B.C. Conservatives Going Nowhere–Fast
In the BC Conservatives Aug2010 newsletter the evidence couldn’t be more clear: Under the current regime, the Party is GOING NOWHERE.
I like Chris Delaney, very much. I think he’s a fine man, with a decency that is rare in political life and his performance during the HST revolt has been extraordinary.
But he is woefully unprepared to lead anyone, much less the province, when his party is stacking the deck with former politicians and political has-beens that have been problem members in previous political incarnations.
There can be no more perfect example of this phenomenon than one Randy White. Mr. White is a former MP with both the Reform Party and Canadian Alliance. To say that his policy positions are extreme is an understatement. As one Harper adviser put it to me earlier this morning, “Alex, he left us because, if you can believe this, he felt we weren’t conservative enough. That should tell you everything you need to know. He just blew a gasket on gay marriage and the PM was pretty disappointed in that. Personal feelings have no business in making good policy. Solid principles that a majority of Canadians hold dear do. ”
And while I heartily and delightedly applaud and salute Mr. White’s efforts at founding the Drug Prevention Network–the absolutely best work of his life, it’s his extremely socially conservative positions on, for example, gay marriage, which will surely have the BC Conservatives in a mess, regardless of the fact that’s it a federal matter long since decided. Besides, he’s wrong on the issue. There is absolutely nothing wrong with gay marriage. When two people love one another, they should be able to express it and legitimize it in this way. If a particular church, synagogue or temple forbids it, well, I also support their right to reject accordingly.
But the extremism is unnecessary and clouds the issue.
Here’s a Randy White quote from the eve of the 2004 federal election on the courts:
“Well, the heck with the courts. You know, one of these days we in this country are going to stand up and say, the politicians make the laws and the courts do not”
Not enough of a chill? Here’s another quote:
“It’s time that we started to exert our responsibility as politicians in the country,” White said. “If the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is going to be used as the crutch to carry forward all of the issues that social libertarians want, then there’s got to be for us conservatives out there a way to put checks and balances in there.”
This latter quote, incredibly, was regarding gay marriage–one of two hobby horses (abortion being the other) with the rabid social conservative set of which Mr. White is so lavishly a believer.
In the latest segment of the BC Conservatives newsletter, Mr. White, once again shows an alarming disregard for bridge building and policy making. You don’t hammer anyone when you’re building. You can’t afford to. But not only does Mr. White employ his classic scorched-earth methodology, the BC Conservative leadership actually allowed the offensive paragraph to stand.
Here is his entire statement, with offensive smash-mouth paragraph in bold italic (the man just can’t help himself):
The Advisory Group
– Randy White, Chairman
The Provincial Board recognized early this year the need for experienced advice as we expand rapidly and begin preparing for an election readiness program.
I was asked to organize an advisory group to the President, his board and a Leader who would spend their time strategically planning for the political events that are happening. We laid out a three-year plan for the Board to consider, provided networking contacts for the party and acting as a sounding board for events that affect the party. Overall, we are very pleased with the professionalism of your Board and the maturity with which it handles its affairs. Some individuals have been unable to accept the rigors and responsibilities of the new fast- growing role of conservatism in BC but the Board, in all cases, has taken a fair but firm approach to the issues.
Our group consists of former politicians from the municipal, provincial and federal levels of government with more than 30 successful elections among the group. We will announce who these individuals are in the fall and I believe all of BC will be pleasantly surprised.
In the months ahead we are suggesting actions for such is- sues as a party slogan, leadership hopefuls and fundraising – all issues the President and his board will be working on. In the meantime we sincerely hope all members stay very active, form the Constituency Associations and bring in new members.
Thank you for helping BC.
Randy White
Translation: Once again, Mr. White had problems dealing with people who found his positions and the way he exercised them unacceptable.
Look, I have no problem with the BC Conservatives being a big tent. It’s what has kept the NDP from the reigns of power for the vast majority of time in the history of this province, while we were under the Socreds and Liberals. But when you’ve got someone like this on as “Chairman’ of some amorphous ‘Advisory Group’ it sends the absolutely WRONG message. How can you be a big tent and take advice from someone whose opinions are so narrow, on issues which British Columbians are already decided?
