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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
If David Emerson becomes permanent Foreign Minister, then a leadership challenge is in order (UPDATED)
I know few, if any, will care what an American says, but if what I read this morning is correct, I'll have no choice but to withdraw my support for Harper and call for a leadership challenge - even if no one will listen to me.
UPDATE: I suppose it has been a while since I offered my original objections to Emerson (apologies to the confused readers and commenters). In the two years since, he has done nothing to assuage (and, in fact, much to exacerbate) my frustration over his friendliness to the ChiComs. If this appointment becomes permanent (and that is an "if"), it would tell me that Harper is no longer interested in pursing the anti-Communist policies that led me to support him in the first place. That's why I would call for a leadership challenge, because the Conservatives are the only genuine anti-Communist party up there, and it would be the only place from which a decent alternative to Harper would be found.
Of course, if Harper appoints, say, Jason Kenney, I'll gladly take my serving of crow.
Posted by D.J. McGuire on May 28, 2008 in Canadian Politics | Permalink
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Comments
Um--what is the objection to Emerson again?
Posted by: Shane Matthews | 2008-05-28 8:59:19 AM
What is wrong with David Emerson that you will stop supporting Harper. Its articles like yours that make the liberals feel good. Yes you have your opinion but why publicize, its like little childern, if you don't give me this or that I won't play with you".
Going back to David we like him.
Izra did a far better job than what you are doing.
today, we will be children and we won't buy the standard anymore.
MD
Posted by: marianne deville | 2008-05-28 9:45:29 AM
Nothing wrong with giving Emerson the post for now, he's a hell of a lot more qualified than Bernier. Add to that, Harper didn't have a lot of time to act on Bernier's final act of stupidity.
I will agree Bernier was a bad call for the job in the first place, but Emerson is quite capable for the fill in period or beyond.
As for you not supporting Harper and the Party, your choice, support who you wish but get the hell out of this blog if your going to supply fodder to the Liberals. Shame on you.
We may not always agree with everything our family members do but we don't disown them for errors in judgment.
Posted by: Liz J | 2008-05-28 10:03:05 AM
I know why I don't like Emerson and if anyone cares, I used to work for him and he's a typical unprincipled "pragmatist" exexcutive graced with cold arrogance, the sort of businessman that Dr. Milton Friedman considered a large threat to Capitalism. This is reflected in his ease with Party-jumping.
Is that what you were thinking McGuire, or is it by extension of the above, his comfort in doing business with the Chi-coms? We're not mind readers.
Posted by: John Chittick | 2008-05-28 10:13:30 AM
OK, my turn to pile onto your dumb post.
Emerson has previously stated he will not seek re-election.
Emerson is a former forestry company executive who has negotiating experience on an international stage.
Harper has stated Emerson will be the INTERIM foreign affairs minister.
So ... Canada will have a man experienced in international issues until such a time as the next election is called.
What's the problem here?
Posted by: set you free | 2008-05-28 10:14:55 AM
I'd like to have leaders with principles, John. Failing that, I'll accept leaders with the ability to get the job done. I support Harper because he does at least have the latter capability, unlike several of his immediate predecessors.
Posted by: Shane Matthews | 2008-05-28 10:17:12 AM
Just to let everyone know, the above comments were posted before I updated the post.
Posted by: D.J. McGuire | 2008-05-28 10:24:57 AM
Well, D.J., you've already committed to not supporting Harper if he keeps Emerson in the post so hope you enjoy eating crow from whatever other camp you feel you can support. Fair weather friends we can do without.
Constructive criticism should be welcome by everyone but someone who jumps ship over one issue they disagree with is not a solid supporter who can be counted on through tough times.
Posted by: Liz J | 2008-05-28 10:39:23 AM
Your case is no stronger than before, D.J. We have a choice with the "ChiComs"; we can either defeat them on the field of battle or we can try to get along. Only two or three countries in the world are even remotely capable of what's behind Door Number One, and Canada is not one of them. So Harper wisely chooses Door Number Two and hopes that private persuasion will yield greater results down the road than open confrontation. Anyone with a knowledge of Chinese culture will understand why this is the prudent as well as the strategically necessary course.
Keep in mind that China, for better or for worse, is now the world's All-Craftsman, manufacturing inexpensive goods of currently mediocre but steadily improving quality. They have an interest in maintaining their power base and if the West threatens them too much, they'll be happy to sell ever more weapons to states hostile to the West to keep us in check. It's called war by proxy, and it's long been practiced by the Americans and the Russians. Now China is also a player, and the whole power balance of the world is in flux.
So choose, D.J. Is China our friend, or is she our enemy?
Posted by: Shane Matthews | 2008-05-28 11:12:28 AM
It's this sort of pricipled stand that causes us to have Liberal governments. A conservative will abandon the party in a stand over policy or ethics in order to 'punish' the party or the leader. Liberald will stand behind their party no matter what shite they step in. Hence, the reason Liberal support is so high.
While I never object to taking a stand, in the end I have to chose a less-than-perfect CPC running the nation over anything carrying the Liberal brand
Posted by: happyfingers | 2008-05-28 11:25:01 AM
Shane,
To answer your question, Communist China is the enemy.
I'm also confused as to how conditionally calling for a leadership change within the CPC is seen as abandoning it.
Posted by: D.J. McGuire | 2008-05-28 11:29:41 AM
So, D.J., you've decided that China is the enemy. Now what do you suggest that the government of Canada do about it?
Posted by: Shane Matthews | 2008-05-28 12:47:08 PM
The Harper Conservatives have a long way to go to come anywhere near as corrupt as the Liberal party has managed to become. In fact, there is no corruption in the Conservative Party, it's comprised of a pretty decent slate of people.
Harper has done amazingly well dealing with being PM with a totally new Conservative Party in the short period of two years.
Anyone who professes to be Conservative but is ready to run away from the Party over something like the handling of the Bernier affair is not one we should count as a true supporter. The Liberals will welcome anyone and from another party they're considered a trophies. The fact they took Garth Turner in with open arms shows how desperate they are.
Posted by: Liz J | 2008-05-28 2:49:59 PM
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