PC Leadership Race- Redford wins.

[darklord700]

Let the spending spree begin.

"Redford pledges more cash for cops"

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/10/05...-cash-for-cops

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Told you so. The first thing Redford did after the win was to roll back the education cuts.

Conservative group calls Redford victory tainted

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/10/06...ictory-tainted

Thats really rich! A pure special interest group complaining that a public operation is a special interest group.

[Cscutch]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Meeting with the Teachers union just days before the election promising them money is under handed. I do not want to see election in this country being reduced to meeting with special interest groups, nurses, policeman, students with the promise of money.

Under handed to me would be meeting with the teachers union... NOT announcing that you were going to cancel the cuts and then after winning announcing it.

It was in the open.... Everyone had a chance to vote for it or not. And when the general election comes around most likely another chance to vote for it.

Chris

[4X4]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Meeting with the Teachers union just days before the election promising them money is under handed. I do not want to see election in this country being reduced to meeting with special interest groups, nurses, policeman, students with the promise of money.

I listened to Rutherford interview the head of the teachers union this morning... He said that all three candidates met with him.
So, what's the problem here?

I was trying to figure out Rutherford's big beef as well. He's clearly choked that Redford won.

Would there have been this much uproar over a Mar win, what with his bussing of chinese people to the polling stations and selling them PC memberships at the door?

I guess Horner would have been the best candidate to win.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Cscutch

Under handed to me would be meeting with the teachers union... NOT announcing that you were going to cancel the cuts and then after winning announcing it.

It was in the open.... Everyone had a chance to vote for it or not. And when the general election comes around most likely another chance to vote for it.

Chris

A totally legal tactic within the rules of the paty that won her the leadership but might compromise her actual election. But then again I'm sure getting paid to fight another day at a much higher charge out rate makes it all go around regardless of how many 'actual' conservatives this pissed off.

That all said this outcome in my mind was still more optimal than Gary Mar being leader. Although it was somewhat power hungry to reach out to a traditional Liberal base and bribe them with their own money, this ruined Gary Mar's coronation ceremony. Gary Mar in my mind was totally in it for power's sake.

I've mellowed to the idea of being open minded enough to watch Redford this fall and winter build up an election platform and clean the PC house of the 'hangers on' before deciding whether her or Danielle Smith deserve my vote.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I listened to Rutherford interview the head of the teachers union this morning... He said that all three candidates met with him.
So, what's the problem here?

I guess Horner would have been the best candidate to win.

The beef is the promise of money. I don't care who wins long as the candidate didn't use public tax money to buy votes. Less than a week after Redford's win, and already the teachers and police got their money before she has a chance to look at the numbers. Who's next?

[4X4]

Redford's not the first politician to promise money, y'know. But ok.

[Ducay]

I really don't care about what special interest groups or far right wingers think about these areas;

Education, Healthcare, and long-term/disability funding can never be too high. Good on her for putting money where it is needed most.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

The beef is the promise of money. I don't care who wins long as the candidate didn't use public tax money to buy votes. Less than a week after Redford's win, and already the teachers and police got their money before she has a chance to look at the numbers. Who's next?

You do know that she was in government prior to her election as leader/premier right?

The budget is public knowledge (as it should be), which is how parties like the Wildrose can make spending commitments before they're elected as well. I think that its prudent to have people making decisions have access to information, and I also think its important that the general public has this access so that we can make decisions about their performance. I have no idea what kind of closed system you wish was in place though?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by darklord700

The beef is the promise of money. I don't care who wins long as the candidate didn't use public tax money to buy votes. Less than a week after Redford's win, and already the teachers and police got their money before she has a chance to look at the numbers. Who's next?

I will assume you have just recently observed the North American political system for the first time and will disregard your post.

[jtfrogger]

I am not a teacher. She didn't buy my vote. In fact, she was spending my money. I still voted for her.

I do think spending money on education is a good use of money.

It was very public to all Albertans what Redford planned on doing. If it was really buying votes, enough people other would have voted against her for her to lose. They didn't.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

You do know that she was in government prior to her election as leader/premier right?

The budget is public knowledge (as it should be)?

Either the Stelmach government is that inept or she is that good to find money for teachers, police or people with disabilities right away in the first few days as the premier that Stelmach missed in the budget, that's what I meant.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Either the Stelmach government is that inept or she is that good to find money for teachers, police or people with disabilities right away in the first few days as the premier that Stelmach missed in the budget, that's what I meant.

Its all a matter of priorities. Its not that one government has more or less money to work with than the other, its just that she was willing to pull money out of the sustainability fund to make this happen whereas Stelmach wasn't!

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

Its all a matter of priorities. Its not that one government has more or less money to work with than the other, its just that she was willing to pull money out of the sustainability fund to make this happen whereas Stelmach wasn't!

So gutting the sustainability fund for short term gains is OK now? You call it priorities, I call it vote buying.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

So gutting the sustainability fund for short term gains is OK now? You call it priorities, I call it vote buying.

What percentage do you consider gutting?

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by darklord700

So gutting the sustainability fund for short term gains is OK now? You call it priorities, I call it vote buying.

Funding education is a "short term gain"?

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Funding education is a "short term gain"?

circular argument is circular

I can't believe this is being regarded as vote buying. Every party, from left to right, provincial, territorial or federal has engaged in this then. Shame on them, and all elections should be overturned since the dawn of time...

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Funding education is a "short term gain"?

Just because it's education or health care doesn't mean you should bet your house on it. I can't argue about the intricacies because the seat wasn't even warm for Redford yet.

However, just days after she won the premiership, she promised to give money to the teachers, police, and people with disabilities like it's water.

All I'm saying is why all the rush, work out the numbers and then do what you think it's right. For once, I actually prefer the way Stelmach ran things, not spending like a drunken sailor.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

Not to mention that Stelmach bought off the teachers with a cool 2 BILLION pension payment when he first came into office.

Would've liked to see that go to students instead of teachers pockets myself.

He paid them off cause the teachers pension would have sued the province for probably close to double that and won it.

The same thing is brewing to happen with the Special Forces Pension Plan as well.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Just because it's education or health care doesn't mean you should bet your house on it. I can't argue about the intricacies because the seat wasn't even warm for Redford yet.

However, just days after she won the premiership, she promised to give money to the teachers, police, and people with disabilities like it's water.

All I'm saying is why all the rush, work out the numbers and then do what you think it's right. For once, I actually prefer the way Stelmach ran things, not spending like a drunken sailor.

I don't know if you paid much attention to the campaign. It was eight months long though, so presumably all of the candidates had plenty of time to review things and make their positions and platforms. The reason I note that is because the things that Redford said she would do during the campaign is exactly what she's doing now. She pledged funds for people on AISH, education, etc. during the campaign and was elected on that basis.