Me on the Radio

Media Alert!

I am scheduled to appear on Adler Online this afternoon at approximately 3:15 PM EST.

The topic: conservatism in Canada.

Rumbles from the Right

Something seems to be happening in Conservative-land.

The natives are getting restless with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's swing to the left.

As mentioned earlier, my Post column has generated quite a response from disillusioned grassroots conservatives.

And now others are taking up the standard.

Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant notes in a Calgary Sun column today that the Conservative plan to ban light bulbs is "all baloney".

The Conservatives, says Levant are "alienating conservative voters who know it, too. And the environmentalists and rock stars who pretend to believe it will never vote for them anyway."

Columnist Lorne Gunter adds in today's National Post: "To understand just how deeply the Tories (I hesitate any longer to call them Conservatives) have drunk of the Green Kool-Aid, consider that their green plan, released last week, will cost Canadians as much as $8-billion a year in tax-funded spending, higher prices, pollution fines and reduced economic activity."

And finally here's what Professor Barry Cooper from the University of Calgary wrote in the Maclean's 50 comment section: "In his recent op-ed in the Ottawa Citizen, Environment Minister John Baird sounded more like David Anderson or even David Suzuki than a Conservative Minister of the Crown who - at least in principle - is connected to common sense."

I'll say it again, I hope the Prime Minister and his team are listening.

I got letters (OK really emails)

My column in yesterday's National Post on the Conservative Party selling out its principles triggered quite a response

Here's a sampling of some comments I received:

"I couldn't agree more. They (the Conservatives) have really gone off the rails in recent weeks, to the point that I am considering sitting out the next election ( and I am someone who used to take a very active part in the political process to the point of being on a riding executive board ). I hope a lot more people speak up about this. Maybe Mr. Harper and company will get the message before it's too late."

***

"The Conservative Party of Canada appears to have become just a bunch of socialists without the corruption."

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"I am greatly appreciating your efforts!"

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"The Liberals are now far more pro-business than Harper is.I voted and contributed to the CONservatives [emphasis on CON].NEVER AGAIN!!!! I'M DEDICATED TO THROWING THEM OUT."

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"I don't get it and feel, as you do, that there is little to no difference between the crooks we had out last time, and the new generation of crooks we're breeding at the moment."

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"Your column is right on the money. I have been a supporter of the Reform, Alliance and Conservative parties, financially and otherwise. But I can't support a party that wants to tell me what kind of light bulbs to use in my home."

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"I enjoyed your article 'Selling out true conservatism'. All I can say is it’s about time somebody comes out and says it. This conservative government seems no different to me then the liberal governments I have known my whole life."

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"I too am one of those who wonder how far the party will wander from principles in an efort to hold on to/gain power.. I keep hoping that it will shift back if it has a majority.. but grow less confident of that every day.."

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"Thanks for putting into words what I have been feeling lately. I must also be one of the principled conservatives because I am thinking Harper and the crew are starting to turn into Chretien and the crew."

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"Excellent commentary in today’s NP. It contained the same message I gave to my MP after the last budget. He seemed surprised that I wasn’t pleased with all the government announcements and even more surprised when I said 'please, don’t do me any favours'. The fiscally conservative (small c) has no representation and no alternative."

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"Bang on, Gerry! Very well said."

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"Thank you for confirming that I am not alone in my disappointment with the new Conservatives. . . We need more writers like you to wake up the boys in policy that there is a great hunger to redress the imbalance that has our country close to total nannyism. Good on you."

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"Although I understand your conservative principles, I don't think you're being realistic . . .I think that most Conservative Canadians are very happy with Mr. Harper at the helm and want it to stay that way. I'm one of them and I don't think I'm deluded. I'm a realist."

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"Excellent..... Your division of a conservative party has an universal appeal."

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"AMEN! Once again, just like 15 years ago, I have a feeling I have no political home. Where do we go this time? Do we have to start another “reform” movement?"

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"For someone like yourself to be writing negatively about Harper is just what the Libranos love to read and quote and it really hurts to give them any comfort. You have to undersatand that NOTHING Harper could do would be worse than another run of Liberal rule."

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"Just don't start another Reform wing! Harper needs to get rid of Flaherty and replace him with a visionary, but he also needs that elusive majority. He's walking a tightrope fairly successfully, but there's something about him that causes Canadians to pull back (or am I just listening to the CBC too much?)"

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"Terrific piece that hit the bull's-eye on why Harper's government will end up failing . . .if you ever launch the 'Principled Conservative Party of Canada' you can count on my support."

