Wanted - Conservative Prime Minister With Charisma

As I watched Brian Mulroney unravelling on the stand in the latest Canadian million dollar boon doggle inquiry, I began to think what this country (Canada) really needs is a Conservative Prime Minister with charisma. You know a character, someone who is really charismatic. Unlike Michael Ignatieff, the tourist who wants to be your next Prime Minister, I have lived all my life in Canada and pretty much grown up on a steady diet of Liberal PM's. So I decided to do a little comparison with the concept of charisma as the main factor.
The Liberals of course can offer up Pierre Elliot Trudeau (68 - 79 and 80 - 84) as their charismatic superstar. Trudeau mania swept Pierre to power in a Canadian version of Obama mania. Even Western Canadians liked Pierre until he fingered and fuddled duddled us and basically told our farmers to go to hell.
Then there is Jean Chretien, elected in 1993. The scrappy little guy from Shawinigan, who even if you didn't like him, you just had to admire Jean for getting to the big show. Would there have been anyone in Shawinigan in Jean's growing up days who would have looked at him and said there goes our future Prime Minister?
Now look at the Conservative side. Remember this is in my lifetime. Theres Joe Clarke who had a short visit as Prime Minister in 79 - 80. Described as modest,
straight forward, the youngest Canadian PM at 39, but charisma, no.
Then theres Brian Mulroney. Fiscally responsible, typical Conservative but charismatic? Kim Campbell popped in for a cup of tea as Prime Minister in an even shorter stay so we really didn't get a chance to know her.
And then there is today's Stephen Harper. Again solid, dependable, responsible, all those great Conservative terms but charismatic? Sorry.
You know maybe the problem is in the name. Webster's dictionary defines Conservative as tending or disposed to maintain existing views, marked by moderation or caution, traditional. Thats all good isn't it? In Canada apparently not !
The same dictionary describes Liberal as marked by generosity, generous, openhanded, not bound by tradition. Beginning to sound a little more charismatic isn't it ?
So when you do this comparison and the Liberals can offer Pierre and Jean as their charismatic superstars and the Conservatives can only repsond with well, uh, oh my,
Brian Mulroney. Yikes!