Was also at the debate last night. Standing room only, crowd quite engaged. Would have been a hostile environment for Crockatt unless she brought an army of supporters with her. No excuse though, it's shameful that she wants to represent us but not face us.
Turner was engaging and seemed to have the most and most passionate support in the crowd. His pitch was that we have a historic opportunity to send a message to the country and the world about what Calgary is. Pretty aspirational stuff in the same vein as Nenshi, though the other candidates attacked him for running like a city counsellor.
Meades was thoughtful and wickedly funny, though his schtick got a bit old old by the end.
The libertarian candidate was in tough but good on him for putting himself out there.
Locke came across as an arrogant Liberal but was pretty effective in making the case that he has real bipartisan legislative experience and that you can't make changes if you don't have power. He was definitely presenting the liberals as the true alternative.
Personally I'm supporting Turner at this point as the best representative for our city and to enjoy the reaction of the rest of Canada like with Nenshi (though that's a side benefit not a reason). To be honest though Harper would shrug off a Green win as no threat, but a Liberal win would put the fear of God into him. Regardless of their current standing and shambolic state he still sees them as the only legitimate threat. So at the end of the day I will vote strategically if I can figure out which way the wind is blowing.
To be honest though Harper would shrug off a Green win as no threat, but a Liberal win would put the fear of God into him. Regardless of their current standing and shambolic state he still sees them as the only legitimate threat. So at the end of the day I will vote strategically if I can figure out which way the wind is blowing.
This is the only part that I slightly disagree with from you. The thing that excites me the most about this actually being a race is that *maybe*, just maybe, Calgary and Alberta will actually get some attention paid to it in the next election if someone other than the CPC wins.
To me, regardless of which party you support, the fact that there were very few legitimate forums/debates here, almost no campaigning (particularly by the conservatives, but by all of the parties) and that the results were a foregone conclusion with no discussion of the issues in general was a disgrace. I don't want to turn this into a "Can you blame them?" thread, because obviously I can't. I just know that there are a lot of good people and good ideas on both sides of the spectrum and maybe some of those come forward with some frank and honest debate.
Crockatt has declined to attend the Cities Matter debate this weekend. Freaking unbelievable.
People can't really vote for that, can they? I mean, I know it worked for the guy in Lethbridge last election, but it really is a fataing joke. I hate to say it, but its a slap in the face of democracy when you won't speak to the public. People say voting is what our forefathers fought for, well here's a newsflash to the CPC decision-makers: they also fought for the right to have events like this!
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Slava For This Useful Post:
I'm with you Slava. I know it may shock people since I'm a latte sipping elitist but my voting record federally is PC, however at this point if I was in the riding I would have to vote for someone else. It just seems completely insulting to everyone in the riding.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bigtime For This Useful Post:
That's definitely quite the slap in the face. I wrote to Crockatt to see what their excuse is. At the end of the day, any candidate that decides to decline debating issues in front of their constituents is an automatic disqualification for me as it shows poor character. No show = no vote.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Table 5 For This Useful Post:
According to a sound bite played on CBC radio last night she already had a commitment "door knocking".
You know, I may have been able to let this slide if she was a candidate that already had a very rich history of political background, but she doesn't. What makes her anymore qualified for this job than the other candidates running? She was a political commentator and journalist? Perhaps, but so was Nenshi, the difference is he backed it up by attending the MOST debates of any candidate in the mayors race, proving he could go toe to toe with others and remain on his game. Joan has shown us none of that by refusing to debate and instead staying in the happy insular world of door knocking.
The Following User Says Thank You to Bigtime For This Useful Post:
Door knocking would annoy me more than anything. Instead of attending an organized forum where I am a captive audience member that is there to hear you talk about issues, and have them challenged by others to see how you can back up your arguments.....I instead get to be interrupted in my own home, and have to put on pants, just to have you give me some 10 second quip and a fake handshake? No thanks.
I guess she figures that would be the safest crowd?
I know it's already been mentioned, but this is typical of the recent string of CPC candidates in Calgary. Ignoring debates and then when pressured, cherry picking the one that magically works in their schedule (or happens to be at a potentially "safe" audience or organization) or the best excuse, "I only received the invite this week and I can't possibly re-juggle my schedule".
It's embarrassing to the whole process and I don't know how anyone can defend this attitude.
Well that explains why this was Crockatt's first (and probably last) debate. I enjoyed hearing about how CBC is a monopoly and has an online porn channel! (Now, where do I find it?)
