Tories, Mulroney in tiff over party membership

[jdobbin]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

A party source said today that Mulroney is not a member and directed further questions to the Prime Minister's Office.

Mulroney issued a statement a short time later saying he is a member -- and will remain one until the day he dies.

Maybe Harper has him evicted.

I guess this no longer means Mulroney is a mentor to Harper.

[SSD]

I think Mulroney should surprise everyone and join the Liberals but only after his case is finished (and nothing bad comes out of it). Imagine Mulroney saying that this current party does not represent Canada but an Americanized Canada--or represent the religious right or something. And then, he goes out and endorses Ignatieff as the compromise between the old PC party and Grits. Obviously, the only place he'd be able to endorse him is in Quebec.

[jdobbin]

Obviously, the only place he'd be able to endorse him is in Quebec.

Ignatieff was the only present leader of a national party to wish Mulroney a happy birthday.

[SSD]

Ignatieff was the only present leader of a national party to wish Mulroney a happy birthday.

The more reason for Mulroney to accept that these Conservatives are not the old PC party but really the Reform in pantyhose (he actually said that about the Alliance). He should leave the party and independently or even as a Liberal tell people that in the next election Iggy is the best option.

[capricorn]

Ignatieff was the only present leader of a national party to wish Mulroney a happy birthday.

I wonder if he meant it.

[jdobbin]

I wonder if he meant it.

I guess you'll have to ask Mulroney.

Say many things about Mulroney but he was always good about reaching out to various people to call them on birthdays or when they were in the hospital.

It didn't cost anything to call Mulroney on his 70th birthday. Although I disagreed with him on many things and while he still might have trouble with this investigation, he did the right thing on the death penalty issue and he was a champion when it came to the environment.

[normanchateau]

Senator Marjory LeBreton, the government Senate Leader and a former aide and confidante of Mr. Mulroney, said he did ask to have his name removed from party lists: “My understanding is that he personally called a high-ranking person in the party and asked that his name be removed from all party lists.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...Story/politics/

[Molly]

But for the double reincarnation of the party, one would expect that his personal request would be the only way it could happen. As a rule, former leaders are automatically granted membership for life, if for no other reason than to avoid pea-shooter embarrassments like this.

(But, who took that phone call?)

Edited April 1, 2009 by Molly

[Topaz]

IF Mulroney isn't a member any more, which I guess he isn't because there is no Progressive Conservative party, than Harper and Mulroney are even. Harper quit the Liberal party and then went to the PC's only to quit because he didn't like Mulroney's fiscal policies and that he never got rid of the National Energy Program that Trudeau had brought in and why Harper quit the Libs. I can't see the Tories having a long live, I think the PC will rise from the ashes sometime in the future.

[noahbody]

Harper quit the Liberal party and then went to the PC's only to quit because he didn't like Mulroney's fiscal policies and that he never got rid of the National Energy Program that Trudeau had brought in and why Harper quit the Libs.

Not having blind loyalty to any party is a good thing in my books.

[Wild Bill]

I can't see the Tories having a long live, I think the PC will rise from the ashes sometime in the future.

Why? Who would need them?

We already HAVE a Liberal party!

[Smallc]

We already HAVE a Liberal party!

And that's what many Canadians want. A choice between the Liberal party, and the party that's like the Liberal party but isn't the Liberal party. That's why reform could never get any real traction outside of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

[noahbody]

Ignatieff was the only present leader of a national party to wish Mulroney a happy birthday.

Which other leader do you think would see political advantage in doing so? Who do you think told the media about this thoughtful, sincere gesture?

[jdobbin]

Which other leader do you think would see political advantage in doing so?

Since the the call wasn't publicized by the Liberal party, I don't know what political advantage was hoped. Since Mulroney remains an adviser to Charest, it seemed the discussion involved insights on Quebec, possibly more.

Who do you think told the media about this thoughtful, sincere gesture?

A Mulroney public friend was the one revealed the call according to CTV.

Edited April 1, 2009 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

Some Conservatives are upset over the Mulroney issue.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090401/...roney_tory_tiff

But a number of cabinet ministers, MPs and senators were having none of it Wednesday.

"He is a member of the party, there's no doubt," Defence Minister Peter MacKay said as he entered a caucus meeting where Mulroney was reportedly discussed.

Revenue Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn, a Mulroney-era MP, praised his old boss.

"For a large part of his life he did so much to help our country and help Quebec, and for me he will be a Conservative forever, and I'm sure that's what he feels."

It was one of the few times since Stephen Harper became prime minister that members of his caucus refused to toe his office's public line.

The PMO wanted all information on the issue directed to their office but membership is party business, not the PMO's.

[August1991]

Maybe Harper has him evicted.

I guess this no longer means Mulroney is a mentor to Harper.

Evicted? I doubt Mulroney was ever a mentor to Harper. (But Mulroney made it possible for a WASP Blue Harper to win 10 seats in Quebec.)

