The federal election debate on foreign affairs, hosted by the Munk Debates on Monday, had a veritable buffet of burns, zingers, and disses.
Mulcair burns Trudeau on "pomp."
"I'll leave the pomp to you, Justin." #Mulcair zinger stings #Trudeau at the #MunkDebate http://t.co/Qqhm9Mfv8i https://t.co/8A4t2K9bKO
The burn: When Justin Trudeau talked about the "tremendous strength and pomp" with which Tom Mulcair announced his climate change plan, Mulcair countered with "I'll leave the pomp to you, Justin."
Burn level: 🔥🔥🔥
Methodology: Unlike many of the leaders' scripted lines, this one was actually off-the-cuff.
Harper burns C-51 opponents.
Trudeau burns Harper's dogsled.
When @JustinTrudeau visited the North, he heard firsthand what residents there think of Harper's "outreach" #elxn42 https://t.co/D2INKlqHIT
The burn: Talking about Stephen Harper's focus on the Canadian Arctic, Justin Trudeau said people he has spoken with up north say the prime minister is "big sled, no dogs."
Burn level: 🐕🐕
Methodology: This was... creative? Honestly, it was hard to know what to make of this one. It sounded like a zinger, and everyone seemed to react as thought it was. So OK, we'll count it.
Trudeau burns the country of Jordan.
Trudeau on Mulcair: “He doesn't support any free trade agreement. Oh no, there was one, the one with Jordan." #elxn42 #MunkDebate
The burn: While decrying the NDP's policy on trade, Trudeau said Mulcair has only supported one free trade agreement, "the one with Jordan."
Burn level: 😒
Methodology: Free trade with Jordan is... bad? Was this even a zinger?! It was certainly delivered like one.
Mulcair burns Trudeau for not writing his own lines.
Another Mulcair zinger to Trudeau: "He doesn't understand debates because he's used to having ppl write lines for him" (groans) #MunkDebate
The burn: Mulcair accused Trudeau of not understanding debates because he usually has other people writing his lines.
Burn level: 📝
Methodology: Even if Mulcair wrote this line himself (doubtful) this is the second time he's used it. He delivered the same burn in the French-language debate last week.
Mulcair burns Bob Rae, for some reason, then gets burned right back.
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The burn: While trying to pump up NDP governments as sound financial managers, Mulcair invoked Tommy Douglas's record in Saskatchewan — which he has done many, many, many times. When the audience groaned, he quickly pivoted. "I forgot I was in Toronto. I forgot there was one exception, but it turned out Bob Rae was a Liberal."
Burn level: 🔥🔥🔥
Methodology: Nice save, and good job on the drive-by burning of former Liberal MP Bob Rae (who served as NDP premier in Ontario in the 1990s).
Mulcair's entire "record" on the environment was when he was a Liberal. So I guess it didn't count. #cdnpoli.
The counterburn: Bob Rae rightly pointed out that if his record as NDP premier of Ontario didn't count because he ended up being a federal Liberal, then Mulcair's past as a Quebec Liberal minister doesn't count either now that he's the leader of the federal NDP.
Burn level: 🎷🎩💰🍔
Methodology: Who knows anymore.