Quote:
Originally Posted by killer_carlson
Observations from Edmonton where the NDP are poised to take up to 4 seats:
- Very few elections signs anywhere. You wouldn't know there is an election going on based on where i've been.
- What lawns signs are out are exclusively NDP. No Conservative, no Liberal, no Green. Only NPD. Not a lot, but only NDP.
- Growing sentiment of people (not necessarily me, but i'd say a large percentage of the voters who occupy the "center" of the spectrum): Look, we tried conservative provincially for years, and as much as people are griping about Notley's government, there weren't very many bright shining bulbs in the PC provincial caucus the last several years either. They were more interested in being government than they were about governing for Alberta. I'm open to change because what we've been getting isn't very good and they stopped listening years ago.
- That being said, when talk of the NDP comes up, the anti-oilsands comments out of the various NDP candidates does have people concerned, especially with Notley's silence about them. There are also 2 seats where I think there could be a dramatic shift in the polls between Liberal and NDP if Trudeau falters or more anti-oilsand NDP comments are made. Those seats see a true vote split which benefits the Conservatives.
|
It's fascinating how Alberta suddenly being perceived as much more 'in play' changes the way a politicians are talking about the oil sands. Personally, I think the best thing possible is that we move toward a political climate where these issues are discussed frankly between politicians and all parties feel an incentive to put forward workable, responsible platforms, rather than simply using the issue as either a bogey-man or a rallying-cry, depending on which side of the spectrum they're on. And obviously we're not there yet, but it feels like we're slowly moving that way.