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Monday, October 26, 2009
Party Principles
Benjamin Disraeli famously berated a dissent Tory with the remark: "Damn your principles. Stick to your party." In the nearly four years Stephen Harper has been Prime Minister, he has closely followed Dizzy's pragmatic dictum. It was advice that Gerry Nicholls also followed for more years than he would probably care to remember. Paul Tuns - Editor of The Interim - better known to bloggers as Mr Sobering Thoughts - reviews Gerry's confessions of a redeemed conservative here:
But there is another (unexpected) class of readers who will find Loyal to the Core important reading: anyone who gets involved in politics. Not so much to learn how to do politics, but a necessary lesson on what not to do: sell out.
In 1997, Harper resigned as Reform MP to join the NCC. A year later, he became president of the organization, but after Stockwell Day’s stumble as leader of the Canadian Alliance in 2001, Harper returned to elected politics. And with him, came many in the NCC, Nicholls included.
Nicholls reports on the efforts that the previously non-partisan NCC undertook to help their former leader get elected leader of the Canadian Alliance.
When Harper threw his hat into the ring, NCC staffers were called to help with his leadership campaign, effectively turning the organization into “an adjunct of the Harper leadership machine.” Nicholls says he personally did things that made him uncomfortable, but admits he did it because it was thrilling to be part of the political intrigue and, anyway, if elected, Harper could advance the cause.
You weren't the only one Gerry.
Posted by Richard Anderson on October 26, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
So if Gerry freely admits that he publicly advocated policies that he did not really believe in because he was just so darned excited to be the belle of the ball (or, at least, the sidekick to the belle of the ball), why should anyone take anything he writes now seriously? Perhaps his blog and newspaper articles are just his new way of trying to be at the centre of excitement and are equally insincere.
He's admitted that he is untrustworthy. I say we should believe him on that point and no others.
Posted by: Fact Check | 2009-10-26 8:42:53 AM
Fact Check, sounds like you're a stick to the party kind of guy.
Posted by: Farmer Joe | 2009-10-26 9:49:49 AM
Farmer Joe,
Having never been a member of any party and never been tempted to join any party, I certainly am not a "stick to the party kind of guy". I suspect your belief that I am comes from pure guesswork, as nothing I wrote suggests that sticking to the party is a good thing. In fact, I think it is a very VERY bad thing. The fact that "sticking to the party" is what joining a party typically requires is one reason I have never been tempted to join one.
Thanks for coming out!
Posted by: Fact Check | 2009-10-26 10:26:09 AM
What Canada needs is a party full of members willing to stick to their principles and set policy by means of vote of the members. A "freedom" party (composed of individuals that will stick to their principles to set policy) will win every election not by making wild promises, but showing common sense. They would also win every election because most of the electorate would vote for common sense rather than wild promises.
Posted by: Doug Gilchrist | 2009-10-26 10:38:01 AM
Hypocrites is the best word to describe the Harperites as the Western Conservatives outrage is falsely muted, because this time around, the Conservatives are the ones mainly benefiting from the false political games being played with public money
http://www.kelowna.com/2009/10/24/if-it-walks-like-a-liberal-talks-like-a-liberal-and-spends-money-like-a-liberal-what-is-it/
Posted by: Hypocrites | 2009-10-26 10:47:03 AM
I totally agree with you Hypocrites. If you want to get technical, Steven Harper is a criminal because he passed the Election Date law and broke it. The problem is now all politicians are the same and will play the game of politics the same way. That is why I don't vote.
Posted by: Doug Gilchrist | 2009-10-26 11:04:46 AM
Pure guesswork? No. But this line...
"He's admitted that he is untrustworthy. I say we should believe him on that point and no others."
...is typical of those who want people to ignore the Gerry Nicholls of the world and just vote conservative no matter how socialist they've become.
You're really not much of a fact checker if you ignore all of Gerry's other points.
Posted by: Farmer Joe | 2009-10-26 12:03:28 PM
"They would also win every election because most of the electorate would vote for common sense rather than wild promises."
Wishful thinking.
Posted by: K Stricker | 2009-10-26 5:02:08 PM
Two left wing guys - Publius and Gerry - complaining that Harper isn't conservative enough. Nothing to see here folks, move along.
Meanwhile, Ontario's deficit is at $25 billion and growing, and there is little if any criticism of the appalling McGuinty government here.
Posted by: Expose Crypto-Statists | 2009-10-26 5:09:21 PM
So we don't give the guy the benefit of the doubt. He decides that he is doing the wrong thing, admits it and resolves to do better in the future. Watch what he does in the future and we'll see if he holds to his resolve. A little cynicism may be warranted. Dismissal is petty.
Posted by: DML | 2009-10-26 10:34:52 PM
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