April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[kn]

I can't believe Alison allowed Stelmach to endorse her today.

[darklord700]

The press picked up this Sherman Liberal turn Sherman the Health Minister story.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/...284/story.html

[Slava]

I think its a good move by Sherman and honestly, most people would agree that he would be a good pick. Who would you pick from either party over him, honestly?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by darklord700

A general going to battle telling the other general that if I lost, please spare my life and let me be your servant, OK.

I'm not a Liberal so I don't know if they are panicking or not when their leader is throwing in the towel with a week left.

The Liberal party has no delusion that they could form the next government of Alberta. Everyone in the province knows this. What they can do is hold the balance of power. Holding a cabinet seat is probably part of any deal which allows that. It allows Raj to hold onto aspects of what he might think is the most important part of his campaign and gives him (and his party) some credibility during the next election.

A very possible outcome if the WRP wins a majority is the PC party dying a horrible death the next election, especially if the Liberals manage to hold the balance of power and show that they are capeable.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

If the Wildrose guy loses in my riding, I'll tell you on Tuesday.

To my limited political electoral knowledge, these kind of strategic voting has been proposed in almost every big or small election, but it has never ever worked as intended.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

To my limited political electoral knowledge, these kind of strategic voting has been proposed in almost every big or small election, but it has never ever worked as intended.

Well I'll probably be doing it. I am not entirely sure, mostly because I don't like the idea of voting against something as opposed to voting for someone, but I really don't want the Wildrose to win. I also think that things are going well for Alberta, and am quite happy with the promises made by Redford.

I think my riding comes down to a few hundred votes though, its close as far as I can see.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by darklord700

It's plausible but I'm not sure if it is probable. Why would there be an anti-WRA sentiment now in Calgary? People I talked to were all long time PC voters who will turn WRA voters this time.

I know the sample size is small and my acquintances are all full time workers with decent salary so we don't get any government handouts. But I have yet to meet one Liberal supporters

Good grief. Do you really believe that all Liberal or NDP supporters are underemployed, on social assistance, students, the elderly, or disabled? (not to suggest, as you seem to, that such people are any less entitled to a political voice than anyone else of course).

My fiancee and I are both professionals, both work 60 - 70 hour weeks, both earn substantial salaries, and, gasp, are both on the left side of the political spectrum.

[Slava]

When will the Wildrose get serious?
http://www.wildboarparty.ca/give-up-the-act-wild-rose/

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by darklord700

To my limited political electoral knowledge, these kind of strategic voting has been proposed in almost every big or small election, but it has never ever worked as intended.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactica...real_elections

[Senator Clay Davis]

-As True Libertarians, we believe in small government. So small we will not run candidates over 5 feet tall.
-Public forums are so 2008. We will robodial-in our talking points. Every 15 seconds. You’re welcome! #sohip
-The free market solves all problems! We will create a ballot exchange free market where citizens can sell their election -ballots to the highest bidders. But we will put price controls on left wing ballots – if they love regulation so much, they can have it. All.
-We shall arbitrarily create an arbitrary measures committee.
-We will streamline democracy! Trips to the polling stations are only required if you are voting against the boar. All un-cast ballots will assume consent.
-We definitely will not ask anyone for any opinion during elections. Elections are not a time to ask for public opinion.
-We are Libertarians, as long as we’re in charge.

- All animals will be given personhood, as recently advocated by PETA. If the Wild Boar Party is voted into power, no longer will animals be bound into slavery; rather, we will ensure that all animals are subject to a minimum wage*. Killer Whales and other sea life at SeaWorlds across the continent will be among the first to access the dignity all animals deserve.
-The freedom sands will rightfully be recognized as National Parks, with viewing platforms and stuff. -Tailing ponds shall be renamed ‘duck ponds’.


Just a couple of my favorites from the Wild Boar Party. Nice find Slava

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Good grief. Do you really believe that all Liberal or NDP supporters are underemployed, on social assistance, students, the elderly, or disabled?

You can't generalise to say all Lib/NDP/PC supporters are such and such but the sectors you mentioned are the primary target audience of Lib/NDP.

