False Courage
I remember someone once asked me whether I'd ever want to run to become an MP someday.
I replied that no, I could never become an MP because I wouldn't possibly be able to be completely loyal to the party that I ran for, if I was able to become elected.
Someone should have given that advice to Garth Turner.
Over just the past 12 hours or so, he's proven himself to be a remarkably irresponsible and burdensome (to his party) MP.
Forget that the Emerson and Fortier appointments were actually good (which I have argued a number of times already), Turner's comments today to the media, but especially his last few posts on his personal blog show a deep betrayal of loyalty to his party and to his party's leader. If he keeps up this behavior, it would be in the Prime Minister's best interests to boot him from caucus.
Disagreeing with the government (the cabinet/PM) is perfectly fine and healthy, that's why the House of Commons needs more free votes. However, Turner's desire to make himself out to be a martyr is laughable. He should know that caucus solidarity is more than about empowering the party leadership. The secrecy of his conversations with the Prime Minister should have been maintained. If he got a dressing down from the PM, he should have kept it to himself. Disagreements can be made vocally and strongly within the confines of caucus, why couldn't he let them be known at that time? Besides feeding a likely media frenzy tomorrow, what exactly has he accomplished? He's essentially voted non-confidence in his leader and in his party with his last post.
I was just hoping this time I would not be asked to choose – between party and principle.
I'd rather not be the judge of whether the Conservative Party is principled or not, but I'm not a Conservative MP. Conservative MPs are expected to tow the party line, at least in the sense that they BELIEVE in their party and in their party's leader - that's the way the system works. If you wanted to be a maverick, be a maverick when it comes time to vote in the House and in committees. By essentially questioning your leader's values, integrity and judgment, and by painting him and your party's leadership as a bunch of vindictive jackasses, what more can you expect than to be alienated and shunned?
Why doesn't he just leave caucus if he's unable to show some confidence in his leader's judgment? Unless he turns things around and issues some clarifications, he's become a liability to his party that should back up his words with some action:
Leave caucus now or have your disagreements without being disagreeable and unneccessarily "outspoken". Otherwise, you only help the Liberals, and who would want to do that?
If the Tories don't learn to speak with one voice, THEY WILL LOSE. And then yes, they'll experience the joy of being principled, in opposition, for what will seem like an eternity. As has been said many times over the past few days: Perfection is the enemy of the good. The Tories will not be perfect, but they're definitely a heckuva lot better than the Liberals.
"Speaking out" about your party's imperfections only makes things worse. Like I've already said, if Turner doesn't clean up his act, he should get the boot.
I replied that no, I could never become an MP because I wouldn't possibly be able to be completely loyal to the party that I ran for, if I was able to become elected.
Someone should have given that advice to Garth Turner.
Over just the past 12 hours or so, he's proven himself to be a remarkably irresponsible and burdensome (to his party) MP.
Forget that the Emerson and Fortier appointments were actually good (which I have argued a number of times already), Turner's comments today to the media, but especially his last few posts on his personal blog show a deep betrayal of loyalty to his party and to his party's leader. If he keeps up this behavior, it would be in the Prime Minister's best interests to boot him from caucus.
Disagreeing with the government (the cabinet/PM) is perfectly fine and healthy, that's why the House of Commons needs more free votes. However, Turner's desire to make himself out to be a martyr is laughable. He should know that caucus solidarity is more than about empowering the party leadership. The secrecy of his conversations with the Prime Minister should have been maintained. If he got a dressing down from the PM, he should have kept it to himself. Disagreements can be made vocally and strongly within the confines of caucus, why couldn't he let them be known at that time? Besides feeding a likely media frenzy tomorrow, what exactly has he accomplished? He's essentially voted non-confidence in his leader and in his party with his last post.
I was just hoping this time I would not be asked to choose – between party and principle.
I'd rather not be the judge of whether the Conservative Party is principled or not, but I'm not a Conservative MP. Conservative MPs are expected to tow the party line, at least in the sense that they BELIEVE in their party and in their party's leader - that's the way the system works. If you wanted to be a maverick, be a maverick when it comes time to vote in the House and in committees. By essentially questioning your leader's values, integrity and judgment, and by painting him and your party's leadership as a bunch of vindictive jackasses, what more can you expect than to be alienated and shunned?
Why doesn't he just leave caucus if he's unable to show some confidence in his leader's judgment? Unless he turns things around and issues some clarifications, he's become a liability to his party that should back up his words with some action:
Leave caucus now or have your disagreements without being disagreeable and unneccessarily "outspoken". Otherwise, you only help the Liberals, and who would want to do that?
If the Tories don't learn to speak with one voice, THEY WILL LOSE. And then yes, they'll experience the joy of being principled, in opposition, for what will seem like an eternity. As has been said many times over the past few days: Perfection is the enemy of the good. The Tories will not be perfect, but they're definitely a heckuva lot better than the Liberals.
"Speaking out" about your party's imperfections only makes things worse. Like I've already said, if Turner doesn't clean up his act, he should get the boot.
posted by Japnaam Singh at
9:43 PM
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