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"How did this happen? It's almost like Stephen was kidnapped by Chretien and has been brainwashed. He now appears to be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome."

***

It's great to get all this feedback.

Hope the Tory "braintrust" is listening.

Selling out true conservatism

Make sure to pick up a copy of today's National Post.

I have an op-ed in it that's near and dear to my heart.

It debunks the myths tossed at me by those Tories who defend Prime Minister Stephen Harper's drift to the political left.

Myths such as Harper needs to go left because "Canada is a left-wing country" and "Conservatism is too scary".

The fact that some Conservatives actually believe those myths is sad; the fact that Harper seems to is just plain baffling.

Media Update:
I will be discussing my column and other issues on the radio shows Montreal Today with Joe Cannon at approximately 10:20 AM EST and on Adler Online at approximate 4:20 PM EST.

And Edison Worked so Hard

Looks like the army of discontented conservatives is growing.

Stephen Taylor -- blogger extraordinaire -- has an excellent posting blasting the Conservative government's decision to ban light bulbs.

Writes Taylor: "So, the government has decided to ban light bulbs to appease the growing hysteria that, some might say, stems from the left-wing need for global social and economic reconfiguration. Granted, the ban will have a measured benefit in the short term. But, for reasons I've outlined above, it is best for the consumer to make such a decision because the market has shown a great talent for addressing consumer needs, whatever they may be."

Exactly.

Join the Conspiracy

Next month I will be attending a Civitas conference in Halifax.

What's Civitas you ask?

Well, it's a society which exists to "promote and deepen understanding through the exchange of a wide range of political and economic, social, religious, cultural and philosophical ideas concerning the principles and traditions of a free and ordered society."

In other words, it provides a venue where conservatives of all stripes can meet to discuss issues , to argue and to socialize.

And one of the best things about it, is that you get to meet fellow conservatives/libertarians face-to-face.

Oh and Civitas, is also officially part of Canada's "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy."

Learn how to join here.

And if you do join, be sure to look me up in Halifax.

Beware of Belindaism

Toronto Sun editor Lorrie Goldstein has a great piece in today's paper entitled "Liberal? Tory? Who can tell?"

In it, Goldstein makes the point that Belinda Stronach relfects the "new face" of federal politics.

And it's true.

Stronach, who is leaving federal politics, never really stood for anything -- except gaining power.

Likewise, says Goldstein, our federal parties are ceasing to stand for anything.

That's why Belinda could so easily shift from the Conservative Party to the Liberal Party.

As Goldstein writes: "it's pretty hard these days to tell a Conservative from a Liberal."

Me in the Globe (Twice)

I have a column in today's Globe and Mail (sorry it's behind a firewall) lamenting the leftward drift of the federal Conservative Party.

My point is simple: conservatives need to pressure Prime Minister Stephen Harper to stick true to his principles, otherwise we might as well elect Liberals.

My column is mentioned in this news article, which also appears in today's Globe.

Media Upate:

I will be on Focus 980 at 11:15 AM EST to discuss my op-ed and Belinda Stronach's departure.

Will also be on CFRA radio at about 1:20 PM EST.

Flaherty No Ronald Reagan

Check out a column I wrote, which appears in Sun Media papers today.

In it, I suggest the recent federal budget is a signal the Conservatives are heading down the wrong track.

And by that I mean, the Conservatives are ceasing to be conservatives.

Discussing the Budget with Duffy

Here's me on Mike Duffy Live this afternoon.

I was discussing the federal budget with Tasha Kheiriddin. She thinks it's a smart political budget; I hate it.

You can see the segment here.

(Click the tab marked "Are the Tories Moving Left?")

Budget Blues

Somebody remind me again, who is running the federal government, Conservatives or Liberals?

I have to ask because today's budget sure looks like something the Liberals or maybe even the NDP could have concocted.

Yes, there were some targeted tax cuts for families and a few tax changes to help business, but overall this budget was all about one thing: SPENDING.

Conservatives were supposed to CUT spending; not increase it.

You can see the NCC news release on the budget here.

But what really gets me about today's budget speech is Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's comment about providing more funding to the Canada Revenue Agency to ensure "every company pays its fair share of tax."

Since when do Conservatives want to increase the government's efficiency when it comes to collecting taxes?

They have a $13 billion surplus for Pete's sake, isn't that enough?!

Talk about greedy.

Maybe it's time the Tories forgot about the politics and re-focused on the ideology.

They certainly need a refresher course in Conservatism 101.

Update:

Financial Post editor Terence Corcoran has more.