52Gray:



Here's LVD's guarantee to you: send us your progressive/liberal video and we will* publish it. When an election comes in the fall, where do you think the media are going to go to find all those amateur video ads in one place? You got it: LVD. So send 'em all along, folks.

* Subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure. Hey, its our blog afterall.

Best GritGirl Video

As voted by the readers over the last couple of weeks, here is the favourite GritGirl video: "Jim Flaherty on the Recession", where Jim is caught out in a deliberate, bold-faced, outright, black-and-white lie about the economy and the recession.



The runner-up was "Harper's Conservatives: Shoot Canada Geese and Feed Them to the Poor?", in which GritGirl highlights one of the more unique and, um, caring stimulus proposals by the Conservatives.



For all of the other great GritGirl amateur political ads that have shaken the professional multi-gazillionaire Conservative political war machine so deeply they had to launch a multi-million dollar non-election ad blitz just to counter her, go here.

The GritGirl ads are great. I think the even greater thing about those ads is that they show us that anyone with a computer and a video editing program and a little creativity can scare the Conservative Party. Their position is that fragile and youtube ads are that easy to make.

Thank you to all of those who voted. Thanks as well to all of you who have been sending me links to their favourite progressive and liberal ads, videos and pictures, including their own creations. Please keep them coming.

Resistanceboy - Stephen Harper's Cruel Canada

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Friday, June 19, 2009

Willop77 - Stephen Harper's conservatives are lost

This Hour Has 22 Minutes - Michael and Gavin

You always have to like a guy who can laugh at himself. Especially politicians.

LAST DAY - Which is the best GritGirl video?

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE AND TELL US WHICH GRITGIRL VIDEO YOU THINK IS THE BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE AMATEUR POLITICAL VIDEO AD.

The poll ends at 4:00 PM today. Come on by and vote. The poll is located in the LVD sidebar. The winner will be announced on Monday.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Tory Patronage Mapped Out in Nova Scotia

Yes blogging can matter. Sometimes.

Parker Donham, a former journalist turned blogger, has meticulously gone through infrastructure stimulus spending in Nova Scotia, comparing the Nova Scotia provincial government "asks" with the federal "gives". His excellent mapping is set out below. Not surprisingly, it is heavily heavily lopsided toward Conservative ridings. Score it 5 out of 16 (31%) for the opposition parties and 17 out of 20 (85%) for the Tories.

















This story is now being picked up by the Chronicle-Herald. It has also gotten the attention of some bureaucrats inside the John Baird's ministry who do not like the way this blatant political pork is being doled out:

"I wondered how long it would take for the media to discover that the infrastructure stimulus spending has everything to with patronage, and nothing to do with what is good for the nation. [Deputy Minister Louis] Ranger [whose retirement was announced yesterday] was pushed out of the job and told, “We don’t want your advice” regarding the spending projects. Indeed, the woman who is the ADM in charge of the file has been specifically told by the Minster’s office, “We don’t want your advice; we want you to do as you’re told.”

Projects are selected based on the needs of the Conservative Member of Parliament in that riding as the first criteria. As a long time bureaucrat, I am used to dealing with politicians who revel in self-interest. Baird however, is the nastiest, most partisan creature to have ever run a large department. What is best for Canada isn’t even remotely of interest to him - what is best for his party and his own political ambitions drives his agenda entirely."

Conservatives: They're only in it for themselves.

UPDATE: It appears that a section of the only project approved in Scott Brison’s riding actually crosses the line into Tory Greg Kerr’s turf. So the tally should read:

Kings-Hants: 0.75 of 6.75; 11%.
West Nova: 2.25 of 3.25; 69%.

Ignatieff - Michael Ignatieff announces EI working group

Video of Michael Ignatieff announcing the EI working group he forced Harper to accept:



The video accompanied the following letter directly from Ignatieff:

Dear XXXXXX,

On Monday I insisted that it is time to replace confrontation with cooperation in the House of Commons. Following a series of meetings with Mr. Harper over the last two days, I’m pleased to announce that our hard work and commitment to progress has started to pay off. The government has made a number of concessions – most notably, an agreement to form an Employment Insurance working group that will work throughout the summer months to fix flaws and find a way to build regional fairness into our EI system, and to offer access to self-employed Canadians.

