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octothorp · 05-17-2005, 03:14 PM

I don't see this as being a matter of power for Stronach, as much as a matter of self-preservation. She won her last election by just 600 votes. Her re-election was far from a sure thing. It's easy for Harper or Art Hanger or Chuck Strahl to say that they want an election--they don't need to worry about losing their seats, but many Ontario Conservatives were very cautious about endorsing an election. It is no coincidence that Stronach never expressed any hesitation about the possible election until the week off when Tories were instructed to go talk to their constituents. Obviously, she heard something during that time that scared her--something that made her think that this was an election that even a high-profile, moderate candidate would lose, were she Conservative. I think her political career hinged on her jumping ship this week. Self-interested, definitely. But more about preservation than ambition--she and the other Ontario Conservatives were being asked to risk their jobs while their own concerns were not being considered. I don't really blame her for doing what she did.

05-17-2005, 03:14 PM	#81
octothorp Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: not lurking Exp:	I don't see this as being a matter of power for Stronach, as much as a matter of self-preservation. She won her last election by just 600 votes. Her re-election was far from a sure thing. It's easy for Harper or Art Hanger or Chuck Strahl to say that they want an election--they don't need to worry about losing their seats, but many Ontario Conservatives were very cautious about endorsing an election. It is no coincidence that Stronach never expressed any hesitation about the possible election until the week off when Tories were instructed to go talk to their constituents. Obviously, she heard something during that time that scared her--something that made her think that this was an election that even a high-profile, moderate candidate would lose, were she Conservative. I think her political career hinged on her jumping ship this week. Self-interested, definitely. But more about preservation than ambition--she and the other Ontario Conservatives were being asked to risk their jobs while their own concerns were not being considered. I don't really blame her for doing what she did.