I’ve met Mr. White once and he seems a very kind, extremely affable man. But his previous statements, particularly on the courts and gay marriage make him the absolutely WRONG type of individual with which the BC Conservatives can build or grow.
The smart move would be to merge with the Liberals and THEN find a dynamic leader under a new BC Party, or some such vehicle, since the BC Liberal brand is DEAD as a doornail and diehard Liberals are too self-absorbed to join anything with the name “conservative” in it.
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Stay tuned for a follow-up on the provincial scene with respect to the BC Conservatives, BCLiberals (and what nuggets of wisdom they heard from the boss at the caucus retreat in Harrison last month), Dianne Watts, Carole Taylor, Kevin Falcon and the prospect of an NDP government.
Back with all that, and more, tomorrow.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…..
If anyone wants to know what will happen provincially with an NDP government, all they have to do is to look at the mess in Vancouver City Hall.
As Alex reported, it looks as though the CoV is $20 million in the red due to NDP…er…Vision Vancouver MISmanagement by Geoff Meggs and Co.
Now it looks as though they’ll be dipping into the PEF piggy bank to hide their spending excess…….fudget budget NDP-style anyone (as opposed to the fudget budget Liberal-style of course)….
Wasn’t Meggs, Glen Clark’s gopher during those fudget-budget days?
Add to that a lack of public consultation and millions given to friends and donors on the civic level, and it makes what Gordon Campbell’s done provincially almost acceptable.
The CoV is f–ked, thanks to the civic NDP and the looney left-wingers.
If the joke that is Vancouver City Hall 2008-2011, doesn’t illustrate to people what we’d be in for provincially with an NDP government – I don’t know what will.
We need an alternative to the Liberals because THAT shouldn’t happen again.
We don’t need a “decade of doom” redux.
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You’re right. Another ten years of the NDP would be a disaster.
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I’ve tried (desperately given the other choices to hand) to get interested in the BC Conservatives and failed utterly.
To say they present as less than fresh would be a ridiculous understatement and they never fail to impress me as the sort of conservatives that are intolerable to a libertarian such as myself, sharing as they do with the left the idea that government is somehow smart enuff to run my life and somehow possesses the authority to as well.
Definitely time for a new option on the BC political landscape, a party that will get rid of the HST, PST, payroll taxes, the Ministry of Healthy Living … and mind their own damn business.
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I’d settle for a conservative party that was not stacked with religious nut jobs. (no offense to any religious nut jobs reading this)
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Oh I quite agree. I just don’t think all the idiots who identify as staunch liberals would do what the conservatives have done for the last ten years–forget the name and vote for the center-right party. It’s party of a liberal’s ethos to cannibalize their own…cut their nose off to spite their face, etc. You pick the analogy. They’re quite pathetic.
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“and the prospect of an NDP government.”
You just sent chills down my spine!
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I have a habit of doing that…it’s not intentional.
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Well here is a new idea, how about Social Credit?? a made in B.C. provincial party with no official affilation with any federal party.
It has been one of the most successful centre right tents, this province ever had.
It was never tainted by big corporate business, or social conservative fanatics.. well except for (Vanderzalm)…and has a history tied in the most revered premier this province ever had W.A.C….funny enough Rafe Mair sugested this same scenario a few years back.
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Fine by me, but I think the electorate might look at it and say ‘been there, done that’. The reality is that the center-right needs a real leader and they don’t have one in Gordon Campbell. Not even close.
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OK who are these cons:
Wilf Hanni?
Glen P Robbins? (Georgia Straight poster extraordinaire)
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Don’t know who Robbins is. Wilf Hanni is out. The party is lead by Chris Delaney, who is actually a very nice man.
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How odd. I could have sworn I read Glen claim he was running as B.C. Conservative leader – that was a while ago I guess…
just found him here:
http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/
“As a candidate for leadership of the BC Conservative Party, I can readily see how problems could arise for the party’s overall success if the matter of the party’s position on the HST matter cannot be properly explained….”
I guess Chris got the job.
