We have obviously been underestimating Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre. He has paid attention to the style and successes of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Along with many other political observers, we failed to see the ability of Trump to utilize the ‘deplorables’ as Hilary Clinton described them. Clinton was criticized for calling them deplorable but Trump won the U.S. presidency in 2016 because of them.
Poilievre is the first mainstream politician to recognize we have the same angry, dissident dogs of discontent here in Canada. They are not just Trump’s bikers and right-wing crazies. It took the truck convoy to Ottawa and the border barricades earlier this year for Pierre Poilievre to realize their counterparts in Canada could be used. He welcomed them to Ottawa with open arms. He let them know that he was their leader.
It was the marriage that Poilievre needed and they needed. He needed hard core numbers. He might not swamp the membership of the federal conservative party with these people, but he will be in a damn strong position because of them in September.
And they needed him. They needed a leader who knows how parliament works. They needed direction for their anger. They might not all buy what he says to them but enough could stay long enough to vote for and give him the leadership of the federal conservative party.
But they will hardly play nice with the rank and file of conservatism across Canada. They are anathema to conservatism. They don’t trust any elites. They are jealous of the rich and look down on the poor. Nor do they like people who are different. They disagree with immigration. They distrust people of colour. And do not try to take away their guns. Their rallying cry is “Freedom” and don’t ask them to define it. They wave the Canadian flag but do not respect it. They will support Pierre Poilievre but do not understand him.
But it is mutual. Poilievre has grasped the nettle. He has been on a quest and has found a key. He wants to rule this country that is impossible to rule. It is country that requires endless negotiation. Pierre Poilievre will fail to negotiate, to navigate the waters or to take Canada into a dystopian Poilievre future.
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Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
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