Conservative Leader

Alliance Fanatic · October 21, 2003

By the way after you vote put who you would support most, to who you would support least.

1. Mike Harris- A proven leader, was able to unite all of the conservative factions in Ontario under the PC banner. Swept to power. Even after being told to soften his stances he stayed firm, and was elected to a second mandate. Proven leadership.

2. Jim Flahrety- Proven cabinet minister, took strong principled stances in Ontario, and has appeal to social, and fiscal conservatives. However he has not been a leader.

3. Stephen Harper- He has impressed me as leader of the CA, and takes principled stances on issues. However many would consider his leadership as simply another CA party.

4. Preston Manning- most people would write off his leadership as another offspring of the reform movement

5. Tom Long- Pretty impressive during the CA leadership campeign, was successful as Harris strategist

6. Stockwell Day- I kind of liked him, but I think that most Canadians would write him off.

7. Jim Prentice- Dont mind him, not proven, not even an MP, or in any elected office

8. Tony Clement- not an impressing leadership campeign

9. Peter Mackay- not impressed with leadership thus far

10. Scott Brison- to left wing on social issues

Pellaken · October 21, 2003

unless someone else setps up to the plate

the final round of voting will go thustly:

Harper-40%

Harris-60%

Pellaken · October 21, 2003

what are the options for conservative leader?

who can do it?

lets take a look now

provincially:

from BC:

gordon campbell is the only BC politican with any kind of national profle. I think he's happy with things as-is.

AB:

Ralph Klien could do well... if he runs. He's endorssed Harris at least 3 times.

There are roumers former finance minister Dinning, or Donner, or D, something wants to run.

SK:

negated, election.

MB:

all the PC party was able to do here was embarass itself.

ON:

a few guys here.

Flarhity probably wants the provincial job. Clement may go federal, but he's a "loser" from this recent election, and thats not good for any politican.

The rest of the ontario crew have a bad rep now

and of course, Mike Harris

PQ:

There are two men here who could run for the job.

Jean Charest

and

Mario Dumont

Dumont could do well, and build a national base for the party in Quebec. Charest is what I like to call and Anti-Harris. more on that later.

NB:

Bernard Lord. the biggest Anti-Harris

NS:

John Hamm? dont think so

PE:

Pat Binns? may do well if he tries, but since he dosent speak french, he could not beat Harris

NL:

election

so, we have 2 Anti-Harris'

Charest, and Lord.

now, federaly

CA:

Preston Manning

Stockwell Day

Steven Harper

PC:

Brian Mulrooney

Joe Clark

Peter MacKay

we cannot have one of these 6. why? simple. it would mean the new party would garner NO votes from one of the 2 parties that marged with it. Out of these 6, Harper is the strongest contender.

Thre are more. Brison is a little to left wing. Chandler may be "oK" policy wise, but he's an idiot. Prentice is an unknowen, and as far as I know, dosent speak french. If he does speak french, he may be another Anti-Harris. Ablonczy and Hill are 2 possible contenders. Keith Martin even. Tom Long may return to politics, but I think he'd support Harris.

There are a few outsiders too. Ken Dryden's name has been floated around. Belina Stronach too.

In the end it comes down to this.

Harris wants the job, but he cannot win Quebec. Only a good french-speaking candidate can WIN this next election. They are:

Jean Charest

Bernard Lord

possibly

Jim Prentice

and

Steven Harper

unfortunatly, each has a reason why they will not run against Harris

Harper, in reality, equals Manning, and Manning equals for the east, what Mulrooney equals for the west. Would you (a western canadian) vote Brian back in?

Prentice may be able to pull it off, but he'd need alot of support, and only if he speaks french.

The two heavy weights are Bernard Lord and Jean Charest. Charest even has been tarnished by Mulrooney, and may not be the best choice. Lord though is the only one who can do it, but he's affraid.

this next election will finish with one of 2 results:

Prime Minister Paul Martin

or

Prime Minister Bernard Lord

its up to the people of New Brunswick to decide. Unless they give him the "ok" to go, we are stuck with another 4 years of crappy government

Neal.F. · October 21, 2003

Pellaken, I'm going to toss a whole lot of cold water on your post:

I'll agree with you on BC: CAmpbell is not just "happy where he is" but he is also a first term premier. You do NOT bail out in your first term..... That takes Charest out of the picture... BTW, where on earth did you get the idea that Jean Charest and Bernard Lord are anti-Harris?

From BC: I wonder if John Reynolds, the high profile MP who served as interim leader might want to give it a go.

In Harris' favour, his opponents can sling whatever mud they like at him. He just needs to give his standard reply" Look, I promised I'd do such-and such, within "X" time frame. I did it. I stood for election against what I did, made some more promises, and fulfilled them, according to my mandate. Next question please"

From Alberta: I am inclined to believe that Klein's wife has taken him out of the picture. Jim Dinning is known and respected throughout Alberta, but has no national profile.

Stock Day, Jason Kenney and Dianne Ablonczy may also consider a run, but Dr. Grant Hill has announced that he is leaving politics and will not run in the next election. Very unfortunate. I hope he changes his mind.

Then there's Jim Prentice. He's bilingual, bright, and fiscally conservative, but he favours legalizing pot, gay mariage and is pro-abort. He could do well in Quebec. In fact he took most of the Quebec delegates in the final PC convention.

Sask: I like Garry Breitkreuz. But is he interested? He also lacks a national profile.

