Lovefest

[Topaz]

It seems that Harper and Mulroney may be working their way back to being friends and Conservative members and Harper is going to make a video for Mulroney congratulating him on the election of Mulroney being PM. Maybe the Alliance party IS gone forever. I wonder how the former Alliance members think about this? http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianp...9QfRIes66hJeFVA

[eyeball]

The gesture sends the message that Harper would like to bury the hatchet with the former Conservative prime minister.

I wonder how the former Alliance members think about this?

Like they've been stabbed in the back...with a hatchet.

[Keepitsimple]

Contrary to what some who are caught in a time warp, Conservatives have almost unanimously left the Alliance and Reform days far behind them. That's mainly due to the success of the Conservative Party and Harper's leadership in moving the party to the center. The Mulroney event goes far beyond Brian Mulroney himself....it is a major olive branch to finalize a reconciliation with the old Progressive Conservative wing. It's overdue. It was put off track by the court case but the time is now right.

[Who's Doing What?]

This should really help Harper. Everyone knows how well liked Mulroney is across the country.

[madmax]

I'm sure the video will be well received in a Jail cell with Karl, and Conrad cheering on Mulroney and Harper.

Birds of a feather..

[Topaz]

Contrary to what some who are caught in a time warp, Conservatives have almost unanimously left the Alliance and Reform days far behind them. That's mainly due to the success of the Conservative Party and Harper's leadership in moving the party to the center. The Mulroney event goes far beyond Brian Mulroney himself....it is a major olive branch to finalize a reconciliation with the old Progressive Conservative wing. It's overdue. It was put off track by the court case but the time is now right.

Is that why Alberta has the "Wild Rose Alliance " now provincially and within time the Tories may be battling it out federally with the Alliance? I wonder how many former Alliance will join the Wild Rose Alliance, especially if they don't like what Harper has become and leaving Alliance believes behind.

[August1991]

Contrary to what some who are caught in a time warp, Conservatives have almost unanimously left the Alliance and Reform days far behind them. That's mainly due to the success of the Conservative Party and Harper's leadership in moving the party to the center.

KIS, I think you miss an extremely significant point: the Reform people have brought to government populism and integrity. Harper is a smart but ordinary guy. He also has the voice of his father in his mind. (I was going to add the voice of Preston Manning but Manning, like Joe Clark, strike me as Canadian versions of Jimmy Carter.)

Politics can be a dirty, corrupting game and these are early days for the Conservative Party in power. But so far, there has been no scandal of expense accounts, misplaced funds, lavish restaurant bills, excessive private plane use, payoffs to friends. As far as I know, Harper doesn't wear Gucci shoes and his wife doesn't want to redecorate 24 Sussex, or smoke pot there.

Harper has brought to federal politics, in the spirit of Martin Luther, some simple protestant values: No adornments, no extravagance.

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Now then, what of this 25th anniversary? Well, Karl-Heinz Schreiber is now in Germany and Mulroney can speak publicly of "his errors of judgment". Mulroney is over 70, a pensioner. (Heck, he's 8 years older than Ignatieff.)

Of course, Harper wants to get along with Mulroney and benefit from his advice and his contacts in Quebec.

This is a tough one for Harper. I think, all things considered, that he's doing this in the best way possible.

Edited September 20, 2009 by August1991