The Girl Can Play. And She's In The Game.

[maplesyrup]

L Ian MacDonald has a fascinating editorial in today's Montreal Gazette about Belinda Stronach's campaign for the leadership of the CPC entitled:

"Quebec puts Stronach in game with Harper"

It was the deal breaker in the merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties. While the Alliance preferred a one-member, one-vote system, the Tories insisted on equality of ridings, with so many points per riding, which had been their system in the 1998 PC leadership campaign.

It was the only way the PCs could be sure they wouldn't be swamped by the Alliance in a merger.

Harper was desperate enough to do the merger, and confident enough he could win the leadership regardless of the rules, that he went along with a system which, in Quebec, is greatly to his disadvantage.

So he can hardly complain now that Belinda Stronach, who barely speaks French, is racking up big gains with small numbers in Quebec.

The Clement camp had always counted on two things - a superior performance in the debates, and Stronach cratering long before now.

One of the best stories of the campaign is that she hasn't cratered. Instead, she's demonstrating a surprising capacity for growth. Constant briefings have given her a grasp of policy, constant exposure to media scrums has sharpened her performance.

She's also proving that she can take a punch, such as last week's revelation that her father, Frank Stronach, pays his taxes in Switzerland.

Her comeback, again yesterday, that she is the candidate, and she pays her taxes here, is a good one. And at one point yesterday, annoyed at Clement's hectoring, she slapped him upside. "You'd make a good health minister."

The girl can play. And she's in the game.

http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgaz...F4-ED267A686A6E

Above are a few of the points Ian has made in his editorial. For those who are interested in the Conservative leadership race I recommend you read the entire article.

Ian has confirmed for me, what I have thought all along, which is:

Belinda will become the leader of the CPC.

[August1991]

Maplesyrup, I posted this Gazette link about Stronach before, where it should have been posted, under the rubric "Stephen Harper".

The article is interesting because L. Ian Macdonald is part of Tory memorabilia. The story is: why have these guys, including Mulroney, gone Stronach?

The theory of this story? Are you Westerners rubes? Will we Easterners make one of you Westerners PM? Is it: Say what ever you want, let 'em talk, but "Spell my name right"?

The basic idea is that Belinda won't win but she'll make people talk and think the Liberals are "old hat". Old what?

[maplesyrup]

I think the latest Ipsos-Reid poll and comments from IR pollster John Wright have given Belinda's campaign a big boost.

It appears now that there will not be a spring election after all, and this was the complaint concerning Belinda, that many political puindits said, that she is not quite ready.

Now she will have lots of time to prepare for those who question her current abilities.

[BigGunner]

Brilliant...

I wonder if Conservative party members have the option on the ballot of "none of the above"...

Stonach backers from the UK

[Kiraly]

Yo! Belinda...

Another careless and ameteur mistake, non?

Does this not also point to a pattern of mistakes which our party cannot afford going into an election.

Did you think these words you uttered in reference to Mr. Stephen Harper wouldn't come back and bite your pretty little ass?

[Agpilot]

We live in a wonderful Country, when your father is a billionair, and you get bored with all the "toys and travel etc." and you are also bored with your position as CEO of your dad,s company,{as an average girl growing up you might sell frenchfries} why not go into politics, goodness knows there are probably a lot of gullable {or stupid} people that will vote for you.----Hail to our future PM.

[maplesyrup]

So tonight's the nite in Newmarket, Belinda's nomination meeting. I wonder if they will announce the numbers for each candidate.

This latest Ipsos-Reid poll, which came out last evening, indicating a minority government, should give a boost to Belinda's campaign, as I understand now the Liberals have backed off, from calling a May, 2004 election.

[PC4EVER]

I predict a big win for Stronach in her riding tonight and a big lost and the beginning of the end for Harper.

Then, will follow the other lost against Prentice next saturday. Another blow against Harper who support someone against Prentice. And he will loose big time.

Finally, his own riding won't give their support to Harper.

Why ?

Because they know him too well.

[August1991]

Belinda? Sorry but she's a Talking Washington Barbi.e - with the string in the back. During the debate, she had an earphone ostensibly for translation but apparently it was also used for prompting. Her comments came out in compressed, memorized chunks.

But this is neither here nor there. Macdonald's article makes it plain that she didn't sell enough memberships in Quebec to match Harper's lead in the West. The remnants of the Mulroney Tories in Quebec will not go for her, despite what Mulroney's doing.

[Kiraly]

I predict a big win for Stronach in her  riding tonight and a big lost and the beginning of the end for Harper.

Then, will follow the other lost against Prentice next saturday. Another blow against Harper who support someone against Prentice. And he will loose big time.

Finally, his own riding won't give their support to Harper.

Why ?

Because they know him too well.

Can't argue with this...

... mostly because I have no idea what you are talking about.

Anyway, Belinda won her nomination by over a hundred votes, if the preliminary numbers are accurate.

I'm thinking if she could barely by one riding, winning the leadership will be near impossible.

Belinda's time is almost up.

Phew!