April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[Regular_John]

Stop. The. Presses.

I was on the Wild Rose website and I came across something disturbing, something that could blow this election right up...

[Cowboy89]

Another Teacher Vote bribe from the PCs that comes out of nowhere:

"Implement a Teacher's Tax Credit

• A new PC Government will also introduce a new Teacher Tax Credit of up to $500 a year. Every teacher goes above and beyond for student in their classroms, and this tax credit will reconize that exceptional contributions of Alberta teachers, who exceed the requirements of the job, both in terms of contributing time and financial resources- like stepping in to buy lunch for a student who has forgotten theirs at hom, or building a learning environment in the classroom that is more personal, and that helps children learn and experience a happy environment"

http://www.votepc.ca/public/data/documents/ACFA9AB.pdf

WTF is this, are they going to start giving everyone tax credits who just do their jobs?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Well that seals it for me. I can't vote for a political party that condones diving, embellishing, hair pulling and biting.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by First Lady

They making it sound like voting for PC's is repugnant. How many Albertans over the last 40 plus years have voted for them? And voting for the Wildrose would be even worse.

Then there's the jabs that could apply to just about any Albertan.

"oil worshipping"
"old guy"
"old school Alberta"
"uber conservative"
"bff Harper"

Yeah....but.....

This is targeted at young, left-leaning people who really do think that way about the PCs and Wild Rose (there really are people in Alberta who are knee-jerk violently opposed to anything conservative). Those people will have no problem with this.

If PCs are offended - well at least this helps their cause even if for the wrong reasons and it insults them in the process. What are they going to do, vote WR because their feelings are hurt?

Non-PCs who are offended are going to laugh at the PCs for the amateur ad and it's not going to change their vote regardless.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Interstingly, when you look at the numbers, it looks like a statistical dead heat in Calgary and Edmonton. It all depends on the way voters are distributed in the ridings.

Somehow first-past-the-post will find a way to translate that into a majority government. I have faith.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Am I a bad person because half way through I was so annoyed at wasting my time that I wanted to hunt down each person in the add and smack them in the whining sniviling faces.

Absolutely ######ed, and the whole thing smacks of a PC plant ad.

That was the worst ad I've ever seen (edit: that's not true... The Liberal "guns in our street" ad was the worst, but this one is not too distant). It has backfire all over it. I genuinely hope the PCs had nothing to do with it, because if it did... that single stunt could see them go from 40-50 seats to 4-5.

Don't take this as an endorsement, because I've been pretty disappointed in some the lousy WR candidates that have come out of the woodwork, but I would vote Wildrose now if only to have a wry grin knowing that was the best way at pissing off that group of arrogant, entitled, self-righteous ######bags.

I will say, it had some production value behind it... if it wasnt from the PCs or some union upset that porkbarreling could be at risk, one of those kids must've raided mom and dad's "woo hoo Alberta Oil" trust fund.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

That was the worst ad I've ever seen. It has backfire all over it. I genuinely hope the PCs had nothing to do with it, because if it did... that single stunt could see them go from 40-50 seats to 4-5.

Don't take this as an endorsement, because I've been pretty disappointed in some the lousy WR candidates that have come out of the woodwork, but I would vote Wildrose now if only to have a wry grin knowing that was the best way at pissing off that group of arrogant, entitled, self-righteous ######bags.

I will say, it had some production value behind it... if it wasnt from the PCs or some union upset that porkbarreling could be at risk, one of those kids must've raided mom and dad's "woo hoo Alberta Oil" trust fund.

I don't think so.

The way this election is, no one who is definitely going to vote PC will be swayed by that ad, even if they find it foolish.

No one who is potentially voting Liberal/NDP will be swayed to vote for the Wildrose party, simply based on ideological differences.

No one who certainly is voting Wildrose will change their vote obviously.

So it leaves a small section of undecided voters who are choosing between PC and Wildrose that could potentially be turned off by this. IMHO most voters who would be turned off by this tactic would have been turned off by the fear mongering of the past few weeks, so they are likely to either not vote or vote Wildrose anyway.

I can't see the remaining portion of voters being large enough to swing 40 seats.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I don't think so.

The way this election is, no one who is definitely going to vote PC will be swayed by that ad, even if they find it foolish.

No one who is potentially voting Liberal/NDP will be swayed to vote for the Wildrose party, simply based on ideological differences.

No one who certainly is voting Wildrose will change their vote obviously.

So it leaves a small section of undecided voters who are choosing between PC and Wildrose that could potentially be turned off by this. IMHO most voters who would be turned off by this tactic would have been turned off by the fear mongering of the past few weeks, so they are likely to either not vote or vote Wildrose anyway.

