There was no sign of cash-stuffed envelopes when former Progressive Conservative prime minister, Brian Mulroney, took the podium at the Royal York to urge fellow Tories to bury the hatchet and become - although he didn't actually use the word - a bit progressive again.
Most of what Mulroney said was delivered in a subtle, backhanded sort of way.
“This is a time to heal old wounds, not to settle old scores,” he said. “There should be no ideological impediments to our welcome, no narrowness of view or vindictiveness of spirit as we review, renew and rebuild.”
“We must approach the leadership change with prudence and care,” Mulroney said. “Time will be required to get it right.”
Mulroney said the rebuilding will have to include policies that appeal to a wide spectrum of voters.
"No ideological impediments... no narrowness of view or vindictiveness of spirit," indeed. Hell the old bugger has just captured the essence of Harper's movement conservatism. It seems Brian thinks that's gotta go only without any settling of old scores.
Policies that appeal to a wide spectrum of voters - voters who remain inherently progressive. Yeah, okay, I get the connection.
It sure sounds like Brian is quietly calling for a Progressive Conservative restoration. Not sure how Rona's going to like that.
The CPC will never be progressive again. The only possible way would be to purge all the so-cons and Reformers and Alliance Church members and inwardly looking Albertans and those with ties to the Tar Sands Project and the crew who believe that men walked with dinosaurs because God created the world in seven days. So who remains? Nobody. You got it right with your Asswhole column.
ReplyDeleteI know from some long-standing Tories and news reports that a lot of Red Tories voted for Trudeau this time around. Others who remained loyal to the Conservative brand are expecting to see some progressive restoration or they, too, may not hang around next time.
ReplyDeleteI can't see Rona as the agent of reconciliation capable of holding the disparate factions together. If anything she may preside over the fracturing of the right if the leadership contest turns into an ideological tug of war.
The leadership contest will absolutely turn into a tug of war. Rona can't stand for the permanent leadership (if there is to be such a thing for this cabal of crackpots) - unless they re-write their rules - which they certainly have the right to do.
ReplyDeleteThe Alberta crowd will certainly posit their hereditary right to be in charge. Which will alienate the old Davis Ontario wing as well as the Earl Cowan contingent of crazy old white men there. There won't be an Atlantic wing for the foreseeable future. I suspect that the BC wing will be confined to a few dozen angry old asswholes in the interior who won't be able to agree on anything including what they're angry about.
In fact, if Trudeau and team are able to live up to their expectations even modestly, if they actually stay forthright and accountable and if they don't fuck something up really, really badly I could see their majority increasing next time. Cause I think a fair proportion of the Conservative vote this time around was less committed than it was nervous. About Mulcair the commie for sure but also about Trudeau after all the bullshit negative ads. These would be the people who believe General Motors makes the best cars because they have the most ads on the teevee.
Dana said..., "I suspect that the BC wing will be confined to a few dozen angry old asswholes in the interior who won't be able to agree on anything including what they're angry about." The Con in my riding was re-elected. As one of Harper's lap dogs he is incapable of individual thinking. I'm wondering what he is going to do without Harper. Will he be loyal to a new master? Rona?
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting Mound that after being the PM of Canada for 9yrs, Harper has yet to speak to the Canadian people. True to form, he is a man without class.Being the coward that he is, they'll probably find him in a closet curled up in a fetal position.
ReplyDeletePamela if we don't ever hear another word from him that's just fine with me.
ReplyDeleteToby Says: As one of Harper's lap dogs he is incapable of individual thinking. I'm wondering what he is going to do without Harper. Will he be loyal to a new master? Rona?
ReplyDeleteAlbas will do whatever Stock tells him to do... :))
Damn if only a few more NDP and Green Votes went Karley's way, so close eh?
And if there was any doubt regarding the sham that is the Canadian justice system a man that lied under oath then sued the Canadian people for 2 million and won , then admitted getting envelopes full of money and was never held to account . He should be behind bars. As should most greedy self serving scum bags.
ReplyDeleteMcKenzie King, Pearson, Trudeau, Chretien
ReplyDeleteLong list of positive stuff accomplished. They shaped the nation that is envy of many others.
compare to
Bennett, Dief, Mulroney, H**p*r and LOL (or cry)
all left Canada weaker or got nothing done - except Brain actually was the best of this bunch (for Acid rain, Apartheid) so he was a PC while the last guy (whose name I will not speak ;-) was just a CON civic vandal