Mr. Harper has also agreed to a strict accountability timetable for the fall. The government will bring Parliament back early and deliver an additional accountability report to Canadians the week of September 28th. This report will be followed by a guaranteed Opposition Day – and further Opposition Days throughout the fall – allowing our Liberal caucus to hold the government accountable and bring forward a confidence motion, if that becomes necessary and is in the best interests of Canadians.

By achieving this outcome, the Liberal Party has demonstrated its commitment to putting the needs of Canadians ahead of politics by helping to make Parliament work. We have delivered progress and accountability while avoiding a summer election at a time when Canadians are more worried about the growing health care crisis and supporting their families through this recession.

I’ll continue to keep you up to date throughout the summer, and hope you will stay in touch as well.

Thank you,
Michael

Paul Wells - A Blue Ribbon Day

Paul Wells "videoblogged" ("vlogged"?) the "getting results for Canadians" events yesterday:

Which GritGirl video is the best?

Two days left to tell us which GritGirl video you think is the best.

The poll ends this tomorrow at 4:00 PM. Come on by and vote. The poll is located in the LVD sidebar. The winner will be announced on Monday.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Which is the best GritGirl video?

Three days left to tell us which GritGirl video you think is the best.

The poll ends this Friday, June 19 at 4:00 PM. Come on by and vote. The poll is located in the LVD sidebar.

Stephen Colbert on "Mad Man" Stephen Harper

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Which is the best GritGirl video?

Friday is the last day for voting to determine which is the best GritGirl video. Poll is in the sidebar.

This is what democracy looks like



Apparently, much of it happening because of Twitter.

And we complain because we have too many opportunities to vote. Remember this, please, when we go to the polls in five weeks or four months.

JJedras - Harper's infomercial

Michael Ignatieff responds to PM's "report"



Harper is still on probation... at least until Friday.

Does the Prime Minister want to have another election or not?

Monday, June 15, 2009

Shorter Ignatieff

Shorter Michael Ignatieff, in pictures:

First this:















Resulting in this:









And ultimately this:





Friday, June 12, 2009

Let's Go

Apropos of what this guy said and what this guy said, LVD provides our thoughts on the matter: it's pretty clear that you are not alone:

Here's what K-Maro thinks, and in both official languages no less:



Broadcast agrees:



The Fleshtones agree (with a mention of Toronto):



The Cars agree:



Ministry agrees:



It's pretty clear urban dwellers like Pharoahe Monch agree:



Redman too:



In case you thought there was an urban-rural divide on the issue, here's what Norma Jean has to say:



Even washed up '80s one-hit-wonders agree:

Positive Ad Challenge - Positive Politics (IAmSchembri)

A little while ago, the Young Liberals launched a "Positive Politics Video Challenge" to Liberals to come up with positive ads. LVD will be re-posting the entries here of the next couple of days for those who missed them the first time.

From I Am Schembri:



The campaign was very successful and marked a clear contrast with the Conservative multi-million dollar negative ad campaign that attacked Michael Ignatieff's character, patriotism and dedication to country. One party putting out grassroots videos offering a positive outlook for the country, the other party spending millions and millions of dollars, polling, focus groups, thousands of hours and all of the resources of the Conservative Party war room to try and tear down their opponents rather than speak positively of their own leader or (what they think are) their accomplishments.

Positive Ad Challenge - We Can Change the World (Fadielm)

A little while ago, the Young Liberals launched a "Positive Politics Video Challenge" to Liberals to come up with positive ads. LVD will be re-posting the entries here of the next couple of days for those who missed them the first time.

For his or her entry, Fadielm submitted the Ignatieff convention video:



The campaign was very successful and marked a clear contrast with the Conservative multi-million dollar negative ad campaign that attacked Michael Ignatieff's character, patriotism and dedication to country. One party putting out grassroots videos offering a positive outlook for the country, the other party spending millions and millions of dollars, polling, focus groups, thousands of hours and all of the resources of the Conservative Party war room to try and tear down their opponents rather than speak positively of their own leader or (what they think are) their accomplishments.

JJedras - Harper Wants to Raise Taxes

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Harper's Economic Update

Shorter Harper:

Positive Ad Challenge - Join the Party! (Sprawlville)

A little while ago, the Young Liberals launched a "Positive Politics Video Challenge" to Liberals to come up with positive ads. LVD will be re-posting the entries here of the next couple of days for those who missed them the first time.