Manitoba: I STRONGLY disagree with your statement alluding to the PCs embarrassed themselves. The PCs did better than anyone thought against a VERY popular NDP govt. under Gary Doer. However, from MAnitoba, there is Brian pallister, Vic Toews, and even gary Filmon who could make a run. All lack significant national profile except 3 term premier Filmon.

Ontario: Harris is the best bet from there. Clement could also be good, but he's a bit of a policy wonk. Tom Long is better behind the scenes. I agree that Flaherty probably wants the provincuial leadership, but I would not rule him out, if he smells Liberal bllod, he might go for it, and leave the provincial party for John Baird, who is being touted as a possible successor to Eves.

Quebec: I'd LOVE to see Mulroney make a comeback. He was probably the best PM Canada had in the 20th century, but though he is respected here, I don't know whether he has been rehabilitated in the west.

he has what it takes to expose martin for what he is- or rather, what he isn't.....

Dumont should make the jump to Federal politics, with some of his ADQ crew, such as Marie Gregoire, Francois Corriveau, Sylvie L'esperance and others, but not as leader. Though his name is widely known, he is too young and inexperienced, and Paul Martin will eat his lunch. He should go Federal now with some of his crew so some seats can be won, and he'd be a shoo-in for cabinet, and if he proves himself, is a potential next leader.

Jean Charest is out of the running. It'd be suicide for him to jump now.

From the Atlantic: Lord has said No, no and no. He couldn't go now, even if he wanted to. Lose one seat, and NB falls to a Liberal/NDP coalition.

The Federal MPs from NB are not well enough known except Elsie Wayne, who is better as an eminence grise.

From Nova Scotia: Hamm is not PM material. From among the MPs, Bill Casey is probably the brightest of the lot, but is too low key. He's better as an ideas man. "Hay West" was, I believe his brainchild. Forget Brison. while he has fiscal conservative credentials, on social policy, he is a mirror image of Svend Robinson.

Pat Binns: as Prime minister? nahhhh.

From Newfoundland: Rex Barnes should make a go of it to raise his profile. He's got spark.

Rob1963 · October 21, 2003

Neal, I'm not sure where you stand on the proposed party being socially progressive, but you just threw a lake full of cold water over the main selling point. You say neither Jim Prentice nor Scott Brison could win the leadership because they are both too socially progressive. Same reason Lord, Charest, Long, Ablonsky, Binns, maybe others who are more socially progressive would not run or do well in a leadership contest.

Thank you, you have proven my point and given me the reassurance I knew would be coming out. Keep it up.

Pellaken · October 21, 2003

possible candidates:

BC:

john reynolds

chuck strahl

keith martin

AB:

steven harper

stockwell day

preston manning

dianne ablonczy

peter lougheed

don getty

jim prentice

jason kenny

monte solberg

jim dinner

SK:

Nobody

MB:

rick borostick

brian pallister

ON:

mike harris

tony clement

jim flarahaty

janet ecker

belinda stronach

ken dryden

PQ:

mario dumont

brian mulrooney

NB:

Nobody

NS:

peter mackay

scott brison

PE:

pat binns

NL:

loylla hearn

Neal.F. · October 21, 2003

Keith Martin is the Ca's answer to Scott Brison. Pro-abort, pro-gay, pro-pot. If he got it, I would not vote for them.

reynolds: the "Don Cherry" of Canadian politics.

Strahl: The CA's Peter Mackay. He will be remembered for walking out on the CA, then walking out on the CRC Coalition.

Don Getty is seen as a failure as premier.

Prentice is too uch of a social liberal.

Lougheed: Better as a senior statesman at this point.

Borotsik: If he were any more red, he might be mistaken for Joe Clark. I don't want to see anyone who might one day grand marshal a gay pride parade at the helm.

Belinda Stonach ruled herself out.

Mulroney: 2 thumbs up !!!!

Dumont: Not ready for prime time. needs experience in a responsible position.

MacKay: Forget it. He should be thinking about NS premier. I think this is Hamm's last kick at the can.

Brison: the fact that he IS gay doesn't bother me... the fact that he plays identity politics does. ie: that he supports gay causes. No thanks. I believe he also supports legal pot, and abortion. Don't want him.

westcoast99 · October 21, 2003

I would really like to see someone who could build this party in Québec run.

Edited August 12, 2015 by Gugsy

Lost in Manitoba · October 21, 2003

Well, After I voted I was definitely surprised to see the majority going for Harris. I voted for him primarily because of his determination to right some of the inequallities in the system. The work for welfare, and welfare fraud hotline, to name a few were, in my mind, policies that should be adopted in every province.

I think Brison would bring in votes from the other side of the spectrum, and to take votes from the libs is neccesary. I don't think I have a problem with anything he's said or done so far.

Talking about the unproven or even the questionable leadership skills of say Prentice or McKay, I would have to say that right now, the new party needs something more.

Stockwell had some very good policies out there, I heartily supported his promise to end inequallity in regards to Native funding. Will he ever be able to get passed the image of right-wing, bible thumping, ultra-social conservative, though(weather it's true or not)?

Harper, as I've said before, has no place at the federal level. If he wants to do some good, Premier is is best shot, and that's only if King Ralph steps aside.

All in all, I myself would vote United Right, as long as the social policies were progessive, not traditionall(in which I mean bible thumping). Fiscally, I can't imagine anyone messing up worse than Chretien's Liberals.