That's debatable.

Watched the provincial election debate last night and surprised myself by actually enjoying some of it.

Forget Gerry Reid. I know the man is doing a job that nobody else wanted and he at least had the cajones (or self-delusion) to step up and be at the front of the room for his caucus. But I absolutely despise everything the man stands for. He criticizes the government simply for the sake of criticism itself. Williams is right--he's just a negative person who, left to his own devices, would certainly drag Newfoundland thirty or forty years into the past. He doesn't seem to get it at all that in order to get anywhere, we all have to row this big ol' boat together. Nothing wrong with asking the captain if he's sure we're headed in the right direction or telling him when the boat is leaky or we need a couple of new oars, or there's a definite storm on the horizon. But Fletcher Christian was a bit deluded too and Captain Bligh (taskmaster though he was) at least knew how to navigate rough seas.

I thought Lorraine Michael, NDP leader, was the surprise of the night. I didn't really expect much from her. She seems like a smart lady, very nice, and all that. But I never saw her as someone who was capable of being leader of the opposition before. Well, now I do. She not only spoke extremely well--more articulate in her vision and very specific in her examples of what needed to be done better--than either of the other two party leaders. I'm still not sure I'd want her leading the government (which won't happen anyway), but I like that she showed she coudl stand up to Danny Williams without being disrespectful or ignorant. I was really impressed with her and if you judge "winning" a debate by how many minds you are able to convert from the original position, then I think she won, easily.

Danny Williams was himself, plain-spoken, straightforward, and sensible. There were some questions he didn't answer directly and now and then he makes me a bit squeamish with his methods of getting things done. He was a bit confrontational about things that really didn't require confrontation, such as when Michaels said that she'd gotten phone calls from disgruntled voters late at night. Williams said it bothers him that she would say that because that just makes him look bad. Well, fair enough. But she says it happened and I believe her. Maybe it was only once or twice, but the fact is, she can't take it back just because it implies someone isn't doing their job properly. It was a small point that Williams made bigger by attacking the messenger.

Still, Williams didn't hurt himself at all in the debate. He's still the people's choice and will remain so until, or unless, he slips up badly soon or in the coming years.

Michaels will gain a lot more support after last night, maybe even enough to gain a couple more seats. It won't take more than a handful to become the official opposition. We'd all be better off if that happened.

As for Gerry Reid, well, hopefully those poor old souls who have always voted liberal because their fathers and grandfathers voted Liberal will finally give up the ghost and vote for progress and positivism instead of negativity and fear-mongering. If he lost his Twillingate seat tomorrow, it wouldn't be too soon, as far as I'm concerned.

Scores on the debate:

Williams- B+
Michaels- A-
Reid- D