From Sprawlville:



The campaign was very successful and marked a clear contrast with the Conservative multi-million dollar negative ad campaign that attacked Michael Ignatieff's character, patriotism and dedication to country. One party putting out grassroots videos offering a positive outlook for the country, the other party spending millions and millions of dollars, polling, focus groups, thousands of hours and all of the resources of the Conservative Party war room to try and tear down their opponents rather than speak positively of their own leader or (what they think are) their accomplishments.

Boy faints listening to Harper - Re-posted

Watch the supporter to behind Harper and to the right of the screen in this video, showing us all what he thinks of our Prime Minister. Notice how concerned Harper is? If he's a staffer, you know he's been fired by now.

Updated with the video embedded below:

Boy faints listening to Harper

Watch the supporter to behind Harper and to the right of the screen in this video, showing us all what he thinks of our Prime Minister. Notice how concerned Harper is? If he's a staffer, you know he's been fired by now.

Here's another copy of the presser:


via videosift.com

He faints near the end of this cut, but then the clip ends before showing Harper's reaction.

Positive Ad Challenge - New Politics (85honeywell)

A little while ago, the Young Liberals launched a "Positive Politics Video Challenge" to Liberals to come up with positive ads. LVD will be re-posting the entries here of the next couple of days for those who missed them the first time.

From 85honeywell:



The campaign was very successful and marked a clear contrast with the Conservative multi-million dollar negative ad campaign that attacked Michael Ignatieff's character, patriotism and dedication to country. One party putting out grassroots videos offering a positive outlook for the country, the other party spending millions and millions of dollars, polling, focus groups, thousands of hours and all of the resources of the Conservative Party war room to try and tear down their opponents rather than speak positively of their own leader or (what they think are) their accomplishments.

Positive Ad Challenge - Like Mike (ccronin84)

A little while ago, the Young Liberals launched a "Positive Politics Video Challenge" to Liberals to come up with positive ads. LVD will be re-posting the entries here of the next couple of days for those who missed them the first time.

From CCronin84:



The campaign was very successful and marked a clear contrast with the Conservative multi-million dollar negative ad campaign that attacked Michael Ignatieff's character, patriotism and dedication to country. One party putting out grassroots videos offering a positive outlook for the country, the other party spending millions and millions of dollars, polling, focus groups, thousands of hours and all of the resources of the Conservative Party war room to try and tear down their opponents rather than speak positively of their own leader or (what they think are) their accomplishments.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Positive Ad Challenge - Bold Vision (Dan Canada 1867)

A little while ago, the Young Liberals launched a challenge to Liberals to come up with positive ads. LVD will be re-posting the entries here of the next couple of days for those who missed them the first time.

From DanCanada1867:



The campaign was very successful and marked a clear contrast with the Conservative multi-million dollar negative ad campaign that attacked Michael Ignatieff's character, patriotism and dedication to country. One party putting out grassroots videos offering a positive outlook for the country, the other party spending millions and millions of dollars, polling, focus groups, thousands of hours and all of the resources of the Conservative Party war room to try and tear down their opponents rather than speak positively of their own leader or (what they think are) their accomplishments.

Positive Ad Challenge - Positive Values (William Norman)

A little while ago, the Young Liberals launched a challenge to Liberals to come up with positive ads. The campaign was very successful and marked a clear contrast with the Conservative multi-million dollar negative ad campaign that attacked Michael Ignatieff's character, patriotism and dedication to country. One party putting out grassroots videos offering a positive outlook for the country, the other party spending millions and millions of dollars, polling, focus groups, thousands of hours and all of the resources of the Conservative Party war room to try and tear down their opponents rather than speak positively of their own leader or (what they think are) their accomplishments.

LVD will be re-posting the entries here of the next couple of days for those who missed them the first time.

From WilliamNormanLiberal:

GarnetandGreyGrit - What does leadership mean to Stephen Harper?

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

LiberalVideo - Michael Ignatieff wishes Rt. Hon. John N. Turner a very Happy 80th Birthday!

YLCJLCVideo - Hi, I'm a Liberal #3 (Climate Change)

This is the third and (sadly) last of the Young Liberal's "Hi, I'm a Liberal" video series that took inspiration from the "Hi, I'm a Mac; And I'm a PC" Macintosh advertising campaign.

