Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Flames0910]

Nenshi’s mom on Twitter. Sounds like she’s on board with a Nenshi for NDP campaign!

Honestly, Nenshi sounded angry at the rally the other day. Not sure I’ve ever heard that kind of morale outrage in AB politics (manufactured yes, authentic no lol). Smith is a ####ing bully punching down at some of the most vulnerable folks in our society.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1754021381728301360

[ah123]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

Nenshi’s mom on Twitter..

https://twitter.com/user/status/1754021381728301360

That is actually Nenshi’s sister.

[powderjunkie]

Anybody else feeling...conflicted* about how to act the next time they see neighbours who had UCP signs up?

*not sure conflicted is quite the right word, but basically I feel the urge to express how disgusted I am with the current proceedings and how it feels...uncomfortable?* disappointing?* to know they helped to lead us down this horrific path.

(I don't think I'll ever actually say anything...it would just be nice to see these people confront the outcome of their choice to any degree at all)

[Ashartus]

I remember recently commenting on how much better Nenshi looked since getting out of politics, and thinking he should stay out. Now I'm wondering if we need him back. None of the other names that have been raised as possible NDP leadership candidates come across to me as someone who can win the province.

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by ah123

That is actually Nenshi’s sister.

Woops! My mistake.

Either way, my point stands. If his family is openly commenting like this…

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

I remember recently commenting on how much better Nenshi looked since getting out of politics, and thinking he should stay out. Now I'm wondering if we need him back. None of the other names that have been raised as possible NDP leadership candidates come across to me as someone who can win the province.

Totally agree. Rakhi is a potential outlier but I don’t feel any of the existing names have what it takes to take the fight to Smith. Competent MLAs but not folks who will dictate the conversation.

[Johnny Makarov]

I'd much rather him run for PM so he can boot Pierre the little Pest, Mr. Dressup and Singh into the sun.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I'd much rather him run for PM so he can boot Pierre the little Pest, Mr. Dressup and Singh into the sun.

I just think the odds of a westerner winning the liberal leadership and then winning the election are incredibly long. I just checked, they have never elected a leader who was born west of the Ontario border, just can’t see it.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

I remember recently commenting on how much better Nenshi looked since getting out of politics, and thinking he should stay out. Now I'm wondering if we need him back. None of the other names that have been raised as possible NDP leadership candidates come across to me as someone who can win the province.

Yes he should (for him) stay out; looks better and happier. Also yes he should enter Alberta or federal politics; he’s desperately needed in both arenas.

[curves2000]

Although looking back, I would much rather have Nenshi as our Mayor as opposed to our current Mayor, in a hypothetical scenario.

Nenshi did leave Calgary politics with very low approval ratings and had been on the downward slide for a while. He didn't really change much from his days as "World's Best Mayor" but the political and municipal landscape really did. When a lot of things started getting tough in Calgary post 2015 crash, he and council were out of ideas or didn't want to do the hardwork involved.

Nenshi could do well in Edmonton and even get some additional support for the NDP in Calgary but I think the rural areas would be challenging.

He probably would give the NDP the best chance at winning overall. The current crop of candidates has some decent people but nobody with campaign star power.

[TheScorpion]

God I hope he runs. I'd vote for him.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Nenshi did leave Calgary politics with very low approval ratings and had been on the downward slide for a while.

What does this even mean? You cant just do a drive-by on this one.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

What does this even mean? You cant just do a drive-by on this one.

The people who hated him on day one, hated him twice as much at the end.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

What does this even mean? You cant just do a drive-by on this one.

Nenshi's approval ratings were on the downward slide, which is true.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...nkhq-1.5199855

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

What does this even mean? You cant just do a drive-by on this one.

Not really a drive by but a political fact. He was voted as World's Best Mayor and had a lot of fanfare early on in his tenure as Mayor of Calgary. When the political situation changed for him and the job got harder and harder, he decided to end his time in office while ahead, without a loss as Mayor. I think part of his issue was outside of some of his positive energy early on, look at what this little city on the prairies has been able to do etc, he never recovered much politically.

