April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Jacks

And everyone gets a pony, don't forget about the ponies.

I heard Raj in the debate today say he was going to provide every person with a home, food, clothing and a job. Might as well aim high I guess.

They're all a bunch of clowns when it comes to promises at election time.


You haven't even decided to vote Liberal yet

That's part of what I find so perplexing actually. This party has the gall suggest that they have the right answer to every issue facing the province, and some of these problems are enormous and generational. It really boggles the mind how people can fall for some of it. Take for example healthcare:

- They plan to reimburse people for care in a private facility. Think about that for a second...reimburse. I make good money. I don't know that I have the kind of coin to head down to US for treatment though. There aren't dozens of people ahead of you at the clinic with $50-$100k burning a hole in their pocket!

- About that reimbursement. They'll pay up to the AHC amount, which sounds good. The issue here is that private facilities simply cost more. Aside from that issue, are they paying for travel and lodging for people? What about food? Who goes through these claims and oversees that the right things are paid and adjudicates? How much does this new system cost to administer?

- So we crossed that bridge, hypothetically. How many sick people can travel for care? Who insures them while they travel? Do we pay for spouses and parents to go as well?

Honestly, I can't even attack their platform here because no one knows what it really amounts to. Its an enormous change and addition to our healthcare system.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by Tiger

I just heard from my brother. he is finishing his Ph.D and looking for jobs at Albertan Universities. He was told by some that they could pretty much promise him a job unless wildrose got in, and in that case they expect big cuts to funding. That is not what I would want to vote for, but that's my opinion (and I'm biased because I want my brother to have a job he wants)

Yeah...no one I have met in the Academic/Science sector wants anything to do with WRP.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Yeah...no one I have met in the Academic/Science sector wants anything to do with WRP.

So the science really is settled!

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

Anyway, listen in and see what you think. I'll try not to make an ass of myself!

Just don't mention lakes of fire or your skin color..... you should be fine.


You doing this from your office. I could swing by and pass you notes (Wildrose propaganda)

[kn]

Originally Posted by Slava

I do find it surprising that people think the Wildrose can do all of what they say without cuts though.

I'm sure there are more than a handful of Wildrose supporters who would welcome cuts purely on ideological grounds. I think Smith's answer when faced with the question is "finding inefficiencies", "streamlining", and all the buzz words you typically hear. I know I expect cuts.

I have to give you credit for analyzying the budget proposed by them. I'll take your word that they can't meet what they've outlined as I don't have the skill to try and counter. I guess for most people it'll come to a gut instinct, who they trust, anger and desire for change, or a specific issue or two.

Good luck on QR77 tomorrow.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I am torn. Really, I am a conservative, but I am so very liberal in social issues that voting for the Wildrose is troublesome.

Do you honestly believe that all 87 candidates are like one or two? I can tell you they are not.

Also in every other party all 87 are unique individuals.

The PC's have a Bishop running....and the NDP have a Reverend.... I don't think they are all "that" religious.

Stop looking a parties and the "labels" attached to them. Look at the candidates in your area. Talk to them. Or if you can't get to them, talk to people who might know them. IE: volunteers in campaign office.

Heck, email me privately if you want. I know most of the Calgary candidates reasonably well.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Just don't mention lakes of fire or your skin color..... you should be fine.


You doing this from your office. I could swing by and pass you notes (Wildrose propaganda)

No they're having it in studio. There will probably be a phone call segment, so on the off chance that you disagree you could try your luck there though!

They were saying they had a lot of Wildrose people "apply" though, so I'm sure your viewpoint will be represented. I guess the NDP was the hardest to get. Probably because they didn't put the request out on CBC.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

No they're having it in studio. There will probably be a phone call segment, so on the off chance that you disagree you could try your luck there though!

They were saying they had a lot of Wildrose people "apply" though, so I'm sure your viewpoint will be represented. I guess the NDP was the hardest to get. Probably because they didn't put the request out on CBC.

Yeah, I've been hearing Angela Kokott talk about this. Sounds interesting.

I'm sure if the Wildrose supporter says something odd they whole party will be painted by it. And if they sing straight from policy book, people will say they were a plant. There's just no winning.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Yeah, I've been hearing Angela Kokott talk about this. Sounds interesting.

I'm sure if the Wildrose supporter says something odd they whole party will be painted by it. And if they sing straight from policy book, people will say they were a plant. There's just no winning.

It'll be a dream come true if I can bait them into a "Hitler did some good things that are overlooked" moment!

In other news, Danielle Smith was tweeting that opponents have recorded a message and are calling people pretending to be the Wildrose. Its an attempt to anger people, obviously. I just wanted to be the first to say that this is ridiculous and hopefully the RCMP catches and prosecutes these people.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

It'll be a dream come true if I can bait them into a "Hitler did some good things that are overlooked" moment!

In other news, Danielle Smith was tweeting that opponents have recorded a message and are calling people pretending to be the Wildrose. Its an attempt to anger people, obviously. I just wanted to be the first to say that this is ridiculous and hopefully the RCMP catches and prosecutes these people.

Yes, it has been reported to police. I'd like to say I'm surprised, but this is what it's come to.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Yes, it has been reported to police. I'd like to say I'm surprised, but this is what it's come to.

Its a pretty pathetic comment on our system that people do these things.

[Jacks]

Let's see if the media pick up this one, still haven't seen mention of the union robocalls from the other day.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Slava

Its a pretty pathetic comment on our system that people do these things.

I blame First Past the Post

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by kn

I'm sure there are more than a handful of Wildrose supporters who would welcome cuts purely on ideological grounds. I think Smith's answer when faced with the question is "finding inefficiencies", "streamlining", and all the buzz words you typically hear. I know I expect cuts.

There's always the "we had no idea how bad the books really were" card that every new government gets to play.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

I blame First Past the Post

This should be the first citizen's referendum to be held

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by edslunch

This should be the first citizen's referendum to be held

Let's see propose guidelines are 20% of eligible voters, which I believe is just over 500K. And must be collected in 6 months.

So you need to get almost 3000 signatures each day for 180 days straight.

Go.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by first lady

let's see propose guidelines are 20% of eligible voters, which i believe is just over 500k. And must be collected in 6 months.

So you need to get almost 3000 signatures each day for 180 days straight.

Go.

JIHAD! (can we sign more than once?)

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Let's see propose guidelines are 20% of eligible voters, which I believe is just over 500K. And must be collected in 6 months.

So you need to get almost 3000 signatures each day for 180 days straight.

Go.

That's the same as the total number of votes the PCs got last election. It's hard to see that happening except on the backs of an election campaign - the only time you have enough motivated people talking to voters across the province.

Back in the good old Doris Day days the proposed level was 3%.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I like how Robocalls have become so annoying rival campaigns are trying to annoy voters by faking Robocalls of their rivals. What happened to the best candidate wins, not the one who annoys you the least?

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by edslunch

That's the same as the total number of votes the PCs got last election. It's hard to see that happening except on the backs of an election campaign - the only time you have enough motivated people talking to voters across the province.

Back in the good old Doris Day days the proposed level was 3%.

And yet how many times have we heard that this is how gay rights and access to abortion will be rolled back!