Conservative Like Me

In this episode, we have more questions than answers. Sorry.

We're talking O'Toole's commitment to create 1 million jobs, the fate of foreign investment to Canada, the mythical quest to define and manifest "green jobs," and the role of unions in rebuilding the economy. We also talk about why the long-held conservative drumbeat to balance the budget might be a loser strategy (right now).

Plus, Jenn still thinks a national pharmacare program gets us a great balance of an economic driver and a vital social service—and is pretty unapologetic about it.

At the recording of this podcast (April 2020), the Conservative Party of Canada cannot win an election and form government. That sucks.

In this first episode of season 2, we lament.

Then, we talk about the consequences of not having a strong counter-narrative for Canadians, the outcome of the policy convention, what part of the spectrum should speak the loudest for conservativism, and what we think are the real goals for O'Toole as the leader.

Plus, Jenn openly wonders if she can be a conservative champion AND also employable.

Alberta, once part of the energy now needs new energy.

In the final pod of season one, we talk about controlling the outcome of taxpayer money at the provincial level, a provincial sales tax, a pension plan of our own, and the value of selling our intellectual property. We also fight a little more about interprovincial trade and making deals that work for Alberta.

What we don't talk about are pipelines.

Plus, Jennifer learns she probably won't be hired by a union in the near future.

I want to hear from you. Tweet your thoughts to @thejennsanford. Remember that with 1,000 likes, a second season is on the way.

This podcast is not affiliated with the CPC. In fact, they have a podcast of their own. For more about The Blueprint, hosted by MP Jamie Schmale, visit http://podcast.conservative.ca/.

Are people good and society makes them bad? Or are people bad and the laws of society make them good? Think about your answer, because it likely informs your feelings on how we police guns—and gun owners—in this country.

We talk about our very different views on guns and the right to gun ownership, how hard it is to get a firearm in this country, and why—it seems—we place the blame of gun violence on the gun, and not the person committing the violence.

This was an issue that the conservatives had a strong, albeit unsexy, plan. Why didn't we talk about it? Will it stay as a new leader emerges?

Plus, Jennifer explains her inability to calculate risk.

I want to hear from you. Tweet your thoughts to @thejennsanford. Remember that with 1,000 likes, a second season is on the way.

This podcast is not affiliated with the CPC. In fact, they have a podcast of their own. For more about The Blueprint, hosted by MP Jamie Schmale, visit http://podcast.conservative.ca/.

Yes, you can be a conservative in Canada without being a full-steam-ahead Trump supporter.

Oh, sorry, we're you looking for a longer description?

Okay, well, we ask whether Canadians could have a leader like Donald J. Trump. We wonder if there are similarities between non-dog-whistle Trump voters and Canadians who feel left behind by our current government. And we also talk about running a campaign where conservatives make a case for being the first choice to govern.

How important is the courage to be unpopular?

Plus, Jennifer works really, really, really hard to make it abundantly clear that the only time she comes to the table on Trump is on economic issues.

I want to hear from you. Tweet your thoughts to @thejennsanford. Remember that with 1,000 likes, a second season is on the way.

This podcast is not affiliated with the CPC. In fact, they have a podcast of their own. For more about The Blueprint, hosted by MP Jamie Schmale, visit http://podcast.conservative.ca/.

At a trillion dollars in debt, "paying off the debt" can no longer be the central argument for the conservative party. So why not pivot into some new, bold ideas?

We talk green energy, infrastructure, a national pharma care program, ending childcare desserts, regulatory burdens, tech, and interprovincial trade. And, just to torture ourselves, we also talk about the environment.

Who is the conservative leader with the courage and vision to do this?

Plus, Jennifer makes the case the key to economic prosperity means unleashing the economic power of women. Gender-balance cabinet? No, thanks. I'll take a gender-balanced economy instead.

I want to hear from you. Tweet your thoughts to @thejennsanford. Remember that with 1,000 likes, a second season is on the way.

This podcast is not affiliated with the CPC. In fact, they have a podcast of their own. For more about The Blueprint, hosted by MP Jamie Schmale, visit http://podcast.conservative.ca/.

"If you want my vote, you've got to move to the left on social issues."

This is largely the takeaway of the last federal election. If we want a conservative party that's relevant to the momentum of Canadians, then the party has to get clear—and progressive—about issues like abortion and medical assistance in dying.

We make the case.

Plus, Jennifer points out the odd conservatism of "if at first you don't succeed, try making it harder for yourself."

Alberta, once part of the energy now needs new energy.

In the final pod of season one, we talk about controlling the outcome of taxpayer money at the provincial level, a provincial sales tax, a pension plan of our own, and the value of selling our intellectual property. We also fight a little more about interprovincial trade and making deals that work for Alberta.

What we don’t talk about are pipelines.

Plus, Jennifer learns she probably won’t be hired by a union in the near future.

Are people good and society makes them bad? Or are people bad and the laws of society make them good? Think about your answer, because it likely informs your feelings on how we police guns—and gun owners—in this country.

We talk about our very different views on guns and the right to gun ownership, how hard it is to get a firearm in this country, and why—it seems—we place the blame of gun violence on the gun, and not the person committing the violence.

This was an issue that the conservatives had a strong, albeit unsexy, plan. Why didn’t we talk about it? Will it stay as a new leader emerges?

Plus, Jennifer explains her inability to calculate risk.

If we want a moral society (and who doesn't?), then it's easy to see why religion creates that moral construct. But we have a separation of church and state in this country and Canadians, less and less, want religion in their politics. So, what happens when the conservative party's members continue to view policy through the lens of the gods? Perhaps the story of how the party embraced marriage equality offers the hope we need for change. Maybe it's time for reckoning in our big blue tent.

We also ask: Can the next leader have a strong religious purview? And what do we with the social capital of religious groups? It's the answer a peace offering?

Plus, Jennifer appeals for you not to eat your family dog. Oh, and for the love of god, get rid of votes of conscience on social issues.

As promised: the public consensus was 47% for marriage equality when the Liberal gov't asked the Supreme Court to rule on it.

I want to hear from you. Tweet your thoughts to @thejennsanford. Remember that with 1,000 likes, a second season is on the way.

This podcast is not affiliated with the CPC. In fact, they have a podcast of their own. For more about The Blueprint, hosted by MP Jamie Schmale, visit http://podcast.conservative.ca/.