*** In debates, Harper can be counted on to pummel the Prime Minister with his instant recall of ugly facts and Liberal failures while Martin struggles to control his temper and stammers to find lucidity without a script. ***
[. . . . ] Belinda Stronach has run a campaign of muddled mediocrity, showing modest growth as a candidate backed by a Cadillac campaign notorious only for delivering fewer than expected memberships in Quebec -- and that includes the bogus sales. At the end of the campaign, her claim on the leadership remains the fact she's never been a politician. In other words, elect a mouse to become a rat.
Since so many of her power backers were or are on her father's Magna Board of Directors, that, alone, makes her candidacy suspect -- Toronto centric money men or political former heavyweights who are being paid for their services--whether by Magna or by her own considerable resources--hardly renders their support baggage free. The list sounds like an old back-room bunch working for one of their own and that does NOT endear Belinda to the great unwashed to which I happily belong. NJC
Clement has produced a flurry of interesting ideas, but his Cabinet experience in Ontario's Mike Harris and Ernie Eves's governments are becoming liabilities amid lingering legacies of big deficits and power generation blues in Ontario.
Tony would make a good Minister in a new Conservative government -- with plenty of energy -- an ambitious go-getter to have onboard. NJC
Harper's Leadership Strength
[. . . .] In debates, Harper can be counted on to pummel the Prime Minister with his instant recall of ugly facts and Liberal failures while Martin struggles to control his temper and stammers to find lucidity without a script.
[. . . .] "What's historic here is that the conservative movement has been brought together ... as a deliberate act of will. Because of that, we have the capability of not just winning some elections, but of creating Conservative majority governments in this country."
OK, that's a commandment the voting masses could well break. But Harper's ready to lead the charge. And that once-intimidating red Liberal sea blocking his way is starting to part on its own.
