Peter C. Newman (For the Globe and Mail)
Winnipeg Free Press [Plamondon] draws solid but enthralling portraits of the 18 men and one woman (Kim Campbell) who led the Conservative party, and the politico-historical world each inhabited...Blue Thunder is Canadian political history writ well. Great stories, great research, keen analysis. There are also fine accounts of unquenchable egos (John Diefenbaker, Brian Mulroney), leaders farsighted in international relations but myopic when it came to the nation's domestic problems (Robert Borden, Joe Clark), and "the greatest prime minister we never had" (Robert Stanfield). National Post Conservative academic Bob Plamondon has set out to rewrite that history, setting icons like Sir John A. Macdonald and Brian Mulroney in their proper context in both party and national history. More importantly, he restores some balance to the record of unfairly parodied leaders such as R.B. Bennett, John Bracken and Robert Borden. Many readers will be surprised at Plamondon’s list of Conservative achievements... An undisguised partisan, Plamondon is nonetheless savage in his condemnation of those leaders who consigned the party to perennial defeat by their insensitivity, sometimes racism, toward French Canada. ..At the same time, he offers a powerful account of Sir John A.’s struggle to find a path between Ontario Tory Orangemen’s demand for Métis blood and the rage of Quebecers at the persecution of Louis Riel...His description of the explosion of dissension that brought down John Diefenbaker is marvellous, especially the interplay between the Kennedy White House and the Chief. So is his tale of the left-wing tack by a desperate R.B. Bennett in his fight for survival during the Depression, and the counterattack of his party colleagues... Even Canadian political history buffs will find delightful new nuggets in his accounts of Bennett and Borden’s successful battles with patronizing English politicians’ colonial attitudes. Conrad Black
"This book is a major contribution to Canadian political history and science; a page-turner usefully revealing much more about the present governing federal party, how it wins and loses and is distinguishable from its opponents, than is known by all but a studious few... I am inspired by reading the galleys of Robert Plamondon’s very interesting book..."
Lawrence Martin (Globe and Mail)
'A captivating saga of egos fed and famished, of glory and doom, of a torch still burning. For the first time, the Tory story is laid bare." Policy Opions (Adam Daifallah)
"... a long overdue book ... succeeds admirably in bringing about a better understanding of [Tory leaders] and who they were, not just as political leaders but as human beings. [Plamondon] writes critically where he needs to, even presenting Stephen Harper in a somewhat critical light. Overall, this is very informative and useful book that is chockfull of lessons for the current and future generations of Conservative politicians. If they want to avoid the mistakes of the past 100 years — the biggest of them being failing to repeat past mistakes —they should study this book carefully." Don Newman (CBC - Politics) "Fascinating ... a great book ... really enjoyed it"
L. Ian MacDonald (Montreal Gazette)
"This is a serious and scholarly book, and a fun one too"
Kathleen Petty (CBC's "The House")
"A Great read -- I really enjoyed it"
Enter Stage Right (Steven Martinovich - Sudbury)
:.. a sometimes depressing but always informative romp. .. an accessible ... enjoyable political history. It should raise a number of questions for Canadian conservatives to ask themselves, including those of strategy, ideology and what kind of leadership they need to achieve victory.
John Gormley (CKOM Radio)
"An outstanding chronicle -- an outstanding read"
Arlene Bynon (Talk 640 Radio)
"Great writing and a fabulous book"
Tommy Schnurmacher (CJAD Radio)
"Wonderful new book -- tells your everything you want and need to know about Tory leaders"
Mike Duncan Classical 96.3FM
"Incredible book...fascinating ... deserves a place in the library of every Canadian political junkie."
Michael Coren
"Fabulous ... buy this book"
Lowell Green (News,Talk, Radio 580 CFRA)
"An incredible book. Phenomenal research and a very easy read"
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