PC Leadership Race- Redford wins.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

I think she will find out pretty quickly that making the decisions is a tad more difficult than bitching about them.

She's been a cabinet minister, so she has "made decisions" before. Just the same as Mar.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

The demographic in the room was much different than when Stelmach won. What was old and white, was now young and ethnically much more diverse. I wonder if those who now have a taste of politics will stick around, or if this was a one time thing.

If you ask me this result is pretty indicative of a couple things.

1) I think with this result, Nenshi's win last year and the changes to the Alberta Liberals and the formation of the Alberta Party, it's starting to become pretty clear that there is a big shift in the politically engage demographics in Alberta.

I don't think it's at all safe to say that the 25-35 generation of Alberta is at all politically apathetic. I'd love to see the final demographic numbers, but I have a feeling that overall there was a stronger movement in this age range during the election.

To answer your question Killer_carlson. I think whenever there is an influx of new voters in any election, if their chosen candidate wins, they typically not only stick around but become active participants. So as long as they were mostly behind Redford (and Horner) I think you'll see a new level of passion towards the party.

2) I think this result will eventually be a big boon for both the PCs and the Wildrose, while taking away some of the steam from the Liberals, NDP and Alberta Party. As a couple people have already mentioned, I think the harder right leaning PC voters are going to be a bit disenfranchised with Redford, the so called "TemporaryTories" and swing towards the Wildrose.

But I think having Redford, which and I don't want to make this about her solely on her sex, will bring a certain level of buzz and attention to the causal political observer in Alberta. On the surface just the switch to a female leader is dramatic change to the optics of the party. If a year ago you mentioned that the Alberta PCs would elect a women as the leader of the party, I would have laughed you right out of the building.

Speaking as someone who has lived under PC rule for the past 31 years, after Stelmach's win last time it was hard not to see the PCs as the old guard and to feel apathetic that any sort of new ideas would appear in the party. But now the PCs have a younger more dynamic leader at the helm and it's hard not to give them a second look. Which in turn breathes new life into the PCs base, while taking away the Alberta Party and Liberals main criticism that Alberta needs to move away from the "old boys club".

[WilsonFourTwo]

Congrats to the Redford team and welcome to your new office, Ms. Premier.

Like it or not, there's really nothing else that needs to be said.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

But I think having Redford, which and I don't want to make this about her solely on her sex, will bring a certain level of buzz and attention to the causal political observer in Alberta.

There's definitely nothing wrong with pointing that out - it's a very valid comment, in my opinion.

Wildrose Alliance got a huge shot in the arm with Danielle Smith's win that they wouldn't have gotten with Dyrholm. Electing a female made it a 'more interesting' news story.

For the record, I think that the Tories would also have gotten extra attention for electing a Chinese-Canadian.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

For the record, I think that the Tories would also have gotten extra attention for electing a Chinese-Canadian.

I totally agree, the PCs would have gotten a very similar storyline from electing Mar.

As someone who is destined to be an old white guy - old white guys in politics are hardly a symbol of change nowadays. It takes a tonne of energy to make any old white guy seam like a champion of change in modern politics. (Of course the obvious exception being the late Jack Layton)

[OldDutch]

I admit I don't know a lot about Redford, but I am very encouraged about what I have heard her say. She does seem like she at least borrows influence from Social Liberalism, with her comments on healthcare and education.

I know people in this province get scared at the very mention of the L word, because of the NEP, but they need to get over it. Liberalism in Alberta has too long been defined as tax and spend, corporate killing, oil stealing bogeymen.

The fact is that Social Liberals (not NDP) have stood for helping those who are disadvantaged, while maintaining Centrist economic policy. It does work extremely well for everyone, as was shown with the 1990's Liberals and US Democrats.

I was really glad to hear her support of Healthcare, due to her sick mother. It was really surprising for me to hear a Tory speak of the need to improve, rather than privatize healthcare. Something Klein and Mar have tried to do by starving and sabotaging the system, then saying the only fix is private care. The irony Klein now faces is not lost on me either. However, that is what happens with most conservative's anyway. They want to cut every expenditure in the books, until they really need it, then realize that the medical bill they now face will bankrupt them, or the service has massive wait lines.

I have a sick brother who's medication is about 4K/month. My parents would have been bankrupt long ago. However, due to Alberta Healthcare it is covered, and rightfully so. My family should not be forced to live in poverty because of sickness, and that is the slippery slope we are headed on when Mar talks about starting to privatize healthcare.

Yes, I believe today is a good day for me too, and every other average Albertan.

[moon]

Well with a weak leader who isn't a real conservative now is the time that the Wild Rose should get their act together as they likely aren't getting a better chance to make big inroads against the PC's.

