Conservative or Tory - What's the Story?

I fully recognise that this Blog is not always accessible to the typical Canadian voter. I deal in high-concepts that are usually the preserve of Graduate Students and University Professors. I also have a hard time trying to popularise and colloquialise what I am trying to get across.

However, if you are a Canadian and you wish to understand what Stephen Harper stands for and what the CPC is trying to bring about in this country, then read this.

I very definitely could NOT have done better myself.

In Defence of Civic Nationalism ...

Michael Chong resigns his Post over Harper's Quebec gambit citing his belief in Civic Nationalism - and not Ethnic Nationalism.

It's nice to see that there are some (real) tories in the CPC who have retained their conservative conscience and an understanding as to the values that Canada was founded upon.

Kudos to Mr. Chong!

Harper's Gamble ...

Stephen Harper's declaration that the Quebecois constitute a nation within the Dominion of Canada is certainly a gamble and one in keeping with his Reform Party roots and inclinations.

It is also a gamble with the very idea of Canada that Sir John A. Macdonald put forth 139 years ago.

The Foreign Press and News Services are confused and reporting the semantics a little differently.

And now - of course - the separatists are moving quickly to stake out their spin prior to resparking the idea of another Referendum on Sovereignty.

And of course, now the Aboriginals are asking appropriate and dangerous questions.

What of the legal implications inherent in the motion ? The Political implications?

Roy Romanow weighs in here.

What do Canadians think of this gamble - prior to it being played ? See here ...

I like what Historian Michael Bliss has to say about this nonsense.

And finally, my Friend Beaverbrook over at THE MONARCHIST weaves in with his final and potent thoughts.

You will hear more from this old tory later on over the weekend.

Suffice it to say, Harper has really buggered-up this file ...

In a Foreign Field ...

Most unfortunately, I will be away on our annual Golf Holiday during the Remembrance Day observation. This will be first time that I have not been in either Canada, England, or in Europe during this solemn time (we will observe the Silence however ...).

I have tried to be a little more interactive, inclusive, jocular, and perhaps even ribald lately, but this is one day and one topic I cannot make light of, on, and during ...

Our family lost three men in the Great War and one in the Second War. Remembrance Day has always been observed in my House, and as a Child we left one place setting open at the Supper table for the Fallen.

So once again we honour all those, living and dead, who at the call of Queen, Country and Empire-Commonwealth left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom.

Let those who come after see to it that their names be not forgotten.

Update: Terry Kelly video - "A Pittance of Time" (please view ...)

Plutocrats Unite !

The whole issue of reform of Income Trust allocations & distributions is a tempest in a teapot, and at the very least it shows that the current government - at least in its configuration as a minority - can govern in the national interest when it wants to.

As most of you now, I do not support the current CPC government because I find them insufficiently nationalist, too beholden to the United States - and too partial to the Republic of Alberta.

However, I laud them for this decision. The Dominion government must govern in the national interest. The necessary reform of Income Trust allocations and distributions is most clearly in the national interest. Good on you Mr. Harper !