Monday, April 25, 2011

“The average backbench MP is little more than a bench warmer for his/her political party.” Stephen Harper in the National Post, February 1998

People can change their minds.

I don't believe today everything I believed when I was 20 or 30 or 40.

But some things don't change over time.

And Stephen Harper's preference for an American Presidential style of government where Parliament is a mere rubber stamp for the Prime Minister's Office hasn't changed.

There's a reason why Harper hates minority governments -- he has to deal with other Parties, other views and even, sometimes, his own backbenchers.

A backbencher in a Harper Conservative government is a place holder at best -- something to remember if you're looking to re-elect a Conservative backbencher.

6 comments:

Fjperry said...

I take grim amusement in contemplating one very possible electoral outcome: Harper may win a majority, but a razor thin one. In that case, he will have to take pains to treat his caucus with respect, lest any should cross the floor.

ridenrain said...

Nobodys 100 feet from the hill?
Yawn.

Eric said...

Mr. Morton: This post is another example of why the NDP is surging and the LPC is fading to obscurity. Every attack like this one simply shines the light on the Liberal past. PMs Trudeau, Chretien and Martin only served to diminish the role of the simple MP. The LPC can not be trusted as an alternative to those that are not happy with the Conservative government.

Stephen Downes said...

Quotes that are more than 10 years old are irrelevant. They're irrelevant when the Conservatives run them in attack ads and they're irrelevant here.

James C Morton said...

Downes,

Fair enough -- people do change their minds (think of the journey of George Wallace!) but I do think the attitude remains in this case. But, point taken!

Stephen Downes said...

I also think the attitude remains. But that just means there should be current evidence of it.