YLCJLCVideo - Hi, I'm a Liberal #2 (Cross-Dressing)

Another from the "Hi I'm a Liberal" series put together by the Young Liberals. This one I found particularly apt for today as Harper's Conservative Party continues to try to be all things to all people all the while telling Toronto to "f**k off" and while "rolling the dice" with nuclear technology and our healthcare.

YLCJLCVideo - Hi, I'm a Liberal #1 (Branding)

An oldie but a goodie:



If you have a link to some old but good Liberal videos or ads, please send the link along in the comments.

Poll - Which is the best GritGirl video (so far)?

On the sidebar, LVD has set up a poll which will close on Friday, June 18 at 4:00PM.

Let us know which one of the 11 GritGirl amateur video ads you think are the best and most effective.

To view the amazing GritGirl videos that inspired a youtubing army of followers (as highlighted here at LVD), click here or on "GritGirl" in the Labels on the sidebar or on our "Featured YouTubers" below.

Vote for as many videos as you want. Vote as often as you can. Leave your thoughts on the GritGirl phonomenon in the comments.

Monday, June 8, 2009

LobbyCanada - Stephen Harper: Just Leaving

FederalElection09 - Stephen Harper: Just Leaving

JJedras - Is this your Canada?

Ignatieff discussing the priorities of Canadians shared by the Liberals. This video was submitted as part of the Young Liberals of Canada Positive Politics Video Challenge.

JJedras - Harper and EI

JJedras - Stephen Harper's Nixonian tendencies

Ignatieff - Michael's response to Conservative personal attack ads.

A statement from Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Official Opposition, regarding the recent Conservative attack ad campaign.

JJedras - This Is A Very Serious Matter

ThirstyGrit - Harper's Uncertain Leadership - Steady Hand on the Tiller

JJedras - You Don't Fool Me

JJedras - Priceless #2: Conservative Deficit

JJedras - Priceless #1: Conservative Deficit

JJedras - The Government Got It So Wrong

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Journalia - The Harper Conservatives are breaking all the records!

ThirstyGrit - Harper's Uncertain Leadership - Steady Hand on the Tiller

ThirstyGrit - Stephen Harper Uncertain Leadership - Stock Advice

ThirstyGrit - Harper Moral Compass Equality and Human Rights

ThirstyGrit - Stephen Harper's Moral Compass

ThirstyGrit - Harper's Moral Compass Nothing but Attack Ads

ThirstyGrit - Harper Conservatives Hatching Attack Ads

ThirstyGrit - Harper Nixon

GritGirl - Stephen Harper Job Losses

GritGirl - The Harper Conservative's Massive Deficit

GritGirl - Harper's Friday the 13th

GritGirl - Harper and Mulroney: Two Conservative leaders in the news

GritGirl - Harper Conservatives vision for the CBC

GritGirl - La vision des conservateurs de Stephen Harper pour la Société Radio-Canada

GritGirl - Harper's Conservatives: Shoot Canada Geese and Feed Them to the Poor?

Friday, June 5, 2009

GritGirl - The G19: Where's Stephen?

GritGirl - "This Recession is mild"

GritGirl - Harper's Runaway Deficit

GritGirl - Emplois Perdus

GritGirl - The Job Losses Continue

GritGirl - Jim Flaherty on the recession

Featured YouTubers

Call them "youtubers", "videographers", "producers", "vloggers"... whatever... but there is a new generation of political messengers out there that have been producing some very fine video. Here LVD lists some of the best and most prolific, with a link to his or her YouTube home and to the LVD labels:

Michael Ignatieff (LVD Labels)

The Grit Girl (LVD Labels)

JJedras (LVD Labels)

ThirstyGrit (LVD Labels)

Come back to this page as it will be updated as the site grows.

Welcome to LVD - the Liberal Video Depot

'Remember that great youtube video from the last election...?'

This site has been set up as a depot for all of the great videos being put together by liberals and progressives.

No longer do you have to go google hunting for some video you missed or remember from long ago. From now on, you should be able to find it here.

Feel free to browse around and to send us suggestions of videos we're missing. While this is a Canadian political site, we welcome videos from US politics and anywhere else if they are good, interesting or something we can all learn from. We will also be posting some of the better and more interesting political advertisements out there.

Come back lots, because we intend to update this site regularly.