I received an email from the Conservative Party today, asking for more money to “fund an election”. Unfortunately, I had to decline their request, and sent this reply through their website.
I received your appeal for donations to the party today by email. You seem to be insistent that we need to give you money to be ready for an election. Then your pitch proceeded to talk all about Mr. Dion’s missteps and mistakes.
I keep myself well-informed via the internet. I constantly read newspapers and news websites and blogs about the state of affairs in our government. I am a contributing blogger to the well-known conservative political blog, http://thepolitic.com. Before that I have blogged as a member of http://bloggingtories.ca under the name http://thehighplaces.com.
I say all this because I am very displeased with the direction of the Conservative Party of Canada. There have been a number of ridiculous initiatives and flip-flops that you as a party has engaged in and it has shaken my faith that yours is the best party to govern this country. From your voting for the ridiculous questioning of Shane Doan’s captaincy of Canada’s World Cup team, to your about-face on global warming (which is now seeing more and more mainstream questioning because of its pathetic assumptions and fascistic silencing of all opposition).
I defended your government’s budget this year, despite it raising government spending, growing the size of government, and restoring funding to the Status of Women Canada, which does NOTHING to represent women in Canada - only the ultra-left man-hating club that believes men must be ground to dust for the sins of their grandfathers. I have sat and hoped that you would bring in real tax reduction, not just tokens like the 1% GST cut. I have been waiting for you to step up to the plate and give hardworking families that put their children ahead of their careers the income splitting you have already given to seniors. Yet there is nothing.
Thus far since we elected you, the only conservative things you have done was meet your 5 platform commitments in the election, and not be Liberal. Not being Liberal is not good enough. Your 5 commitments were meant to be a starting point, not the limit of your conservativism. You need to do better.
I will not be sending you more money for an election until you demonstrate for me you truly are the party I voted for. In opposition, you were. In power, you have not been. If things continue this way, you will lose my vote as well as my money. I will not be alone.
Here’s hoping that they start listening to their grassroots again, and give this country a reason to vote Conservative, as opposed to a reason to NOT vote for Stephane Dion and the Liberals.
aa wrote:
The money is for Bourque’s race car not for election readiness. Why do you hate NASCAR?
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 5:04 pm | Permalink
Chris wrote:
I could not agree more.
They really have to get out of the tit for tat Ottawa mentality and start governing with some confidence. I know the Liberals suck. That is why I voted for the CPC in the first place. Now they have to start showing me they have a plan and some policy beyond the last five election promises.
I already have all the reasons I need to NOT vote Liberal. Give some good reasons to make me believe my vote for the CPC is well founded.
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 5:07 pm | Permalink
R. G. Rennie wrote:
My sentiments exactly. For me, the turning point was the amount reportedly given to Quebec for their Canada(?)Day celebrations that exceeded the amount given to all of the Rest of Canada for their celebrations.Talk about vote buying.One could be excused for thinking that the Liberals were still in power.
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 5:21 pm | Permalink
Louise M. from Ottaw wrote:
Shane, thanks for sharing that email. I am not at all pleased with some of the actions of the Conservative government, which I have been supporting since 2002. I am truly disappointed that the party is beginning to resemble the Liberal party more and more.
The Conservatives are fortunate that Stephane Dion is an inept leader. No doubt, the Liberals will soon correct the mistake they made in selecting him.
Speaking of leadership, I lay the blame for these un-conservative initiatives and policies squarely at the feet of Stephen Harper. Given his propensity for making it appear he is running a one-man show, he alone must answer for this sorry state of affairs. Should Stephen Harper’s leadership be challenged and questioned, not one individual that I know of appears to have the abilities and qualities required to take over.
Something has to change.
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 5:30 pm | Permalink
Stan wrote:
Right on.
The last time they asked me I made it clear that I would give money to a Conservative government and as soon as they started being one I would start contributing again.
They feel they can crap on the base because there is nowhere else for us to go, I made it clear that once they alienated enough of us that a viable Alberta separatist party emerged, I would help fund that.
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 5:39 pm | Permalink
JackM wrote:
Your email pretty much sums up the way I feel about the current state of the CPC. I don’t think running as Liberal-lite is going to win many votes and it’s going to alienate the existing base of supporters.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much to chose from as an alternative.
Just might have to sit the next one out…..
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 5:41 pm | Permalink
lemon wrote:
Well said
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 5:41 pm | Permalink
scott wrote:
It is time, some started wondering what the hell this government is doing? It is not a Conservative Party and anyone can see the Alliance and Reformers appearing.
How do you like the upcoming talks in
Mount Campobello in August,where the 3 Countries get together to talk about
“The New American Union” if you do not know, please try to find out what it is about..good luck it…. is SECRET
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 6:34 pm | Permalink
wilson61 wrote:
PMSH is leading CANADA, first, CPC second, as is should be.
-Squashed the Bloc with one ‘Quebec is a Nation’ motion, broke the Lib/Bloc hold on the country
-Took our military out of the ‘Decade of Darkness’ and brought pride back to our military and country
-Many bi-lateral trade agreements with other countries, first in a decade
-Restored a good working relationship with our largest trading partner, the US
-Historic agreement with First Nations on land claims, Native women’s rights to own property, be covered by the Charter
-In the process of tearing down provincial trade barriers
-Taking a stand, internationally, on human rights, no more fence sitting nuanced crap
-Fixed election dates, free market barley, court challenge program gone, special interest groups howling…the once natural governing party of Canada polling at historic lows under 30%
I am as grassroots as any Conservative. If PMSH does as much for Canada in the next year and a half as he has in the last, he is by far the best PM in my life time.
