GDT: The Alberta Election 2012 - The Morning After - PC Majority Government

[Rhettzky]

We received calls every single day from one party or another and the pollsters. We even got calls on the morning of the election day. Stupid land lines.

[automaton 3]

We had at least 4 robo-calls - all from the PCs

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by photon

Lol so I'm driving and switch to 770 just to hear what they're saying.

"Dave you're the only unbiased journalist."

Heh...

I laughed so hard when I heard that caller.
Unbiased is the last term I would apply when thinking of Dave Rutherford.
Rutherford was so embittered with the results.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

It was implied by both parties, I think. But they were happy to let the media run with it and pretend they didn't start the ball rolling. Redford's playing at being agast by Husperger's blog was designed to give exactly that impression.

Well in Leech's case Leech is the one that got the ball rolling, but in both cases I think being aghast at it is one thing, saying it was a Liberal and PC message "that a vote for the Wildrose was basically a vote for Homophobia and racism" is another, I haven't seen anything indicating the latter.

I don't think they need to, the media coverage and guaranteed public response does that by itself.

That's why I asked, I didn't see that message from either the PCs or Liberals.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

They will paint anyone who doesn't agree with them as being bigots without realizing that they reveal their own bigotry in the process.

It's not painting someone that doesn't agree with you, it's panting someone that's being a bigot as being a bigot. Calling intolerance intolerance is not itself intolerant. Or put another way, being intolerant towards intolerance is an appropriate response to intolerance.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Canadian politics is polarizing in a bad way, every bit as bad as American politics, and you can blame the harcore leftist supporters for that.

Lol. If only the leftists would wake up and become conservatives then there'd be no more polarizing?

I call shenanigans, this election was exhibit A, the right polarized between the right and the far right all by them selves without any help from the left.

I spent more time reading twitter than I ever have during an election, and between people seeing a hidden social agenda in the WR and other people saying voting for PCs was like voting for Obama, the right was plenty polarized by itself.

Though I do agree that it is becoming more like American politics, but I think the reasons are a lot more complicated than "hardcore leftist supporters" (whatever that means).

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I wasn't robocalled once or reached out to in anyway. I have my cellphone (and lack of landline) to thank for that. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who was in this situation.

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

We received calls every single day from one party or another and the pollsters. We even got calls on the morning of the election day. Stupid land lines.

I hate to tell you, but polling companies call cell phones as well. I spent about 10 hours calling for a candidate yesterday as well (and I'm almost positive I called a CPer), but anyway, we had cell numbers.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Slava

I hate to tell you, but polling companies call cell phones as well. I spent about 10 hours calling for a candidate yesterday as well (and I'm almost positive I called a CPer), but anyway, we had cell numbers.

You used to be cool Slava...

This is one election tactic I frankly cannot stand and I wish it would be banned.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I wasn't robocalled once or reached out to in anyway. I have my cellphone (and lack of landline) to thank for that. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who was in this situation.

I haven't had a landline in over a decade and I still got bombarded with robocalls (it's so nice that they've stopped now). I know you just recently moved back to Alberta, so you may not have been on the voters list that all the parties were given.

I received calls from candidates in both the riding I used to live in and the one I currently live in (for 2 years), so that probably also accounts for the excessive number of calls I received.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

It was implied by both parties, I think. But they were happy to let the media run with it and pretend they didn't start the ball rolling. Redford's playing at being agast by Husperger's blog was designed to give exactly that impression.

That is also why I find the intolerance displayed by the left to be so hypocritical. They will paint anyone who doesn't agree with them as being bigots without realizing that they reveal their own bigotry in the process. Canadian politics is polarizing in a bad way, every bit as bad as American politics, and you can blame the harcore leftist supporters for that.

"Redford's playing at being aghast..." LOL. Amazing acting, eh? The fact that the blog is full of hateful and ridiculous statements had nothing do with why someone might be taken aback?

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Redford's playing at being agast by Husperger's blog was designed to give exactly that impression.

... or she was sincerely aghast at his blog, like the majority of Albertans were.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

you can blame the harcore leftist supporters for that.

Just to be clear, you aren't actually characterizing supporters of the Provincial Conservatives as "hardcore leftist supporters", right? If not, who are Alberta's "hardcore leftists supporters" and where can I find them?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

You used to be cool Slava...

This is one election tactic I frankly cannot stand and I wish it would be banned.

When was I ever cool? Lol

It's not my favorite either, but you have to do it. We spent about 8-9 months collecting names of people who were going to vote for us, and it all comes down to yesterday. People need a kick to go vote, and while its not my favorite thing to do, it's about winning. Every party does it, and they all do it because it works.

If it makes you feel better though, we did it all live. No recorded calls, and in the riding.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

They will paint anyone who doesn't agree with them as being bigots without realizing that they reveal their own bigotry in the process. Canadian politics is polarizing in a bad way, every bit as bad as American politics, and you can blame the harcore leftist supporters for that.

As opposed to blaming the actual bigots, and gay-haters. I have to laugh at the WRP crowing "Look how tolerant we are! We tolerate intolerance! Anyone with an extreme view can find a home in our Party!"

