2 Wildrose MLAs to cross to PCs

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Knalus

It's really easy to say that anyone other than the PC party has no "solutions" because no one aside from the PC party has been allowed to implement any. Your argument is simplistic, and trite.

However, NOW we might see what the Wild Rose would do in power, because they kind of are.

Looks like the Joke is now a part of the ruling party. How does that sit with you?

I think it's shameful. But if the leader is so willing to bail on her party, what does it say about her party and their ideas.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nik-

I think it's shameful. But if the leader is so willing to bail on her party, what does it say about her party and their ideas.

That is a non sequitur.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

The strange assertion they had "no actual plans" seems to indicate a lack of attachment to the reality of the situation.

I'm not a Wildrose supporter by any means but I have to agree they did have plans. Not necessarily ones I liked, and I'm actually a bit concerned those plans might start to show up in the PCs (like their obsession in education with protecting "parental rights" at the expense of the rights of students).

I don't really agree they're the only effective opposition we've had though. The Decore-era Liberals were fairly strong. Since those days most of the opposition parties have been good at critiquing policy - it's just that none of them were a threat to win an election until Wildrose last time around.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Did you every actually go to their website, look at the what we believe 12 page document that talks about their ideas of the budget some of them that Prentice even admits that the PC's are adopting? They have multiple platform discussion white papers for the budget, infrastructure, education, health care and more. Its more then MLA pay and government pay stuff.

Seriously.

Their platform section is pretty much on par with what you see from any provincial or even federal opposition website.

That's exactly what I did. For a party that apparently has all the solutions, they're pretty unwilling to talk about what they are. Except for the minor ones, which amount to a tiny drop in the bucket, that can make people get all angry with the government. Except those ones of course. I mean rolling back pay raises on those government fat cats. Yeah, that'll fix things.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That is a non sequitur.

Not really, but ok.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Knalus

How do liberals who voted for the Tories feel, now that the party they voted for now consists of the Wildrose?

All those Super right wing, scary anti-gay and lake of fire folks, well, they now represent the government that they voted for. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't? Congrats! Now we have both!

To all those "strategic voters", how must you be feeling about the party you voted for?

I feel like this applies to me, as an advocate of strategic voting (though my own vote went to Kent Hehr), so here goes:

- It's not all of the Wildrose that's crossing, and I would assume that their worst elements will be the ones left over in the "rump".

- While the Wildrose-PC split made progressive victories more likely, we weren't really strong enough to take advantage. So hypothetically, without strategic voting, we could be in a worse place - perhaps, without the anti-Wildrose sentiment, we have a Wildrose government today? That would certainly be worse.

So, with the Wildrose already looking too weak to form government, this move hurts the progressives in Alberta, but I still think anyone-but-Wildrose was correct.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

Not to mention the terrible corruption evident in a party in power for decades without a serious challenger.



Finally the Wild Rose party was able to offer voters a real alternative to the PC's; an ability to wipe the slate clean and eliminate some of the entitlement and arrogance present in the ruling party. Instead they could end up reinforcing this and adding to the problem. I have a hard time believing Prentice will be able to address these issues easily, although maybe inserting the new Wild Rose members into cabinet seats is an attempt at a first step in that direction.

Inserting Wild Rose members - who jumped ship to save their political skins - into cabinet is going to fix entitlement issues? Okay

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Knalus

However, NOW we might see what the Wild Rose would do in power, because they kind of are.

Looks like the Joke is now a part of the ruling party. How does that sit with you?

Now that is spin if I've ever seen it.

[LanceUppercut]

Don Braid saying 9 WRP MLA's are crossing. Premtice speaking at 4 and 2 podiums set up in the news conference. It seems like it is a done deal.

[troutman]

If Jon Stewart was interested in Albertan politics, he could show countless examples of these people saying one thing last month, and the opposite thing today.

[troutman]

So awkward they need two podiums:

[nik-]

Is one slightly shorter than the other even when adjusting for perspective? If so, that's hilarious

[troutman]

http://calgaryherald.com/news/politi...ory-government

In an unprecedented move in Canadian political history, a majority of the Wildrose caucus including leader Danielle Smith — are crossing the floor to join the long-running Progressive Conservative government.

Sources have told the Herald that nine opposition MLAs will join Premier Jim Prentice’s administration: Smith, house leader Rob Anderson, and MLAs Jeff Wilson, Bruce McAllister, Gary Bikman, Rod Fox, Jason Hale, Blake Pedersen and Bruce Rowe.

[Madman]

NSFW!

[Regular_John]

What a croc of assorted farm animal feces.

Provincial voting was always a "hold your nose and pick the lesser evil" proposition for me, and after this fiasco I may never vote in another provincial election again. Just don't see the point of it.

[Barbecue]

LOL

[Barbecue]

Originally Posted by Madman

NSFW!

wow, this after a leadership vote of confidence that the Wildrose wants Smith to remain as leader

Over Under on all the Smashed Coffee Mugs after 4pm?

[calgarygeologist]

They need to get this press conference going so that they can get it wrapped up before it is time for me to leave the office.

[Minnie]

Is it on a particular TV channel or just online?

NVM, found it.

[CaptainCrunch]

The whole thing is really sickening.