Spinning tangled webs.

Joe Hueglin (blue shirt) doing policy work at Progressive Conservative Regional Council meeting at Prudommes Landing on July 27, that work now seen in a different light with Joe Clark's announcement and the statement made by Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper.

Spinning tangled webs.

Niagra Falls, Ontario - Wednesday, August 7, 2002 - by: Joe Hueglin

Harper
in hours
Within hours of Joe Clark's announcing his stepping down as Conservative Leader

Stephen Harper proposed what he had stood against in his successful run for

Canadian Alliance Leader, amalgamation with the Progressive Conservative Party.

Why?

options
The reason given is that

"Mr. Clark makes it clear that he and his party have

been re-examining their options in recent weeks." ⁽¹⁾

widest
possible
range
That Mr. Clark was examining his options is clear.

"THE PARTY HAS TO BECOME MUCH MORE FOCUSSED ON

BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTHS, INCLUDING ATTRACTING THE

WIDEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF WOMEN AND MEN ABLE TO CAPTURE

THE IMAGINATION OF THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS ITS

CONFIDENCE." ⁽²⁾

gives no indication his retiring is to clear the way for folding his Party into the Alliance.

Quite the opposite.

2/3
vote
An amendment to the PC Constitution has been proposed that would permit joint

candidates to be fielded. Harper knows his statement on the day of Clark's retirement

will sharpen divisions amongst Conservatives and increase the certainty that the

two-thirds vote necessary for it will not be obtained.

phony
deadline
The Canadian Alliance Leader gives the "the leadership and executive of the PC party"

a phony deadline by writing he expects "to have an indication by then of whether the

leadership and executive of the PC party wishes to embrace this offer, or whether it

wishes to pursue its own leadership race. Phony because he knows they can not

override the Constitution.

do we
get a
say?
There may be positive spins in promoting divisions within the PC Party and appearing

to be offering to unite the right and be turned down but there's a downside. Not all

Alliance supporters know it's but a ploy but seeing it as a sincere offer are asking

"Do we get any say in this???" ⁽³⁾

Spinning sometimes ends up in unexpected tangles

Joe Hueglin

References:

1.
APPENDIX (1) STATEMENT BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOE CLARK

2.
APPENDIX (2) STATEMENT BY STEPHEN HARPER ON PC LEADERSHIP

3.
http://www.freedominion.ca/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001368


	Joe Hueglin (blue shirt) doing policy work at Progressive Conservative Regional Council meeting at Prudommes Landing on July 27, that work now seen in a different light with Joe Clark's announcement and the statement made by Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper.

Spinning tangled webs.

Niagra Falls, Ontario - Wednesday, August 7, 2002 - by: Joe Hueglin

Harper in hours	Within hours of Joe Clark's announcing his stepping down as Conservative Leader
	Stephen Harper proposed what he had stood against in his successful run for
	Canadian Alliance Leader, amalgamation with the Progressive Conservative Party.

	Why?

options	The reason given is that
	"Mr. Clark makes it clear that he and his party have
	been re-examining their options in recent weeks." ⁽¹⁾

widest possible range	That Mr. Clark was examining his options is clear.
	"THE PARTY HAS TO BECOME MUCH MORE FOCUSSED ON
	BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTHS, INCLUDING ATTRACTING THE
	WIDEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF WOMEN AND MEN ABLE TO CAPTURE
	THE IMAGINATION OF THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS ITS
	CONFIDENCE." ⁽²⁾
	gives no indication his retiring is to clear the way for folding his Party into the Alliance.

	Quite the opposite.

2/3 vote	An amendment to the PC Constitution has been proposed that would permit joint
	candidates to be fielded. Harper knows his statement on the day of Clark's retirement
	will sharpen divisions amongst Conservatives and increase the certainty that the
	two-thirds vote necessary for it will not be obtained.

phony deadline	The Canadian Alliance Leader gives the "the leadership and executive of the PC party"
	a phony deadline by writing he expects "to have an indication by then of whether the
	leadership and executive of the PC party wishes to embrace this offer, or whether it
	wishes to pursue its own leadership race. Phony because he knows they can not
	override the Constitution.

do we get a say?	There may be positive spins in promoting divisions within the PC Party and appearing
	to be offering to unite the right and be turned down but there's a downside. Not all
	Alliance supporters know it's but a ploy but seeing it as a sincere offer are asking
	"Do we get any say in this???" ⁽³⁾

	Spinning sometimes ends up in unexpected tangles

	Joe Hueglin

*References:*
1.	APPENDIX (1) STATEMENT BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOE CLARK

2.	APPENDIX (2) STATEMENT BY STEPHEN HARPER ON PC LEADERSHIP

3.	http://www.freedominion.ca/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001368