April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Well, given the federal issue with robocalls, I'm sure there is a bit of a "tainted by the federal party" effect going. However, lets face the truth, there is only one single party that stands to gain from such tactics. They will deny (of course), but Redford won't condemn the practise.



Agreed mostly, but not completely. What if Encana or another big business did the same thing: spent the same $ on a video promotion of their own? A small group of citizens or a company or a union or a public institution. You can't ask the groups you don't like to follow the law while excusing the ones you do.

That said, evidently this is a new (?) law for Alberta. If so, let the kids off and ensure that the limitations are better promoted next time.

You surely mean a link between the same people who worked on the federal CPC campaign and are working on Wildrose campaign today? Its the same group for the most part.

I agree with you about the corporation, but thats my point. 15 years ago these kids couldn't do this so that law prevented the special interest groups from engaging without registration. While I didn't think that video was particularly useful information, we do want an outlet for people and want people engaged.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

It is amusing how every single PC ad these days is nothing but "Wildrose is scary booga booga". Only thing those spots show me is that the PCs really are done, and Redford is a terrible leader who does not belong in the Premier's chair.

They're fallen into the same strategy as the federal Liberals, and we see how that worked out for them last election.

They don't seem to recognize that much of the WR's support originates from disenfranchised PC supporters...and they have done very little this campaign to try to lure those people back into the fold.

Will be interesting to see how this turns out.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

That the advanced vote is predominantly older isn't surprising. Besides young people being oblivious/disinterested/in exams, older people are more likely to not actually be able to vote Monday (work, away, unable to get to a polling station). I also think that the WR will likely see a bigger push in advanced polls since I'd assume their supporters are most exicited to vote.

I voted yesterday! Advancing voting is awesome because there are no lines, the volunteers aren't stressed out and are happy to see anybody!
I was in and out of there in 5 minutes.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I haven't heard or seen much advertising of advanced polls, just a few radio spots here and there which is kinda disappointing. I agree advanced polling is the way to go, the longest I've ever waited was maybe 10 minutes.

[Jacks]

I assume there are no limits on campaign spending?

Watching the news this morning, PC ad every commercial break (there were a few WR too). Driving down the road, PC signs and billboards, PC ads on the radio. Step on an elevator downtown this morning, giant poster of Redford taped to the wall. I'm on support forum looking for a problem with a cellphone and there is a freaking PC ad in the middle of the thread

On a side note there was a guy on QR this morning who lives in Redford's riding who says he (and his neighbors) had pamplets dropped in their mailbox's from the Redford campaign telling them where their polling station is. Problem with that? it lists the wrong polling station!!!

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Jacks

On a side note there was a guy on QR this morning who lives in Redford's riding who says he (and his neighbors) had pamplets dropped in their mailbox's from the Redford campaign telling them where their polling station is. Problem with that? it lists the wrong polling station!!!

Obviously the WRP is behind this.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I assume there are no limits on campaign spending?

Watching the news this morning, PC ad every commercial break (there were a few WR too). Driving down the road, PC signs and billboards, PC ads on the radio. Step on an elevator downtown this morning, giant poster of Redford taped to the wall. I'm on support forum looking for a problem with a cellphone and there is a freaking PC ad in the middle of the thread

On a side note there was a guy on QR this morning who lives in Redford's riding who says he (and his neighbors) had pamplets dropped in their mailbox's from the Redford campaign telling them where their polling station is. Problem with that? it lists the wrong polling station!!!

That story gets told every election. Two possibilities:

1. (Less Likely) Those pamphlets were from Wild Rose, or another rival, and hoped to direct Redford's supporters to the wrong polling station.

2. "Guy on QR" is not a very reliable source and is somewhat predictably full of crap.

[Senator Clay Davis]

At these levels of support, Wildrose is projected to win 45 seats. That puts them just over the bar for a majority. The Tories have picked up one seat since Apr. 17 and are projected to win 37.

The New Democrats are unchanged at four seats, while the Liberals are back to being on track to win a single seat.

Latest projection from http://threehundredeight.blogspot.ca/

Of course take these with a grain of salt.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

That story gets told every election. Two possibilities:

1. (Less Likely) Those pamphlets were from Wild Rose, or another rival, and hoped to direct Redford's supporters to the wrong polling station.

2. "Guy on QR" is not a very reliable source and is somewhat predictably full of crap.

Or, just an honest mistake depending on where they live in the riding.

During the municipal election, I like a couple of blocks from the dividing line between Wards, and I think I received more campaign literature from the other Ward than my own.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

It is amusing how every single PC ad these days is nothing but "Wildrose is scary booga booga". Only thing those spots show me is that the PCs really are done, and Redford is a terrible leader who does not belong in the Premier's chair.

If by "done" you mean forming a minority government, then yes they're done.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

If by "done" you mean forming a minority government, then yes they're done.

This is one time when I'm going to refrain from procrastinating. I could see almost any outcome from PC minority, to Wild Rose majority, depending on how the urban/rural split works out.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

This is one time when I'm going to refrain from procrastinating. I could see almost any outcome from PC minority, to Wild Rose majority, depending on how the urban/rural split works out.

C'mon, take a risk. I think this will be a very close election but that enough undecideds will go Tory because they fear the result of a WR government. I think that result will be a serious impairment of the economic recovery if the WR should form the government. I think a WR government will be very harmful to the economy.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I assume there are no limits on campaign spending?

Watching the news this morning, PC ad every commercial break (there were a few WR too). Driving down the road, PC signs and billboards, PC ads on the radio. Step on an elevator downtown this morning, giant poster of Redford taped to the wall. I'm on support forum looking for a problem with a cellphone and there is a freaking PC ad in the middle of the thread

On a side note there was a guy on QR this morning who lives in Redford's riding who says he (and his neighbors) had pamplets dropped in their mailbox's from the Redford campaign telling them where their polling station is. Problem with that? it lists the wrong polling station!!!

