Dr. David Swann

[Slava]

In what has to be a considered a surprise Dr. David Swann is the new leader of the Alberta Liberals. I would've figured that the front-runner was Dave Taylor, but instead Swann won on the first ballot (another surprise in my opinion).

I don't know if anyone else here cares, but thought that I would post something nonetheless.

http://www.albertaliberal.com/

[Madman]

I could care less about the Alberta Liberals, but the fact that Dave Taylor didn't win is good to hear. I have never liked Taylor, and when he switched from radio to politics his ego only got bigger.

[Robbob]

they need to change the name of the party if they want to stand a chance.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Robbob

they need to change the name of the party if they want to stand a chance.

Swann is examining that very thing.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

definitely a surprise.

The libs had a chance to take a run at being a real opposition and they chose a guy who'll only marginalize them further.

does anyone think another party might start up? I'm guessing no but the time sure seems right.

[Slava]

I think that there will be another party for sure. With Swann being as far left as he is its an inevitability in my eyes. He will never win the pro-business vote and that is absolutely critical for a centrist.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think that there will be another party for sure. With Swann being as far left as he is its an inevitability in my eyes. He will never win the pro-business vote and that is absolutely critical for a centrist.

Thats especially interesting since you're a plugged in guy for the liberals.

I think one of the liberals challenges is they have very little organization, but what of it there is - will it follow Swann?

Somebody's going to end up with 4 volunteers, some debt and a phone line in the leg.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Thats especially interesting since you're a plugged in guy for the liberals.

I think one of the liberals challenges is they have very little organization, but what of it there is - will it follow Swann?

Somebody's going to end up with 4 volunteers, some debt and a phone line in the leg.

Well I don't know how plugged in I really am! I figured that this was a coronation for Dave Taylor (whether this was the best route for the party or not!).

I think that Swann is going to do well enough; but as soon as there is a "real campaign" all of his talk about the tar sands (note: tar sands as opposed to oil sands) and things like that will come out of the woodwork. Basically all of the statements he's made over the past few years will come back to haunt him and the Alberta Liberals.

I'm not saying that there aren't parts of the party who are spoiling for a fight here (clearly a majority voted for him on the first ballot!). I figure that with a Swann win though the momentum for a new party gains a lot of ground. It will be a matter of time until the new party simply divides what remains of the "current" Alberta Liberals with the NDP.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

In what has to be a considered a surprise Dr. David Swann is the new leader of the Alberta Liberals. I would've figured that the front-runner was Dave Taylor, but instead Swann won on the first ballot (another surprise in my opinion).

I don't know if anyone else here cares, but thought that I would post something nonetheless.

http://www.albertaliberal.com/

I thought it was a given Swann would take it. Taylor has very few "friends" within that party.

I think Swann will take the Liberals further left; who knows the PC's might start to look right-wing again.....

[Thunderball]

and here I thought the Liberals wanted to actually govern...

wow... there goes everyone's hope for the Liberals to turn into a decent centre to centre-right urban party.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by First Lady

I thought it was a given Swann would take it. Taylor has very few "friends" within that party.

I think Swann will take the Liberals further left; who knows the PC's might start to look right-wing again.....

Taylor had a strong organization though and polling that I was privy to had him way out in front...but like I said, maybe I'm not all that plugged in.

Can the PC's go further to the right and not have their own beer-hall putsch? If they do go further to the right than what happens to the WRA?

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

Taylor had a strong organization though and polling that I was privy to had him way out in front...but like I said, maybe I'm not all that plugged in.

Nor am I. But there are plenty of rumblings that he has a bit of an attitude problem (sometimes evidence watching the Leg proceedings). I think he would have been more divisive than Swann.

Can the PC's go further to the right and not have their own beer-hall putsch? If they do go further to the right than what happens to the WRA?

There is plenty of room for them to swing right. If they do, then perhaps there is no need for the WAP; which doesn't bother me, so long as Alberta and Albertans are taken care of.

[CaptainCrunch]

Talking to a couple of friends of mine who were involved in this process, there are a lot of people that are extremely unhappy with this selection as their new Liberals. As impossible as it sounds they figure that his stance and message will result in even more seats being lost in the next election.

Not sure if Swann was a good choice for the Liberal Party in Alberta.

[Nehkara]

Well, I would be surprised if he did any worse than Kevin Taft. I will keep an eye on the situation over the next few years, see if Dr. Swann can live up to the goals he stated today. It would be nice to see some sort of reasonable opposition party in this province.