In the 2017 election which he won, he came fairly close to losing to someone nobody has ever heard of or even knows. Bill Smith had zero profile, zero real campaign, zero anything really yet came close.

When Nenshi decided to step away it was because the likelihood of losing was really high and he had grown very unpopular. I assume personally it was time for him to take some time off, rest, relax and enjoy more free time.

The notion that Nenshi would be some extremely popular choice to win significant seats in Calgary and rural Alberta for the AB NDP, I don't think is wise but I also think he may be a better choice that some of the other people . He could legit come in and play the I was not in NDP government 2015-19 card, so don't blame me for those problems kinda thing.

The fact that A LOT of people from other parts of Canada are moving to Alberta and they could remember really positive stories about him nationally could benefit him.

Do I think he could win the NDP leadership? 100% Can he win consistent elections for the AB NDP or whatever branding they may change to? That one is harder for me to see.

[ZedMan]

Originally Posted by curves2000

In the 2017 election which he won, he came fairly close to losing to someone nobody has ever heard of or even knows. Bill Smith had zero profile, zero real campaign, zero anything really yet came close.

Zero real campaign? Are you ####ing serious? Do you not remember every single digital billboard in the saddledome emblazoned with Bill Smith for mayor ads? His campaign raised nearly a million (916K) dollars.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by ZedMan

Zero real campaign? Are you ####ing serious? Do you not remember every single digital billboard in the saddledome emblazoned with Bill Smith for mayor ads? His campaign raised nearly a million (916K) dollars.

Flames ownership spent a lot of money name blasting him without a doubt, so did the contingent who was anti Nenshi. But Bill Smith was who? Nobody. Haven't seen or heard from him since, anywhere. I am really active in the political space in Calgary and Alberta and I can't even remember seeing anything of value from this guy. He wasn't a strong challenger to Nenshi yet managed to get a very strong response from people who were not Nenshi fan's.

Mayor Gondek in the 2021 election faced some stiff competition from councilors Jeff Davidson and Jeromy Farkas. Both well known political players in the city political scene and she came out on top due to a well run campaign on her part and vote splitting on the other side.

[powderjunkie]

This all just sounds like the normal trajectory for anyone serving over a decade (barring a crisis to manage really well later in the term). Few politicians leave more popular than their initial win.

Originally Posted by curves2000

Flames ownership spent a lot of money name blasting him without a doubt, so did the contingent who was anti Nenshi. But Bill Smith was who? Nobody. Haven't seen or heard from him since, anywhere. I am really active in the political space in Calgary and Alberta and I can't even remember seeing anything of value from this guy. He wasn't a strong challenger to Nenshi yet managed to get a very strong response from people who were not Nenshi fan's.

Mayor Gondek in the 2021 election faced some stiff competition from councilors Jeff Davidson and Jeromy Farkas. Both well known political players in the city political scene and she came out on top due to a well run campaign on her part and vote splitting on the other side.

Did you know Nenshi's name before his first campaign?

[Slanter]

Originally Posted by ZedMan

Zero real campaign? Are you ####ing serious? Do you not remember every single digital billboard in the saddledome emblazoned with Bill Smith for mayor ads? His campaign raised nearly a million (916K) dollars.

Somebody also apparently bought a pollster, who declared him leading the election race, effectively coalescing the anti-Nenshi vote around one person, instead of splitting it amongst a dozen nobodies.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

I just think the odds of a westerner winning the liberal leadership and then winning the election are incredibly long. I just checked, they have never elected a leader who was born west of the Ontario border, just can’t see it.

While I agree a westerner as Liberal leader is a long shot, he'd be the guy that could do it. Charismatic, excellent speaker, history of running good campaigns, governance background, etc. I also think not looking like Ontario's preconceived notion of a hick from Alberta would help with that issue. He went out on top and knows how to win elections, which is something that the Liberal party apparatus would appreciate as well.

The Federal Liberals are a lot more pragmatic than the provincial NDP. Less one-issue voters and union voting blocks, more people attached to the apparatus of power who want to win. If a plurality of Federal liberals believed he was their best chance at holding power he'd win that race.