A few weeks ago in Okotoks and the surrounding area, it looked like Danielle Smith was outspending John Barlow (PC) by a ratio of about eight to one.

He's caught up a fair bit but she's certainly wallpapered the area.

One of my acquaintances working hard on the PC side has been going frantically bananas posting all sorts of scary things on Facebook about Smith and Wildrose while urging those who are leaning to Wildrose to wake up. Further panic and making it personal - he announced this morning he'd have to re-evaluate any Facebook friendships of those who vote for anyone other than PC.

This frenetic, non-stop activity is all directed at influencing his 135 friends.

I live in the riding where Smith is contesting a seat so I'll have to think about it shortly.

Cowperson

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

That story gets told every election. Two possibilities:

1. (Less Likely) Those pamphlets were from Wild Rose, or another rival, and hoped to direct Redford's supporters to the wrong polling station.

2. "Guy on QR" is not a very reliable source and is somewhat predictably full of crap.

3. Redford campaign team are incompetent.

[The Goon]

Facebook = serious business.

[kn]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

After that I do think that Alberta does need to move to a more forward thinking approach and that includes actually acknowledging that climate change is occurring, it doesn’t do us any good to laughably say that we should let the scientists debate the issue in perpetuity when it appears as though the scientific consensus is that climate change is a real issue.

I've stayed out of the climate change debate because I'm not sufficiently educated to counter the position. But you only get contrarian positions from conservative news outlets. I know Rutherford has frequently brought in scientists with different points of view, and investigative journalists who have exposed academics who falsify evidence and academic journals whose peer review process in questionable. Funding plays a big role too and if the funding comes from a source that seeks to justify a certain answer, that's obviously problematic.

Some headlines from both sides:

Astronauts condemn NASA global warming endorsement:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politi...rsement/469366

Leak exposes how Heartland Institute works to undermine climate change:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...titute-climate

That doesn't mean I'm a climate change denier. I don't know enough about the science to have an opinion. Meanwhile I see scandals on both sides of the issue. Since it is now such a political issue, it's hard for me to know what to believe.

[Flickered Flame]

More comments from Ron Leech:
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=CalgaryHome

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by kn

I've stayed out of the climate change debate because I'm not sufficiently educated to counter the position. But you only get contrarian positions from conservative news outlets. I know Rutherford has frequently brought in scientists with different points of view, and investigative journalists who have exposed academics who falsify evidence and academic journals whose peer review process in questionable. Funding plays a big role too and if the funding comes from a source that seeks to justify a certain answer, that's obviously problematic.

Some headlines:

Astronauts condemns NASA global warming endorsement:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politi...rsement/469366

Leak exposes how Heartland Institute works to undermine climate change:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...titute-climate

That doesn't mean I'm a climate change denier. I don't know enough about the science to have an opinion. Meanwhile I see scandals on both sides of the issue. Since it is now such a political issue, it's hard for me to know what to believe.

But it doesn't really matter. Every other jurisdiction in the world is moving to more climate friendly initiatives. We can just close our eyes and plug our ears and pretend its not happening but that's only going to put us at disadvantage.

Look at these quotes from BP, Chevron and Shell.

The big three oil companies and climate change adaptation
Let’s look at how the big name oil companies (Shell, BP and Chevron). Why those three companies? All three companies track their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. All three acknowledge that climate change is real. BP, once known as British Petroleum, even goes so far as saying that BP stands for “Beyond Petroleum.”
Now let’s look specifically at how each company plans to adapt to climate change:
Royal Dutch Shell
The company known commonly as Shell acknowledges that carbon emissions “must be reduced to avoid serious climate change.” Specifically, the company believes that as it “increases its gas and oil production to help meet growing demand” it must focus on four main areas: natural gas, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and energy efficiency in its operations.”
However, Shell also says that global population growth and economic development “may double energy demand by 2050” so “all energy sources will be needed, with fossil fuels meeting the bulk of people’s needs.”
Chevron
Chevron admits that fossil fuels are a “contributor to increase in greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere.” The company acknowledges that “there is a widespread view that this increase is leading to climate change, with adverse effects on the environment.” Two things caught my attention: Chevron is working at U.S. federal and state levels and internationally “to contribute to climate change policy discussions,” and it is investing in research and development (R&D) of technologies “that may reduce emissions or improve efficiency.”
BP
BP supports “policies that we believe can address climate change,” including a carbon price that “applies economy-wide and treats all carbon equally, whether it comes out of an industrial smokestack or a car tailpipe.” The company believes that carbon pricing will do two things: make energy efficiency and conservation more attractive, and make what it calls lower-carbon fuels (it lists natural gas, nuclear and renewables) more cost competitive. In addition to regional and national carbon pricing schemes, BP supports the creation and implementation of a global cap-and-trade system.

These are big industry players who are shifting their business towards "greener" ways of exploration. Whether the science is settled or not is irrelevant, business is moving this way and Alberta has the opportunity to be at the forefront of this technology.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Here's the thing: If climate change turns out to not be man made and we took every step to help reverse its effects under the assumption it is man made...then all we have are new industries and a cleaner planet (and yes more expenses, though new industries hopefully offset the cost). If it is man made and we do nothing, well.....

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Jacks

3. Redford campaign team are incompetent.

I don't know if you've ever worked on a campaign, but mistakes are pretty easy. Most campaigns in general (on a riding level) are about a dozen core workers and the rest are basically those who give a night or two where they can. Its largely a volunteer effort though and pretty cool in that sense.

I would refrain from saying that these people are incompetent though, its pretty simple to have things mixed up.