The beginning of the public audits.
If there are folks out there saying there must be a decisive move to occupy some other space on the political spectrum, that’s just crazy. We’ve seen that fail in Canada, we’ve seen that fail elsewhere. That doesn’t work.
And because it’s never too early for leadership speculation:
There are two ‘litmus tests’, if you will, for my next Conservative leader. Fiscal prudence and a decided preference for decentralization. My current favourite is Maxime Bernier, but for only two reasons. I know he tends towards liberty and he isn’t afraid to voice his views, I don’t know his views on spending.
One of the downsides of the Harper years is that I don’t actually know what other contenders think.
How about a CPC platform based entirely on freedom? You’d need a full explanation of why freedom-based policies are essential for a high standard of living and a happy populace.
I’ve long thought that Stephen Harper’s worst fault was not communicating to the country why he was carrying out certain policies. People need explanations of why they can’t have what they want, or why they’re getting policies they don’t like. Even small children deserve explanations for parents’ actions they dislike but which are nevertheless good for them.
I agree that not knowing much about what CPC subordinates believe is a problem. It was nice to see some Conservatives that I’m favourable to get re-elected, like Bernier, and some I didn’t like go down, like Oliver.
I am afraid that Prime Minister Harper will have had enough of the media antagonism and will retire from political life, as he has from the leadership. I still think he is the best Prime Minister we have had, and this from a guy whose Engineering Degree was signed by John Diefenbaker.
There is a marvelous Youtube with Christopher Monckton predicting the decline of the Australian P.M. and the Canadian P.M. due to climate change activists. Search for yourself.
Agenda 21 is a big issue. It is not environment, it is economic control.
Spread the word….
Joined the Reform Party circa 1988 in Lloydminster after listening to Preston Manning at a rally. Voted for Stock Day for leader, and Stephen Harper. Been a member most of the years since that rally. Still think Harper was the best PM I’ve seen in my 61 year lifetime.
As for our next leader?
He/she has to be ready and capable of winning the next election, full stop, end of story.
I do not…NOT…want to work through a list of wannabes over the next ten years, elected primarily on the basis of the purity of their ideological adherence to doctrine. Harper won, first and foremost because he was pragmatic, however underscored by conservative values and ideals. Harper failed in the end because he lost his sense of vision for the future. Politics at the top will do that to leaders over time…almost inevitably. As do all governments eventually, this one, too, defeated itself. Get over it, and move on!
The most successful leader I’ve ever witnessed was W.A.C. Bennett. Small “C” conservative, pragmatic as they come, always with a vision for the future of British Columbia that he had no problem communicating. No leader in the history of Canada accomplished more for their province or Canada than did he; he remains second to no one.
Lastly, if we want to win the next election, we will do so by uniting people with diverse ideas regarding “conservatism”, not by dividing them. The voting public, by far for the most part, does not give a rat’s unowhat about ideological purity of either conservatism or progressivism.
I could go through the list of names being tossed about, but what for?
There’s only one man for the job, and he’s so obviously the right man that he was first on everyone’s…meaning EVERYONE’S…radar: Brad Wall.
All the exact right characteristics and qualities and experience that the next leader of the CPC must have in order to win back the trust and support of the majority of voters. This is a no-brainer.
All we have to do now is convince him to run, starting with a flood of letters to that end. (Brian Lilly recently mentioned that Wall has been learning French…I doubt he’s doing this is for his own amusement.)
IMHO.
Wall will have his hands full in Saskatchewan in April. There’s a quiet backlash brewing.
Unless the CPC pushes back a leadership race to 2017, I don’t see it working out for Brad Wall.
Rats! Didn’t know about the Sask. election coming up.
On the other hand, there’s no real hurry before 2017.
An aside: I’ll make this prediction…
Before two years is up, Trudeau will be in deep shinola within his own caucus over leadership issues. Stockwell Day – The Sequel. Only much worse. He is so utterly clueless, he does not have a hope in hell of holding it together.
Great Comment…and as a Westerner…I agree.!
I don’t see Wall having much trouble in April. He is still extremely popular with the voters, he hasn’t done anything to antagonize organized labour and he has run a scandal-free, middle-of-the-road type of government which seems to keep everyone happy. A good healthy dose of prosperity doesn’t hurt either. Another important factor is that, unlike Stephen Harper, the media doesn’t crucify him at every turn with the notable exception of the perpetually aggrieved bonehead, Murray Mandryk of the Regina Leader-Post who wouldn’t be satisfied unless Tommy Douglas was still premier.
