Norman Spector has column wherein he discusses an interview he had with Stephen Harper.
...I was ushered into his suite for a one-on-one interview. Figuring that no focus-group-tested talking point had been prepared, I
asked which world leader he most admired.
"Tony Blair," he unhesitatingly replied, after assuring himself I wasn't going to describe him as a closet social democrat. In truth, it was the answer I'd been half-expecting since watching him carry the same-sex-marriage debate. (Coincidentally, Mr. Blair's Civil Partnerships Act came into force last week.) What surprised me was Mr. Harper's explanation.
Though coming from the opposite end of the political spectrum, Mr. Harper admires the British Prime Minister's ability to explain principled positions to people who are not always receptive. Somewhat wistfully, he observed that Labourites don't much like their leader, and that it was unclear how much longer they'd tolerate him. I came away with the impression that Mr. Harper, too, will try his best to bring a party of perennial losers back into the mainstream and back into government -- and, if he succeeds, will try to keep them there for a good long stay.
I am a long-time fan of Tony Blair so this works with me.
