Kelly McParland On The Ontario Tories: Yeah, They're Doomed

So there's the campaign line: Tim Hudak is a bigot. A vote for the Tories is a vote for hate. It's no more accurate than was the scaremongering over faith-based schools, but voters aren't any more likely to notice than they did last time.

Interesting in that McParland concedes that the PR war over this issue has already been lost, meaning he has come to realize that his own paper's efforts in that war (should the NP still exist in 2011) will come to nothing.

Instrospection from a journalist? If so, we have the Ed Stelmach to thank. A Tory majority in Alberta looked at its human rights law and decided the code needed to be tweaked to better serve the interests of Gays and young earth Creationists. Journalists, who had promised the government a free ride over any section 3 repeal, got stiffed. Mr. McParland I think has looked at that decision, and despaired. Good for him!

Tory Bigwig Blames Tory Bloggers For 2007 Ontario Tory Election Defeat

All heck has broken loose in the Ontario Conservative Leadership race! Their grass-roots have staged a cyber rebellion at the notion of a June race because, it is argued, this early date tilts the playing field too much towards front runner Tim Hudak.

Well, PCPO exec M. Wensley has struck back against this on-line effrontery!!! A sample from a much longer rant:

Now, if you think that sitting on the couch by yourself and posting drivel on the internet is really helpful to the cause of electing a PC government in 2011, I can tell you right now that you are the reason that we did not win in '07.

Go Mr. Wensley, helping the Ontario Conservatives not win in 2011 by, you got it, posting drivel on the Internet.

H/T WS.

Another Ontario Tory Out, And Maybe One In

Another long-shot throws in the towel:

Ted Arnott will not consider a run at the Tory leadership. 'I'm not interested, nor prepared,' the Wellington-Halton Hills MPP said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Durham MPP John O'Toole is considering a run.

Ontario Tories On Track For Hudak Coronation

TORONTO — Progressive Conservative Peter Shurman says he's not planning to run for the leadership of the party.

Shurman was probably not a serious contender in the first place. He apparently gives a good speech (he was a talker for CFRB), but there have been some concerns that, at 60 something, he might be a little on the old side, esp. since we won't be in election mode for a couple of years.

Bring back the Common Sense Revolution, Tim!!!!!

My favorite comment from the Draft Tim Hudak for leader of the Ontario PC Party Facebook page.

I hope Tim decides to run on it.

(Meanwhile, the Draft Randy Hillier faction has its own facebook site up and running!!!)

PS. They're's already a Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election, 2009 wiki page up. Below is the list of possible candidates:

Ted Arnott, 45, has been an MPP since 1990, currently represents Wellington—Halton Hills. Considered to be on the "progressive" wing of the party.[3]
Tony Clement, 48, was an MPP from 1995 to 2003 serving as Minister of Health under Mike Harris and Ernie Eves. He is currently a Conservative MP in the House of Commons and serves as Minister of Industry.[4]
Dean Del Mastro, 38, is a social conservative and sits in the Canadian House of Commons as MP for Peterborough. He was first elected in 2006.[5]
Christine Elliott, 53, is the current MPP for Whitby—Ajax first winning the seat in a 2006 by-election and wife of Jim Flaherty.[6]
Randy Hillier, 50, is a rural activist and founder of the Ontario Landowners Association. He was first elected MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington in the 2007 Ontario general election.[7]
Tim Hudak, 41, is the current MPP for Niagara West—Glanbrook and has sat in the provincial legislature since 1995. [8][9]
Frank Klees, 58, is the former Chief Government Whip in the Harris government, and Minister of Tourism and of Transportation in the Eves government. He came in third place in the 2004 leadership election.[10][11]
Lisa MacLeod, 34, is the MPP for Nepean—Carleton and was first elected in a 2006 by-election.[12]
Norm Miller, 53, is the MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka and the son of former Premier Frank Miller. He was first elected in 2001.[13]
Jerry Ouellette, 50, is the MPP for Oshawa. He was first elected in 1995 and supported Ernie Eves in the 2002 leadership election and Frank Klees in 2004.[14]
Peter Shurman, 62, is a former broadcaster. He has been MPP for Thornhill since 2007.[15]
Elizabeth Witmer, 62, has been a Waterloo, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) since 1990. She served as Minister of Health and then Minister of the Environment under Mike Harris, and Minister of Education and Deputy Premier under Ernie Eves. Witmer was a candidate in the 2002 race that selected Eves. She had considered running in the 2004 race, but decided to endorse John Tory instead. She is considered to be on the "progressive" wing of the party.[16]
John Yakabuski is the current MPP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke; first elected in 2003.[17]