Dave Taylor quits the Alberta Liberals

[SebC]

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/colum.../13549731.html

Dave Taylor, the party’s former deputy leader, the Calgary MLA many Liberals wanted as their top gun 16 months ago, will sit as an independent beginning Monday.

He is fed up with the Liberals as the main opposition on paper but nowhere near that in performance.

“We just don’t have a position that’s obvious to anybody on most things. I’m sorry, but we don’t. For two years now, we haven’t really stood for anything, with a few notable exceptions,” says Taylor, who spearheaded the party’s oilpatch-friendly policy on royalties.

“The Liberals are pretty much off the radar. We’re not talking about or standing for things in a way that translates to Albertans. Most Albertans have passed the Liberals by. People aren’t even politely curious.”

“I don’t think I can serve my constituents or other Albertans in the way they deserved to be served within the Liberals. They’re just too unfocused, too lacking in the ability to connect with the people of Alberta.”

“I just don’t see things happening. I feel I’ve tried.”

Maybe this will push the Alberta Liberals towards getting their act together and come up with a platform that provides an attractive alternative to the PCs, without the baggage of the ultra-right factions of the WRA.

[Slava]

I wonder if this opens the door further for the Alberta party actually. Definitely a bad day for the Liberals whether you like Taylor or not.

[Resolute 14]

He was just about the only guy in their caucus with any sort of personality.

And SebC, the Alberta Liberals will always carry the baggage of the Federal Liberals in this province. That, frankly, is far, far worse than the "far-right factions" of the WRA.

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't know if we can just blame it on flash back from the Federal Liberals. The provinical liberals have been badly organized and badly lead for a long period of time. They offer no alternative. Their new leader is a terrible joke with no strategy for the party.

Why would anyone vote for them? They're as fringe as the communist party here.

Its time for the Liberal's to die here and maybe reinvent themselves.

[mykalberta]

I have said it before, I will say it again.

The Liberals need to disband and form a new party. The Fed Lib magic that works in Toronto, doesnt work in Alberta and it never will. Right now their best hope isnt to form a majority, but to somehow force the PC into a minority goverment role.

When your best doesnt give you a chance to win, then its time to re-think things - much like the current Calgary Flames.

There is an opportunity for a party to capture the urban seats by stating the facts, that the cities under this current/past/and future PC party are wholly under represented in the province and always will be because its to their benefit.

A reformed liberals will never have a chance at getting the farm-rural areas. But areas like Ft Mac, GP, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Med Hat etc etc are all ripe for the picking along with the urban Edmonton/Calgary areas.

Its only foolish pride that the Liberals still fly under the Big Red banner in this province.

[peter12]

This is what happens when David Swann is the leader of your party. The guy is a moron.

[Ashartus]

I have to agree. The Conservatives had a pretty disastrous year, leaving the door wide open, and the Liberals did nothing to capitalize. If they weren't able to even be visible last year, let alone gain support, they're pretty much a lost cause. We desperately need a credible centrist alternative to vote for here.

[DionPlett]

But is Dave Taylor really a Liberal? Same with their leader, I think he used to be an NDPer which is what Taylor seems like to me.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't know if we can just blame it on flash back from the Federal Liberals. The provinical liberals have been badly organized and badly lead for a long period of time. They offer no alternative. Their new leader is a terrible joke with no strategy for the party.

Why would anyone vote for them? They're as fringe as the communist party here.

Its time for the Liberal's to die here and maybe reinvent themselves.

Oh, no doubt. The provincial Liberals have been a joke for a couple decades now without the federal party's help, but that name alone is a stain that would keep some people away regardless.

As you say, that party needs a reinvention and a charismatic leader.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by DionPlett

But is Dave Taylor really a Liberal? Same with their leader, I think he used to be an NDPer which is what Taylor seems like to me.

I can see where you might think that about Swann, but I must be missing something on Taylor? His latest oil and gas policy was considered one that drags the party at least to the center if not a little bit to the right (one of major problems that the party will now face with his leaving).

I've sat down and talked to Taylor (and Swann for that matter) and wouldn't characterize him as NDP by any stretch of the imagination, but like I say maybe I'm missing something?

[Resolute 14]

So what does Taylor do in the next election then? There doesn't seem to be another party for him to move to. Does he run as an independent, or does he go back to QR77?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't know if we can just blame it on flash back from the Federal Liberals. The provinical liberals have been badly organized and badly lead for a long period of time. They offer no alternative. Their new leader is a terrible joke with no strategy for the party.

Why would anyone vote for them? They're as fringe as the communist party here.

Its time for the Liberal's to die here and maybe reinvent themselves.

I wouldn't consider a party with about 20-25% support as a fringe party?

The drawback from the Federal party is legitimate though. Anyone who has ever campaigned for this party and stood on a doorstep knows that the federal issues are never far from the voters mind when assesing the provincial Liberals.

[VladtheImpaler]

They did win 32 seats 15(?) years ago, but I have never had any clue what it is they stand for or want to do. Neither does the federal version, but they run on the sense of entitlement and traditional power. That doesn't work as well here, since they've never actually won anything.

[Azure]

Change the party, change the name.....come up with an official center-left alternative.

Alberta needs something like that right now.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Slava

I wouldn't consider a party with about 20-25% support as a fringe party?

The drawback from the Federal party is legitimate though. Anyone who has ever campaigned for this party and stood on a doorstep knows that the federal issues are never far from the voters mind when assesing the provincial Liberals.

I'd consider a good chunk of that 20% to be an "Anyone but the Tories" vote in urban ridings.

[Slava]

^Even so, how can 1/5 be considered a fringe party?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

And SebC, the Alberta Liberals will always carry the baggage of the Federal Liberals in this province. That, frankly, is far, far worse than the "far-right factions" of the WRA.

Unless they reverse their decision to keep the "Liberal" name.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Libertarians 4 life.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

So what does Taylor do in the next election then? There doesn't seem to be another party for him to move to. Does he run as an independent, or does he go back to QR77?

My guess: Alberta Party.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm going to say that he runs as an independant.