Rock and Roll Conservative

This, among several reasons, is why I don't consider Brian Mulroney a conservative

Bob Plamondon argued in his recent book Blue Thunder: The Truth about Conservatives from MacDonald to Harper that Brian Mulroney, who celebrated the 25th anniversary of his first election win today, was Canada's most conservative prime minister. An amazing assertion given that Lyin' Brian -- as many Canadians know him -- presided over the biggest tax grab in history, is a solid environmentalist, ran up monster deficits and passed exactly zero socially conservative policies.

Oh, and he supports Barack Obama's drive for an American universal health care system.

Want to know how unpopular Mulroney was during the end of his tenure as prime minister? George W. Bush had higher approval ratings at his nadir then Mulroney did at his. Now that's saying something.

If you pressed me I doubt I could name a single conservative cause that Brian Mulroney championed his entire political career -- with the possible exception of the free trade accord with the U.S, though free trade was traditionally a Liberal policy position throughout Canada's history. It's good to know that retirement hasn't changed the man.

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