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 10:11 pm | Permalink
Shane wrote:
Thank you, wilson61 for that summary of what else has been going on. I am earnest in my appreciation of that. Now, what I wish is that this list of yours had fronted the request for my money. Had that been the light their request was in, I might not have written what I did. However, when 90% of the content of that money request was “Stephane Dion is a bumbling buffoon and cannot be allowed to lead the country”, well, let’s just say I was a little choked. I want to hear about accomplishments, not negative campaigning. I don’t hear the accomplishments talked about in the media, I had darned well better hear them loud and clear when the party comes begging for my money. Someone needs to give their head a shake in the fundraising department - how much more would they have raised in the last quarter had they actually solicited based on their own strengths, instead of their opponents’ weaknesses?
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 11:14 pm | Permalink
jmorrison wrote:
wilson61, as a conservative i still want smaller gov lower taxes and less gov intrusion in my life . none of the things you listed accomplish that
Posted on 14-Jul-07 at 6:18 am | Permalink
wilson61 wrote:
Getting Canadians off the federal tit will take more than 16 months.
LibDippers have brainwashed the masses into expecting the government to keep doling it out.
It will take a number of years to steer Canadians to taking on personal responsibility. Canadians like a minority government, so PMSH has to work within that limit, it ain’t easy, but can be done given time.
The ‘bumbling Dion’ thing is tiresome. But if the CPC allows the Libs to come up for air…well, keeping a foot on their throat is a must.
‘i still want smaller gov lower taxes and less gov intrusion in my life’
Me too, and that is what I expect to see come Oct 2009, along with a long term vision for Canada.
Let the Liberals get all bent out of shape on the little stuff, Conservatives need to look at the big picture.
Posted on 14-Jul-07 at 8:15 am | Permalink
Spitfire wrote:
This sums up exactly how I feel as well. We should make your letter a petition or letter writing campaign! Anyone else agree?
Posted on 14-Jul-07 at 8:31 am | Permalink
apsco17 wrote:
Nice to see that I’m not the only one feeling this way.
I sent them a similar letter in April after the banning incandescent lights fiasco. If I wanted a socialist government, I would have voted for the real thing.
Posted on 14-Jul-07 at 1:12 pm | Permalink
Shane wrote:
The lights! I forgot about the light bulbs!
It’s simple. People want to save energy. You make a better light bulb, that lasts longer and is cheaper, then we’ll buy it. Guh.
Posted on 14-Jul-07 at 1:15 pm | Permalink
The Great Gazoo wrote:
It seems to me that the dumb-dumbs at the CPC national office already has more money than they know how to spend effectively.
A prime example is the official CPC website http://www.notaleader.ca/index_e.html where Dion’s dog Kyoto persistently mocks his own “master”.
Tax dollars and donations fund that juvenille website.
Instead of spending money mocking Dion, why not accentuate the positive about the government’s record and plan?
Instead of shifting policies to reflect the polls and the left-wing MSM pressure, why not attempt to educate the public on the merits of conservative policies?
Lead the polls rather than follow them.
Posted on 14-Jul-07 at 2:27 pm | Permalink
DJeffery wrote:
http://www.am770chqr.com/stati.....?REM=78696
In PMSH’s interview on CHQR he “was amazed at the number of times he has to repeat himself to get the media to acknowledge he said it.” It’s disappointing to find Conservatives can be as dense and guilty of listening to the very Liberal media we often complain about. Not that these are all pure conservative ideas, but repetitive media bias seems to be working:
street racing
democratically extended the Afghanistan mission
income splitting for seniors
legislation that will make it easier for Canadians to vote
Banning corporate and union donations to political parties.
Protecting whistle-blowers
Enhancing the ability for the Auditor General to “follow the money.
Improved marine and border security
Gave tax relief to low income working families,
Provided a working tax benefit,
Allotted funds for more debt reduction,
Added a registered disability saving plan,
Alloted more funds for farmers.
Introduced a workable environment Green Plan
Redressed the Chinese head tax
Redressed the Hep C compensation;
Reduced the landing fee for new immigrants;
Negotiated the softwood lumber treaty with the U.S;
Implemented a Taxpayers Bill of Rights and Taxpayers’ Ombudsman
Provided support for HIV/AIDS vaccine research;
Provided a process for prospective Supreme Court appointees;
Ended Canadian Wheat Board monopoly following barley referendum;
Announced a study of biofuel in North Battlefield, Sask
Completed an Indian Residential School Agreement.
independent tribunal to settle Indian land claims will be ready by January.
Not to mention the legislation they’d like to pass but the opposition and senate won’t let them.
Posted on 14-Jul-07 at 3:56 pm | Permalink
ThePolitic.com » The Conservatives’ Record wrote:
[…] previous post on the Conservative Party’s approach to fundraising apparently struck a chord in the conservative base. I received 15 kudos to 2 protests. That […]
Posted on 16-Jul-07 at 2:46 pm | Permalink