As a former PC supporter it sucks to see another weak candidate backdoor their way in but as someone who didn't like any of the 3 choices left and was likely moving on to the WRA anyways it is good to see the PC's choose Redford.

[darklord700]

Top up salary, more education funds, probably more benefits to those who don't want to work in this province. Welcome to the NDP Alberta.

[Stranger]

She's against money for the Edmonton arena. That should make things interesting between Katz and the City of Edmonton. They are still basing their plans on getting a $100 million handout before the Halloween deadline.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Top up salary, more education funds, probably more benefits to those who don't want to work in this province. Welcome to the NDP Alberta.

Is the Wildrose far enough right for you? Adding money to education was something that every candidate was in favour of, and frankly speaking its hardly a political decision. There simply isn't enough money there. Even the Wildrose would've increased funding this year (a pittance, but an increase all the same).

[killer_carlson]

don't kid yourself.

Just because Redford identified education and health care as her spending priorities does not mean she is a small "l" liberal. The lady is a fiscal conservative by nature and it would come as no surprise to see her reach out to the right wing with some nice, strong, fiscal leadership.

It would be a mistake to describe her as a spending liberal in PC clothing.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

don't kid yourself.

Just because Redford identified education and health care as her spending priorities does not mean she is a small "l" liberal. The lady is a fiscal conservative by nature and it would come as no surprise to see her reach out to the right wing with some nice, strong, fiscal leadership.

It would be a mistake to describe her as a spending liberal in PC clothing.

Thats exactly what makes her so dangerous for the other parties IMO. Shes liberal socially, and conservative fiscally. She doesn't have the baggage of others who claim this though, and has real world experience that looks really compelling. She's a great face for the PCs at this point because its a drastic change and thats going to be difficult for the Wildrose to combat. Suddenly the change mantra is gone and all thats left is the increasingly distant memory of the royalty issue, and not a lot else. The problem for the WRA is that Redford is more Maggie Thatcher than Barrack Obama. She means business, has the credentials to back it all up and not only represents potential change but she's already there.

[Jacks]

I'd be curious to know how many of the people singing Redford's praises voted PC last election?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I'd be curious to know how many of the people singing Redford's praises voted PC last election?

I didn't. Ed Stelmach didn't exactly inspire me to throw a vote his way though.

[Titan]

I don't want to be stereotyping people but I get a chuckle out of thinking about the right wing conservative sexists that would not support the WRA because of Smith and now the PCs have a woman leader as well. I hope that number is small but I think we all know it exists.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I'd be curious to know how many of the people singing Redford's praises voted PC last election?

I voted for Redford. I didn't and very likely won't vote PC.

Here's hoping Redford doesn't start throwing money at everything and make me feel stupid for supporting her! Spending has to be smart.

As for the ballot, I think it might as well a single instant-runoff ballot. Doesn't need to be a two-stage process.

[Nehkara]

Right off the bat, everyone on here that has seen me post about politics knows I am an NDP supporter.

However, I do wonder about people calling Alison Redford a weak candidate or a weak leader. She has one hell of a resume.

She has worked as:

- Senior Policy Advisor for Joe Clark, Secretary of State for External Affairs and in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada from 1988 to 1990.
- Special legal advisor to the UN.
- Technical advisor on constitutional and legal reform issues in Africa.
- Communications officer on the committee for justice reform in Alberta.
- Appointed by the UN as one of four International Election Commissioners to administer the 2005 Afghanistan elections.
- Her work with the UN has also included assignments to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Namibia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

- Alberta's Minister of Justice and Attorney General under Premier Ed Stelmach.

[Azure]

I don't think her experience should be questioned.

As a WRA supporter, I think the WRA got a bit of a hit. By all accounts, Redford looks like she can be a hell of a premier.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Azure

I don't think her experience should be questioned.

As a WRA supporter, I think the WRA got a bit of a hit. By all accounts, Redford looks like she can be a hell of a premier.

What do you think the WRA could offer that is different at this point? I saw Danielle float the "we don't know what she stands for" line this morning and I think that would be a failure. It was also used by the Liberals and some other guy that no one has ever heard of (Glen Taylor....I guess he's mayor of Hinton or something?)

Anyway, just curious on what you think the WRA can use to differentiate effectively at this point.

[FlamesFanStrandedInEDM]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I'd be curious to know how many of the people singing Redford's praises voted PC last election?

I did not, I am definitely one of those "Teachers" that was successfully targeted by Redford.

Prior to this I only voted in the provincial elections, and even then....not PC. Unlike the municipal,provincial, and federal elections. This is the first time that I felt the outcome benefited me directly. It was also the first time I felt my vote was actually important instead of just a statistic.