Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Muta

Anyone who thinks the UCP, or today's conservatives for that matter, are stewards of fiscal responsibility really, really need to spend five minutes getting out of their parents' basement sometime and into the real world. Watching the hardcore UCP supporters in this thread double down on their delusional realities and the poop they've been fed is hilarious to observe, but also really f'ing sad to see too.

I think the majority of the people spewing the fiscally conservative BS for why they’re voting UCP actually don’t care at all about fiscal responsibility and just don’t want to admit they’re really social conservatives and want to return to a time when gay and trans people had no rights and women had as few rights as possible.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I think the majority of the people spewing the fiscally conservative BS for why they’re voting UCP actually don’t care at all about fiscal responsibility and just don’t want to admit they’re really social conservatives and want to return to a time when gay and trans people had no rights and women had as few rights as possible.

This doesn’t even take a reach to come to this conclusion. It’s transparent.

[Torture]

Folks, it's really simple. Blue = good. Orange = bad. We don't need to go any deeper than that.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

No… she isn’t NDP. What’s your point?

My point is Smith and the UCP spend like drunken sailors. The deficit in Kenney’s first year - before the pandemic- was larger than any NDP deficit.

Look, I don’t think either of them are good with money but this talking point that the UCP are somehow better is total BS. I also trust Notley to make decisions with the best intentions for the people of the province. I don’t trust Smith as far as I could chuck her.

[TheIronMaiden]

I think the general fear is that the NDP would be bad for Oil and Gas. This is in no small part thanks to the federal NDP brand.

The ANDP want to have their cake and eat it too. I know that they would alienate voters, but an explicate pro oil stance would grab much more of the center.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Torture

Folks, it's really simple. Blue = good. Orange = bad. We don't need to go any deeper than that.

Hoping this post is laying it on thick enough. Mine didn’t.

[TheIronMaiden]

Notley should sign a novelty sized contract in an old gas pressure station promising to keep alberta's oil and gas strong.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Notley should sign a novelty sized contract in an old gas pressure station promising to keep alberta's oil and gas strong.

All joking aside I think a grand gesture in favour of oil and gas like this to enough fanfare that would be problematic for Jagmeet Singh's image in his most orange ridings federally would be a good way to distinguish the ANDP from the Federal version. I think for a lot of moderate people who typically have always voted PC (which Notley needs almost all of to win enough seat in Calgary) it would go a long way. Most Calgary conservative voters really despise Danielle Smith and the element of the UCP that has taken over the party but might be uneasy going NDP.

[Muta]

I know the ANDP have a dedicated pro-O+G/energy industry commercial on TV right now, just saw it the other day!

[Fuzz]

Conservatism is as much a mode of politics as it is a coherent belief system. Rather than attaching themselves to notions like liberalism, libertarianism, order and liberty, most Albertans treat their conservatism as a matter of temperament instead of an ideology.

Which takes us to the current moment.

Danielle Smith is not a temperamental conservative. Indeed, she is rarely an ideological conservative. Instead, her politics amount to libertarian-laced populism, directly opposed to the sort of principled, incrementalist politics Albertans have appreciated from conservative governments in the past.

By contrast, Danielle Smith’s approach — her inconsistent libertarianism — has been to grow government indiscriminately. Hers is the largest cabinet in the history of the province. Her 2023 budget reversed many of her party’s fiscal gains, boosting spending by 10 per cent. Even traditional allies criticize the plan as unconservative. It is telling that the most temperamental conservative in her cabinet presented it … and then promptly departed.

Conservatives are also guardians against government overreach. Smith’s choice to threaten and limit journalists brushes aside freedom of the press. Her intervention with an individual facing criminal charges shows a casual disregard for legal and political norms. And her approach to involuntary addictions treatment appears to trample on Albertans’ Charter rights.

https://theline.substack.com/p/jared...en-boessenkool

Really worth reading the whole thing on why just voting blue this time is not voting Conservative.

[Torture]

LOL, you couldn't make this up if you tried.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1651961848596512771

[Fuzz]

Nobody actually believes her, right? Yoho, you buying this bull####?

[PeteMoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1652017591807016961

Oilers ownership wanting some of that sweet provincial money too.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I think the general fear is that the NDP would be bad for Oil and Gas.

I love when people say this.

And then I remind them that Notley did everything she could to get our product to market, including ramping up the rail and even buying rail cars!

They forget about that.

They also forget the UCP cancelled that contract and, of course, ended up costing Albertans a bunch of money.

[MoneyGuy]

Just watched a video where Daniele Smith called Ron DeSantis her hero. That’s a terrifying thought.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Just watched a video where Daniele Smith called Ron DeSantis her hero. That’s a terrifying thought.

Ugh. What a terrible leadership choice for the UCP. Arrogance might be their downfall with her. Scaring a lot of moderate conservatives I know

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

https://twitter.com/user/status/1652017591807016961

Oilers ownership wanting some of that sweet provincial money too.

Grifters see a grift and need to get in on it.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Grifters see a grift and need to get in on it.

Why wouldn't they? Why wouldn't every municipality in the province be lined up for something similar?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

I love when people say this.

And then I remind them that Notley did everything she could to get our product to market, including ramping up the rail and even buying rail cars!

They forget about that.

They also forget the UCP cancelled that contract and, of course, ended up costing Albertans a bunch of money.

She also added the fuel of a royalty review onto the fire of tanking oil prices. She wasn't a disaster, but lets not pretend she was good.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Why wouldn't they? Why wouldn't every municipality in the province be lined up for something similar?

Are you anticipating the NDP cancels this if they win the election?