"David Emerson is a fine individual. But I look at what Harper did and said when I left the party and I look at what he did to get David to come over and you have to conclude that's a double standard and hypocritical," said Stronach, a former Tory MP who crossed the floor to join the Liberals last year...
"I was opposed to a budget being defeated, concerned about the party leadership and trying to defend national unity. And when I crossed the floor, I could've been out of a job in 48 hours if the election had been forced. But David Emerson was just elected as a Liberal two weeks ago," Stronach said.
No matter what your opinion of Stronach, and mine is not necessarily supportive, her defection doesn't compare to Emerson. Stronach left when her party no longer reflected her viewpoints, while Emerson can't make such claims, whether legitimate or not. What changed in two weeks? What policies forced this move? Weren't you elected under false pretenses? The ironic thing about this stench surrounding Emerson, is it inadvertently vilifies Stronach and releases her from some of her own, questionable baggage.
6 comments:
Has Peter McKay commented yet?
Stronach left when her party no longer reflected her viewpoints
She had a convenient alibi.
Her defection was just as bad as Emerson. Don't give Ms. Stronach more credit than she deserves.
Harper hubris, or Does Harper have a tin ear?
The conventional wisdom now seems to be that Stephen Harper is a political genius, of the same ilk as Napoleon, or Churchill, or – pick your favourite. But what if Harper’s cabinet-making is not a politically astute move by at all, but simply a sign that he has a political tin ear?
After all, sometimes the past is predicator of the future: in 2004 he misread the electorate with some of his comments about the Liberals – especially Martin – and his premature triumph speeches about the West taking over. And in Parliament he has sounded a bit screechy and overly self-righteous. Then there are those stories about him being a one-man-band, who does not need a mentor because, one observer says he said, he never met anyone as smart as he is ....
So, perhaps this was just Harper being Harper, and marching to his own discordant band?
If so, wait until the second Act: gonna be a lot of fun for Libs and NDP, and a lot of buyer’s remorse by many voters in Ontario ....
And meanwhile, the Bloc will crouch in the wings, nursing its wounds, and waiting for the right time to take Harper down – when he is under a cloud of intolerance or stupidity, but before he cements himself into Quebec as Mulroney Junior. Best get rid of him soon, before he becomes a real threat to the Bloc ...
So wait for the right moment, and the ganging up by the three parties who each have good reasons for taking him out of his new digs at Sussex, and who – between them – hold the balance of power.
After all, Harper arranged a mob-lynching of Martin with all three parties deciding to put in the knife on that particular Ides of May. Having shown the way, I wonder if Harper fears that this time the other three parties will cooperate to bring him down?
Better than even chance, I think; and probably before summer ends, too.....
Maybe Harper should let those renovations take place at Sussex Drive before he moves in: might save him having to move twice, eh?
jim
I am not giving Stronach too much credit. As a matter of fact, I don't much care for her and would never support her ambitions. However, Stronach's defection does offer some logic beyond a "convenient alibi". Emerson, on the other hand, is only two weeks removed from a vote, wherein he vehemently chastized his new found friend. The people of his riding were completely manipulated and his words betray his motives. There is no way to reconcile the time frame, no excuse or reasoning that shows any integrity.
Actually, I think it quite telling, that Belinda Stronach can actually claim the high ground and it look plausible. It speaks to the degree of Harper's hypocrisy. This defection is worse because there isn't even the hint of good faith, only voter manipulation and overt corruption.
curiosity
"The conventional wisdom now seems to be that Stephen Harper is a political genius,"
In general, people didn't vote for Harper, but against the Liberals. The entire Harper strategy was to turn the focus on the Liberals and distract from his own blatant flaws. I don't know why people now laud Harper as a "political genius". Given the massive advantage due to circumstances, the fact that Harper could only muster a small minority is hardly a ringing endorsement of his political prowess.
Maybe Harper does have a tin ear, that seems the most reasonable way to explain this astounding blunder. How anyone could think the Emerson appointment would fly is absolutely beyond me. The hypocrisy is obvious to anyone, especially people who campaigned on "clean" government.
"gonna be a lot of fun for Libs and NDP"
I will be interesting to watch the pious Conservatives as they are forced to confront their own flawed humanity.
A good read. I'm looking for info on the civil war and anything related to it.
Regards,
SCV member
Stiles-Akin Camp 670
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