McKay, Mulroney -&- Books: Harper, Chretien

MacKay consulted Mulroney about future Dan Dugas, CP, Oct. 9, 05

OTTAWA -- When Peter MacKay went searching for someone to ease his angst about his future last week, he followed the weathered path to Brian Mulroney's tony doorstep.

Despite a dozen years in the wilderness and a scathing best-selling book that depicts the former prime minister warts-and-all, Mulroney remains the Oracle at Westmount for those who believe he safeguards the Holy Grail of Canadian conservative politics: the ability to win.

When MacKay said he'd stay in Ottawa, rather than go after the premiership of Nova Scotia, you could almost hear the vintage Mulroney cadence when he said: "My gut tells me and continues to tell me that the Conservative party is on a road back to government." [. . . . ]

What is it about the "warts and all" quotations from Mulroney that I find rather endearing? I can't stand packaged perfection and this reveals a human side. Maybe it was Mulroney's choice comments on the incestuous relationship between the CBC and Liberal politicians/bureaucrats, or so I seem to remember.


Harper vs Chretien

Speaking of books, I've just begun reading Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada by William Johnson from McClelland and Stewart, 2005 -- and Jean Chretien: A Legacy of Scandal

Even better is the offer of a deal on these two books together. What a contrast!


So far, I am very impressed with what I am learning of Stephen Harper -- serious, intelligent, a thinking man instead of a gladhander. The author endeared me to Harper with the account of the reforms Stephen would like to see to politics and political conventions, particularly, the criteria for the choice of a candidate (page 66). Exactly what I would wish:

The replacement of the carnival atmosphere of political conventions -- orchestrated campaigns, balloons, songs and free booze -- with the active recruitment of solid candidates and the examination of philosophy and policy, not image and personality.

There is much more, but this gives an idea. This man is a thinker, described as incorruptible. Can you imagine this in a Prime Minister?

Even better, Harper was not interviewed for the book and did not make any input. The author presents historical background, his research and information from interviews with others. It was informative and enjoyable enough to have me reading past midnight.

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