Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is retiring from the attack ad business and taking a new approach to promoting his party. Stephen Harper's shark-like political tactics have forced the older and possibly more egg-headed Ignatieff to be more innovative in his bid for votes. To sharpen his image, Iggy has hired Vince Shlomi of Slap-Chop fame to be his personal 'persuasion coach'. Shlomi, a top authority on the infomercial genre of advertising, is going to work withthe leader to help him shed his academic image.

“I want to learn his subtleties of expression. The power of the well-placed eyebrow. I need to harness Vince’s magnetism to show Canadians that the Liberal party is cheap, practical and something they can't possibly live without, ” explains Ignatieff.

Michael Ignatieff rehearses his new pitch at a closed door
meeting with close Liberal supporters.

When asked for his take on the new liberal ad strategy, Stephen Harper brushed it off by calling it another attempt by the liberals to make Ignatieff appear young and fresh: “Canadians won't be fooled. This is another blatant attempt by Ignatieff to appear as though he possesses some measure of charisma, which clearly has no place
in Canadian politics. He will fall flat on his egg-head as usual.”

Despite his bravado, there are reports that the Prime Minister is currently in talks with former A-Team member
Mr. T. Perhaps Harper is learning a few eye-brow tricks of his own. However, it would seem that Ignatieff has the
advantage when it comes to mobility of facial muscles. At any rate, it would appear Mr. Ignatieff has the PM on the defensive, and Canadians may be in for some late-night political blood sport.

By Amelia Bainbridge / amelia@babbler.ca