There are now four candidates for the Conservative crown -- Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Leswyn Lewis, and Patrick Brown. Eric Blais writes this battle will be all about the definition of "conservative:"
If the third time is indeed a charm, this third leadership race in six years will be a referendum on the party’s future. One that should force a decision on what the Conservative brand should stand for to succeed. Since it’s often more important to be different than to be better, the more polarized the positions of the two leading candidates will be, the better. It might split the party but it will bring much needed clarity on what the Conservative brand stands for.
There was much talk of the party’s need to “rebrand” when Andrew Scheer stepped down in 2019. In most organizations, that’s usually important work done prior to choosing the person who will best embody the new brand promise.
Political parties don’t operate this way. Members pick the leader they believe best represents their views. And when the rules of the leadership race create an opening, one can come from behind and get elected even if the new leader’s positions aren’t representative of the majority.
And there's the rub. The party's base is where Poilievre and Lewis are. Charest and Brown will not be their first choice. However,
having two clear choices is the only path forward to shape the future of the Conservative brand. Party supporters, which must include a significant number of new members this time around, should welcome having to choose between two polar opposites. It might reposition the Conservative brand in a manner that alienate some members it but it’s the only way voters in the next general election will be able to choose between a Conservative party that can confidently say “I’m a PC” and a Liberal party that can only say “I’m a Mac.”
We'll see in September what being a Conservative in Canada means.
Image: CBC
6 comments:
From TVO ...
"She came very close. In the 2018 leadership race, she finished ahead of Ford in terms of actual votes cast. Ford won the contest, and shortly thereafter the premiership, only by virtue of the PCs’ vote-weighting system."
This is the money shot:
"This naturally raises questions about how things might have unfolded differently if we’d had a Premier Elliott instead of Premier Ford. It’s impossible to say, of course, but I imagine things would have been consistently different in tone but surprisingly unchanged in substance. "
So, imo, depending on who wins the CONtest, (if/when they form the gov't), we will see a consistently different tone but a surprisingly consistency in rightwing substance.
yawn
The right-wing appears to be firmly in control, PoV.
Even the hapless Scheer and O'Toole won the popular vote and held the Libs to minority governments. Yet Lib partisans are salivating at Trudeau's chances against Poilievre or Lewis. I say be careful what you wish for, a leader never smells fresh on their fourth time at bat.
Cap
.. it’s yet another void .. a black hole, back room poker game & Partisan Mainstream Media the Dealer. It’s also a punkass level musical chairs charade. Can it top the last few ‘leadership’ charades ? Probably With Poilievre if he ‘wins’ & grins..
In Canada eh .. it’s American Driven Conservative Mainstream Media in charge of spooning out ‘Public Opinion’ & just how rancid the Candidates can actually be is carefully managed grift & sleight of hand. It’s ‘a Miracle of Democracy’ as creepy fellows like Lorne Goldstein or Jason Kenney like to proclaim after the much ado about leadership, patriotism, moral.. blah blah.. wave the flag, trumpet the new polls & the glorious attributes of the spanking new weiner who won free rent and a front seat in Commons plus chauffeur etc.. & full liquor cabinet.. all bow ! Bow woW..
The last election serves as that kind of cautionary tale, Cap.
It's all pretty sad, sal.
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