Conservative Exodus 3:1?
"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God." - Exodus 3:1.With the recent announcements by Alberta Conservative caucus members Ted Menzies and Diane Ablonczy, plus Senate Majority Leader Marjory Le Breton all stepping down soon or later, does this constitute the beginning of an Exodus against Prime Minister Stephen Harper, or simply many have served so long they thought it was time to go?
Let's have a look-see:
Diane Ablonczy -- She's been through it all! Part of the Western Canada Concept back in the 80's, she then was elected as a Reform MP in 1993, then years later, absorbed with the Canadian Alliance. She ran for the leadership wanting to unite the CA and PC parties, but Stephen Harper and Peter MacKay did that and the Conservative Party was born. Her resume in Parliament is impressive--twenty years as an MP and on committees and junior cabinet roles. I think this is a milestone for her and not part of any Exodus. She'll stick around for two more years. This is a pretty standard heads-up announcement to give potential replacements candidates time to organize.
Ted Menzies -- Since 2006 he's been appointed Parliamentary Secretary for La Francophonie (despite not speaking any French), and Parl. Sec. for Finance. He's announcing he's not seaking re-election. Again, another heads up move two years out from 2015.
Marjory Le Breton -- She's been around working in the PCs since the Diefenbaker years. Appointed to the Senate under Mulroney in 1993, she was originally opposed to the CA-PC merger but then saw the inevitable and came on board. Harper then made her the Government Leader in the Senate and she's sat on a zillion committees and boards. With the recent senate scandals, her being 73, now is probably a good time to step down as senate leader and let someone else do the job and transition with him or her in the next two years before she must retire.
So all in all, I don't see anything out of the ordinary. All three have been quite supportive of Harper. I think it's all typical media hype regarding a so-called "exodus". Parliament is not in session. It's summer. All three have legitimate reasons for not continuing in their roles after 2015--primarily giving time for others to step up in the next two years.
Now whether Harper has led the flock to the far side of the wilderness is another story.
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6 comments:
I was wondering the same thing; rats and ships and all that. I am a fan of Harper and think the alternatives are too awful to consider, even shiny pony. I habitually tune out the mainstream media because they have never had anything good to say about anything conservative. However, perhaps something is happening in spite of it hiding behind a continual stream of invective from the msm. Don't know. At the moment though, I believe the Conservatives could use a shake up and some focus. They seem a bit adrift.
Wayne
PM Harper asked many moons ago for all MPs who will not run in 2015 to make their decisions in time for constituency people to put good candidates in place, allow them time to be informed by the sitting MP and learn some of the ropes. They have to get staff, funding etc. So, this gives them 2 yrs to prepare. Marjorie retires July 4 2015 so this give a person time to learn the job. The MPs are not leaving now, but will not run in 2015. Big difference.
Never thought Diane Ablonczy got the recognition she deserved from the public or really from PM Harper. Too many M.P.'s from the West, or she wasn't attractive enough to be a poster woman for the Conservatives.
I agree with Anon above regarding Ablonczy, she really should have been given a cabinet spot, very capable person. The Government seems to be drifting the last little while, I really wish they would do more to dismantle the utter contrivance of the Trudopian State... I am a little disappointed they haven't tried to do more in that regard. LaBreton has done a great job IMO, she definitely handled the hysterical "progressive" media very well during the Senate "scandal". Menzies seemed capable enough, the "francophonie" yeesh... you can almost smell the money burning. I wish them well, and hope they can be replaced with competent conservatives, not "progressives".
Harper thinks he is the only smart guy in room. It is why he marginalized his MPs and micromanaged everything. Who would want to stick around in that situation? Diane has been treated badly and now she is moving on. She'll collect the gold plated pension and become a lobbyist like Deb Gray.
OTT - but's what your take on the flood situation and the PC's handling of same?
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