April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[First Lady]

This response, from Sandra Jansen's campaign manager.

[Resolute 14]

Is it known that it was a "#wrp supporter", or is Piotr trying to use the assault to score political points?

[Resolute 14]

Hmm, judging by his twitter stream, it seems this guy is pretty much a clown.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Is it known that it was a "#wrp supporter", or is Piotr trying to use the assault to score political points?

CTV did report, according to Carter there was WRP sign.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by First Lady

CTV did report, according to Carter there was WRP sign.

Let's be clear: this reflects on the WRP approximately as much as it reflects on the PCs when a secretary who works in a PC office makes disparaging remarks about Danielle Smith's family situation.

Both are unfortunate acts by idiots; nothing more.

[Resolute 14]

Actually, the PC secretary reflects worse on PC because it was a staffer, not some random moron on the street the party had no control over. But, that incident quickly became a dead issue and no longer has any relevance. Something tells me idiots like the guy quoted above are going to try and milk it long after everyone stops caring.

[kn]

I don't condone the assault but I can't say that I'm surprised. There are a lot of people pissed off with the PCs and it just happens that the WRP is perfectly positioned to capitalize on that anger.

[Resolute 14]

Sounding like Lukazuk was trespassing and persisted despite being asked to leave. Doesn't sound like the other guy handled it well, but the education minister was no innocent victim here, it seems.

[RougeUnderoos]

Am I the only one who thinks this is kind funny, people taking it so seriously and all?

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Actually, the PC secretary reflects worse on PC because it was a staffer, not some random moron on the street the party had no control over. But, that incident quickly became a dead issue and no longer has any relevance. Something tells me idiots like the guy quoted above are going to try and milk it long after everyone stops caring.

I don't think that distincton matters all that much; the staffer was not authorized to speak for the party in any manner, and held a position of zero seniority. Her job was to answer the phone; that's why she had time to post stupid stuff on twitter.

In the end, though, I think we agree. It's not a politics issue in either case, it's a "jeez, some people are sure idiots" issue.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Sounding like Lukazuk was trespassing and persisted despite being asked to leave. Doesn't sound like the other guy handled it well, but the education minister was no innocent victim here, it seems.

Where is this information coming from? Door-knocking is not trespassing--there would have to be some pretty egregious conduct for that to be a fair statement.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Where is this information coming from? Door-knocking is not trespassing--there would have to be some pretty egregious conduct for that to be a fair statement.

After looking at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...-knocking.html and then this http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories...ocking-120407/ , the ctv link has the closest to what he is saying?

But Lukaszuk says the man who opened the door at this particular house immediately recognized him, swore, and ordered him off the property while punching him.

Lukaszuk says he left right away and wasn't hurt, although he says the punch did hurt.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Where is this information coming from? Door-knocking is not trespassing--there would have to be some pretty egregious conduct for that to be a fair statement.

Mostly over Twitter. At this point it seems Lukazik was asked to leave, and didn't, at least not immediately. I wouldn't be surprised if the facts change a few times.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Lukaszuk says he left right away and wasn't hurt, although he says the punch did hurt.

Love that quote. I wasn't hurt by it, but it did hurt.

[Slava]

Its weird. I've door knocked in some really unfriendly places for parties with no love in those ridings. I've never felt unsafe, and its never been a concern in the least. I have gone to doors with opposition signs as well and never had anyone say anything untoward, nevermind resorting to throwing punches.

I believe Lukaszuk's version here (about the guy yelled for him to leave and punched him as he left). It just makes sense (if any of this does!).

I don't think it matters whether the sign was for any party. Just isolated stupidity.

[Jacks]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Lukaszu...434/story.html

Lukaszuk told reporters the man who answered the door was immediately hostile, pushing him and punching him on the shoulder and chest.He said he tried to calm the man down while backing away, but when he turned around, the man punched him in the back.

However, the 67-year-old homeowner, who identified himself only as Al, said he asked Lukaszuk to leave several times, but the three-time MLA stayed on his doorstep for up to 15 minutes.
Al said he “took him by the sweater” and turned him around, denying he punched Lukaszuk.
“If he wants to make headlines this way, that’s great.”
The homeowner said he told Lukaszuk not to come back after he knocked on his door during the 2008 election.
Lukaszuk said he doesn’t remember the man, but it’s entirely likely he has campaigned there before.

One of them is a liar. The PC's better hope that Lukaszuk is the one telling the truth or this could hurt them.

[The Goon]

However, the 67-year-old homeowner, who identified himself only as Al,

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Jacks

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Lukaszu...434/story.html
One of them is a liar. The PC's better hope that Lukaszuk is the one telling the truth or this could hurt them.

Anyone who's ever been door knocking for a political party knows that you're not there for 15 minutes. It has nothing to do with trying to convince anyone of anything and the only purpose is to say hello and identify people voting for you. He would've known within a second that this guy wasn't voting for him and it's on to the next one. It is more about volume than it is about anything else.

[First Lady]

I not huge fan of the Sun News, so I always have huge grain of salt handy when reading. But this piece is written by Monte Solberg, who I respect immensely. I know his father, and my father knew him as well.

He gives a statistic I wasn't aware of.

If it pleases the court of public opinion, I offer as an example a single piece of startling evidence.

In January, Calgary's School of Public Policy released a report showing wage increases for Alberta's public sector employees ate up 95% of the total increase in government revenues between 2000 and 2010, far outstripping public sector wage growth in other provinces.

Yes, that's right, 95%, which happens to rhyme with "all our future spent."

Entire piece: Wildrose makes hay as PCs lose their way

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

Anyone who's ever been door knocking for a political party knows that you're not there for 15 minutes. It has nothing to do with trying to convince anyone of anything and the only purpose is to say hello and identify people voting for you. He would've known within a second that this guy wasn't voting for him and it's on to the next one. It is more about volume than it is about anything else.

True. There is also this statement from homeowner;

The homeowner said he told Lukaszuk not to come back after he knocked on his door during the 2008 election.

Campaigns keep records of responses at doors. If he had previously been hostile or even simply adamant about not coming back; that should have been in Lukaszuk's database.