01-24-2011, 12:58 PM
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#1
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In the Sin Bin
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Dave Taylor joins Alberta Party
http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/alber...072/story.html
So, a few years from now the PCs and Libs are but a memory, while the WRA and the Albertas fight it out for control of the government?
This was amusing...
Quote:
Taylor had previously condemned the Wildrose Alliance for accepting defectors from the Tories without having them run in a byelection. He also vowed he would run in a byelection if he joined another party before the next provincial election, expected in March 2012.
But, he said today he would not cross the floor to an existing party in the legislature and that a byelection is a waste of taxpayer dollars with an election expected in the next year or so.
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01-24-2011, 01:37 PM
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#3
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver
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He is right, it is a waste of money. Politicians should sit and represent the party that the people voted for.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
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01-24-2011, 01:52 PM
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#4
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In the Sin Bin
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I have no problem with crossing the floor in general... it's been a part of Canadian politics from day one. But man, for him to be so adamantly against it to try and score political points in the summer, only to turn around and do the same in winter...
Funny thing is, the Alberta Party was trying to sell itself on being different. (heh). This is great news for them - they went from being fringe nobodies to being a fringe party bordering on legitimacy - but they have also revealed they are just more of the same. People don't change politics. Politics changes people.
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01-24-2011, 02:01 PM
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#5
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary
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In theory the Alberta party is what is needed to unseat the conservatives. It will take the NDP and Libs support for the party to fully materialize into what it needs to be.
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MYK - Supports Arizona to democtratically pass laws for the state of Arizona
Rudy was the only hope in 08
2011 Election: Cons 40% - Nanos 38% Ekos 34%
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01-24-2011, 02:14 PM
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#6
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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I can totally see why Taylor did this, but I am still against it in principle.
Having an election is never a waste of taxpayer dollars. Are they expensive? Sure. That cost though is a relative cost; it's only the basis of our entire society so why be cheap about it?
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01-24-2011, 02:57 PM
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#7
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Offered up a bag of cans for a custom user title
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Westside
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
He is right, it is a waste of money. Politicians should sit and represent the party that the people voted for.
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Or should they sit and represent the individual that the people voted for?
Isn't what you suggest the larger problem?
In your opinion, why do we even have a candidate and note just vote for the party?
I honestly don't know the answer, I was just curious based on your post.
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01-24-2011, 03:36 PM
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#8
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary
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I should add, if it comes to Federal Politics I am 100% against crossing the floor. With Provincial politics I dont mind it as much. For me it has to do with in Federal Elections its much more big picture, I dont really care who the person is who is running, just the party. For Provincial I am much more likely have a higher % of person vs party vote.
__________________
MYK - Supports Arizona to democtratically pass laws for the state of Arizona
Rudy was the only hope in 08
2011 Election: Cons 40% - Nanos 38% Ekos 34%
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06-22-2011, 09:55 AM
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#9
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Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Crowsnest Pass
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Slava gets published:
The Alberta Party is a long way from emulating its patron saint Naheed Nenshi
http://www.allpolitics.ca/index.php?...olumn&refno=23
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06-22-2011, 10:12 AM
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#10
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: in your blind spot.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by troutman
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That reads like an autopsy or eulogy.
"Alas, poor Alberta Party! I knew him, Slava"
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
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06-22-2011, 10:25 AM
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#11
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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It kind of is....realistically I can't see how they win a single seat in the next election.
It's not that I disagree with them (and frankly I might even vote for them when the time comes!), but that is probably. 7-10 year process to actually convert the "Big Listen" into a meaningful number of seats.
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06-22-2011, 10:53 AM
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#12
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Calgary
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Quote:
Originally Posted by troutman
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Am I the only one bothered by the outdated Calgary skyline picture used on that website?
/skyscraper geek
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06-22-2011, 10:55 AM
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#13
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Voted for Kodos
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigtime
Am I the only one bothered by the outdated Calgary skyline picture used on that website?
/skyscraper geek
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Only one banker's hall? For shame, pic is upwards of 15 years old.
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06-22-2011, 10:58 AM
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#14
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Calgary, AB
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The Alberta Party seems to be a bit of an empty shell. It doesn't really have any sort of ideological anchor...and many AP supporters would say that was a good thing. Unfortunately, a party can't just hide behind the "I'll do whatever you tell me to do"...especially when they intend on governing. Tough decisions need to be made in government and often those tough decisions aren't going to be popular.
People, of course, want politicians to listen to them but a party also needs to offer a clear vision and definite priorities.
Nenshi actually ran a campaign that was truly a marvel when it came to amount of detail provided. The AP seems to forget this. Yes, Nenshi used social media but it was his ideas that were exciting and he used the social media to get out the ideas. The AP definitely uses social media but, without a message, media truly has no purpose.
BTW, Slava, your article almost perfectly encapsulated what I think about the party.
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06-22-2011, 11:00 AM
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#15
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigtime
Am I the only one bothered by the outdated Calgary skyline picture used on that website?
/skyscraper geek
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It's not my site and I have nothing to do with it (save for this article), but knowing the guy who put together it's likely an oversight. I will let him know and hopefully it can be swapped out!
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06-22-2011, 11:28 AM
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#16
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Franchise Player
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Great article Slava!
It encapsulates exactly why Nenshi gained traction and the Alberta Party hasn't. I'm usually a conservative voter, and voted/campaigned informally for Nenshi. Not because I thought he was the best conservative, but because I thought he had the best ideas. A key factor in that was that I was able to find out what his ideas actually were!
The biggest impediment to the Alberta Party isn't that people don't want change. The rise of the AP and the Wild Rose show that people do. The biggest impediment is that you have to show people that your ideas/governance would be better than the incumbants and the current alternatives.
If you stand by the side of the road with a big banner that just says "CHANGE" don't be surprised if people throw nickles out the car window...
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06-22-2011, 11:43 AM
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#17
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Fearmongerer
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
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Great read Slava, and well written. Kudos.
As for Taylor...ugh. Just more of the same from the same who want more.
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06-22-2011, 03:47 PM
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#18
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All I can get
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Well, to be fair, Naheed Nenshi didn't exactly descend from the mountaintop with stone tablets under each arm. The guy observed and wrote on civic issues for many years previous before issuing a mayoral platform.
It's perfectly reasonable for a party one year into its present incarnation to still be formulating policy as it gains more members.
The Alberta Party has over 200 members currently drafting and refining policy. Health and Municipalities policies have come out, Education is next, with more being rolled out over the summer.
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06-22-2011, 03:52 PM
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#19
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop
Well, to be fair, Naheed Nenshi didn't exactly descend from the mountaintop with stone tablets under each arm. The guy observed and wrote on civic issues for many years previous before issuing a mayoral platform.
It's perfectly reasonable for a party one year into its present incarnation to still be formulating policy as it gains more members.
The Alberta Party has over 200 members currently drafting and refining policy. Health and Municipalities policies have come out, Education is next, with more being rolled out over the summer.
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Sure. But to get mainstream attention/support, you have to have an actual platform. Right now it basically seems to be based on trust that the people involved are likeminded, which really only works if you know them/their ideas quite well.
They have some time before the next election, but having a platform to talk about would certainly be a positive step.
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06-22-2011, 04:03 PM
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#20
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All I can get
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bizaro86
Sure. But to get mainstream attention/support, you have to have an actual platform. Right now it basically seems to be based on trust that the people involved are likeminded, which really only works if you know them/their ideas quite well.
They have some time before the next election, but having a platform to talk about would certainly be a positive step.
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They're working on their platform. The policy proposals then go to party members for ratification. Just like any other party.
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