LFCCMCCUJ Volume 12

To quote a politician who is no longer relevant... "An election is no time to discuss issues". This blog follows that to the letter. For the rest of us we are using skills handout #1 and are bored...

The use of RIDICULE skill # 4 in your handout, is a major component in all campaigns. The key to good ridicule is to make it seem like you are really giving your opponent a compliment. A backhanded compliment increases the power of the ridicule and make us laugh in disgusted agreement. Ridicule is most effective when the candidate has a rabid uninformed base with something insignificant bonding them... a poster... saying... colour... thus freeing them from the confines of intelligence, self respect or experience. Yes we can... colour coordinate... As a comic it is your chance to use exaggeration, skill #1, to emphasize the ridicule.

Currently the #yycvote and The Facebook is filled with ridicule between Bob4Mayor and Nemshi4Mayor. The irony of course is neither register on the radar of voters... but hey who wants to remind them they are behind... it would spoil the fun...

Bob4Mayor uses ridicule to point out Nemshi4Mayors lack of experience and from intellectual smugness. Most Tweets are highly personal or not nearly personal enough... classic ridicule...

"I'm sure he has gotten really good grades on his ideas"

"For an academic with no real experience he has been able to rally his students"

"I admire the colour selection... purple... to wear the purple and be called "Your Worship" fits him well"

Nemshi4Mayor is going after Bob4Mayor's looks with a sadness at how out of touch he has become. I know condescending is a harsh word but there is nothing like it in the English language that fits...

"What ever happened to the old Uncle Bob?"

I like that Bob4Mayor has tunnel vision... plays to his strength"

"A mayor should accommodate disabilities... so when there is an internet poll or forum lets wait until Bob4Mayor's grandson is around... to help get him online..."


Barb4Mayor is getting her ridiculing from all sides and for the obvious reason... they challenge her experience... There was a chance Barb4Mayor would be open to ridicule about her ties to big money... until she released her donors list... wow...that's all really?

"What channel is her campaign again?... I don't watch TV"

"I want to run a television station too but I would turn one on before applying"

"Her policies are great but could use some editing in post production"


Ric4Mayor gets the ridicule over his experience and ability to connect with others. It is too early to determine the effect of showing the 7 Aldermen in his pocket will have... but all signs point to it becoming a ridicule touchstone...

As a front-runner he has to expect to take lots of shots... and we have not been disappointed. As a comic... priceless...

"If Ric4Mayor had been able to convince anyone on Council his ideas were good it would be easier to debate him"

"I believe Ric4Mayor know where the waste is in City Hall he chaired most of the committees"

"I don't have any Aldermen in my pocket but I can only assume the effort and positions required to do so would be beyond me"

Oscar4Mayor is a great example of reverse ridicule (reverseacule?). When his campaign started he was ridiculed as being a fringe loose cannon with too much time and money but the more he speaks... the more sense he makes. It's tough to ridicule someone who has Calgary's financial interest at heart.

"Whoever wins should give Oscar a hall pass good for any Council meeting... then we can video the journey when they throw him out... can you believe it?"

The rest... well... let's hope they do something ridicule worthy in the coming week...

The Facebook is expanding ridicule from beyond the normal confines of a campaign and candidate. Anyone who is able to type, preferably with limited grammar and spelling skills, may now enter the debate in hopes they too will find a following. Like failed comics who think they know something about politics because they ran for mayor once... pathetic but common...