Inside the P.C.
Convention Hall, on Saturday, Progressive Conservatives did their very best to
display the intense excitement for which delegated leadership conventions enjoy a special distinction. As the meeting
headed into the second ballot Tories must have felt that, finally, the acrimony
of the Dunderdale leadership and the Frank Coleman fiasco had passed into
history.
Convention Hall, on Saturday, Progressive Conservatives did their very best to
display the intense excitement for which delegated leadership conventions enjoy a special distinction. As the meeting
headed into the second ballot Tories must have felt that, finally, the acrimony
of the Dunderdale leadership and the Frank Coleman fiasco had passed into
history.
But when
the second ballot was counted and a one vote lead by Paul Davis still did not afford
him victory, Tories must surely have felt under a curse. Luckily, the third ballot confirmed what the
second intended. An incorrect and
untimely interpretation of a ‘majority’ came close to splitting a Party already
demoralized.
the second ballot was counted and a one vote lead by Paul Davis still did not afford
him victory, Tories must surely have felt under a curse. Luckily, the third ballot confirmed what the
second intended. An incorrect and
untimely interpretation of a ‘majority’ came close to splitting a Party already
demoralized.
Mr. Davis
deserves our congratulations; his two competitors, John Ottenheimer and Steve
Kent, can be proud of their participation in an important endeavor; after all, political
parties are the foundation of our democratic system. Even when the process
delivers a leader of questionable choice, but functions without self-interested
interference, we are at least left with the confidence the system is still
viable.
deserves our congratulations; his two competitors, John Ottenheimer and Steve
Kent, can be proud of their participation in an important endeavor; after all, political
parties are the foundation of our democratic system. Even when the process
delivers a leader of questionable choice, but functions without self-interested
interference, we are at least left with the confidence the system is still
viable.
Whether
Paul Davis is also Danny’s man will eventually become clear.
Paul Davis is also Danny’s man will eventually become clear.
Inside the
Convention Hall, the process unfolding certainly seemed to matter to the people
there. Outside, however, the air appeared bereft of any such gravitas.
Convention Hall, the process unfolding certainly seemed to matter to the people
there. Outside, however, the air appeared bereft of any such gravitas.
That may be
because it is tough to take seriously any of the contenders, each having
genuflected to Coleman just a few months earlier.
because it is tough to take seriously any of the contenders, each having
genuflected to Coleman just a few months earlier.
A lot is
expected of leaders who aspire to be Premier.
Politics is a game in which victors are rewarded for their courage,
ideas or specific personal achievements, especially their exemplary good judgement. On this occasion few disagreed when, at the
outset, a wit quickly dubbed them the “B Team”.
expected of leaders who aspire to be Premier.
Politics is a game in which victors are rewarded for their courage,
ideas or specific personal achievements, especially their exemplary good judgement. On this occasion few disagreed when, at the
outset, a wit quickly dubbed them the “B Team”.
Mr. Davis has
been afforded the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong.
been afforded the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong.
A battered
Party has a new leader; but the Province does not have a new Premier, at least
not yet. Davis has indicated he will not be sworn in for some weeks. Tom
Marshall, expecting that the new Premier might be anxious to take office, has
already said good bye to his staff, to the media and to the public. Does Davis not care that Tom Marshall had
wanted out from the very day he was sworn in?
Party has a new leader; but the Province does not have a new Premier, at least
not yet. Davis has indicated he will not be sworn in for some weeks. Tom
Marshall, expecting that the new Premier might be anxious to take office, has
already said good bye to his staff, to the media and to the public. Does Davis not care that Tom Marshall had
wanted out from the very day he was sworn in?
Davis is
not coming out of the gate running.
not coming out of the gate running.
For that reason he risks
being portrayed as the dog that caught the bus. Having won the mantle, he may wonder,
like the rest of us, what he will do with it.
being portrayed as the dog that caught the bus. Having won the mantle, he may wonder,
like the rest of us, what he will do with it.
With
certainty, he will be accused of flogging the intent of Section 3.1 of the House
of Assembly Act which obligates the government to an election within one year
of his investiture. Davis may well be
attempting to procure as much time and flexibility as he can muster to turn a
reluctant electorate.
certainty, he will be accused of flogging the intent of Section 3.1 of the House
of Assembly Act which obligates the government to an election within one year
of his investiture. Davis may well be
attempting to procure as much time and flexibility as he can muster to turn a
reluctant electorate.
But, having
caught the bus, should we have any expectations of him?
caught the bus, should we have any expectations of him?
Davis has
limited experience. He entered the
Constabulary, as a Constable, and retired holding no promotion.
limited experience. He entered the
Constabulary, as a Constable, and retired holding no promotion.
He attained,
as a Minister, no recognition as a policy wonk.
His pronouncements, during the leadership contest, did little to improve
his standing.
as a Minister, no recognition as a policy wonk.
His pronouncements, during the leadership contest, did little to improve
his standing.