-----

I haven't followed this story recently so I don't know the status of Brian Mulroney, or whether he has talked to Stephen Harper. (Heck, I'm still curious to know whether Harper has met Paul Desmarais - the father-in-law of Chretien's daughter, the ex-employer of Paul Martin and the owner of Gesca - La Presse.)

I do know that the Conservative party is a big tent. I also think that Brian Mulroney took on big political risks to do good for Canada. In English-Canada, Mulroney is known for the GST and Free Trade. In Quebec, he is known as a Conservative.

Canada is a wonderfully complicated country. Mulroney understood this.

[jdobbin]

Evicted? I doubt Mulroney was ever a mentor to Harper. (But Mulroney made it possible for a WASP Blue Harper to win 10 seats in Quebec.)

Do I have to throw back Harper's words in your face when he specifically said "mentor?"

-----

I haven't followed this story recently so I don't know the status of Brian Mulroney, or whether he has talked to Stephen Harper. (Heck, I'm still curious to know whether Harper has met Paul Desmarais - the father-in-law of Chretien's daughter, the ex-employer of Paul Martin and the owner of Gesca - La Presse.)

Harper has thrown Mulroney under the bus.

As far as Desmarais, why do you want to know?

I do know that the Conservative party is a big tent. I also think that Brian Mulroney took on big political risks to do good for Canada. In English-Canada, Mulroney is known for the GST and Free Trade. In Quebec, he is known as a Conservative.

And as adviser to Charest.

Canada is a wonderfully complicated country. Mulroney understood this.

And one where contacts could make you rich.

[August1991]

Do I have to throw back Harper's words in your face when he specifically said "mentor?"

-----

As far as Desmarais, why do you want to know?

Mulroney was a good PM. Aside from Meech, GST, Free Trade, UI reform, Mulroney made it possible for a WASP Conservative Harper (barely French-speaking) to win 10 seats in Quebec and become PM.

Mulroney made regional, bilingual Canada a viable two-party democracy. (Federalist Canadians should hope that Harper doesn't bungle Mulroney's gift.)

----

Desmarais? I know that Chretien, Ignatieff, Martin, Coderre and even Duceppe have met Desmarais. Desmarais made Martin rich and Chretien's daughter married his son. Mulroney and Desmarais? I would look at the Commission Cliche.

But what about Stephen Harper? He met the Queen. Has he ever met Paul Desmarais?

[jdobbin]

Mulroney was a good PM. Aside from Meech, GST, Free Trade, UI reform, Mulroney made it possible for a WASP Conservative Harper (barely French-speaking) to win 10 seats in Quebec and become PM.

Mulroney also made it possible for a schism that split his party into pieces and vulnerable to crushing electoral defeat.

Mulroney made regional, bilingual Canada a viable two-party democracy. (Federalist Canadians should hope that Harper doesn't bungle Mulroney's gift.)

Two parties? I think you forget that the BQ is a regional party and Mulroney made that possible too.

----

Desmarais? I know that Chretien, Ignatieff, Martin, Coderre and even Duceppe have met Desmarais. Desmarais made Martin rich and Chretien's daughter married his son. Mulroney and Desmarais? I would look at the Commission Cliche.

But what about Stephen Harper? He met the Queen. Has he ever met Paul Desmarais?

Any why do you want to know?

[August1991]

Any why do you want to know?

Call me naive but Stephen Harper is a different federal politician.

For example, the usual suspects (MSM) don't like him.

[jdobbin]

Call me naive but Stephen Harper is a different federal politician.

So he would refuse to meet one of Quebec's leading industrialists?

For example, the usual suspects (MSM) don't like him.

And that is why they endorse him every election?

[jdobbin]

Conservative caucus roils over Brian Mulroney

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

Sources in the Conservative caucus have told The Canadian Press that their meeting last Wednesday was pocked with bitter exchanges about the man who delivered the last Tory majority government.

Several MPs pointedly criticized the way Mulroney was being treated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's staff.

A cabinet minister was heckled when she attempted to explain the PMO version of events to Mulroney's defenders.

One outraged Mulroney supporter strode into the caucus room and straight to the podium to address fellow Conservatives after consulting with the former PM by phone.

By the end of the altercation, the Conservative House leader glumly buried his face in his hands.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Harper faces caucus again.

The PMO is outlining the talking points but quite a few members of the caucus are not playing ball.

[Visionseeker]

Conservative caucus roils over Brian Mulroney

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

It will be interesting to see what happens when Harper faces caucus again.

The PMO is outlining the talking points but quite a few members of the caucus are not playing ball.

Ready! Circle! FIRE!

[Cuzzin E]

me thinks Harper knows there's something more to this Schriebergate scam, and it's probably big for him to risk cutting off Mulroney like this.

Plus, Mulroney isn't well remembered by much of Canada, so the political damage is minimal. The real danger is a caucus revolt

[Smallc]

I'm starting to get the feeling that Tom Flanagan and Stephen Harper don't get along well anymore. Flanagan always seems to be calling him out.