The Globe and Mail reports today on a “bring back the Reform party” initiative. A small meeting in Kingston on the weekend may be the prelude to a larger gathering of disgruntled right-wingers. It seems some social and fiscal conservatives think the CPC is going centrist (if only!) in its quest for a majority government and want a return to the perceived promises of the election campaign or a pre-office Stephen Harper.
I’m not naive enough to imagine that the CPC coalition of western radical conservatives, eastern moral conservatives and a few Québec nationalists is about to fracture, opening a way for Liberals to return to power. But I do relish the thought that the PM may have to keep an eye on his own party and caucus. Probably since Sir John A, conservative prime ministers have been bothered by rebels within their party and the current PM may soon be no exception. Anything that demonstrates his iron-grip on the CPC is weakening is a good omen. We have seen before the nastier side of the PM when he is under pressure. I expect to see more in the weeks ahead as his popularity in the polls, along with that of the CPC, slips; more of the PM’s “true” character.
It often has been written that Paul Martin should have gone to the people early in 2005, rather than waiting until December to call an election that by then was impossible to win. Will it be written that Stephen Harper missed his chance in refusing to risk a spring 2007 vote?
I’m not naive enough to imagine that the CPC coalition of western radical conservatives, eastern moral conservatives and a few Québec nationalists is about to fracture, opening a way for Liberals to return to power. But I do relish the thought that the PM may have to keep an eye on his own party and caucus. Probably since Sir John A, conservative prime ministers have been bothered by rebels within their party and the current PM may soon be no exception. Anything that demonstrates his iron-grip on the CPC is weakening is a good omen. We have seen before the nastier side of the PM when he is under pressure. I expect to see more in the weeks ahead as his popularity in the polls, along with that of the CPC, slips; more of the PM’s “true” character.
It often has been written that Paul Martin should have gone to the people early in 2005, rather than waiting until December to call an election that by then was impossible to win. Will it be written that Stephen Harper missed his chance in refusing to risk a spring 2007 vote?
