Conservative infighting reignites...
Plus more on the rift between Pierre Poilievre and Doug Ford.
Two months ago I published a long, in-depth piece on the rift between Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. It’s an issue many conservatives have thoughts on, but few know the full story the way I do.
That piece was originally behind a pay wall, only available to full paid subscribers to my newsletter. I’ve decided to drop the paywall because more people need to know the full story.
It’s a well written piece, it’s also been well read and none of the people mentioned have ever called or texted to say that I got something wrong, even though they could.
Conservatives need to stop the infighting…
The infighting inside the Conservative movement needs to end, but there is no evidence that will happen.
Ever since the British Columbia leadership race ended with Kerry-Lynne Findlay winning, there has been a new outburst of conservative infighting focused on, of all places, Ontario.
Jamil Jivani, an Ontario Conservative MP, a man who has nothing to do with B.C. politics, reacted to KLF’s win over Caroline Elliott by invoking Doug Ford.
Look, I get it, Jivani hates Ford, he hates his entire government, he especially hates former education minister Stephen Lecce.
What on earth does posting about this actually accomplish though other than reopening old wounds and keeping the intramural fighting going?
The answer is that it accomplishes nothing and it doesn’t move the conservative movement or the Conservative Party any closer to victory.
When Conservatives fight, Liberals win.
The sad part is that there are some Conservatives who would rather be right, in their view of what right is, than be in power. They would rather be 100% pure, in their view, than compromise at all.
When you do that, you don’t get to take power, you let your opponent stay in power.
The late great Ronald Reagan liked to invoke what he called the 11th commandment.
“Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”
Canadian Conservatives, federal or provincial, would be wise to consider this within their own context. Liberals are far more likely to deal with their issues behind closed doors rather than out in the open the way Conservative do.
What difference does that make?
Liberals are more likely to win elections, Conservatives are more likely to settle scores.
I know that I’ll get all the emails saying that Doug Ford isn’t a Conservative, he’s really a Liberal. I don’t think that’s a fair assessment of the man and I say that as one of his frequent critics.
Does it help that Ford’s campaign manager Kory Teneycke decided to go over the top over the weekend calling Poilievre names?
Not at all.
Nor is it helpful to say that people like Tenenycke, Fred Delorey or Dimitri Soudas are all traitors to the Conservative Party and Canada.
The situation for the federal Conservatives is dire at the moment, keeping these fights going, saying certain people are traitors to the party, none of this helps, it only hurts.
But hey, I guess if it makes you feel better, makes you feel superior then keep doing and Mark Carney will cheer from the sidelines.
Again, if you didn’t read the piece about the Poilievre-Ford rift when it came out, you can do so now for free.
Brian liley anyone who isn't blind deaf or stupid knows full well Ford is a liberal dressed as a conservative
That fighting in public is exactly why we can't get rid of the elites and get the "people" back in power. I have noticed that with the Freedom movement and the Alberta separation movement as well. Agree to disagree, compromise, move forward. Premier Daneille Smith is the perfect example of taking the high road. She sees the positive and uses that angle rather than negativity and bashing. Many leaders could/should learn from her example.