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Friday, September 05, 2008
Monte Solberg: A Western Standard retrospective
Since our launch in March 2004, the Western Standard has reported often on Medicine Hat Conservative MP Monte Solberg. On September 4th, the Western Standard learned that, after 15 years in office, Solberg is retiring from politics and will not contest the federal election expected to be called only days from now. Solberg’s decision came as a surprise to political observers as he is well-liked and respected by his colleagues in parliament and his constituents in southern Alberta.
While a proud “Reformer” and Preston Manning loyalist to this day, Solberg would often privately describe himself as a libertarian and even spoke at a CATO Institute libertarian conference in 2004.
Conservative insiders say that the principled Solberg was impatient to see the ideals of the Reform Party implemented in Ottawa and grew frustrated by the slow pace of change and the pragmatism inherent to governing.
In "Monte Solberg: A Western Standard retrospective," the Western Standard records at least part of the political career of Monte Solberg, who, in the final analysis and despite mistakes, must be counted as a friend of liberty.
Posted by Matthew Johnston on September 5, 2008 in Canadian Conservative Politics | Permalink
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Comments
I got a chance to meet Monte Solberg a few times; he even did a little promo for the Liberty Summer Seminar last year.
It's a shame he won't be running again.
Maybe he'll start blogging again. Because, I used to read his blog all the time.
Posted by: P.M. Jaworski | 2008-09-05 1:36:05 PM
Any speculation as to who the new Conservative candidate might be?
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-09-05 4:20:06 PM
Medicine Hat would elect a toaster if it ran under the Conservative banner. But they will find someone good - lots of good people in my hometown.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2008-09-05 7:38:08 PM
You from the Hat Zeb? You know Daniel Bliss? You think he could get elected?
We have the lowest voter turnout in AB. I haven't voted since I moved here. It's a turnkey operation for whoever gets nominated.
Posted by: dp | 2008-09-05 7:56:17 PM
Wrong Daniel Bliss, I assume:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Bliss
So who is this guy, DP?
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-09-05 8:35:31 PM
MJ -- Just a local guy. Sort of a legend in the 70's. I'm not sure if he was demon possessed, but at times he was quite entertaining, from a distance.
Posted by: dp | 2008-09-05 8:47:38 PM
Interesting Ezra took a break from his blogging just b4 the election call?
Could he be considering a Con nomination dear reader?
Inquiring minds want to know?
I happened to talk to MP Lee Richardson today and he was not aware of any such thing-who knows tho?
Posted by: Merle | 2008-09-05 8:48:40 PM
I'm inclined to believe most elected officials are demon possessed. :-)
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-09-05 8:50:35 PM
It's a shame that Monte lost patience with the pace of change, but you can't do much with a minority government. Hope that changes.
Posted by: peterj | 2008-09-05 9:04:54 PM
Since the election will occur on October 14th, is there time for a nomination meeting in Medicine Hat?
My guess is that Harper will appoint a Conservative candidate.
Given that Solberg won with over 70% of the vote in the last election, Harper will be handing a lucky partisan a safe seat, a fat salary and a multi-million dollar pension. That should be enough to attract a star local candidate.
Any idea who that might be? And “no,” it will not be Ezra, although what a way to say “thank you” for everything Ezra has done for the party and the conservative movement.
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-09-05 9:27:11 PM
Matthew: considering how hot the Hat's economy has been, who'd want to abandon a perfectly good life for a lower-paying job in the East? :)
There'll be no problem finding someone to replace Solberg. The Medicine Hat riding is perhaps the safest Conservative seat in the country. The Hat I grew up in would have dragged Trudeau's bullet-ridden corpse through the streets. The city motto should be "Liberals and Easterners not welcome"
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2008-09-05 9:56:33 PM
Let Ezra run please so he can clean up the cesspools the human rights commissions have become.
He will tread where ordinary CPC are afraid to go.
The look on Kinsella and Warman's faces will be a cherished moment.
Posted by: the lone stranger | 2008-09-06 5:50:34 AM
Why Monte why? Canada and Alberta will sorely miss you.
Posted by: Curmudgeon | 2008-09-09 9:51:19 PM
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