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

Pollsters gain data from people willing to answer polls. Do people ever complete phone polls?

I mentioned this in one of the other threads, but I wondered if after the federal robocalling scandal, a large number of people (and in particular towards the middle and left of the political spectrum) would be unwilling to participate in robocall polls, out of concern about who that information is going to.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Makarov

who are Alberta's "hardcore leftists supporters" and where can I find them?

The Folk Festival Beer Garden.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I'd say that what Slava did is totally different than Robocalling. This is more of a get-out-the-vote effort within a riding, which I'm all for. Robocalls can die a horrible death.

[Daradon]

I don't mind the calls TOO much if there is a real person on the other end.

But I'd love it if they outlawed the robocalls. You'd think that simple distinction would actually make it easy to ban them. Just make it so there is no automated calls allowed.

[Dion]

The situation in this election is eerily similar to the 2004 federal campaign, when 2012 Wildrose campaign manager Tom Flanagan — then working for the federal Conservatives – tried to lead an upstart right wing band of misfits to victory against the natural governing party. In both instances, the incumbent dynasties had knifed successful leaders, and had unrealistic expectations for their new leaders. Just as anonymous PC strategists lamented about winning “too many seats” in February, in 2004 Liberal strategists mused about 200 seats for Paul Martin (which in fairness, Martin got – it just took him two elections to do it).

In both instances, the incumbent badly mismanaged a scandal (Adscam for Paul, the “no meet committee” for Redford), and threw caution to the wind by calling an election in the midst of it. In both instances, Flanagan’s great right hope rose in the polls, pulled into the lead, won the debate…and then blew it in the bottom of the 9th. Both times voters stared change in the face, and decided they weren’t ready for it – yet.

The challenge facing the PCs is now the same one that faced Martin in 2004 – they won on a campaign of fear, and won thanks to borrowed votes from the left. It was a brilliant play for which Alberta’s political mastermind Stephen Carter deserves full credit, but it leaves the PCs governing on a shaky foundation. Given the Alberta Liberal Party has received between 25% to 30% of the vote in every election since their near-victory in 1993, some quick napkin math suggests that as much as one-third of the PC vote this campaign came from former Liberal supporters. These voters were willing to look past the decades of the PCs doing everything in government they accused the Wildrose of wanting to do, but they are unlikely to be forgiving if Redford veers to the right again. To keep these voters in the PC tent will require competent, centrist government from Redford — but also a still-scary Wildrose Party come 2016, and the lack of a credible alternative on the left.

http://calgarygrit.blogspot.ca/2012_04_01_archive.html

[woob]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

This is one election tactic I frankly cannot stand and I wish it would be banned.

Agreed. I think next Election, I'll keep a running record of which party calls me, add it up at the end, and whomever called me the least amount of times gets my vote.

I despise getting calls from parties at election times. I am quite capable of doing my own research and don't need to hear about how you used to be PC but are now switching to WRP because of this and that.

[Dion]

MLA transition allowance estimates released

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released its estimated transitional allowances for outgoing MLAs and say totals could reach as much as $14.8 million.


The CTF says 35 MLAs will not be returning after the April 23 election; 24 are retiring and 11 were defeated.


The payments will range from $78,000 to $1,192,000.


Retired PC MLA and Speaker Ken Kowalski will be the highest paid and he is also eligible to collect an MLA pension.


The federation says an estimated $14,785,000 will be paid out by taxpayers in addition to the $2.7 Million that MLAs have been provided in RRSP contributions.

"We will be holding Premier Redford to her election promise to ‘suspend' these ‘overly generous' transition allowances going forward," stated CTF-Alberta Director Scott Hennig. "It's a shame she didn't act prior to the election to eliminate these golden-handshakes, as it would have saved taxpayers nearly $15 million."

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=CalgaryHome

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by woob

Agreed. I think next Election, I'll keep a running record of which party calls me, add it up at the end, and whomever called me the least amount of times gets my vote.

If everyone employs that tactic, it's going to be a heckuva battle between the NDP Alberta Party, and Evergreen Party.

I still find it funny that I got a robocall literally minutes before the polls closed, reminding me to get out and vote.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Of the phone calls I received since April 10th (when I started keeping track)

3 were Wildrose calls (2 robot, 1 human, human asked for me by name)
2 were PC (both robot)
4 were Liberal (all robot, get a better recorder when you make these recordings, crazy liberal lady)
1 unidentified human (when he started talking about the election, I started being fairly rude to him immediately)
9 robo-pollsters.

I'm not really sure what the goal was? Is calling someone with a robot to answer a "quick 5 minute survey" really the best way to go about collecting information? Are the few people who will take the time to answer really the best sample? Gotta fill the 24 hour news cycle somehow, I suppose.

19 calls in 13 days. All to my cellphone. I'm fairly protective of my number, but apparently not protective enough. I'd also love to know how the WRP associated my name with my number. The obvious solution would be to force political campaigners and their associated pollsters to obey the Do not call list, but given who makes the exceptions, I won't hold my breath.