Commentary:
Been there. Done that. Campaigning on a platform of fighting off the "strategic" voter is like trying to nail jelly to the wall. It doesn't work. It doesn't stick. And it tastes terrible.
But in politics survival is more important than principle. You do what you have to do to win. Shame on me. Shame on all Social Democrats who would actually abandon their principles, or bend them a little, to accommodate the voters. Sure, voters are capricious, disloyal, and shallow - but they get to make "X"s.
In Ontario we elected a hard right Conservative government in a backlash against what the National Coalition was able to persude Ontarians was economic suicide by Bob Rae. Same thing in B.C. The party there had so alienated the voters that it was a slam dunk for a "Liberal" (you have to be kidding) to get elected and promptly join Harris and Klein in a huge swing to the right.
But wait, even the most dedicated Tories have always said Ontario was governed best from the middle. Historically, the Conservatives who only had to show up on election day to win, gave the people just enough social concern to stay in power. Successive governments led by Frost and Robarts and finally by Bill Davis were Tories with a conscience. It took Bill Davis' politically foolish move to enlarge financing to Catholic schools to tumble him from power.
Here we go again. Ernie Eves may be the next successor to the pragmatism of Bill Davis. But I am scared as hell when I read the Toronto Sun's editorial page where they proclaim, like the mindless neo-cons they are: "If the Tories stray too far from their roots in trying to expand beyond their core vote (a danger with all this pre-leadership talk of being kinder and gentler), they risk becoming indistinguishable from Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty."
I'm just throwing this in because I think he could just do the job that would sink McGuinty, who didn't float very well to begin with.
The only good thing about a Tory return to pragmatism and social conscience, would be that the NDP might find its feet again.
Hell, that's better than oblivion.
Is Ontario on the Eves of destruction? Larry Solway and Straight Goods want to hear your views on the next incarnation of the Ontario Tories.
Fill out the Straight Goods Cyber Forum survey and enter the draw for Straight Goods gear.
Last week's winner of a Wilno Express CD was "Shell" of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Check out previous Forums
Posted: November 12, 2001
[ Front Page ]
