Hey Canadians? How is it that Kim Campbell is Conservative?

[devilgrrl]

I only asked because she strikes as rather sane. :crazy:

[Cha]

1. I saw her on c-span with a Bosnia man who was very cool.

They were there at the convention as Internationalist for Kerry.

Very intellingent and articulate. I don't know about her being "conservative".

I'm sure there are some nice conservatives out there. This bush gang is not conservative..they're just raging power hungry creeps who are about to lose the Presidency of the United States.

[Khephra]

2. HOOOOWOWWWWWWLLLLLLLL!!!!

Some of us will always reminded of Lassie when we hear Kim's name.

[Holly]

3. Once upon a time

We had some good, enlightened people called Progressive Conservatives, and Kim was once the Party Leader and for a brief time an unelected PM. Sadly, we now have Neo-cons. The good people have moved on and many have joined the Liberal and NDP.
Although, Kim did give her support to the Neo-Con faux "Conservative " Party in the last election, and I've got to wonder....What was she thinking?

[achtung_circus]

4. She was probably the only head of government

(as opposed to head of state) to pose more or less nude for a magazine cover. Oh, no, she didn't flash a boob, but it was clear what she was not wearing.

[daleo]

5. Word is, she had a strapless gown on in that picture

If it is the one where she is holding the judges robes away from herself, with the bare shoulders. That's what I have heard, anyway.

The Canadian conservative party used to contain something we called "Red Tories". They were basically quite reasonable on most matters. The old PC party (Progressive Conservatives) was taken over by a right wing splinter movement a little while back, more akin to modern day Republicans. But there just isn't much room in the Canadian political culture for the hard right - 25% to 30% at best. So, eventually it will have to morph back into having room for Red Tories, or never be in power again.

[Minstrel Boy]

7. here it is:

I don't think Paul Martin could get away with that.

[Minstrel Boy]

6. She was the last Progressive Conservative PM.

And many of our old Progressive Conservatives would have been more at home in your Democratic Party than in the Republican. They might even have been considered "radical." (Universal public health care was accepted as a given, for instance.)

Our new Conservative Party - note the significant loss of the "progressive" adjective - are much further to the right than the PCs ever were on their worst days.

[enigmatic]

8. As long as..

Steven Harper is the leader of the CPC, they will be number 2 among parties. the last election was their best chance but Harper's views that he took from his days w/ the Alliance (neo-con w/o the fundie bent of the neos in the US) pretty much killed him and the party..

I live in Anne McClellan's district and was so happy she squeaked out another win...

[TrogL]

9. I worked on her campaign

even though I don't live in her riding

[enigmatic]

10. right on!

I live a few blocks up the street from her headquarters on 124th street; she's a great lady...

[TrogL]

11. We're getting enough of a Central Alberta contingent

we should think about a DU gathering

[enigmatic]

12. Hey, I'm there..

Let me know, and I'll broadcast it on my internet station!

[TrogL]

15. Maybe in mid-September

August is turning into a write-off

[achtung_circus]

13. I used to work on 124 St.

Here

<http://www.albertaspca.org/>

[iverglas]

14. let me proselytize for Campbell's current efforts again

She's one of the founding members of the Club of Madrid; I didn't get to see the show, but I imagine she talked about it.

http://www.clubmadrid.org/cmadrid/index.php?id=1

The Club of Madrid

The Club of Madrid is an organization dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world by drawing on the unique experience and resources of former heads of state and government of democratic nations. Working in partnership with other organizations and governments that share its democracy-promoting goals, the Club of Madrid provides strategic support and technical advice to countries seeking to consolidate their democracies and those making the first step toward a democratic form of government.

This is one of those international thingies that USAmericans just don't hear about. Democratic development by assisting other nations in a spirit of respect and from the standpoint of equality.

Bill Clinton is a member, as is Mikhail Gorbachev. No other former US president is, and Margaret Thatcher isn't. Several US academics are "fellows" of the Club -- "experts in democratic transitions" who assist the Club in its work.

It arose out of the Conference on Democratic Transition and Consolidation, http://www.clubmadrid.org/cmadrid/index.php?id=68

These are the kinds of efforts that Canada is involved in at the international level and in bilateral relations: assisting in building the institutions of civil society, like impartial courts, non-corrupt public administrations, competent legal professions and the like.

The Organization of American States (of which Canada is also now a member) stresses similar efforts, e.g.

http://www.oas.org/main/main.asp?sLang=E&sLink=http://www.oas.org/OASpage/eng/latestnews/latestnews.asp

http://www.oas.org/xxxivga/DeclaracionQuito_eng.pdf
"Draft Declaration of Quito on Social Develoment and Democracy, and the Impact of Corruption"

http://www.oas.org/xxxiiiga/english/docs/agdoc4224_03rev3.pdf
"Declaration of Santiago on Democracy and Public Trust: A New Commitment to Good Governance for the Americas"

http://www.oas.org/XXXIVGA/english/docs/approved_documents/program_democratic_governance.htm
"Program for Democratic Governance in the Americas"

Amazingly, these ideas aren't seen as exclusively "liberal" in Canada.