Prime Ministerial Material
December 12, 2008 · By Adam Dyck
Andrew Steele has a post up discussing the possible replacements for Harper should he fail a confidence vote in January.
To be clear, I don’t think he will lose. And if he did, there would be an immediate election leaving little room, because I’m certain Ignatieff would not lead a coalition.
However, some of the options are intriguing. Charest would have a great possibility of forming a majority government, and Prentice doesn’t seem to me like the panacea he is imagined to be in the essay. Day is still a punchline, and he will never lead the Conservatives.
Moore would line up well with my beliefs, but he won’t win the nomination and couldn’t win a majority. In conversation with Monte Solberg, he mentioned Moore as one of parliaments most noted libertarians.
Thoughts?
I doubt harper would be replaced as leader… not if he’s taken down by the coalition. I can tell you with utmost certainty that Charest wouldn’t win, or even come close. Too many of us good old reform types that would never allow him to pervert the party. I’m really not certain who could potentially lead in that situation, haven’t given it much thought because I don’t expect it to happen. Most conservatives I talk to are pretty happy with Harper…
No to Charest. I may not be a “good old Reformer type”, but I have had ENOUGH Quebec Prime Ministers to last a lifetime!
This Andrew Steele column is akin to yellow journalism. Suggesting an imminent crisis where there isn’t one is just an attempt to destabilize the Conservatives. Harper has the wide support of Conservatives nationally and a political coup would not change that. Harper certainly would have the confidence of his party to take on the usurpers in the follow-up election (assuming the band of socialists and separatists allow another one to take place).
And Jean Charest as leader? Please. This failed PC leader had his day in federal politics and is probably more a federal Liberal these days. He certainly would have me scrambling looking for alternatives on the ballot..
This disatisfaction with Harper is in the minds of the Libs and the media pundits. I have not met one person who is upset with Harpers recent actions.
If anything the events of the last few weeks have increased Harpers popularity. Doesn’t the media read it’s own polls?
Just yesterday, I informed a Conservative party member, who was seeking a donation, again, that if Harper was removed, the Conservative Party would never get another dollar from me. I can’t afford to give much being on a fixed income, but as they say, every dollar counts.
This monotone drone of ” Harper must go” , ” Harper must go”, is so bogus. Who is advocating this – not Conservatives. Since when do the MSM, Liberal hacks, the ernest, hand wringing NDP, angry Bloq and special interest groups speak for the Conservative party? If they want leadership change, they should look to their own – they now have Ignatieff as a champion – or perhaps Layton should ride off into the sunset (especially after this ill conceived coalition fiasco), Duceppe isn’t going anywhere – Pauline Marois has stymied him out of the Quebec picture. I am fine with Harper – ignore the rabble and their frantic shouting. Carry on Mr. Prime Mininster, you are just what Canada needs in a troubled time.
Charest is NOT a good option, neither is Dumont, or Bernier. Besides in a few years during the next redistribution Alberta and BC will get about 5 seats each, and Toronto 10 seats. Meaning Quebec will be less important to get a Majority. That means we could even get unilinguals anglos to run like Brad Wall. But I think former NB premiew Bernard Lord would be a better option.
Charest is NOT a good option, neither is Dumont, or Bernier. Besides in a few years during the next redistribution Alberta and BC will get about 5 seats each, and Toronto 10 seats. Meaning Quebec will be less important to get a Majority. That means we could even get unilinguals anglos to run like Brad Wall. But I think former NB premiew Bernard Lord would be a better option.
I think at least some of the speculation comes from a globe article a couple weeks back calling for his resignation. Then, based on his last resignation when he lost, people think it could happen.
I don’t think Harper’s resignation would be good for conservatives. If you brought in an old fashioned PC like Charest, I think the reform element of the party would become alienated, possibly take their ball and go home.
However, conservatives only have to win over a bit more of Quebec to get a majority so I can understand why they would want to get a guy who can speak french beyond the grade 2 level.
What about Bernard Lord? Too soft Progressive Conservative for the west? Perfectly bilingual, strong track record, accustomed to leadership…
Dave, Rose and Fern! Bang on! The media is shameless in its derogatory tone towards Harper. Adam, why don’t you just come right out and say it: you LUV Iggy! Eyebrows and all.
I’m an Ontarian and Harper gets an A+ from me.
The rules of this game have changed.
PMSH CAN get a majority without Quebec.
PMSH already got a majority in the ROC with 57% of the seats outside of Quebec.
There are 23 coalition seats in Western Canada.
Can Conservatives hold the 2008 seats won and capture 10 more seats in Western Canada, and maybe a couple more in the East?
YES, if the coalition brings down the government on Jan 27,
YES WE CAN,
and Iggy knows it!
”There are 23 coalition seats in Western Canada.”
Repeat as often as you can.
There are no longer Liberal and Dipper seats.
From a Western perspective, these are all coalition seats.
Michael: A unilingual should never be Prime Minister. I may not be the strongest proponent of national bilingualism, but in a nation with two ethnic groups, our head of government should have at least a cursory knowledge of french.
Glacialgal: I have had it up to the gills with your ignorance and insults. Go read a book.
wow… thats an insult? lol, u should see some of the garbage coming in through my spam filter ;)
Gills? I knew there was something fishy about you. Admit it: you love the libs. It’s written all over your posts.
Did Wilson actually quote himself?