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troutman · 12-17-2014, 10:03 AM

http://www.macleans.ca/politics/to-prune-a-wild-rose/

It is difficult to find any precedent for it—outside the Third World.

That’s a decision the Wildrose caucus cannot make for its party, which will limp along for now, keeping as much of the big war chest as it can hang onto and presumably choosing a more authentic Old Reformer-type leader. The Wildrose turncoats have been promised a smooth path to PC renominations, but it will be awkward for them to campaign, and loyalists in deep-south Alberta ridings, where the presiding spirit is that of the ranch and not the homestead, will probably have an easier time surviving in the assembly than most of the floor-crossers.

For now it looks as though the Wildrose rump will hang onto enough members to remain as the Official Opposition in the assembly. But the big immediate winner is obviously the New Democratic Party—not just for the next Alberta election, whenever that comes, but perhaps even for the fall federal election. Prentice and the PCs have extinguished an immediate threat and absorbed some fierce critics. In exchange they have angered the temporary Conservative voters who, in 2012, got stampeded into believing the Wildrose Party was some kind of atavistic gay-baiting menace. Prentice has, with Bill 10, blown some of the social-liberal credibility he earned for supporting same-sex marriage as a CPC minister. Progressive youth in Edmonton and Calgary presumably won’t get fooled again, although one must not underestimate their capacity for it.

12-17-2014, 10:03 AM	#253
troutman Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Crowsnest Pass Exp:	http://www.macleans.ca/politics/to-prune-a-wild-rose/ It is difficult to find any precedent for it—outside the Third World. That’s a decision the Wildrose caucus cannot make for its party, which will limp along for now, keeping as much of the big war chest as it can hang onto and presumably choosing a more authentic Old Reformer-type leader. The Wildrose turncoats have been promised a smooth path to PC renominations, but it will be awkward for them to campaign, and loyalists in deep-south Alberta ridings, where the presiding spirit is that of the ranch and not the homestead, will probably have an easier time surviving in the assembly than most of the floor-crossers. For now it looks as though the Wildrose rump will hang onto enough members to remain as the Official Opposition in the assembly. But the big immediate winner is obviously the New Democratic Party—not just for the next Alberta election, whenever that comes, but perhaps even for the fall federal election. Prentice and the PCs have extinguished an immediate threat and absorbed some fierce critics. In exchange they have angered the temporary Conservative voters who, in 2012, got stampeded into believing the Wildrose Party was some kind of atavistic gay-baiting menace. Prentice has, with Bill 10, blown some of the social-liberal credibility he earned for supporting same-sex marriage as a CPC minister. Progressive youth in Edmonton and Calgary presumably won’t get fooled again, although one must not underestimate their capacity for it.