Friday, February 10, 2006

Party On Garth

Since all the cool bloggers are doing it, I'll post a link to Garth Turner's blog, where he trashes his party and leader over the Emerson and Fortier fiasco.

I applaud Turner for his principled stand, and think he has every right to speak out about these hypocritical appointments. But, that said, his blogging is certainly not doing the Conservative Party any favours. And it's certainly not appropriate to discuss a private dressing down he got from the Prime Minister. There's something to be said for being a "team player" (within reason) and if I were a Tory, I think I'd be a little peeved towards Garth right now.

But I'm not a Tory, so: Blog On Garth! Blog On!

14 Comments:

  • For all the bashing the Liberals have had to endure, amid predictions of party annihilation etc., it's refreshing to see a Conservative trying to keep his party on the straight and narrow. This should be a good example for all politicians. Enough of this behind the scenes garbage, from all parties, they need to speak out to us. We're the people who elect them. I'm tired of scandal after scandal and back room dealings.

    I can't stand Garth personally but applaud what he's doing.

    By Blogger noone, at 6:16 p.m.  

  • I don't know if I'm just reading you wrong, CG, but what I hear you saying is that it's OK for him to do this because it's helpful to our side.

    That's probably not what you meant, but that's what I'm hearing.

    I'd say this is the right thing for him to do. Liberal or Tory, I want to know when the person I elect to do a particular thing finds themselves prevented from doing that thing, and I want to know how, and why.

    I only regret not having seen this kind of outspoken honesty from any elected Liberals recently.

    By Blogger Gauntlet, at 6:19 p.m.  

  • I am not really going to take too much joy in the fact that Garth is burning Harper.

    I just impressed that a Tory MP has integrity.

    Garth Turner would have my vote if he were my MP.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:26 p.m.  

  • One can respectfully disagree without violating private confidences and without using inflammatory rhetoric.

    The manner in which he's doing it seems to belie his stated intention.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:52 p.m.  

  • He also is doing a series of talk shows.

    Which means he's not reluctantly disagreeing with, but actively trying to subvert, his own party.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:55 p.m.  

  • It's a fine line. He can certainly disagree and it's good that he's showing some principle in all this.

    But he's being very loud about his disagreement, doing talk shows, talking about private meetings...in short, he's coming pretty close to the line.

    By Blogger calgarygrit, at 7:29 p.m.  

  • at least someone has the courage.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:41 p.m.  

  • garth has never been a team player . Even during the campaign his unauthorized campaign literature and unauthorized ads called the conservative agenda "my Plan" which of course was a bit of a joke.
    He thinks that he is above the law as demonstrated at least three times during the campaign that I witnessed personally and he is just making noise because he was skipped over for cabinet.
    He is right on the issue but beleive me he is yelling not out of principle but out of agenda and there is a difference.

    Quietchanter

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:46 p.m.  

  • Hey, the guy has nothing to lose, so why the hell not take a principled stand on the issue? Now if only some more Conservative MPs would get off their asses and speak their mind (not that I’m suggesting a connection there), that would make for some good political theatre.

    By Blogger Red Tory, at 7:53 p.m.  

  • What are you, Aunt Bea from the old Andy of Mayberry show? Not appropriate to talk about a private meeting?

    Who the hell cares if it was appropriate or not? Harper has screwed democracy right in the ear. He does not deserve one moment of privacy until he makes this right!

    By Blogger johnny maudlin, at 8:12 p.m.  

  • Garth just needs to strengthen his resolve at this point. I'm no CPCer but we need more of him in the big "O".

    K-Dough's Canada

    By Blogger K-Dough, at 9:19 p.m.  

  • Garth is a light weight. He fancied himself as a financial advisor when he lost the election in 1993. His advice was kind of lame. Let's not pay too much attention to him now. He'll be lost in the mists of time.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:04 p.m.  

  • Garth seems surprised that his leader does not agre with his position that MPs should not be allowed to cross the floor. Why is he surprised?

    Stephen Harper himself told Peter Mansbridge four days BEFORE the election that he didn't agree with those who wanted to ban floor crossings as it gives too much power to party leaders.

    Harper said this...

    on CBC.

    in Canada.

    Before the election

    I'm not making this up.

    I'm not allowed to.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:04 p.m.  

  • If you went to his blog, you'd have noticed about 500 or so peeved responses.

    Garth will do the right thing in the end, and the Tories need guys like him to help further electoral reform.

    By Blogger Joe Calgary, at 1:20 p.m.  

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