Long Political leadership winter

Canadian Alliance Returns to Its Roots and Senses

Edmonton - Friday, March 22, 2002 - by: Ron Thornton

roots
After four long years, the leadership of my party has finally come back to its roots and its senses.

hijack
In 1998, I still believed Preston Manning and the guiding principles of the Reform Party provided a real alternative to the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives. Then, that spring, we saw our own leadership attempt to hijack control of the party from its membership, only to be followed by the manipulated process that was the United Alternative initiative.

opportunism
Instead of working to do things right, we traded in our much touted principles for a bogus theory to "unite the right." In short order, we were soon perceived as being just another group of political opportunists rushing the trough, yet managing to dash even those hopes through internal intrigue and public gaffes.

nothing
tangible
Where once we talked about democratic reform, government less in our faces and our wallets, and law and order, all we seemed to hear was how tired some were of sitting in opposition, how they hated Liberals, yet offering nothing tangible as to why they deserved the reins of power.

sense of
renewal
Ottawa is full of people who promise something different, but what we have always wanted was something better. This week I finally heard the new leader of the Reform-Conservative Alliance talk about those things again, those things that gave real meaning to being a Reformer and will give real meaning to the Canadian Alliance.

clear
vision
Stephen Harper has been entrusted to provide us with trustworthy leadership, with a clear vision for the future, and the ability to articulate how such a vision represents the promise of what is best for our country, ourselves, and our children.

Ron Thornton



Canadian Alliance Returns to Its Roots and Senses

Edmonton - Friday, March 22, 2002 - by: Ron Thornton

roots	After four long years, the leadership of my party has finally come back to its roots and its senses.

hijack	In 1998, I still believed Preston Manning and the guiding principles of the Reform Party provided a real alternative to the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives. Then, that spring, we saw our own leadership attempt to hijack control of the party from its membership, only to be followed by the manipulated process that was the United Alternative initiative.

opportunism	Instead of working to do things right, we traded in our much touted principles for a bogus theory to "unite the right." In short order, we were soon perceived as being just another group of political opportunists rushing the trough, yet managing to dash even those hopes through internal intrigue and public gaffes.

nothing tangible	Where once we talked about democratic reform, government less in our faces and our wallets, and law and order, all we seemed to hear was how tired some were of sitting in opposition, how they hated Liberals, yet offering nothing tangible as to why they deserved the reins of power.

sense of renewal	Ottawa is full of people who promise something different, but what we have always wanted was something better. This week I finally heard the new leader of the Reform-Conservative Alliance talk about those things again, those things that gave real meaning to being a Reformer and will give real meaning to the Canadian Alliance.

clear vision	Stephen Harper has been entrusted to provide us with trustworthy leadership, with a clear vision for the future, and the ability to articulate how such a vision represents the promise of what is best for our country, ourselves, and our children.

	Ron Thornton