U.S. blogger likens Wildrose leader to Palin
New leader gives political scene injection of fresh energy, he says
Jorge Barrera, Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, October 25, 2009
The hype building around Danielle Smith's leadership of the upstart Wildrose Alliance party in Alberta contains echoes for some of the last photogenic poster child who enthralled conservatives everywhere: Sarah Palin.
It's a comparison that's even being made by the Republican blogger credited with launching Palin's vice-presidential run in the United States.
The similarities extend beyond their background in television and telegenic looks, to their personas as anti-establishment politicians trying to upend the conservative status quo with a hard tilt to the right--Smith from the outside through an insurgent party, and Palin from the inside through her meteoric Republican vice-presidential candidacy.
Smith, 38, and her party's recent success--along with Stephen Harper's climb to power--have become ammunition in the internecine war over the soul of the Republican party waged between those who feel a polarizing, Palin-like candidate holds the key to success and those who are calling for a more moderate approach.
Republican blogger Adam Brickley said Smith shares many qualities with the former Alaska governor.
"I do see some of the same qualities, some of the same spunk, the same desire to make things happen regardless of what party of affiliation you may or may not be," Brickley told Canwest News Service.
"Smith is an interesting choice for a small party like the Wildrose. She gives them someone who is telegenic and energizing and has the ability to maintain in a political debate and take the party to a couple of seats, if not government."
Smith took the leadership of the opposition Wildrose Alliance in an overwhelming victory this month. The party also won a seat in a recent Calgary byelection.
Smith, a former business leader and media personality, was not available for a comment, said a spokesman.
Brickley began relentlessly promoting Palin in February 2007 through his blog, Draft Sarah Palin for Vice-president.
Brickley takes aim at Canadian David Frum, a noted Republican thinker, writer and former White House speech writer. He warns that Frum has advocated a path to victory through moderate voters who would lead Republicans off the same cliff that claimed the Canadian federal Progressive Conservative Party in 1993.
The PC party splintered into the Bloc Quebecois and the Reform, leaving the party holding two paltry seats in Parliament.
"What I think the Canadian examples teach us is that creative insurgency is not only good--but often the only way to save a flagging party," writes Brickley.
"We can keep our Danielle Smiths ... in and Stephen Harpers in the party, or we will find ourselves running against them in 10 or 20 years --and likely eating their dust in the polls."
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