I salut you for your largeness but I think I know best how to spend my money and not the governement in whatever shape or form.

[kn]

Apparently Colleen Klein bought a WR membership today after Redford's and Lougheed's comments on Ralph's policies/legacy. I wonder what impact this will have?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by kn

Apparently Colleen Klein bought a WR membership today after Redford's and Lougheed's comments on Ralph's policies/legacy. I wonder what impact this will have?

I think it might give the Wildrose a slight bump, but I think many of his former supporters are on the Wildrose train already. Sad to hear Ralph himself looks like he won't be leaving assisted care ever again.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I think it might give the Wildrose a slight bump, but I think many of his former supporters are on the Wildrose train already. Sad to hear Ralph himself looks like he won't be leaving assisted care ever again.

I ran into Ralph at the airport in 2009 when he was still functioning perfectly well. So it is almost shocking to me after 4 short years to see the state he is in now. Life is whimpsical, enjoy what you have now.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by darklord700

It's plausible but I'm not sure if it is probable. Why would there be an anti-WRA sentiment now in Calgary? People I talked to were all long time PC voters who will turn WRA voters this time.

I know the sample size is small and my acquintances are all full time workers with decent salary so we don't get any government handouts. But I have yet to meet one Liberal supporters

I think most who follow polls felt there would be a bit of correction. As I've mentioned before, I think it would be hard to maintain the upward momentum throughout the four weeks.

Originally Posted by kn

Apparently Colleen Klein bought a WR membership today after Redford's and Lougheed's comments on Ralph's policies/legacy. I wonder what impact this will have?

This has been quietly brewing since March 23. Braid does a good write up on it.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by darklord700

It's plausible but I'm not sure if it is probable. Why would there be an anti-WRA sentiment now in Calgary? People I talked to were all long time PC voters who will turn WRA voters this time.

I know the sample size is small and my acquintances are all full time workers with decent salary so we don't get any government handouts. But I have yet to meet one Liberal supporters

It depends on your circle. My friends here in Calgary are all professionals, make good money and are happy to pay higher taxes to support services we (hopefully) will never need. We're all long time PC non-supporters but might actually hold our noses and vote for them strategically to keep WRA out or held to a minority.

Maybe we should meet up one day - sounds like we both need to widen our social circles

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by darklord700

I'm sure there anti WR or anti PC sentiment everywhere in AB. But please let me know in what election had this kind of strategic voting worked for the underdog parties?

The last 2 elections for premier (aka PC leadership votes). Many of my friends and I joined the PC party for a day to keep Morton away from the top job. That was strategic voting on a large scale.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Its amazing to me that there's both a strong pro-PC and pro-Wildrose faction, but also a strong anti-Wildrose and strong anti-PC faction. I do think the two strongest are the two Wildrose factions.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Also, Colleen Klein (Mrs. Ralph) apparently has purchased a Wildrose membership...So does this help, hurt, or have no effect?

I don't think this will really change people's minds that much. It's not like anyone voting Liberal or NDP are going to suddenly jump on board the WRP train. Anyone leaning to either of those parties probably jumped ship during Klein's tenure. This election has essentially split the base of the PCs into two camps - The Lougheed loyalists/Red Tories are sticking with Redford and the Klein camp/Blue Tories have already jumped to the WRP. The second Dani Bucks came out as a policy and the PCs started questioning the policy you saw the main jump.

I don't think Klein's family pledging allegiance to the WildRose is really going to sway people away from the current PCs to the WildRose, to be frank that already happened at the beginning of the election.

If anything this may help the current PCs swing some small votes from the Liberals and NDP.

[GP_Matt]

I have had a slight distrust of Raj ever since he made all the pretty serious health care allegations and then didn't back any of them up. He claimed that none of the doctors would be willing to come forward to acknowledge that they accepted bribes or were coerced into anything so he couldn't prove anything. He may well have been telling the truth, but the whole thing didn't sit very well.
Then after sitting as an independent for three months he announced that he had decided to become premier but had yet to decide which party he wanted to be the leader of http://www.albertadiary.ca/2011/02/s...have-what.html
Now he seems to be of the conclusion that he won't become leader so he wants a cabinet seat.