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No current BC Lib and neither of Carole nor Dianne can persuade the BC Conservatives to join forces in a new party with BCL;s, let alone support the BC Lib’s in an election. Unless a credible federal Conservative (not the nut bar Randy White) was to step forward and either start the new party, or run as a BC Lib on a promise to change the name. God how I wish David Emerson was younger, more political and more ambitious. But what about Stockwell Day. Every rural riding in BC would vote for him, so would the Fraser Valley, the rightish GVRD ridings and even a couple of ridings on Vancouver Island. That looks like a majority to me. We need to do what Saskatchewan conservatives did, create the BC Party, unite centre right with the right forever and finally in BC and keep our foot firmly planted on the metaphorical pencil neck of the NDP.
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I like James Moore much more than Stock Day. He has Reform baggage. Properly packaged Moore could be formidable.
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1. I quit the BC Conservatives and 2. If you think James Moore could be formidable – you don’t know what you’re doing.
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Of course, I know, James Moore isn’t Conservative enough for you. He needs to refer to abortion as murder and be a follower of the Westboro Church.
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Alex – your an amateur at laying out bait – that or by the looks of ya – your eating it all.
I firmly believe in a women’s right to choose — I personally wish they would choose to keep a child — but it doesn’t work out that way –
Your mother and mine gave us a chance at life – and we both turned out pretty good.
James Moore isn’t formidable — he wasn’t given the equipment to lead — he is a follower–an intelligent follower – but dry as toast – no charisma.
Politically, the BC Conservatives don’t want him — in part for the reasons you mistakenly applied to me (I am not a social conservative) –{after waiting a week to post it}—-and how would he fit in with BC Liberals — at the wake?
I do believe there is a role for all — and I see James role as answering the door on the set of the new Adams Family show.
“You Rang?”
I like your stuff A – but you beat a bigger-better stick in Vancouver City politalk.
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How do you feel about gay marriage?
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My PERSONAL opinion is Live and let live — I would never put another person down or frustrate their happiness because of personal choice,
I don’t appreciate it when people put me down or frustrate my happiness –
I believe we have to be tougher on hate crimes against gay people — others– the poor fellow beaten to death in Stanley Park by vicious punks – was vulnerable because that is where gay people meet – in hidden places – because gay men are/were afraid or ashamed–
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Lovely…
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What does “Lovely” mean you condescending beluga whale?
You asked – I answered – what do you think about same sex marriage?
I think you and Moore would make a good couple –
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Can’t imagine why you’re not leader of the BC Conservatives…..
No meds today?
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I am wondering if there is a conservative movement out there that actually believes in the separation of church and state. All this concern about gay marriage seems out of place in a government conversation. Todays dictionary does reference marriage as being same sex, as well as man/woman. If a person has objections to gay marriage, it is usually personal (religious based, or otherwise). Why should the government be concerned if they get married or not? Will they pay taxes and abide by the laws of the province? Good. Next question.
Governments should be there to deal with the things that part of daily life. Healthcare, education, infrastructure, social saefty net, etc. They are there to create laws, too, but the laws are designed to protect people. Who would the government be protecting by not allowing gay marriage? I would sooner see time and effort spent on protecting me from gangs, than from gays.
Perhaps this is 21st century conservatism, where we are slightly more tolerant than the buttoned down conservatives of days gone by. I am hoping that the BC Conservative leader that is elected by the party is one who is a hard working REPRESENTATIVE of the party and the people of BC and not one who feels that their position is also their personal pulpit for some moral agenda.
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Sean,
And extremely thoughtful comment that I thoroughly enjoyed. I agree, it is frightening that there are so few red tories, like us, willing to stand up and ask ‘Why?’ I’m certainly not against faith, I have a fairly deep one of my own, but it’s the extremism that always leaves me gobsmacked.
Alas, the BC Conservatives are doomed. And the BC Liberals are finished as a brand. It’s clearly time for a new party.
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You’re disrespectful boy – if you knew me, you would understand that is a mistake.
No more posts – I’ll catch up—
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I’m not your boy. And I’m hardly disrespectful. Flock off if you don’t like it here. you come around, make snide comments about my weight and commit to the kind of insanity that most people recognize you for. you make unendingly stupid comments on any of the other boards you infest, particularly at the Georgia Straight, and then come back here to do what precisely?
Glen, you’re an abject moron who no one takes seriously. Go away.
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