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Posted on 05/30/2005 5:28:02 AM PDT by fanfan
The Liberal government's bare survival in the House of Commons 12 days ago has set off the inevitable media discussion on the ostensible "failings" of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.
One columnist calls for his "make-over."
Some critics claim he's too passionless, too erudite, too cold, others that he is too fierce, strident, harsh, judgmental.We even have speculation on who might succeed him.
Before we dump poor old Steve as a flop, however, we might pause to consider what he, in fact, has accomplished since that night a mere three years and two months ago when he gained the leadership of the Alliance Party.
That was one thing, but in doing so he achieved something else.
He told the powerful Christian element in the party he could not do their work for them. That is, though he and his family are practising Christians, he could not, as party leader, convert the country to a Christian way of thinking.
That was their job.
However, he said, once they had done their job, and a majority of people were thinking their way, then he would go to bat for them, something he has certainly done on the gay marriage issue.
He knew his taking this stand was fundamental to party unity.
It would protect him against the charge that he had masqueraded as a Christian champion to get elected, then betrayed the Christian case once in office.
Having secured the Alliance leadership, he played a central role with Peter MacKay in joining together the Alliance and Conservative parties, the long-sought "unite-the-right" objective that hitherto had proved utterly unattainable.
This was accomplished with little loss to either side. True, it made Joe Clark a Liberal, but then Joe had been a liberal all along.
Next, he gained the leadership of the new Conservative party.
That was in January 2004, one month after Paul Martin became prime minister.
We'd do well to remember those days. The big question then was whether Martin would win the oncoming election by the biggest majority in Canadian history, or merely one of the biggest majorities in Canadian history.
Meanwhile, everybody was waiting to see the new Conservative caucus fall apart, something to which Conservative, Reform and Alliance caucuses of the past had proved so lamentably prone.
But it didn't happen and for a single reason. Passionless, joyless, colourless, cheerless Steve Harper kept it together, that's why.
It was probably like herding cats down the street, but he did it.
Then came the election with the expected Liberal landslide.
When the ballots were counted, the supposedly indefatigable Grits had been reduced to a minority government.
Twelve days ago, they were practically dancing in the street because they had survived a confidence motion in the House by a single vote.
How have the mighty fallen.
This, then, was the "defeat" suffered by Stephen Harper.
It happened after he lost from his caucus Belinda Stronach, the five-star flake who, after two years in her $9 million-a-year job running daddy's company, the biggest auto parts manufacturer in the world, had quit. She decided she'd rather be prime minister of Canada instead.
Steve Harper had "belittled" her, her friends said, so she crossed the floor to the Liberals, who recognized talent when they saw it.
Right away, they made her Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. She will be charged with cleansing the corruption in Montreal, where a whole lot of ambitious people had sacrificed their principles for reasons of personal advance and aggrandizement.
Just exactly what "skills" she's going to develop in these gents, she has not said. They seem fairly skilled already.
The Stronach exit happened, writes one columnist, because Harper lacks Martin's talent with people.
He doesn't know how to keep peace in the family. Is that so?
Was it perhaps Martin's "talent with people" that set off the fight with Jean Chretien, split the federal Liberals down the middle, and ultimately brought on the whole Gomery disaster.
Maybe this is the kind of "talent" the Tories would be better off without.
So, now the Conservative party is going to find a new leader, are they?
Well, they will have to look a long, long way before they can improve on the one they've got.
Please let me know if you want on or off the Canada/Adscam ping list
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LOL.
LOL - the girl on the right was never a Conservative, she just wanted attention - and if the voters are smart, she'll be a FORMER MP soon...
Amen and Amen. I love it - Belinda, the FIVE STAR FLAKE!! Just kewl!! And Stephen is staying right where he is thank you very much!!
Big difference between an incoming Prime Minister and an outgoing MP...
Here's an un-retouched one of
"the devine Ms. Stronach"
meeting happy constituents last weekend!
What's that fine fellow have written on his sign?
And the eyes....the eyes....like dark windows into the hollow depths of a Liberal's mind.
I have had FOX on my cable now for 2 months. Love it but then I'm CONSERVATIVE to begin with. I agree with you tho, the Conservative content will make a difference.
I notice that that shadow is on the "left"
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