Brent Rathgeber Leaves Conservative Caucus

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Cobalt_Kid

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Re: Even Tories are getting fed up.

WLDB said:
Im surprised that MacKay is against one member one vote for choosing a new leader. I think thats the way they should all work. I guess he probably doesnt think he can win with that method in place. If Harper were to step down Mackay would be one of the top contenders for the position.
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I think MacKay assumed he'd get his shot at leader of the new "reborn" conservative party after Harper was done with it. MacKay has already shown he's more interested in his own fortunes by going back on promises he made to not agree to an alliance/CP merger, so I'm not surprised he'd want to keep a method of choosing a conservative leader that will give him the best shot of winning the race.

Is it any wonder that some Tory MPs are rebelling.

Conservative MPs used like 'trained seals,' Rathgeber says - Politics - CBC News

Alberta MP Brent Rathgeber said he has left the Conservative caucus in part because of the control Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office exercises over backbench MPs, which was preventing him from representing his constituents.

The former Tory MP, who announced he was quitting late Wednesday night to sit as an Independent, said staff in Harper's office — who are "half my age" — pressure the caucus to obey their talking points and vote "like trained seals."
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Very good points by Rathgerber.

"When you have a PMO that tightly scripts its backbenches like this one attempts to do, MPs don't represent their constituents in Ottawa, they represent the government to their constituents," he told reporters.

Rathgeber spoke bluntly about his former party and the influence the PMO has when he held a news conference in his Edmonton riding Thursday.

"I do believe that the PMO has too much power, that they don't properly respect the legislators and most importantly, there is not a proper degree of separation between the legislature and the executive," he said.
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The $90,000 cheque that Harper's chief of staff Nigel Wright wrote to Senator Mike Duffy to cover his improperly claimed housing allowance is a prime example of the lack of separation, he said.

"The Prime Minister's Office seems to be accountable to nobody, not even the prime minister," said Rathgeber, who was elected in 2008.
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Goober

Goober

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Re: Even Tories are getting fed up.

Cobalt_Kid said:
I think MacKay assumed he'd get his shot at leader of the new "reborn" conservative party after Harper was done with it. MacKay has already shown he's more interested in his own fortunes by going back on promises he made to not agree to an alliance/CP merger, so I'm not surprised he'd want to keep a method of choosing a conservative leader that will give him the best shot of winning the race.

Is it any wonder that some Tory MPs are rebelling.

Conservative MPs used like 'trained seals,' Rathgeber says - Politics - CBC News



Very good points by Rathgerber.
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Jim Prentice if he runs will be elected as leader of the CPC then as PM in 2015.
Mckay does not stand a chance- Neither does pit bull Kenney against Prentice.
 
Machjo

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Just to clarify though, for those hoping for an early eelction. Even if half of the conservative caucus decided to sit as independent MPs, that would not automatically trigger an eleciton as long as they vote confidence in the government, which could always happen. We might even see the Conservative Party allying itself informally with the independents. It's just that then all of a sudden the government is weakened in that it could no longer count on guaranteed majority votes and would actually have to work for them, earn their keep so to speak.
 
Goober

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Machjo said:
Just to clarify though, for those hoping for an early eelction. Even if half of the conservative caucus decided to sit as independent MPs, that would not automatically trigger an eleciton as long as they vote confidence in the government, which could always happen. We might even see the Conservative Party allying itself informally with the independents. It's just that then all of a sudden the government is weakened in that it could no longer count on guaranteed majority votes and would actually have to work for them, earn their keep so to speak.
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Recall the Reform Party when a substantial number left and sat as independants.
That was when Doris Day was the Leader.
 
WLDB

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Machjo said:
Just to clarify though, for those hoping for an early eelction. Even if half of the conservative caucus decided to sit as independent MPs, that would not automatically trigger an eleciton as long as they vote confidence in the government, which could always happen. We might even see the Conservative Party allying itself informally with the independents. It's just that then all of a sudden the government is weakened in that it could no longer count on guaranteed majority votes and would actually have to work for them, earn their keep so to speak.
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True. I doubt independents would want to force an election anyway. Well, unless they dont plan on running again. Its very difficult for an independent to win an election compared to those that have the support of a party.
 
L Gilbert

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WLDB said:
True. I doubt independents would want to force an election anyway. Well, unless they dont plan on running again. Its very difficult for an independent to win an election compared to those that have the support of a party.
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Usually because Indies have limited financial resource. Again, it's money that is more important than people or quality.
 
Tonington

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It really depends on the candidate. Bill Casey was probably as respected in Truro as the clergy in the area. When the Conservatives booted him from caucus for voting against the budget, there was no candidate in Canada they could have parachuted in there to win the seat from Casey. He won again with almost 70% of the vote.
 
Goober

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Tonington said:
It really depends on the candidate. Bill Casey was probably as respected in Truro as the clergy in the area. When the Conservatives booted him from caucus for voting against the budget, there was no candidate in Canada they could have parachuted in there to win the seat from Casey. He won again with almost 70% of the vote.
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Same with that fellow in BC- They threw him to the wolves- he ran and won. He was the deciding vote in favor of the Matrin Govt that faced a no confidence vote.
 
JLM

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WLDB said:
True. I doubt independents would want to force an election anyway. Well, unless they dont plan on running again. Its very difficult for an independent to win an election compared to those that have the support of a party.
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Actually I think an independent is more trust worthy than someone who is bound by the corrupt party philosophy.
 
Goober

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JLM said:
Actually I think an independent is more trust worthy than someone who is bound by the corrupt party philosophy.
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Odds are increasing that Harper will retire unless he makes some major changes and direction, including priorities.
The Senate scandals are around for some time. Dear Pam was listed as residing in TO on her filing with a Company as a Director. She has more to pay back. Same with that Lib, read that number may approach 200 k.
 
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Sal said:
Song running through my head by the Carpenters "We've Only Just Begun"

They are gonna start bailing like rats from a sinking ship think Titanic...the smart ones anyway...then they are gonna platform with a whole new promise of squeaky clean government...libs and conservatives... yup... because people are p issed and we should be
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Mouseland - YouTube
 
Goober

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Machjo

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WLDB said:
True. I doubt independents would want to force an election anyway. Well, unless they dont plan on running again. Its very difficult for an independent to win an election compared to those that have the support of a party.
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The way voters vote like trained seals for the party with the prettiest colours rather than the best candidate based on character and competence, you're absolutely right.

L Gilbert said:
Usually because Indies have limited financial resource. Again, it's money that is more important than people or quality.
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But why is that? Strictly speaking, there is nothing stopping a voter from voting for a dirt-poor candidate over a well-oiled party machine. At the end of the day it's not the money, but the fact that most voters are trained seals.
 
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