Harper 'a victim of his dark side' former Tory strategist Tom Flanagan argued in 2009

Way back in 2009, Tom Flanagan, a long time Conservative party strategist wrote that Prime Minister Stephen Harper may have become "a victim of his dark side" as he attempts to survive politically.

A Toronto Star article  by Richard J Brennan and Bruce Campion-Smith laid out several ways that Harper seemed to have betrayed his "conservative" principles in a bid to stay in power.

They quoted Flanagan, a former Harper campaign organizer and strategist, as saying that Harper has been "transformed from a conservative ideologue to a political survivor, but remains a victim of his own dark side.

'Both sides are real ... but what you see more and more is the political Harper,' said Flanagan, author of the acclaimed Harper's Team: Behind the Scenes in the Conservative Rise to Power, " according to The Star story.

Six years later, Harper is still the prime minister, but maybe, just maybe his days are numbered. For sure. Canadians do not need Flanagan to tell us about Harper's "dark side".

Full story: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/577188

When I first read the Toronto Star story in 2009, I expected it would be critical of Harper, but it surprised me greatly that Flanagan. who I had watched defend the Conservatives many times would say the prime minister has become a victim of his dark side, where political survival is more important than his principles.

Right now we are watching Harper struggle to stay in power but this is no time for survival games by the prime minister. His responsibility to all Canadians must go beyond his own lust for power, and for once in his life, let him put the country first. Not going to happen methinks.

I have been following Canadian politics since Louis St Laurent was prime minister, and I have seen a lot of things happen, but this is the first time I think we should be concerned about the truth of Lord Acton`s famous dictum that `power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolùtely.

Indeed, Harper has become a victim of his dark side, and with much regret I have concluded he is a danger to Canada I know and love if given another term in office.