Was Paul Hinman campaigning outside a polling station today?

[Gozer]

Congrats to FireFly and FirstLady!

Any chance we could update the thread title to something a little more respectful to the WRA and their supporters?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Azure

Well, except for the part where you want to vote for a WRA leader that you think will marginalize the party from most Albertans.

Sure, you're not taking anything away from them at ALL.

I mean, if you want to talk about distasteful politics and all....

Don't worry. I won't be standing outside the polling station campaigning though!

That is part of the democratic process. Firefly mentioned that we should get involved and help them move the party in the direction that I would want to see them go. Consider my vote as well as the others that I can find a helpful push in that direction.

[peter12]

I don't see what the problem is, he was just introducing himself and thanking people for coming out and doing their duty. Not so much as a partisan jab or hint whatsoever.

Hehr should be ashamed of himself, he was just out to counter what he saw as a threat by Hinman. As one of the Liberal's most well-known MLAs there is no doubt his presence outside of the polling station was absolutely intentional.

[REDVAN]

I don't understand why there's an argument here... sure the guy MIGHT have broken a rule by about 10 ft or so, who really cares? I'm more annoyed that the Liberals are trying to smear it all over the place for no reason. Plus, yeah what about the whole office located next to the polling station thing?

Congrats to Paul Hinman. Although I didn't like the "Send Ed a message" slogan, it looks like it worked, and I hope it actually happens. Although I don't fully agree with everything WRA stands for, I think this party is moving on to bigger and better things here in AB. Isn't it time for our monumental, once-every-30-years huge political shift? Either that or bring back Ralph (his dad counts, since you've already got him).

Avalon Roberts, can you please stop trying? As I said in the other thread (pre-election), I hate being reminded you are a Dr. every time I see one of your signs. Get off your high horse. Alberta Liberals won't be elected, and need a new brand. Change the name and the colour scheme, keep the policies, and in 20 years you might have a chance.

Dianne... I thought you'd win easily. But a non-existent campaign means that you'll continue to toil away, mis-representing the ward I grew up in until Dave Bronconier moves on... better luck next time to the PCs in this riding, you're going to need it now.

And to the other guys: NDP, why do you even bother in Alberta? Rebrand, retool, and think hard or you'll never get elected. SC: barf. Independent: Good try, independents generally always end up at the bottom.

[peter12]

Maybe a quick note to First Lady and Firefly, the more Craig Chandler becomes associated with your party, the less chance it has of forming government in this province. I'm buying a membership to make sure it's Smith and not Dyrholm is the new leader of Alberta's new conservative party.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by peter12

Maybe a quick note to First Lady and Firefly, the more Craig Chandler becomes associated with your party, the less chance it has of forming government in this province. I'm buying a membership to make sure it's Smith and not Dyrholm is the new leader of Alberta's new conservative party.

Macleans magazine recently described Smith as "not unattractive". That is hard-hitting journalism.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Slava

Don't worry. I won't be standing outside the polling station campaigning though!

That is part of the democratic process. Firefly mentioned that we should get involved and help them move the party in the direction that I would want to see them go. Consider my vote as well as the others that I can find a helpful push in that direction.

I'm sure most of us who will be voting for a leader will vote for one that we WANT to BE the leader.

Not the one we don't want, but we'll vote for him anyways because we hate the party and want them to fail and fall apart.

Are you bitter or something? Cause you sure sound like it.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by peter12

Maybe a quick note to First Lady and Firefly, the more Craig Chandler becomes associated with your party, the less chance it has of forming government in this province. I'm buying a membership to make sure it's Smith and not Dyrholm is the new leader of Alberta's new conservative party.

I encourage everyone to buy a membership and vote for Smith.

[Ozy_Flame]

Gotta love an election where your choices were basically right-wing or more right-wing.

I am impressed though, that the reds were able to sneak into second. Makes for a nice purple sandwich of Calgary politics.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Gotta love an election where your choices were basically right-wing or more right-wing.

I am impressed though, that the reds were able to sneak into second. Makes for a nice purple sandwich of Calgary politics.

It means that it's sort of unlikely that any of the incumbent Liberal MLAs are in much danger in Calgary--and it may well make for a very interesting dynamic in a few areas where the Liberals have been close in the past.

It's pretty clear that Liberal support was flat while the Tories lost votes to the WRA--and that should both worry Liberals (where was your message? why should people vote for you?) and also make them realize the magnitude of their opportunity here. If the WRA stays strong, Calgary may wind up having a whole host of three-way races. Roberts came within a few hundred votes of winning this time--the next riding over may well end up looking a little different.

Think a riding like Calgary North Hill or Calgary Elbow, where if the WRA shaves 1000 or so votes away from the Tories, the Liberals could easily come up the middle.

