Tuesday
May172005
Benedict Stronach?
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 12:16PM 
The Globe and Mail: Stronach crosses floor to join Liberal cabinet:
In an explosive development leading up to Thursday's dramatic budget vote, Conservative MP Belinda Stronach has crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party as the new Human Resources Development Minister.
Stunning news! Enquiring minds want to know: is Stronach still dating Conservative Peter MacKay?
Whatever your political bent, it's hard not to be disillusioned sometimes.
Update: 359 comments and counting at AndrewCoyne.com. Hard to say how this one will play out but the game has shifted.
Reader Comments (17)
A sorry day for integrity, indeed. Perhaps Ms. Stronach's decision to betray her mandate might have been made more palatable and seen as less opportunistic had it not come gift wrapped in a cabinet portfolio. Perhaps what is useful and good is the reminder to us all that political solutions are not truth. Truth; that which is best, that which is right, that which is just, insofar as it applies to humanity, can only be affected through faith, works and the grace of God. Politics, in all its secular expressions, will be found wanting. The truth for the Christian to identify, is the right "Godly partisan" response, irrespective of the political corruptness or its proponents.
Belinda was never a capital-C Conservative in the first place, and I think her constituents will understand. I'm sure there are quite a few Conservatives in the party who are not happy with the direction Mr. Harper is taking it anyway. This could be the first of a few "betrayals". I find it somewhat distressing that the above commenter so blithely dismisses Ms. Stronach's integrity. That just sounds like sour grapes to me. Not that the Liberals aren't gloating...
What a traitor to betray her party like that!
Ain't politics grand ... ah perhaps in the next election (whenever it occurs) she can be dumped, just like the rest of the Liberal party.
Good for her. Party politics, like denominationalism, is on it's death bed, and it's about time. Better to get something done in the cabinet than to be a heckler across the floor.
First of all, I think that ADSCAM is a terrible deceit and fraud perpetrated by the Fiberals. Second, I believe that the Constipatives are hardly any better...remember the Air-bus affair and Moroney? If there had been a public inquiry into that affair, I wonder what would have transpired? Most of all, why can any political party just stop the government from governing the country? Nothing is being accomplished except more money is being wasted. We are paying salaries to people who are not doing the job we sent them to Ottawa to do. We are, sooner rather than later, going to be paying for another election that we do not want and cannot afford. And millions of dollars are being promised for programs that may not be instituted regardless of who forms the new government. These programs will only come into being IF the Fiberals stay in power now with the help of the N.D.P. If they are returned with a majority, say goodbye to those promises. If they lose, the Constipatives are under no obligation to follow through. And God help us if the Bloc-heads or the N.D.P. form the next government! What a sorry state of affairs for this country. It doesn't surprise me that MS. Magna would change her allegiance and betray her constituents. It isn't about what one can do for one's country anymore. It is all "What's in it for me? Where can I get the most power/money/prestige for myself? Never mind the twits who voted for me, now that I am in who cares what I promised?"
belinda is what judas was to jesus. plus she has no fashion sense whatsoever.
I have to apologise to you all for my vitriolic comment on the government. The Bible says I am supposed to honour them and pray for them because they have been ordained by God. I pray for them....sometimes. (Probably not as often as I should.) But I admit I find it very difficult to honour them.
Judas? She betrayed her party for the sake of the country. I'd have her on my side anytime.
Though I could think of a host of unflattering adjectives that might be used to describe me, Liberal or Conservative, wouldn't be two of them. Mr. McNally, as for your distress, a quick perusal of the Funk and W tells me that integrity is defined as being upright, honest and uncompromised. A condition of soundness; of being complete and undevided. Ms. Stronach, who as recently as last week votes non confidence in this government only to now cross the floor and become a minister in the government she actively undertook to oust, has become the new poster child for the politically compromised. In the present climate, no small feat. Good lord man, even other politicians seem sincerely, if somewhat excessively, offended. That ought to tell you something. Your distress is unwarranted sir.
It is nice to see some god-blogs weighing in. We are to render unto Ceasar and all that, but there are times it appears as if believers aren't even on the planet. As interesting as Stronach's walk was, and McKays subdued interview, it appears the Liberals attempt to get Grewal to abstain may have crossed the line into illegal. There are political events that I think are cause for discussion and speaking up, and not just at the ballot box. I really am glad to see a god-blogger or two venture into a political post.
Integrity means following your principles. Belinda Stronach followed her principles across the floor of Parliament to join the party she felt closer to ideologically. To me, that's integrity. I'm uncomfortable with her joining the cabinet because that smacks of a "reward" and is being seen by some as a "bribe". But her constituents voted for Belinda Stronach, not necessarily for the Conservative Party of Canada. We'll see in the next election, whether it be sooner or later. Social conservatism is just not where most Canadians are at, people. And that's why I think there are a few "Conservatives" who are silently applauding Belinda Stronach right now, and who may follow her over at some point. Either that or they'll start up another Progressive Conservative party that will actually represent Canadians across the whole country. I think Belinda would have joined that party if it hadn't been sold out by her (ex)boyfriend Peter McKay.
Actually, Belinda was one of the people who urged the two parties to join together.
Principles, Mr. McNally? Mentioning principles and the government in the same paragraph is something of an oxymoron, in my opinion. Since it has been alleged that the Fiberals have tried to induce other members of the Constipatives to cross the floor with "rewards," I do not doubt for one minute that this is what happened with Ms. Magna. Not only did the "principled" Ms. Magna cross the floor, she also dumped her boyfriend only an hour before she betrayed her constituents. Principled indeed!!
I won't comment any further, but the sort of name-calling that we're so upset about in Parliament should also bother us in comment threads. When I hear people refer to any politician as a "Fiberal" or a "Constipative" I worry that we end up getting the government we deserve. Most politicians of any party work hard and are there because they want to make a difference to their country. Despite the recent scandals (and there will always be scandals), I believe in the democratic system. It's not perfect, but at least in Canada we have a Parliament where our representatives can question the government and the government can respond. I find it interesting that in the U.S. congress, for instance, they have no concept of Question Period, and therefore so much more of the business of government goes on behind closed doors, influenced by paid lobbyists. Party politics and democracy is hard work. It's much easier to sit on the sidelines and sling crap and call people names. Sort of like talking about problems with the Church, I guess. If you lose respect for your opponents, then you've lost respect for the institution and even yourself. It's sad, and I think everyone needs to step back a little bit and stop with all the partisan attacks. I wonder why people are feeling so _personally_ offended by the decision of a politician. And with that, I'll take my leave. Peace.
James: It's so easy to get caught up in the politics game and play at the same level that disturbs us. Thanks for a good reminder.
Oh come on James, Arthur was commenting with his tongue in cheek, which is one valid alternative to mudslinging against the volume of the blatant drivel that we're hearing from Politicians these days.