Three of the Conservative leadership candidates want a fall election. Susan Delacourt writes:
Peter MacKay, seen as a front-runner, tossed it out in a fundraising letter: “Canadians have lost faith in this government. Protests, shutdowns, economic decline, and job losses with more to come. Canada is a great country, but we’re being held back by failing government. We need an election in October.”
Sarnia MP Marilyn Gladu had already served notice of a similar intention in a Facebook post a few weeks ago. Erin O’Toole, who received the gift of an endorsement from Alberta Premier Jason Kenney this week, said: “As soon as I become leader, I will table a motion of no confidence in the government.”
But Canadians don't appear too eager to go to the polls again. And the Conservatives might do well to consider Michael Ignatieff's experience:
The Liberals replaced [Stephane] Dion with new leader Michael Ignatieff. It was an uncontested race and by summer of that year, Ignatieff and his team felt ready to take on Harper and put the country in a quick do-over of the election of 2008.
Famously, and to his eventual regret, Ignatieff ended the Liberals’ summer retreat in 2009 with the threat: “Mr. Harper, your time is up.”
In his book about his brief, unpleasant time as Liberal leader, Ignatieff refers to this gambit as a “debacle” and warns: “Voters punish politicians who look like they’re playing games or changing their tune. I looked like both and paid the price.”
MacKay, Gladu and O’Toole may not have read Fire and Ashes, Ignatieff’s book, but they may want to revisit history when they consider the “let’s try it again with another leader” plan. They may also want to consult with three players — the New Democrats, the Bloc Québécois and most importantly, Canadians themselves.
Ignatieff was guilty of a common political sin -- the temptation to speak before listening. That flaw leads to another political sin -- certitude. Ignatieff was certain that he knew better than voters what those voters wanted.
History rhymes all the time.
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2 comments:
With Iggy I never got the sense that he was offering anything beyond a kinder, gentler Harper. It's one thing to want to lead the country, it's quite another to convince voters that your plan is better.
I get the same sense with the Con candidates itching to bring down the government. They all say they'll be "stronger" than JT, but none of them is offering a significantly different plan. None of them is willing to address climate change, or inequality in a way that the evidence suggests we need to go. Until they offer something better, they don't deserve our votes.
Cap
I get the sense that -- at least among the three leading candidates -- it's about an intense hatred of JT, Cap. But more than that, these candidates -- and this party -- is not where the country is.
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