Image makeover signalled by surprise announcements and media outreach

Some of his old bully style was evident when he spoke of Bill Casey the Nova Scotia MP who voted against the Conservative budget because of Harper's position on equalisation. Harper said clearly he was not welcome back into the caucus and when there was an election he would not be recognised as a candidate.
The Afghanistan panel is simply puke politics as I call it. He manages to avoid the Afghan issue because his own position is for it to go on as long as George Bush wants it to. As another article mentions our mission is all about our relations with the US and the makeup of the panel shows that too as Thomas Walkom has pointed out. (See his article in my blog!!)
No doubt there is an attempt at an image makeover. His handlers better keep Bush's lapdog on a short leash or get the dog whisperer to coach him or Harper may forget and poop in public. The dog whisperer could certainly help the Liberals out too. Dion must be trained to be a pack leader and not let Rae and Ignatieff and others run loose or yap at his heels.

Image makeover signalled by surprise announcements and media outreach

Rebranding initiatives follow on advice to steer to the centre and soften up.

OTTAWA, October 12, 2007: Today Stephen Harper held another surprise impromptu-style news conference as one of a string of pre-election announcements intended to soften his image and portray himself as a moderate. He appointed a committee of well-known Canadians, most with conservative leanings and histories but whom he is portraying as "non-partisan", to offer advice to Parliament on Canada's mission in Afghanistan.

Panel members include:
- former Liberal cabinet minister and leadership contender John Manley, described by Reuters as a "Liberal hawk";
- journalist Pamela Wallin, who worked with Manley as an organizer of the "Canada Loves New York" rally after the September 11, 2001 attacks;
- former Mulroney cabinet minister Jake Epp;
- Derek Burney, former chief of staff to Brian Mulroney; and
- Paul Tellier the corporate executive who privatized CN Rail after serving as Brian Mulroney's privy council clerk.

Harper gains some leverage to claim he is a moderate person who listens by creating this commission. The panel is to report in January 2008, well after any fall election that might be called.

Another surprise came yesterday with the announcement of the first new funding in years for VIA Rail's passenger service. By no coincidence, the $700-million announcement took place in Jim Flaherty's home riding in suburban Toronto, a principle election battleground and a place where it is extremely important for the Conservatives to appear as moderates. After years of clamouring for passenger rail funding, transit and environmental advocates are thrilled with the new money, With no new program commitments involved and a large budget surplus to deal with, the new funding was no problem for the prime minister.

Prior to that came Harper's new agreement with Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald over equalization payments. Critics say the deal is the sort of thing Harper condemned when he introduced his new equalization formula last spring. "Cutting the deal meant that Mr. Harper had to give in, tacitly admit a mistake, and do what he said he would not do ink a new 'side deal'," wrote Campbell Clark in the Globe and Mail. "It has become clear that despite his reputation, Mr. Harper is willing to back down when it's to his advantage."

Harper has been avoiding the national media for most of his term in office. Today's announcement marks the second time in two weeks that he has faced reporters on an impromptu and relatively informal basis. This too marks a change in tone, as Harper tries to play down his aggressive and bullying image - as his advisor Tom Flanagan and mentor Brian Mulroney suggested - in preparation for an election that may not occur this year but certainly will come by next spring