Surprisingly, this rich and dramatic story has never been told in a single book. With Conservatives seemingly back in form—and in national favour—the time is right for this first full-scale biography of the always intriguing and sometimes maddening Conservative Party.

 

Although the Tory party has produced some of this country’s most colourful leaders and prime ministers, their contributions to Canada are rarely recognized let alone understood. True, the Conservative electoral record is appalling. But more important than raw statistics, Conservatives have made fundamental and far-reaching contributions to Canada while in and out of office. Tories led the country through some of its more tumultuous times and initiated many of the transformative changes that define the nation today. Conservatives did much of the tough sledding by implementing necessary and often unpopular measures, often to their short-term political detriment. They would do more for Canada, however, if they learned from their political blunders.

Blue Thunder is a sprawling, page-turning exposé. Drawing upon a wealth of public and private material Plamondon has enriched this history with fresh insights in an unparalleled portrait of the Conservative Party and each of its nineteen leaders.

Make no mistake. Blue Thunder is no hagiography. This is a warts-and-all portrait that examines in compelling and revealing detail the lows as well as the highs. Along the way myths are exposed, blame is assessed, and heroes are chosen.

More analytically, Plamondon boldly sifts from the record what today’s Conservatives need to learn from the past to be successful in the future.

Blue Thunder is a captivating, entertaining and definitive look at the accomplishments and failures of Canadian Conservative leadership. A must read for anyone who follows Canadian politics today and an invaluable reference source for decades. 

 

 

It’s time Canadians understood the truth about its Conservative political history.  Blue Thunder is an insightful and definitive look at the accomplishments and failures of Canadian Conservative leadership and essential reading for anyone who follows Canadian politics.