Blue Thunder: The Truth about Conservatives from Macdonald to Harper

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Key Porter Books, 2009 - Political Science - 504 pages
Despite a bleak electoral record, Conservatives have produced some of the countryâs most colourful leaders and prime ministers. Even in disunity and despair, Conservatives have fashioned a history somewhere between Machiavelli and the keystone cops. Surprisingly, this rich and dramatic story has never been told in a single book. With Conservatives back in form, this is the perfect time to bring Canadians into this intriguing, controversial and vital political institution. Itâs sprawling, page-turning history that is both informative and entertaining. In addition to sifting through the numerous seminal works and party archives, the book comes to life with fresh insights from Canadaâs most influential living conservatives. Also: ⢠For the first time, Conservative political history and its influence from 1867 to the present is presented in a single compendium; ⢠Contemporary conservative icons reveal their views on what the movement has done right and what has gone wrong; ⢠A final opportunity for living conservative icons to offer firsthand stunning revelations and fresh insight about the records of John Diefenbaker, Robert Stanfield, Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney; ⢠The lessons from Conservative history likely to shape Canada into the 21st century ⦠and the extent to which the conservative legacy influences current leaders; ⢠The voice of the book will be âwhat do todayâs Conservatives need to know from the past to be successfulâ. Blue Thunder is a lively, interesting, humorous and fast-paced look at the accomplishments, failures and scandals of Canadian conservative politics. A must read for anyone who follows Canadian politics today and an invaluable reference source for decades. Praise for, Full Circle : â[A] masterful new book. Plamondon offers so many insights into recent Canadian politics [it] reads like a thriller.â â The Calgary Sun âA meticulous blow by blow account of the road to merger that captures both the tension and the tedium of back room politics.â â The Globe and Mail. âThe blurb on the jacket describes this as a âmeticulousâ account by a veteran Ottawa Tory. Indeed, this is a solid, detailed chronicle of the players and the events surrounding some stormy years for the Torries. Describing it as âmeticulous,â however, doesnât do it justice. Itâs thoroughly and highly readable to boot!â â The Toronto Star âEver wonder how Canada went to sleep one night under the power of the Liberalsâ¦and woke up with Stephen Harper? From Bob Plamondon comes the answer in a political whodunit that reveals how three men in particularâ¦have shaped the current fate of federal conservative politics.â â Ottawa magazine âAt the heart of Plamondonâs story are the secret merger talks of summer 2003, and the backstage role of Brian Mulroney in pushing the two sides together. Thereâs a lot of detail in [his] narrativeâ¦and a lot of important information coming to light for the first time.â -- The Gazzette (Montreal)

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Contents

Introduction by Conrad Black
15
Birth of a Nation
23
Forging a Nation 43 33
43
Copyright

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