In today's National Post, Ezra Levant posits an interesting new theory:
Manning could pursue the Tory leadership. But there is another scenario that is even more intriguing: Manning starting a new party, from scratch, and running not to replace Klein alone, but the entire rotting Tory carcass, 35 years in power. Think about it: Why should Manning seek the Tory leadership? To preside over a tired, ideologically leftist caucus that would resent him as an interloper? To have to defend an arrogant party whose entitlement mentality surpasses even that of the federal Liberals? Why not do what Albertans love to do -- and what Manning himself talked about in 2004 -- start a new party? Manning's already done that twice, and Albertans supported him both times.
I know the math shows that Alberta is due for a new party to replace the PCs. Social Credit displaced the United Farmers in the 1930s, and the PCs replaced the Socreds in 1971 (every 30 years or so, a new hegemonic party comes along.) Could Manning really be thinking about it? We'll soon see.
