Alberta PC's way out front

[Slava]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

Or (c) doing what is demanded of them by their party.

You are totally ignoring the reality of our political system and then turning it around to suit your ideological leanings.

The reality is that every party whips their members to suit the needs of the party and reflect the will of it's membership. Trying to paint that as hypocrisy is just political grandstanding. Go ahead and argue against a party position all you want, but don't try and pretend it accurately reflects any individuals personal opinion or integrity.

At some level though the party policies do represent what the members think and how they feel about certain issues. Its not enough to say "well I don't have to be accountable for my thoughts on these issues, because I'm toeing the party line here."

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by ThisYear

Those are some nice ..... wheels?

What wildrose wont do to get peoples attention;

It's almost like you haven't been following this thread...

[First Lady]

I'm laughing so hard right now...

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Gover...082/story.html

EDMONTON - Government MLAs will pay back some of the money they received for sitting on a committee that never met, according to Progressive Conservative party whip Robin Campbell.
Members will pay back the cash they received since Redford became party leader in October.

Emphasis mine.

It's like they are driving the nails in their own coffin.

[Jacks]

Wow, that is just stupid. Pay it back or don't pay it back but why throw gas on the fire?

[Slava]

The Wildrose launched attack ads in Calgary West today. I would link it, but it was pulled because they hadn't cleared the copyright issues with global. I saw them earlier today and they were really reminiscent of a Liberal or NDP ad actually; interesting to see.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by First Lady

It's like they are driving the nails in their own coffin.

It's worse than not paying back at all. What a stupid move?

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by darklord700

It's worse that not paying back at all. What a stupid move?

The Chair of the Money for Nothing Committee has now resigned and won't be running as a candidate.


http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/po...service=mobile

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by zuluking

It's almost like you haven't been following this thread...

That's okay, George Takei only just picked up on it too.

https://www.facebook.com/georgehtakei

[Jacks]

I'm betting the Redford wishes she didn't have to call an election right now. She'd probably love to go back in time and call it right after winning the leadership.

[First Lady]

Richard Marz has also resigned. Completely.

http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index....act&rnumber=69

He wasn't going to run again anyway, but apparently resigned early, stepping down last Friday.

[Slava]

If things are as bad as FL makes it out to be, (although some of this could be wishful thinking from a WRA standpoint), this province is about to be taught a lesson. The problem with having virtually no opposition for 40 years and then switching to a new government would be ridiculous. The replacements, from any party, have virtually no experience at all. There are no solid plans, no certainty in most areas and still enormous decisions facing this province.

It reminds me of David Peterson in Ontario. He was never expected to win, pulled it off anyway, and it was not what it was supposed to be. I can hear the arguments already about how experience doesn't matter, about how we need someone new because they are pure and how we need change.

[Resolute 14]

I dunno. We've done it three or four times before and managed alright.

[GP_Matt]

I don't want to come off as too cynical but how long do you think it would take us to notice if the MLA's stopped doing anything? I think the government is run by the bureaucrats and things would run pretty smoothly until shortly after the following years budget when program spending doesn't go up.
Are there any decisions that the MLA's will have to make within the first few months of the election that can be screwed up by having inexperienced politicians either voting or delaying the vote?

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Slava

The problem with having virtually no opposition for 40 years and then switching to a new government would be ridiculous. The replacements, from any party, have virtually no experience at all. There are no solid plans, no certainty in most areas and still enormous decisions facing this province.

So you're officially backing the PC's now?

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

The problem with having virtually no opposition for 40 years and then switching to a new government would be ridiculous.

So let's keep the Tories in power for another 40 years then.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Slava

If things are as bad as FL makes it out to be, (although some of this could be wishful thinking from a WRA standpoint), this province is about to be taught a lesson. The problem with having virtually no opposition for 40 years and then switching to a new government would be ridiculous. The replacements, from any party, have virtually no experience at all. There are no solid plans, no certainty in most areas and still enormous decisions facing this province.

It reminds me of David Peterson in Ontario. He was never expected to win, pulled it off anyway, and it was not what it was supposed to be. I can hear the arguments already about how experience doesn't matter, about how we need someone new because they are pure and how we need change.

Stupid democracy!

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

If things are as bad as FL makes it out to be, (although some of this could be wishful thinking from a WRA standpoint), this province is about to be taught a lesson. The problem with having virtually no opposition for 40 years and then switching to a new government would be ridiculous. The replacements, from any party, have virtually no experience at all. There are no solid plans, no certainty in most areas and still enormous decisions facing this province.

It reminds me of David Peterson in Ontario. He was never expected to win, pulled it off anyway, and it was not what it was supposed to be. I can hear the arguments already about how experience doesn't matter, about how we need someone new because they are pure and how we need change.

Believe me, with my dismal campaign record, wishful thinking never enters the picture.

All these issues, even if small, take a toll on a party. The PC's are an establishment, they have endless $$ and people at their disposal. They should be in the drivers seat, but instead they are in reaction and clean-up mode. And all from their own doing.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Slava

If things are as bad as FL makes it out to be, (although some of this could be wishful thinking from a WRA standpoint), this province is about to be taught a lesson. The problem with having virtually no opposition for 40 years and then switching to a new government would be ridiculous. The replacements, from any party, have virtually no experience at all. There are no solid plans, no certainty in most areas and still enormous decisions facing this province.

It reminds me of David Peterson in Ontario. He was never expected to win, pulled it off anyway, and it was not what it was supposed to be. I can hear the arguments already about how experience doesn't matter, about how we need someone new because they are pure and how we need change.

Well then do you propose that we return the corrupt Redford PC's to office because on top of being 'progressive' enough now for your liking they also are the only alternative that can run government in some semblance of smooth?

My point I made earlier in the thread is that the band aid needs to be ripped off and the PC removed so someone else can get that vital experience you speak of. Yeah, I'm willing to admit that anyone else running the province over the next few years will definately go through rough patches that the PC's likely wouldn't, but the point stands this needs to happen as soon as possible for the long-term health of the province.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Well then do you propose that we return the corrupt Redford PC's to office because on top of being 'progressive' enough now for your liking they also are the only alternative that can run government in some semblance of smooth?

My point I made earlier in the thread is that the band aid needs to be ripped off and the PC removed so someone else can get that vital experience you speak of. Yeah, I'm willing to admit that anyone else running the province over the next few years will definately go through rough patches that the PC's likely wouldn't, but the point stands this needs to happen as soon as possible for the long-term health of the province.

Certainly agree with this. Some of the worst things that have come out are the intimidation and veiled threats against school boards, communities, etc. Only now do some of them have a glimmer of hope and thus are going public. We should never let government (any gov) get to the point where people and groups are afraid to speak out.

[Resolute 14]

Agreed as well, but we've had no shortage of unnecessary rough patches under the established government either. e.g.: Stelmach's royalty rate ##### up. I think a Tory government remains inevitable in this election, but a strong opposition would be ideal - preferably led by the Wildrose, but with a decent number of Liberals to place checks and balances on both sides for the PC's to deal with.

Election Almanac's seat projection methodology is obviously bunk, but it would be very interesting if the election did return a 34PC, 32WP, 10 Lib, 7 NDP Legislature (if only we were rep by pop) Imagine the strange bedfellows something like that would lead to!