Merging parties court Manning - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

First Lady · 01-13-2008, 01:56 PM

Merging parties court Manning

Former Reform leader cool to political return

Jason Fekete and Don Braid
Calgary Herald
Sunday, January 13, 2008

The man set to lead the merged Wildrose Alliance party says there's a better person to unite the right and champion the fight -- Preston Manning.

Alberta Alliance Leader Paul Hinman, who's slated to head the new right-wing option if his members accept the merger with the fledgling Wildrose Party, told the Herald he would happily step aside if Manning wanted the crown.

While Manning said Saturday he's not currently interested in leading the Wildrose Alliance, Hinman is scheduled to meet the Reform party founder in Calgary later this week -- prior to the unification vote -- and will try to convince him to lead the party into an expected March election.

"It would be fantastic if Preston Manning were the leader," Hinman said. "He would light a fire under this province. I think the Wildrose Alliance would win the election." Hinman, his party's lone MLA, said he discussed with Manning a year ago the prospect of bringing the political icon into the Alliance fold in some degree. Manning's response, however, was there needed to be more members and more money in the party.

The Alliance leader suggested there's still not enough cash or grassroots support to generate the "critical mass" needed, but he expects the former Reform party leader's involvement would change that.

http://www.canada.com:80/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=ebc98006-7493-4ff0-af00-1d216fc11315

peter12 · 01-13-2008, 02:06 PM

100% guaranteed nothing will come of this.

peter12 · 01-13-2008, 02:09 PM

No, I just remember the kerfuffle a couple years ago with the whole PC leadership up to grabs. I don't think he'll be getting involved in politics again.

4X4 · 01-13-2008, 02:11 PM

P. Manning is sooo last week. If wildrose expects to get any votes from the next generation of voters they'd better find someone a little less recycled.

First Lady · 01-13-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

P. Manning is sooo last week. If wildrose expects to get any votes from the next generation of voters they'd better find someone a little less recycled.

Suggestions?

Table 5 · 01-13-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

P. Manning is sooo last week. If wildrose expects to get any votes from the next generation of voters they'd better find someone a little less recycled.

Last week? He'd be lucky to be last decade.

Talk about a group of people with no original thoughts.

Slava · 01-13-2008, 02:28 PM

Manning says popint blank that he will not run the next election in the Herald article. Maybe the Wildrose Alliance should get someone who really fits with their values...Mitt Romney could be available?!

FireFly · 01-13-2008, 02:34 PM

Manning is an idea man and he'd make a great advisor for this party, however he is too... last century to win an election. I can't remember when it was printed but I read an article in which he says that a green conservative party would kick ass. I think he's right. Take that suggestion and run with it. Have him advise. Get someone else to lead though.

peter12 · 01-13-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFly

Manning is an idea man and he'd make a great advisor for this party, however he is too... last century to win an election. I can't remember when it was printed but I read an article in which he says that a green conservative party would kick ass. I think he's right. Take that suggestion and run with it. Have him advise. Get someone else to lead though.

Yeah, I totally agree. If you wanted someone with the ideas to run a good party, he's perfect. I don't think he has any desire to lead the party and be premier.

Cheese · 01-13-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

Manning says popint blank that he will not run the next election in the Herald article. Maybe the Wildrose Alliance should get someone who really fits with their values...Mitt Romney could be available?!

Har! Heck Mitt could buy the party...a Mittful of Wild Roses!!

4X4 · 01-13-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

Suggestions?

Well... I know I'd vote for Jarome Iginla no matter what party he represented.

The Goon · 01-13-2008, 03:15 PM

Look, if Peyton can't even get past the Chargers I don't know why anyone would want him.

4X4 · 01-13-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Goon

Look, if Peyton can't even get past the Chargers I don't know why anyone would want him.

+1

browna · 01-13-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Goon

Look, if Peyton can't even get past the Chargers I don't know why anyone would want him.

No matter...the Wild Rose party needs youth. Eli's the answer, and so far so good against the Cowboys.

Thunderball · 01-13-2008, 04:48 PM

I don't think Preston has that "fire in the belly" as Klein would say. If he wanted to be Premier, he would have ran in the PC leadership and probably trounced the competition.

The Wildrose Alliance needs a well-known, mainstream leader. I have no idea where they can find one. Until they find someone who can obliterate the image of evangelical christian right and an arm of the LDS community, they will not do better than a seat or two.

Slava · 01-13-2008, 07:29 PM

^^And once the party loses the christian right element and such then they will be called what everyone else calls them...the PC's. Maybe more right wing PC's, but PC's nonetheless.