Rob Anders and the Beginning of the Con Civil War

In a party full of the most disgusting politicians this country has ever seen, he is arguably the most disgusting Con MP in the House of Commons.

A grotesque social conservative who has called Nelson Mandela a terrorist, accused Tom Mulcair of hastening Jack Layton's death. Attacked women's rights and LGBT rights in the most obscene manner. Been caught sleeping in the Commons, and during a committee meeting on homeless veterans.

And made the people in his Calgary riding who elect him election after election look like backward rednecks.

But now at last Rob Anders may be fighting for his political life. 

A former provincial cabinet minister is part of a group gearing up to challenge MP Rob Anders for the Conservative nomination in his riding for the next federal election in 2015. Ron Liepert represented the riding of Calgary West provincially for the Progressive Conservative Party from 2004 until 2012.

"He's embarrassed himself to the point where I think people are ready for a change," said Liepert. "And I think democracy is best served when there's a contested nomination."

The good news is that this time the dissidents may have a chance.

In the past, Anders has been aided by party rules that protect incumbents. This time, the Conservative party has pledged open nominations in all ridings ahead of the 2015 federal election.

Political insiders say changes to the riding boundaries could be a factor in the next election because the new riding of Calgary Signal Hill excludes some communities where Anders traditionally draws support.

And the best news?

Anders is fighting back and accusing his opponents of trying to hijack his party. 

Outspoken Calgary MP Rob Anders is already taking aim at a potential rival who may challenge him at an upcoming Conservative party nomination meeting.

Anders says the group, which has adopted the motto "It's time to do better," is a collection of so-called Red Tories who want to put together a progressive coalition of Liberals and New Democrats to win the nomination.

And in the process pitting Blue Tories or Reformers against the so-called Red Tories, which could as Harper loses his iron grip on his caucus sheep, trigger a Con civil war that could fatally weaken the Harperite cult in the lead up to the next election.

A war that we can't lose. Because if Anders survives it would only make the Cons look even more like the Reform Party. 



And could even drive some disaffected Red Tories to consider voting for the Liberals in the next election.

And if he is defeated it could encourage the Red Tories to try to get their party back, which would leave people like Jason Kenney between a rock and a hard place.

In a party with a weakened leader which is now supported by fewer voters than once supported the Progressive Conservatives.

Today, with perhaps 30 per cent (maximum) of the electorate prepared to vote Conservative, the party commands the loyalty of far fewer voters than the old Progressive Conservatives. In 1979, Joe Clark won 36 per cent of the popular vote in defeating prime minister Pierre Trudeau’s Liberals (who actually won 40 per cent themselves). Brian Mulroney won 50 per cent in his landslide victory of 1984.

And of course whatever happens this can only be good.

I said it before & I'll say it again: rattlesnakes don't commit suicide. They are turning on each other: http://t.co/trkPJ505jW #cdnpoli
— Patriotic (@PatOndabak) January 7, 2014

Yup. Let's cheer on both sides snakes eh?

And hope that before they consume each other, or fatally weaken the Harperite cult.

They send Rob Anders back to the Con hinterland where he belongs...


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