That being said, I don’t think Mr. Wall would fit in as leader of the CPC. He is a westerner to begin with. He also has too much of the common touch which is normally a good quality but not in the world of Ottawa politics. As for dealing with a hostile media, “turning the other cheek” would not be his style and a few caustic but well deserved comebacks certainly wouldn’t endear him to the bootlickers at CBC and CTV.
Besides, we need him here in Saskatchewan lest we slip back into the dark days of socialism.
Agenda 21 is even worse than economic control – it is control over our whole lives. Like where we live, who we work for, what we do. In fact, even our VERY lives – whether we live or die. Seriously.
And in the hands of a basically self appointed bureaucrat. Like the one running the EU today.
Global warming is small potatoes by comparison.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzEEgtOFFlM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3qW2XJZdSA&feature=related
Google for more
Al. I thought canada being an energy superpower was a pretty good vision. Not just oil but LNG and coal.
Big vision impeded by outside interests.
That would have meant lots of jobs
It just kills me that people are still weighing in on what was wrong with the
Conservative campaign.
6000 media members committed to ensuring your defeat.
Voters depending on media to provide them with info to decide on a candidate
This is not hard folks.
http://www.maximebernier.com/en/2013/02/spending-freeze-and-flat-rate-income-tax/
Bernier in a nutshell.
Harper will be tough to replace. It’s not simply that he had sensible fiscal and ideological positions it’s that he was able to communicate his policies and was dedicated to being unapologetic in the face of his critics, even uncooperative with leftist media. Take for example the issue of the required renovations at Sussex Drive. Rather than wallowing in the unfairness of media double standards he would simply refuse to provide ammunition to the propaganda machine unless he could turn it on them or unless it was worth the cost.
It will be critical that the next Conservative leader have that same Donald Trumpian skill set that constantly outmaneuvers the hypocrites, though with a Stephen Harper intellect rather than a Rob Ford intellect. It’s a tall order.
And most significant; there was a shiny pony.
I couldn’t agree more. There is no one even close to being as good a candidate as Harper. Replacing Harper with a weaker leader is not going to win any favors for the CPC from anyone.
I like Maxime Bernier and Jason Kenny and Peter McKay. Those who said the party was too top down were right. My Electoral District Association was 100% behind my candidacy, as was the regional CPC rep. Three people in Ottawa, on the National Selection Committee, said no to my candidacy.
Part of the reason might have been my sitting across the table from the EDA and regional rep and telling then, “There are 2 things you should know about me: Number 1, I can’t be bought and number 2, I can’t be bullied; and that includes by the party.”
The hand-picked candidate; did far better than expected against Irene Matthyson, but I would have won that riding. Half my vet clients live in it and I have a lot of name and media recognition over the last 18 years.
I think we miss the boat when we focus on policy,we need someone with the wow factor…anyone doubting that check this photo:-
Picture of the G&M Public Editor Sylvia Stead and Turdo
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSNjrR-U8AApMQ-.jpg ,from Fred B posting in ‘Liberals with bylines’ above.
Our election was a non-policy event, a few generalities , no meat , all hair 24-7.
The photo tells it all….if you want to win in these bizarre times, wake up CPC…you need that charisma first then great policy. No matter that none of us saw Justine’s appeal, the voters did .
I hate that politics has become this and loathe what it does to society but in my view it’s realistic. (Cack factor off scale)
Brad Wall has had the luxury of high oil and grain prices through most of his watch. Conservatives have been feeling so good they have not noted Brads reluctance to roll back NDP polices even though he has had the currancy to do so.
Similarily we saw the RCMP run rough shod over the residents of HighRiver and no attempt by the CPC to privatize the CBC.
These are the core type issues that distroy conservative governments. They ignor their base at their own demise. IE Alberta.
The next Tory leader? BRAD WALL, come on down!! He’s photogenic, articulate, has more charisma than Harper and his entire cabinet, plus none of the baggage. Could be just the ticket. On the other hand, if he stepped down as Saskie premier, that province might slip back into a Dipper Death Spiral like Alberta.