I can't see the remaining portion of voters being large enough to swing 40 seats.

I'd agree with this assessment if the PCs didn't produce that video. Its just foolish to the average PC voter, and laughable to everyone else.

However, if it was proven that the PCs actually made this video, insulting their own membership and history in a last ditch attempt to fearmonger some undecideds, it would be a pretty big news story. Such an event could easily turn the tide in a number of close ridings with PC devotees either staying home, or voting WR. Don't forget, the Federal PCs had 16% of the popular vote when they only won 2 seats.

I highly doubt they did it, the PCs are desperate, not stupid. So its really just what it is... a dumb video attracting attention and likely accomplishing very little. No one needed a bunch of 20 year olds to warn them about parties and candidates.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Yeah....but.....

This is targeted at young, left-leaning people who really do think that way about the PCs and Wild Rose (there really are people in Alberta who are knee-jerk violently opposed to anything conservative). Those people will have no problem with this.

If PCs are offended - well at least this helps their cause even if for the wrong reasons and it insults them in the process. What are they going to do, vote WR because their feelings are hurt?

Non-PCs who are offended are going to laugh at the PCs for the amateur ad and it's not going to change their vote regardless.

With the tweet from the Edmonton Sun reporter who said that it was an independent group, it makes more sense than something from the PCs.

I think the reaction here shows that they had far too much to lose by releasing something along these lines, than in gaining. It's aimed at the 30s and under demographic and the whole PC campaign has failed miserably when it attempts to be cool like this. (i.e. The pretty bad not your father's PC party advert).

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Strategic voting does not work.

Only because not enough people vote strategically.

[crazy_eoj]

Cowboys. Rednecks. Oil Companies. Drilling in Alberta. Working night shifts. Spending Oil Money. On the Streets.

We're not making this up.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

Cowboys. Rednecks. Oil Companies. Drilling in Alberta. Working night shifts. Spending Oil Money. On the Streets.

We're not making this up.

Meh, it could be worse. I am waiting to see if I get a call on Election Day directing me to a polling station 45 minutes from my small mountain town.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Stop. The. Presses.

I was on the Wild Rose website and I came across something disturbing, something that could blow this election right up...

And the PC's colors are Oiler colors

[Senator Clay Davis]

Saw what you will about the Oilers, at least they haven't disgraced the game with their antics (just their on ice play). They also have 5 cups to the Nucks 0.

lolnucks.

[IntenseFan]

Watching that ad, I couldn't help but think it was a tounge in cheek thing like what some bloggers did to make fun of the Federal Liberal attack ads in the 2006 campaign (this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JoiOW1VWSg).

Go you to their website and it seems fly by night. Not much detail or professionalism. http://www.ineverthoughtidvotepc.com/index.html

Would be surprised if this had any PC involvement at all. Appears entirely independent, as the tweets are saying.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Knalus

And the PC's colors are Oiler colors

There is really only one party a true Flames fan can vote for based on colours

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

There is really only one party a true Flames fan can vote for based on colours

The Communist Party of Alberta.

[FLAMESRULE]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Another Teacher Vote bribe from the PCs that comes out of nowhere:


"Implement a Teacher's Tax Credit

• A new PC Government will also introduce a new Teacher Tax Credit of up to $500 a year. Every teacher goes above and beyond for student in their classroms, and this tax credit will reconize that exceptional contributions of Alberta teachers, who exceed the requirements of the job, both in terms of contributing time and financial resources- like stepping in to buy lunch for a student who has forgotten theirs at hom, or building a learning environment in the classroom that is more personal, and that helps children learn and experience a happy environment"

http://www.votepc.ca/public/data/documents/ACFA9AB.pdf

WTF is this, are they going to start giving everyone tax credits who just do their jobs?

The PC's had already lost my vote anyways, but this is simply beyond comprehension. Lots of peope "exceed the requirements of the job" yet will never get some ridiculous tax credit. This is so bloody insulting.

[shermanator]

As this election goes on, I increasingly feel the need to spoil my ballot. IMO, all of the leaders, as well as certain party members are behaving like a bunch of children. I don't have faith in any party's ability to better this province. After being swept up in the last mayoral election, I'm back to apathy.

Disappointing...

[Senator Clay Davis]

I'm really hoping Nenshi runs as premier in 2016. Obviously he could help this city even more from Edmonton than he could here. I just can't see him getting enough rural/Edmonton seats with his perceived Calgary bias.