Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

KRUGGEL: I did not see that coming ... Rustad kicks out Sturko


I've followed, studied, and commented on politics for decades. I've been at this a very long time. I'm rarely surprised.

Elenore Sturko was one of the MLAs in the BC Conservative caucus that tried to bridge the socially moderate BC Liberal wing of the party to the more fiscally conservative BC Conservative wing of the party. She was and still is an outspoken MLA and here's the thing: she's almost always right. She gives the party a very good public image.

Yesterday party leader John Rustad won his leadership review with just over 70% support. Normally a leader wants 70% as a bare minimum with an eye to for 80%. But 70% will suffice.

You may remember a couple of weeks ago when the Ontario Liberal leader resigned after receiving around 65% of the vote in her leadership review.

Rustad came off that win and then kicked Sturko out of caucus. This was a unilateral decision by him. He claimed she as trying to undermine his leadership.

Why is this so surprising?

Well it is surprising because Rustad just had a big public win. His leadership was secure. He did not need to go after anyone and rock the boat. In fact, focusing on the NDP with his caucus behind him would have looked like a party that had its proverbial crap together.

Instead, he acted rather petty and now looks like a vindictive small man in public going after his perceived enemies rather than a big man taking the high road.

He acted like Donald Trump when he could have acted like Brian Mulroney or Jean Chretien. The latter two made their leadership rivals their top ministers. Both Michael Wilson and Paul Martin were made the Finance Ministers under Mulroney and Chretien respectively. That served to unify their parties under their leadership with their rivals given top spots in cabinet.

Rustad should have elevated Sturko if she was the problem he says she was. That would have brought her closer into the fold and those that are looking to her would have followed.

I'm not saying anything new here. That's Parliamentary Politics 101. It is how diplomats build alliances. That is how you build a movement. You make the tent bigger. You don't make it smaller.

A long time lesson in Canadian politics is that you are okay to kick out extremists but you never, ever kick out a moderate.

This is a huge misstep by John Rustad. He's done some real damage to this public profile and I don't think he can fix this one.
 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PECKFORD -- Authoritarian governments in our own time, from the Nazi period to the USSR, have crippled democracy and freedom and yet we have not learned

Just come right out and say it ... it’s China ... and it’s communist. So there ... I said it! And its a virus, the corona virus, that came from China — the China Virus. Oh, yah it has a fancy name —but this keeps it simple and identifies its origin. Imagine that!!! Of course, now that Trump has said it, he, being a virus to most China sensitive people (and that’ s just about everyone) none will say it now —- And the political correctness and hypocrisy of it all. The World Health Organization changed all that a few years ago and like sheep we all followed along. No more geographic naming —that’s an order —-George Orwell is turning over in his grave. Of course, this WHO is part of the UN that has a Human Rights Council full of human rights violators whose sole purpose in life is to bring resolutions against the only democracy in the Middle East. Nice civilized crowd don’t you think?? We all put up with this charade every day and conti...
Post a Comment
Read more

Khadr played upon the democratic freedoms and rights that Canadian have

WELL I CERTAINLY STIRRED UP REACTION when my last post went online , as well as other comments, which were made online elsewhere.  People opposed, to what I had to say, had comments which included the following:   Okay, I'm f - - king sick of the idiocy and done with writing a diatribe every single time a friend posts about how they're upset that Trudeau is giving a terrorist $10m. ... You people are.... willfully ignorant and hypocritical .. ·          God help us. What’s next everybody is “packing”, burning crosses, and having segregated bathrooms.  This rhetoric is disturbing.  Canadians are better than this. My mind is in awe of the number of people who have no respect for what being tortured actually means. Who foolishly think that they wouldn't break ... If our governments are willing to trap and torture people on foreign soil then we h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper to step down for Conservative Leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay to run in a by-election

Deputy Whip and MLA Reann Gasper has informed the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia of her decision to step down as MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, creating an opportunity for Conservative Party of British Columbia Leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay to seek the seat in a forthcoming by-election. Gasper said the decision was made carefully and deliberately, with the future of British Columbia firmly in mind. Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper “This is a decision I have made after a great deal of careful consideration, and I believe it is the right decision for me, for our Party, and for the work ahead,” said MLA Gasper. “It has been a privilege to represent the people of Abbotsford-Mission, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me. I am also grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside my colleagues in the Conservative Caucus and to contribute to our leadership team.” “I have confidence in Kerry-Lynne, in her leadership, and in her ability to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more