So an old-time Reform Party member has gone public and is pointing out that Harper has betrayed the original values of the folks who “brung him to the dance.” Lee Morrison was a Saskatchewan based Reform MP from 1993 – 2000 and points out his discontent in a thoughtful and damning Op-Ed in the Calgary Herald last Sunday.
Morrison called the cynical opportunism of an early election call by Harper that contradicts the spirit and sentiment of member of his own government, this also “defies statute.” That is a polite way of saying Harper has no respect for the Rule of Law or Parliament. Not the qualities of character you want to hold the most important and powerful elected office in the land.
Morrison skewers Harper for hypocrisy on fixed election dates saying, “My favourite is from Harper himself: ‘Fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar simply for partisan advantage.’” OUCH!
I have been wondering when the original Reform Party members who have integrity and are principled partisans who led the charge to Ottawa with the slogan “The West Wants In” would start telling the truth about the deceit and deception of their current “Misleader.”
Morrison is the first. Not likely to be the last.
Gee Ken: hardly a disinterested third party....
ReplyDeleteThis is a guy who wanted Harper's job for crying out loud - or is he "crying out loud". He's been steaming about not getting picked to be Leader since 2000.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/01/19/morrison000119.html
He obviously failed to notice that:
the other parties were threatening to kickstart an election every month for the last 2 years.
that the kindly old Liberals did the same thing to Harper in calling an election as soon as Harper was installed as leader - exploiting the inherent weakness of a new leader as he builds from within,
AND
If the leader of Parliament is convinced that the constant demand to be ready to go to an Election distracts people from their work as elected MPs, making getting the initiatives that party was voted in to make almost impossible to pass. I know there were some bills passed, but look how long the Libs and their Senate took to pass a Law that says you can't violate someone's 14 year old daughter - you can only violate them when they are 16 years old - 2 years for a common sense bill. If a Leader says Parliament isn't working - could be he's right....
Lee is a malcontent that fits perfectly in the Left's process of taking an issue and distorting it.
Crackers...breath deep and think blue...calm yourself. Morrison was not after Harper's job in 2000. Besides, in political terms that is ancient history.
ReplyDeleteHarper was not interested in running in 2000. That was Stockwell Day's time as he ran Preston Manning out of the Reform-Alliance leadership.
Harper did not run for the Cons leadership and win until 2002. Morrison was long gone from politics by that time.
As for the age of majority it was a Bill with support from all parties and passed quickly as I recall. Hardly an example of a dysfunctinal Parliament.
Morrison is a salt of the earth kind of guy that is the heart and soul of the original Reformers. Harper has betrayed all those values in his personal lust for political power. Morrison is not the best scapegoat to use to satisfy your control freak leader.
The Founders of Reform are not amused. They may stay home this election - or even worse - vote Green (heaven forbid). They are pretty principled bunch and I can see them doing that just to tick Harper off. It would serve Harper right.
I think most of us are happy that the West is finally in
ReplyDeleteSorry Ken - didn't make myself clear. Morrison wanted the job THEN that BOTH Day and Harper ended up with THEN and NOW - and presumably feels he could do better than anyone else then and now. So I take his rant with a Liberal helping of sour grapes.
ReplyDeleteSo - if the Reform Party which merged in the Alliance to become a more moderate mainstream party upsets some of the hard core Reformers, then they always were meant to be stuck in the hinterland.
Remember that Harper has taken more of our money out of Government and back into our taxpayer pockets sufficient to enrage a Liberal, got rid of an ineffectual Gun Registry, and toughened up on crime. Kudos for carrying out campaign promises, which are core Reform Party values
You are sort of right - and wrong - about the Bill regarding Majority being passed quickly by all Members, The Liberal-controlled Senate then sat on it for almost 10 months. Never mind giving me the baloney about Dion not controlling the Senate - they still share the same name, and the Senators were appointed there by Liberals - they are still responsible and accountable for the state of Liberalism. And I am ashamed to admit, Senator and Liberal Grant Mitchell from my own neighborhood was one of the main obstructors to this Bill, and he was proud of it.
A complete political and shameful game that used innocent kids as a pawn. Nothing Harper has done is as obnoxious and disturbing as a Liberal-controlled Senate blocking legislation that would protect the very kids the Government and Harper were elected to protect. Were they protecting some higher principal when this was going on. The Principal was to try and embarrass the Tories by obstructing the passage of any Legislation, irrespective of the effect of those laws. Ergo - Liberals say it is OK to abuse kids too young to have an informed opinion. Makes you want to barf.
Hey all you partyzans!
ReplyDeleteI hope the dis-infected all vote GREEN.... this is a curious election... and more than one party needs a kick in the pants...
IF it is a necessary election, what is the platform that the Conservatives need our concent on to govern?
I've been kind of busy with my retirement investments and the disappearing they are doing, so I think I have missed the platform announcements, yes? no?
Too bad the economy started heading south before the dreaded carbon tax came in to take the blame... could it be the current governing framework that got us here? Just curious.
greengirl
I am a Reformer that is going to vote Green. It is the only party that has policies close to the original Reform Party policies. And it is the only Grassroots party around. And before anyone puts down the Grassroots look at the economic mess the "smart boys" have gotten everyone into.
ReplyDeleteAs for the actions of Mr. Harper and others in destroying the Reform Party and building a neo-con conspiracy out of the ashes I wish them nothing more than they get exactly what they deserve.