We'll have ads! (just nothing to talk about in them)

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Hate to pick on Jack and the Dippers, bless their perpetually aggrieved souls, but a news release they sent out today accidentally makes a not-so-uplifting point about where priorities lie in politics today.

Here is an excerpt of that release, touting their election readiness. See if you can spot what's missing:

Campaign manager: Ready. Last week, Jack Layton named current National Director and former Director of Strategic Communications Brad Lavigne as the party’s campaign manager.

Candidates: Ready. The party has 250 ridings with candidates lined up. (New Democrats prefer that local ridings run nomination meetings, which is a longer process than merely appointing candidates.)

Campaign plane: Ready. New Democrats have an agreement with Air Canada for an Airbus A-319 – the same plane as the party used in the 2008 election.

Advertising agencies: Ready. New Democrats have hired Toronto-based Wills and Co. Media Strategies for English and Montreal-based Amen Creation for French language advertising.

Campaign financing: Ready. New Democrats will be spending the legal maximum in this election – the first time the party has been able to make such a commitment two elections in a row.

So we know they have money, people, and even transportation. What they fail to deem necessary is a platform, or any mention of any policy ideas at all.

Apparently, an explanation of what you plan to do if elected and how you plan to do it is no longer considered an important step in preparing for an election. At least not as important as lining up that ad agency.