Davis spoke
of change in his Speech to the delegates on Saturday morning, assuring them he
had a winning formula with which to reverse an ebb tide. But his rhetoric
failed to offer an articulation of whether he understood the nature of voters’
dissatisfaction or of the skills he possessed to assuage their surliness.
of change in his Speech to the delegates on Saturday morning, assuring them he
had a winning formula with which to reverse an ebb tide. But his rhetoric
failed to offer an articulation of whether he understood the nature of voters’
dissatisfaction or of the skills he possessed to assuage their surliness.
If one tries
to characterise the policy framework of all three contenders it might be
described in this way: whatever it is you want, we’ll give you even more of the
same.
to characterise the policy framework of all three contenders it might be
described in this way: whatever it is you want, we’ll give you even more of the
same.
That is
hardly a winning formula for a Party 24% in the Polls in a Province experiencing
the best economy in its history.
hardly a winning formula for a Party 24% in the Polls in a Province experiencing
the best economy in its history.
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Davis will
have to do more than express good intentions or to offer consultation.
have to do more than express good intentions or to offer consultation.
Of course, he will
need to connect with ordinary people but he must do better than suggest uncontrolled spending equates with good governance. He, like
the other two contenders, believes the Government is doing all the right
things; it is just their communications that has failed. That is a wrong assessment.
need to connect with ordinary people but he must do better than suggest uncontrolled spending equates with good governance. He, like
the other two contenders, believes the Government is doing all the right
things; it is just their communications that has failed. That is a wrong assessment.
The Province needs fundamental change; but it don’t so much need more policies as better ones. It could use less smugness or tones of righteousness, too. Such attitudes find no equivalence with even the worst policies. Indeed, some as
simple as paved roads or those harder to achieve, like better health care, all have their place. But, no honest citizen will
submit to unbridled arrogance of the kind for which recent Administrations have demonstrated a remarkable capacity.
simple as paved roads or those harder to achieve, like better health care, all have their place. But, no honest citizen will
submit to unbridled arrogance of the kind for which recent Administrations have demonstrated a remarkable capacity.
Even if
the public supports an unwise megaproject, like Muskrat Falls, that is not the same as
submission to the condescension of senior people at Nalcor. No one respects politicians or public
servants who are afraid of scrutiny, who have engaged in a deception, or who live by the mantra: we know what is best for you.
Nalcor is another place that needs leadership change.
All things taken together, the Party’s status in the Polls is not accidental.
the public supports an unwise megaproject, like Muskrat Falls, that is not the same as
submission to the condescension of senior people at Nalcor. No one respects politicians or public
servants who are afraid of scrutiny, who have engaged in a deception, or who live by the mantra: we know what is best for you.
Nalcor is another place that needs leadership change.
All things taken together, the Party’s status in the Polls is not accidental.
Then, too, policies are only one part of a complex set of public
expectations. No one has a
monopoly on ideas. The public has come
to the conclusion the Liberals may have a few.
expectations. No one has a
monopoly on ideas. The public has come
to the conclusion the Liberals may have a few.
Davis is
not a charismatic figure though he hopes to connect with a society that is very
leader-centric. In that department he
will face little competition from Dwight Ball, even if the Liberal leader is far more popular. Of course, boredom is not the issue keeping people awake.
not a charismatic figure though he hopes to connect with a society that is very
leader-centric. In that department he
will face little competition from Dwight Ball, even if the Liberal leader is far more popular. Of course, boredom is not the issue keeping people awake.
Davis
is the one with the mantle to lose. Coming
off a lacklustre leadership race, he must hope that, merely by the act of
winning, he has garnered some goodwill.
is the one with the mantle to lose. Coming
off a lacklustre leadership race, he must hope that, merely by the act of
winning, he has garnered some goodwill.
Three impending byelections could quickly end this doubtful new beginning. If he believes he has the right stuff he may wish to strut it soon.
Finally, Mr. Davis should know this: even the critics want him to succeed. The issues they raise are not about him or
them. They are about creating better
Government and strengthening our institutions. They are about reducing the enormous risk to which the Government has exposed our economy and society.
them. They are about creating better
Government and strengthening our institutions. They are about reducing the enormous risk to which the Government has exposed our economy and society.
I don’t think the public has big expectations of Mr. Davis but we would sure like to be surprised.
Unfortunately, that sure sounds just a bit too much like serendipity.
I think Paul Davis is another spineless gopher that will soon dangle by the strings of the powers that be!!
I think Davis lacks the intellectual capacity to be a good Premier. He has reasonable gift of the gab, but we need more than that.
Paul Davis will be the next Premier. Surely he has more to offer than Ball if not we are finished.
Hard to understand what qualifications Dwight Ball has to run the Province. Don't know much about him understand he was a druggist. Probably that is enough, knows how to count pills and dollars.
What ever qualifications Dwight Ball may have, he has taken the Liberal party in the right direction. And I might add that the liberal party is ecstatic about the fact that Paul Davis won the leadership race. As to why that is, don't waste too much time thinking about it because it will become more apparent over the next few weeks and months. It's one thing to be comfortable in front of a camera and another to run a provincial government.