Newfoundlander

So to be a conservative you have to care about fiscal policies more than social policies?

Enlightening. So what's a conservative? What is it that a Red Tory believes in that's not conservative?

So a Red Tory isn't a conservative?

So because you're unaware that makes him not a conservative?

He has stated he has been struggling with a drinking problem for several years. He has received help for it in the past and is going to again.

Maybe she didn't know he had a drinking problem? Sounds like he was a well functioning alcoholic.

Ivison is a Liberal shill?

Chong is jumping in soon.

OMG he dated a woman for several months!!!!

People criticize the Conservatives for being too far right and being social conservatives but I never get a clear answers on how they are. There's definitely scattered policies but I can't think of how social conservatism - for instance - has played a fundamental role in policy decisions.

You don't necessarily cater to social conservatives to keep them in the party.

What about expanding the "Conservative tent?"

I can see why the Conservatives have struggled.

She was on call at the hospital and had to back out days before the conference.

You seem to be very knowledgable when it comes to our economy.

Those people would be a non-faction for any party besides the Greens. We do not need to appeal to radicals, we need to appeal to the majority who think something needs to be done by government to address green house gas emissions and other environmental matters.

Newfoundland and Labrador has the second highest weekly earning out of the 10 provinces. People in Alberta make just over $100 a week more than Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160225/dq160225b-eng.htm?HPA Though there are many economic struggles and unemployment is very high. Things are going to be downhill for the province but yes it had been far richer than most other province's for some years.

Well saying he's friends with Trudeau must mean he's a Liberal is like assuming that because his father was a Progressive Conservative Prime Minister would make him a good leader.

No offence but I think your argument is totally wrong. I agree the economy is fundamental and very central to everything but the vast majority care about a lot of other issues too. People understand the party can do fine when it comes to economic and fiscal management but they care about more than that. Just because environmentalists won't vote Conservative doesn't mean the party cannot appeal to people who think taking care of the environment is important. There's not many out there who don't think it's an important issue. The party could put heavier focus on conservation for instance. The Conservatives previously ran on pricing carbon so there's no reason why we cannot come up with a policy around that. As a side note, Brian Mulroney is considered to have been the best prime minister when it came to the environment so there's no reason the party cannot pay attention to the issue. There are issues like health care though that are becoming more and more important for people. The party's base is about 30% so if you're satisfied with being in opposition then solely focusing on the economy is probably a good idea. If you want to form a government the party is going to need to broaden its policy ideas and getting voters back who went NDP or Liberal this time.

People in the entertainment business can't be conservative?

Because he's a candidate who's only focused on economic/fiscal issues and while the party is talking about how can we come up with conservative policies for the environment, health care and what not, he's saying that none of those issues matter until we improve the economy. The economy might not be the best at the moment but it's still not awful. I thought it was a polarizing speech that few non-ideologues would appreciate. I like Kevin O'Leary but I think him entering politics would be awful.

I don't necessarily think that's true at all. Sharing values similar to O'Leary doesn't make one uneducated at all, though many of his views are polarizing. However, I just think he's solely focused on one area - the economy - and that's not what the party needs.

Now for my third post in a row. If I were to rank the speeches I'd go with: 1) Michael Chong/Tony Clement 2) Maxime Bernier 3) Lisa Raitt 4) Kevin O'Leary I thought both Chong and Clement gave good speeches and showed they want to move the party forward and not focus on the past. They didn't mind criticizing things that went wrong. Clement put focus both on what the party needs to do from an organizational standpoint as well as from a policy standpoint. He talked about developing policies around poverty reduction and the environment, two areas where the party has largely be absent. Chong also talked about the environment and pointed out that it was an issue the party needs to develop policy around. Bernier was good as usual but his speech was pretty much the same as any he has given over the years. If you go to his website you'll find similar speeches. Bernier always likes to focus on subsidies to businesses. Raitt showed she can deliver and good speech; she has a folksy charm that can connect with people. However, her speech lacked substance when it came to how to move the party forward from an organizational and policy standpoint. She was also the candidate who most focused on Harper and his government over the last 10 years. She noted she got into politics solely because of Harper, his governing from 2006 to 2008 inspired her. She mentioned that she doesn't see herself fitting into any wing of the party, she got involved because of Harper and is staying involved in politics because others in the party share her values. Surprisingly out of anybody who spoke she seemed to be the candidate most interested in the status quo. It was noted numerous times throughout the convention that the party probably puts too much attention on fiscal issues and that they need to talk more about other policy areas. In questioning afterwards Chong and Clement mentioned the environment as an issue where the party needs to develop better policies in order to connect with voters. When Raitt was asked about this she mentioned that in her riding it's pocket book issues that people care about. Raitt was by far the most disappointing for me. She was someone who I thought I'd support but unless she takes a different approach over the coming months I'd support the other three noted above over her. 4) Kevin O'Leary was Kevin O'Leary. It was sad that the crowd seemed to lap up so much of what he had to say.

You don't saw. I don't know how much subtlety there was.

I'm not sure how big of a faction it is in the party but Bernier will appeal to many libertarian-minded conservatives, as well as fiscal conservatives. He could also appeal to youth, the big problem there is getting them to become members. Membership fees have ballooned and that will deter many people - particularly youth - from signing up.