I am wholly unsatisfied with my options in this province. Hopefully Dr. Swann can do something to improve the situation but I will take a wait and see approach.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Well, I would be surprised if he did any worse than Kevin Taft. I will keep an eye on the situation over the next few years, see if Dr. Swann can live up to the goals he stated today. It would be nice to see some sort of reasonable opposition party in this province.

I am wholly unsatisfied with my options in this province. Hopefully Dr. Swann can do something to improve the situation but I will take a wait and see approach.

Curious what you mean by unsatisfied?

If you hope takes the party further left thats possible...though others (parties) are already there so maybe thats not it.

Do you mean unsatisfied because there's no one close to a likely alternative to the tories that a) could win more than a couple seats and b) you feel comfortable voting for?

Honestly I think you're pooched on the latter.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Curious what you mean by unsatisfied?

If you hope takes the party further left thats possible...though others (parties) are already there so maybe thats not it.

Do you mean unsatisfied because there's no one close to a likely alternative to the tories that a) could win more than a couple seats and b) you feel comfortable voting for?

Honestly I think you're pooched on the latter.

I am unsatisfied because, for my own personal reasons, I am not a fan of the Tories. I am also unsatisfied because in the entire time I have been able to vote I have not had the opportunity to vote for a party that stood a chance of governing or even forming a strong opposition in this province. The opposition parties are disorganized, poorly led (at least up until now), and shamefully unable to project their message effectively to the people.

I just wish there was someone to vote for in Alberta that I could feel proud of. (If I voted for the Tories I would be selling myself out.)

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Slava

In what has to be a considered a surprise Dr. David Swann is the new leader of the Alberta Liberals. I would've figured that the front-runner was Dave Taylor, but instead Swann won on the first ballot (another surprise in my opinion).

I don't know if anyone else here cares, but thought that I would post something nonetheless.

http://www.albertaliberal.com/

Thank you for posting this.

Its important to have a strong opposition. This BS of unsteady Eddy getting the leadership by default is a joke. We dont need a green peace oil sands are evil party. What we need is common sense, and no party in Alberta shows that at this time. Hopefully Swann swings the Liberals to more a common sense approach and less "upper canada we are better than everyone else" approach.

It shouldnt be difficult to run this province. we have enough money to do whatever someone would want. Klein wasnt perfect, but he was Winston Churchill compared to what we have now.

[moon]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Its important to have a strong opposition. This BS of unsteady Eddy getting the leadership by default is a joke. We dont need a green peace oil sands are evil party. What we need is common sense, and no party in Alberta shows that at this time. Hopefully Swann swings the Liberals to more a common sense approach and less "upper canada we are better than everyone else" approach.

It shouldnt be difficult to run this province. we have enough money to do whatever someone would want. Klein wasnt perfect, but he was Winston Churchill compared to what we have now.

This is pretty much the opposite approach that Swann is going to take. If that is what you are looking for then Swann is the wrong guy for the job.

Nehkara- I am not sure you are ever going to find that alternative in Alberta because, as much as Slava will try to have us believe, there just is not the support for the type of party that you want in Alberta.

We constantly see it in provincial and federal elections that Albertans do not support left leaning parties.

Even with the terrible job that Stelmach did during his leadership campaign, the election campaign and since he has been in office the fact that he has the Conservative name is enough that he will enjoy big majorities.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by moon

This is pretty much the opposite approach that Swann is going to take. If that is what you are looking for then Swann is the wrong guy for the job.

Nehkara- I am not sure you are ever going to find that alternative in Alberta because, as much as Slava will try to have us believe, there just is not the support for the type of party that you want in Alberta.

We constantly see it in provincial and federal elections that Albertans do not support left leaning parties.

Even with the terrible job that Stelmach did during his leadership campaign, the election campaign and since he has been in office the fact that he has the Conservative name is enough that he will enjoy big majorities.

OK I re-read this and Nehkara's post. What is it that I would try to have you believe? (I'm missed your point here).

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Slava

OK I re-read this and Nehkara's post. What is it that I would try to have you believe? (I'm missed your point here).

I'm not sure either... you seem to be just as opposed to Swann as the right-leaners around here.

I really wanted to see a Liberal leader who was really just a Conservative wolf in the fold... and convert them into what the PCs should be. A pragmatic, socially neutral, urban focused, fiscal conservative party... not an ideological, socially conservative, rural focused, fiscally confused party like what the PCs have become.