Link Byfield made it known 2 weeks ago on the home page of his Citizen’s Centre for Freedom and Democracy that this group was “going political.”
The inspiration appears to be the Firewall letter of 2001 which Links calls the end of the Reform Party Era. He sees the way to reform Ottawa is now in the ands of the provinces and that Alberta is in the best position to pick up the torch or cudgel, depending on how you see it. So they have started a new Reform provincially based political party...the Wildrose Party.
I see Ted Morton’s picture along with Stephen Harper who both signed the infamous Firewall Letter to then Premier Ralph Klein in 2001. This was before these gentlemen were successful in elected politics.
So I expect Link sees the Firewall Letter spirit as a fulcrum and a provincial political party as a lever to get the job done. With so many strong egos and different perspectives on the far right, it is hard to see a way that a coalition will emerge…but a strong man might. Who might that strong man be? Alberta’s SRD Minister Ted Morton and Edmonton City Councilor Mike Nickel are names you hear bandied about for that role.
Ken,
ReplyDeleteI know Mike Nickel personally, and I would almost go as far to say that he'll be running for Edmonton city council again, then make his third attempt at mayor to overseat Mandel. Mike was never involved in the Reform movement, although having close ties with many of its members. That said, he has close ties to people from the provincial PC's and Liberals and federal Conservatives.
I would also rather have Ted Morton involved in a governing party than another failed attempt at a poorly-named provincial right-wing party.
I hear you hatrock. Nickel would be a strong candidate from my persepctive...as would Dr. Morton. A new party needs a leader and since it is a new party the leader will have to come sith some proven gravitas and ability. While I differ with their politics, I can't deny both of these gentlemen something to offer.
ReplyDelete