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Ron
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A Personal Commentary Summer promises a great time for kids and adults alike, as for two months we find ourselves with a much desired break from school and politicians. However, that time is soon coming to an end. At their August convention in Edmonton, the Progressive Conservatives hope to rekindle some kind of excitement for their cause by either reaffirming some ole joe or voting to replace him with, well, your guess is as good as mine. After a nine month stint as Prime Minister twenty years ago, Joe Clark is seen as contemporary as a Rich Little impression of John Diefenbaker, only with less nostalgic appeal. The Liberals will continue slugging it out through to their February convention and beyond as Paul Martin hopes to replace that Stevie Wonder of political vision, Jean Chretien. Martin is a political messiah who miraculously transforms more of our income into tax dollars while offering no recognizable gospel other than to pay personal homage to the father. In short, he is John Turner without the laugh. That leaves the Canadian Alliance and its newly minted leader Stephen Harper. While the rest of the pack seem content to flip pancakes and their lips, Harper has gone to work preparing for the future. This self-described policy wonk has, what some would call, "that vision thing." Still, he needs to do more than present a cerebral alternative. During this summer of others’ discontent, Harper’s challenge is to present his vision so that it creates emotion and devotion. Simply put, he needs to instill a desire within others to share in a field of dreams that promises an antidote to the Liberal swamp of schemes. Ron Thornton |