Ontario PC leadership results

[justinmch]

I don't generally take part in the political discussions on this board.

However, I was really surprised that Brown was elected over Elliot, since she seemed to me to be someone who might get the Ontario voters to go PC. Brown seemed just too much like Hudak.

This comment from a certain website which a lot of you guys don't like, struck me as hitting the mark. Here it is.



Many conservatives seem to be under the impression that conservative policies fail because they aren't purely conservative enough, and that conservative governments fail because they aren't purely conservative enough. Certainly the Tea Party movement is based entirely on the premise that 'Real Conservatism' gets watered down too much to appease the 'socialists'.

I've got news for those folks: conservative policies fail because they are based an a whole suite of assumptions that don't work in the real world.

Tax cuts never stimulate the economy, even though 'common sense' arguments seem straightforward enough.

Rich people and corporations are not engines of employment, and helping them out does not result in increased number of jobs. It just doesn't.

There is no such thing as a 'free market' and there never has been in the history of western democracies.

There is no such thing as 'sustainable development'.

Limiting the rights of people whose lifestyle you disapprove of, such as the LGBT(etc.) is NOT standing up for people rights, it is bigotry, and everybody else gets that.

People who care about the poor just care about the poor. They don't hate and envy you because you aren't, they just want hungry people to get some food.

People who care about the environment just care about the environment. They don't want to send you to the unemployment line, and they don't want to go there themselves. They just care about the fate of the kids and grandkids too.

Everything is more complicated and less straightforward than you think it is. And until conservatives grasp that, getting 'more conservative' isn't going to induce the rest of us to vote for you or agree with your policies. Do not pick Patrick Brown.

[trimmer21]

Yep,I can sure see why some people don't like that website. LOL

[Sharon]

My husband spent hundreds of hours campaigning for Christine. He feels terrible - Patrick is ultra right wing. This is exactly what scared off voters last time. She could have won provincially.. more moderate. Only reason he won is because he signed up more members ( interested or not).

[terrym]

Mike Harris v2.0 might just keep Wynne in power until Ontario collapses. Elliott was more of a centrist but I wonder how she would square off in a debate with Wynne? My guess is Wynne would mop the floor with her. Tough call. Elliott represented the old gaurd who couldnt win an election in 3 gimme elections. Ontario wants it easy and is comfortable mortgaging thier kids to do it.

[buckchaser]

I'm astounded the Ontario Conservatives opted for "more of the same" after "Tea Party" Tim Hudak bombed two elections that he most certainly should have won against an embattled McGuinty and an underfire Wynne.

A move to Elliott would have meant a win in the next provincial election in my mind, probably a minority. In fact, if her policies were rational I would have voted for her. There's zero chance Brown is getting my vote based on his social conservatism alone, much less his other views.

[intothedeep]

My husband spent hundreds of hours campaigning for Christine. He feels terrible - Patrick is ultra right wing. This is exactly what scared off voters last time. She could have won provincially.. more moderate. Only reason he won is because he signed up more members ( interested or not).

Yup, apparently he is a big hustler and makes lots of connections, only reason he won. Elliot had far more support within the party and also being Flaherty's widow has star power on her side, not to mention her own career... Even though he looks a tad older, he is only 36 yrs old. That's got to be an age record for leading a major Provintial party. Hard to see him winning unless the economy goes really far south and there is no growth to recession...

Never would have predicted he'd win. NDP majority in Alberta, Cameron in England who was a write off, now has a Tory majority, hard to predict things these days...

[JBen]

Hard to say really.
I think CE would likely have been a better choice for a few reasons. Immaterial now.

Laugh at those website quotes
Too much of anything be it be much this or too much that is rarely a good thing but whoever wrote that is just clueless
********

What’s to come?
He likely has three years to show the electorate what he is about. Put his stamp on some things.

In between now and then a lot can happen. I expect there will be a lot.
We are in the crapper for reasons obviously there are people who like that.
We obviously have a leader/govt that feels they are above the law. Obviously people like that
We obviously have a party/govt that bows to Unions and panders to them ( A select few over the needs of the many). Obviously there are people who like that
We obviously have a party/govt that only has eyes for the GTA. Obviously there are those who like that
And more.

Here we are with teacher on strike because the govt doesn’t have the money for our children, something they created and voted for.
Here we are with real, easily seen needs in Healthcare because the govt doesn’t have the $$
Here we are selling off Hydro 1 because the Govt doesn’t have the $$ for infrastructure (aren’t we taxed to the teeth for that). Something that is desperately needed to create jobs, improve the economy to the benefit of everyone rather than the select few.
Here are getting pummeled by rising taxes/fees/Hydro at a time when people can’t save for retirement, have too much debt themselves, and interest rates will one day rise.

And there are dark storm clouds on the horizon

/shrug

[DGearyFTE]

I am seeing generally negative comments against Patrick Brown. Fair enough, I think many are likely warranted given the acknowledged fact that he has a rather thin portfolio. However, it also means that he is not carrying baggage like Christine Elliot.

The Ontario PCs lost the last election because the power brokers in the party that are in the background keep making the same tired plan that continues to fail. Hudak was simply another puppet that got off the leash. Elliot would have been another puppet with the same old guard running in the background.

I met with Brown some weeks ago at a friend's house to hear him speak in his run up to the election for leadership. Sat beside him at the dinner table for about 1/2 hour chatting. What impressed me the most was that he appeared to listen. What impressed me more was that as he ran for leadership he tailored his focus to address the concerns in the area where he was speaking.
During the run up to the leadership Christine was trotting out the same drivel at each event and simply parroting the party line (okay, with a little pink mixed in)

As much as I am right-wing I don't agree with all of Brown's stances on issues but I do know that he is a very savvy and smart politician. He is going to break up the old guard in Queen's Park. How that will go I am not sure since there are many bridges that will need to be mended after this leadership race. Christine showed bad form in walking out when it was announced she had lost. She didn't even have the grace to shake hands with Brown. It will be interesting to see how she and Brown interract going forward.

On the plus side he has three years to get his ducks in a row and present a platform. No doubt by that time it should be easy since the public by then will want anyone other than the Liberals.

[terrym]

Unfortunately I don't think any of it matters anymore. The Conservatives could have chosen Mother Theresa and the Teacher's Union and Working Families Coalition will continue to pay for and control Provincial elections. Without substantial election financing laws reform the Liberals will rule forever.
I think PB is probably somebody I would agree with on most issues, but would also have no problem with CE in charge. My fear is Brown will be painted too easily as the spawn of Mike Harris. Ontario and even Canada are center/left. If PB can't get elected it doesn't matter how smart or capable he is.

[longpointer]

Mmmmmmmm Let's see... a party that can't get it's poop together is the party we want to run the goverment....... ? ROTFLMAO !!!

Now ! Let's take a look at Alberta's polictal situation.