And then add a city like Edmonton, with more traditional Liberal strength, and you might be looking at a gain of a dozen seats under the best case scenario. Hardly "poised to take the reins of government" but certainly could make for an interesting dynamic if the WRA also wins a few races in rural ridings and maybe one or two more in Calgary.

[4X4]

Kent Hehr has got to be the funniest politician name I've ever heard.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

See...im not sure i understand why though. I agree that I wouldnt want someone coming up to me while in line to vote...but if someone is outside trying to get their message across to me in person before i enter/get inline, I wouldnt have a single problem with it.

If this is just some longtime honored tradition he broke, then yeah i get why some are upset. But to call it undemocratic and to lodge a complaint about it? reeks of pure bitterness to me.

I agree--it's not undemocratic. In fact, no more undemocratic than forming a coalition to assume control of parliament.

But.... it is a violation of tradition, and based on the video, probably a violation of the law. So Hinman will pay a 500 dollar fine, and nothing will come of it otherwise. In the end--bending the rules to win an election is tacky. I don't really get how you can see it any other way.

It speaks to a certain smallness of character and a bit of a poor sense of optics--neither of which is a good trait in a politician, though lord knows both are in ample supply in the Alberta Legislature (in every caucus), so Hinman should fit right in.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Azure

I encourage everyone to buy a membership and vote for Smith.

I'm voting for Kodos.

[CaptainCrunch]

Screw that . . . Kang is the one who should lead our people

[LChoy]

Quick question, why was there a by-election in the first place? Did somebody leave?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

Quick question, why was there a by-election in the first place? Did somebody leave?

yes.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

It's pretty clear that Liberal support was flat while the Tories lost votes to the WRA--and that should both worry Liberals (where was your message? why should people vote for you?) and also make them realize the magnitude of their opportunity here.

I don't see the Alberta Liberals having much of a chance. Instead of seizing the opportunity and moving closer to the majority of voters in the province (ie: more right wing), they choose to move themselves closer to the NDP (ie: 2 seat) part of the province by electing Swann. How smart is that???

Farmer Ed isn't anywhere close to competent, and deserves to be slammed for his Royalty Rate, spending, and a whole host of other things... but the Liberals comments and platform have shown to be worse on each of these specific things. Larger Royalty increase! More spending! Let's do what Ed has done but more! Uggh.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm sure most of us who will be voting for a leader will vote for one that we WANT to BE the leader.

Not the one we don't want, but we'll vote for him anyways because we hate the party and want them to fail and fall apart.

Are you bitter or something? Cause you sure sound like it.

I'm not bitter at all actually and just find it incredibly entertaining to argue about politics!

As far as strategic voting and leadership races I haven't come up with an original idea here. Lots of people took out memberships for the PC's to vote for the candidate they thought was the weakest of three and it happens a lot.

I should also point out something that might be lost in translation here. I don't HATE the WRA or anyone really for that matter. Its just politics. Some of my best friends in the world are far right enough that they would love the WRA and what they stand for...but again its just politics. It doesn't mean that we hate each other or can't hang out. Sometimes different people have differing views on how the world should be run, thats all.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by calculoso

I don't see the Alberta Liberals having much of a chance. Instead of seizing the opportunity and moving closer to the majority of voters in the province (ie: more right wing), they choose to move themselves closer to the NDP (ie: 2 seat) part of the province by electing Swann. How smart is that???

Farmer Ed isn't anywhere close to competent, and deserves to be slammed for his Royalty Rate, spending, and a whole host of other things... but the Liberals comments and platform have shown to be worse on each of these specific things. Larger Royalty increase! More spending! Let's do what Ed has done but more! Uggh.

Swann was not my choice, personally--but I actually think the problem they have is that no-one knows what they stand for, which is their own fault. People are receptive to visions for change, provided they make sense and are properly communicated. Right now, the Liberals are a brand without a product--and no-body wants to buy the brand.

[transplant99]

I agree--it's not undemocratic. In fact, no more undemocratic than forming a coalition to assume control of parliament.

If you believe shaking hands outside a polling station, and forming a coalition in a power grab with a party you specifically said you wouldn't just weeks earlier, are comparable... then i guess you could use such an analogy.

In the end--bending the rules to win an election is tacky. I don't really get how you can see it any other way.

Do you honestly think this is what won the election though?? Really? If so i would agree, but i see it as a politician campaigning to the very end...and possibly well within the rules of doing so. Really the antithesis of "not democratic" from where i sit.

Again i guess if it its some long standing tradition to not do so, i can see where some may be upset....but to launch a complaint is just plain spiteful IMO. (Unless he was truly breaking a law of course).