Hey Spots,
You know from our correspondance here over a number of years that I respect your civility. We often disagree, but we've done so with respect. I hope to continue that pattern.
Your comment about the dispute:
Stronach is high profile, a leadership contender.. in the money community...... News reports say a shouting match erupted when he brought her in.. That takes two. reports are Harper told Stronach she had no future in the party.... that she was ambitious. I guess he must know he has important vote coming up... A good time to ensure alienation of a high profile MP that he knows is power hungry...
What is this about? Is it about doing politics, about gaining power? If that, then Harper should suck up to Stronach.
Or, perish the thought, perhaps Harper might stand for some things other than merely the prospect of gaining power. There's no question that same-sex marriage is the arbiter in Toronto. But I would posit that, in the country at large, there is a significant body who think otherwise. Are they to have no spokesperson whatever?
The media, the punditocracy, all pressure politicos toward one position. On same-sex marriage, on abortion, etc. Personally I think that's unfortunate, because there are many much more important and pressing issues. For Harper, if there are 1000 issues that he thinks important, "pelvic" issues are in the bottom ten percent, and wouldn't show up in his legislative agenda until his nth term. His priorities are "good government" viz the BNA Act. That he's in opposition means he doesn't get to set the agenda.
If "pelvic" issues are the focus in Ontario, well, then vote Liberal and be happy. Belinda is a poster child for such things. In Quebec, they have a much more immediate agenda.
I read a column by Diane Francis along this line. Over the years I've come to respect her, but in this instance I have to say, sorry, but I disagree. At some point the socially liberal issues have to be discussed -- it's just not sufficient to say, "it's been decided" when in fact it's never been discussed.
I don't dispute your inference that all this has been decided in your part of Ontario. If those issues are the be all and end all, and your neighbours decide that the Liberal Party, notwithstanding AdScam, HRDC, etc, etc, is the entity that should govern you, fair enough.
I will say, however, that in other parts of the country POGG is more important. In Alberta, good government is more important than pelvic issues. And Albertans are paying a whole bunch of tax dollars for things they profoundly do not agree with. So for them to mull a separatist option doesn't seem all that unreasonable.
Yep, the CPC could have let Belinda set the agenda. Which is the same as saying let public opinion polls set the agenda. OTOH, you could respect that 50% plus or minus who disagrees, and give them a political home. |
