Draft Harris? Second Thoughts

[RT_1984]

I've previously voiced my support for Mike Harris to lead the united Right. After further consideration it mightn't be as simple a choice as I and many others had thought. Several realities lurk: Mike Harris can't speak and as a rule in Canada now it is generally perceived that the PM should be able to speak French both in and outside Quebec. This may be to a lesser degree but not in Atlantic Canada and Ontario. I still think it will noticed in the West as well, not resentful but a lack of confidence. Harris comes with a lot of political baggage including a perceived botched deregulation of electricity, Walkerton link. Harris also has very limited experience in Federal politics, whose knowledge pales in comparison to potentials such as Stephen Harper.

The other major contender: Stephen Harper has problems of his own: he is considered bland (no doubt this is exaggerated by the media who are left-wing and when they can't come up of ways to make fun like they did with Stockwell Day then I guess this is the best they can do). Harper is considered a Westerner and this could be perceived as an Alliance takeover if he won. On the other hand, Harper is fully billingual, has superb debating skills (I'd bet on him against any of the other leaders, including Martin any day), doesn't overemphasize social conservative issues to the point of eclipse (like Day) but does retain the loyalty of social conservatives (which is where a significant base of support must be maintained). Harper would keep support in the west because he's considered a westerner. Harper is also from Ontario and could play this up in the election. Harper has relatively little baggage compared to Harris. In the end, the new party will probably have to concede the next election to the Liberals (although it may be a minority govt.) with bigger hopes for the next election. I think the biggest gains in this merger will be from the end of vote splitting, and also the attraction of new votes by the rise in confidence that we are united. Now there will only be one choice. We will still retain the west, pick up some in Ontario with the combined vote, and retain and gain a little in Atlantic Canada. Once Canadians see these "National" results in the next election they will see us as a national party and the alternative to the Liberals and we will further be able to capitalize on this from there. Oh yeah. Harper is also quite young and has plenty of time to go. (Harris' last term in office was considered by people on both sides of the spectrum to be a lacklustre.). I say, go Harper and encourage unity. We will also attract better candidates under a new party which is important because many people vote for the person rather than the party. Whatever gets us to power works for me.

[dnsfurlan]

I completely agree with your assessment of Harper. He does have some baggage. But I think his performance thus far as leader of the Alliance has shown that he is capable of doing a lot in a relatively short period of time.

The one concern I have is whether he can actually excite people to the extent that they would want to vote for him.

But, given that Martin isn't much of a charmer either, in my opinion, I don't know how much of a problem that might be.

Actually, I have noticed a small shift in favour of Harper, in terms of general commentary - even in the media.

It think there is some acknowledgement of his accomplishments thus far, and of his qualifications to lead the new party into its formative stages.

[KrustyKidd]

Just wondering, am I, a man who is not fully bilingual, a victim of racial profiling or lingual profiling?

I mean, am I less of a person because I may know how to speak and understand a second language but ever so badly? To put this in context, would Harris not being white preclude him from being PM? Of course not. I don't know if there is a rule that says one must be bilingual but if there is then it is time to change it as the current crop of qualified candidates seem to only meet that criteria and it disqualifies eighty odd percent of the Canadian population. As for the rest of the rules such as leadership, history of success, vision, honesty, they are one serious bunch of losers and should be disqualified in anything except closely supervised menial labor.

Give me somebody that only speaks Urdu that can run a Dry Cleaning Service honestly and he would make a better PM than pretty much anyone of these people in office today.

Tell me, do you like knowing these people are off to Europe with wife and child for a week or two to meet with a dignitary for only a half hour at your expense? I don't know about you but I work hard for my coin, damm hard and this is an insult that is hard to get over. Money talks and transends all borders and language barriers. To say one must be bilingual is a falacy as we all speak the same language. That is honesty, heart, desire for justice without getting carried away by special intrest groups..

What the right needs as a front runner it seems, is a Pakistani fag who only speaks French.

[RT_1984]

Philospohically I definitely agree with you. And there is no law that says the PM should speak french. But there is a convention that has evolved in Ottawa that says he should, as well as a general assumption and perception in the Canadian public. Perceptions are everything, and if we truly want to get elected than we are going to have to be realistics and acknowledge those perceptions and conventions in order to form government. After that we can work on changing those (and I think Harper will). The other option is to be idealistic and naive in thinking we can get elected without taking the pulse of the nation. I also think that Martin is just as bland as Harper, but Harper has been working on this and perceptions are changing (even the media) and I think that in the end this will be of little relevance. Harper must concentrate on campaigning in the East in the next election because his respect and support in the west due to this merger and his other stances is solid. Go Harper go.

[theWatcher]

Would you vote for a PM who only spoke French?