I am a bit at a loss at the political plan – you know, the plan to get re-elected. If making everyone unhappy is the road to electoral success, it seems the Not Pre-existing Government is doing a great job:
The receding tide of electoral support for MacKay defies most of the rules of politics. High-profile cabinet ministers aren’t supposed to be in trouble, particularly when they represent poor rural areas. MacKay is not only foreign affairs minister, he controls millions of dollars in local business grants as minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. He is well-liked and holds what was once the safest Tory seat in the country, a seat held for 22 years by his father, Elmer.
The prospect of someone other than a Tory getting in in Pictou County is frankly stunning but the cavalier attitude that goes along with the loss and other likely losses in Atlantic Canada does not seem to be linked to the picking up of seats elsewhere. The green agenda has weakened the resolve and maybe even the interest of many of the faithful. The uncompromising tone belies many last minutes back-tracks.
Aside from the personal affiliations that might make me less than interested in seeing Harper succeed, does anyone else think it is strange at how little he has done to establish his own agenda? To actually get more seats the next time? Or has he done very well with the cards dealt? Group Project rules apply – do not snipe at him – and is there any other pronoun for this government other than “him”? – but think about opportunities or challenges that might have been dealt with differently by another person in the same office.