Ralph Klein suffering from Dementia.

[MelBridgeman]

Crap, saw him at a pub a few months ago...

[MissTeeks]

A good article on Ralph by Don Martin:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/2...-klein-110408/

This much I know for sure.

Ralph didn't succeed because of party policies or platforms. He never consulted focus groups or polls for political direction. He rarely read tedious policy reports beyond the executive summary.

But he had an uncanny ability to -- how'd he put it? -- figure out which way the parade was going and jump in front of it.

Ralph Klein understood people. He was once bounced out of an overbooked business class and assigned a middle seat at the back of the plane.

Walking to the rear of the cabin, he beamed at his aide. "Can you believe how lucky I am?'

He knew instinctively that the secret to winning over people was to be one of them. And that meant sitting in the lousiest seat on the plane without complaint.

[metallicat]

It has got to be hard on anyones family if someone is dealing with this. I can't even begin to imagine, and I can only hope that it doesn't happen to any of my loved ones. Very sad.

[pylon]

Love him or hate him (put me in the love camp) Klein was one of the most honest, true to his convictions politicians Canada has ever seen. I didn't agree with a ton of stuff he did, but at the end of the day, he did what he thought was right, not what was popular.

[Ducay]

Sad to hear no matter your political thoughts.

No trying to spur an age old debate, but I can't honestly help but wonder if any part of him is regretting decimating healthcare and long-term care in Alberta?

[Mad Mel]

I've always admired the man. A politician with balls; real balls, not virtual balls inflated by some troupe of PR monkeys and public opinion finger-in-the-winders.

I can't imagine what it must be like for a brilliant man like him to endure this. I've had my own comparatively very minor bout of reduced capacity, and it's frustrating as hell to not be able to do something as well as you used to. His case is much worse, and must be proportionally more frustrating.

[The Yen Man]

I've always been a huge Ralph Klein fan. The guy was sincere, which is truly a rare thing when it comes to politicians. If he said he was going to do something, he did it. He was like the everyday man in politics.

It's sad to hear of his disease. I wish him all the best.

[flames_1987]

I had no respect for the man as a politician nor do I believe he deserves half the praise he got and gets, especially for his so called "maverick" ways, but going through this type of struggle can't be easy and hopefully it can take a turn for the better for him.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

I had no respect for the man as a politician nor do I believe he deserves half the praise he got and gets, especially for his so called "maverick" ways, but going through this type of struggle can't be easy and hopefully it can take a turn for the better for him.

Why do you feel the need to run Ralph down ?

Ralph was a breath of fresh air for Calgary, he was a blue collar guy with "horse sense" in a time when Calgary was BOOMING from hick town to a player in the Canadian economy. He drank beer in the Eddy with the cities senior staff (Rod) and the city labourers that had been around "for ever" ...Ralph was available, he would listen and understand everyone's views.

[LGA]

I worked with the Alzheimer's Society the last two years and found it pretty depressing to see how people changed as their dementia progressively got worse. Hopefully the progression of his dementia is very slow so that he can still somewhat enjoy time with his family, that or very quick so that he won't have to go through the depression of knowing his own loss.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I hope we're all ready for the day the inevitable Ralph Klein International Airport renaming ceremony happens.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

I had no respect for the man as a politician nor do I believe he deserves half the praise he got and gets, especially for his so called "maverick" ways, but going through this type of struggle can't be easy and hopefully it can take a turn for the better for him.

What #### do you know ?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

I hope we're all ready for the day the inevitable Ralph Klein International Airport renaming ceremony happens.

Ralph Klein Centre for the Medically Displaced and Homeless. A far better edifice to Klein's legacy.

[MaDMaN_26]

some new research about the disease... http://www.drozfans.com/dr-ozs-advic...se-alzheimers/ I watched the episode but didn't read this article fully... but it seemed to be summing it up nicely. only it was not Dr. Oz but a guest Dr. (Dr. Suzanne de la Monte) He just showcased the findings.

[NBC]

This, uh, is, uh, sad, uh, news. Poor Ralph.

Oh, and just in case anyone thought I was mocking King Ralph's current state I was not. I am merely mocking his lack of eloquence when he was Premier. That is all.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Ralph Klein Centre for the Medically Displaced and Homeless. A far better edifice to Klein's legacy.

Sadly, they're tearing the Cecil down soon

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

I hope we're all ready for the day the inevitable Ralph Klein International Airport renaming ceremony happens.

Nope, I respect Klein and his legacy but YYC should be officially named after Fred McCall, an Canadian pilot from WWI. The airport has always unofficially carried the McCall field name over the years (the field was actually named McCall field from 1939-1966).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_McCall

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by Pinner

Why do you feel the need to run Ralph down ?

Ralph was a breath of fresh air for Calgary, he was a blue collar guy with "horse sense" in a time when Calgary was BOOMING from hick town to a player in the Canadian economy. He drank beer in the Eddy with the cities senior staff (Rod) and the city labourers that had been around "for ever" ...Ralph was available, he would listen and understand everyone's views.

I hope he gets better as I stated, and everyday just waking up must be tough, but just like everyone else in this thread, I simply shared my opinion about him as a Preimer and Mayor of Calgary and it just seems to be an unpopular one. Drinking beer with city workers, and you telling me he was the type of guy that would listen and understand everyone's views, is certainly not going to change that.

[transplant99]

Ralph is now entering his final days apparently...hope its swift and not overly painful for a long time family friend. Has to be hard on Colleen and family watching this stuff happen.

Picks is one nasty disease.

[Sample00]

its going to be a sad day when he passes.
I lived in Calgary when this newscaster came out of nowhere to become Mayor.
He will be missed.