Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunk
So assuming that rather conservative Jason Kenney wins PC leadership and successfully merges with the Wildrose, one can assume it will disaffect more centrist PC members (this already seems to be happening).
What would people think of a unified "centre"? Bring disaffected PCs, the remnants of the old Liberal Party, Alberta Party and new/other classes of Albertans seeking good governance together. Create a new party that identifies with socially liberal/libertarian and moderate/fiscally conservative principles (think Peter Lougheed, Laurence Decore provincially or Paul Martin or Joe Clark federally) and create a very large tent centrist, pragmatic alternative. Notley and Kenney the ideologues, the new party where most Albertans are. Slava the leader ;-)
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I know that you're joking, but I would be really interested in working on something like this if the right people were involved in general. That isn't to suggest that I would be anywhere near leadership or anything though!
The hard part about this is that there is no pragmatism in the AP or ALP at this point. They both have big problems and seemingly no recognition of that fact, and they both have this "elitist" idea that they have the best policy or positions so the voters should be flocking to them. Its hard to want to be involved with that line of thinking.
I say that the AP has nothing (and have probably made that comment here a number of times). I don't mean that in terms of support in the polls, although that is nearly zero as well. I mean in terms of infrastructure. The ALP has a big problem in that they cannot seem to attract inspirational candidates, or generate any momentum. The one thing that the ALP has is a decent infrastructure. Some say the brand is dead (the latest poll has them well into double digits here in Calgary, and the federal party elected 3 nearly 4 MPs last year, but sure...the brand is dead).
Starting a new party is incredibly hard. For the ALP its more than just a simple name change, new logo and boom you get elected. They already have some infrastructure! When I say infrastructure I mean a viable party today needs a central party to coordinate everything. Then you need 87 strong, viable, hard-working constituency associations. Those CAs need to do things like run events through out the year and at this point, almost immediately find 87 legitimate candidates who want to be MLAs. Not just names for the ballot, and yes over two years out....but actual qualified, electable people to run for the party in the next election.
Those candidates with the CA need to be out knocking on doors now. They have to attend many community events, run their own events with fundraisers today, knock on doors and build a database of supporters today and virtually begin campaigning. Did I mention they should start knocking on doors? I don't think that voters will just throw their support behind a new pretty face with no political experience and hand them the keys to the province. It happened last time, but still. Lightning isn't likely to strike twice and hope is not a strategy!
Anyway...those are my thoughts. I love the idea and I think it has to happen, but its not something that can wait until a month before the election. It's also going to be an enormous undertaking, but worth it in the end!