The Alison Redford transgressions thread. Update- Redford quits.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

Well to put it in a bit of context it was only July where Redford's handling of the floods (outside of High River) were reviving her popularity ratings back to where they were post 2012 election. It also took less than a week for a "sure bet" Wildrose Majority to flip back to a PC Majority. Heck it was two years ago that she was one of the darlings of the Canadian political landscape.

So 2 years is an incredibly long time to turn things around in Politics.

Oh, agreed. It is certainly possible. I would question how probable given the last decade or so.

Regardless, it requires an incredible amount of spin to look at how the Tory caucus is almost in open revolt and suggest that Danielle Smith is the one who should be sweating.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by fotze

Hope they bought him a new suit after making them sit in there for a few hours.

That's why he rented the tux. Saved the tax payers the cost of a new suit.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Danielle Smith must be sweating now. If PC did get a new premier, 2 year is a long time for voters to forget about Alison's transgression. And if this new premier is a true conservative, what's separating PC from WR then?

This is by far the biggest issue for the WRP at this point.

Fortunately for them, I doubt the PC will elect someone that is 'right' enough that it will severely cannibalize the WRP base.

The more right they get though, I think it creates a good situation for Alberta. If PCs promote a fiscal conservative to leadership it forces both parties to put forth a detail oriented platform that isn't based on vague generalities like "trim the fat and inefficiencies" or the social conservative boogeyman.

[Dion]

'Not a nice lady:' Renegade MLA Webber says Redford prone to 'fits of rage'

In a scrum with reporters on the steps of the McDougall Centre on Thursday, Webber said Redford was "really not a nice lady."

"I cannot work for an individual who treats people poorly, who treats our taxpaying dollars poorly," said Webber, who was first elected in 2004 and served in cabinet under Ed Stelmach.

"I’m not going to get into the details of every conversation that we’ve had but I’ve seen the abuse first-hand, not only to me but many others as well. Fits of rage, temper tantrums. It’s just something I cannot support, something I cannot be a part of any longer."

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...698/story.html

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Oh, agreed. It is certainly possible. I would question how probable given the last decade or so.

Regardless, it requires an incredible amount of spin to look at how the Tory caucus is almost in open revolt and suggest that Danielle Smith is the one who should be sweating.

Not to mention the exact same thing was said last time the PC's removed the sitting premier and instead of electing someone true to their roots they moved even further to the political left with Nanny Redford.

To be clear, there really isn't anything conservative about the PC's. They are really just the Liberal Party running under a different banner.

[BigNumbers]

I'd rather vote Liberal before I voted for the Wild Rednecks... My god, can you imagine them in power.... Yikes.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Ugh...I have a different take on this since I work inside an organization related to the Provincial Government.

Any drama about leadership whether its an election, or change in leadership really impacts the implementation of programs and policies FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

Trust me on this...leadership turnover is expensive (although the costs are hidden) and it impacts the quality of the services the Government provides the public.

The cure can be worse than the disease

[Dion]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

I'd rather vote Liberal before I voted for the Wild Rednecks... My god, can you imagine them in power.... Yikes.

Redford is Liberal red when it comes to spending.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Dion

'Not a nice lady:' Renegade MLA Webber says Redford prone to 'fits of rage'



http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...698/story.html

I thought that this was pretty funny actually. Oh no...she's not a nice lady. Does anyone actually care about that?

I'm very interested to see if there is a mass exodus here though. I think that there has to be more than just Webber ready to leave the caucus?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

I'd rather vote Liberal before I voted for the Wild Rednecks... My god, can you imagine them in power.... Yikes.

It would be a train wreck. Can't decide if the entertainment value is worth the damage.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by troutman

It would be a train wreck. Can't decide if the entertainment value is worth the damage.

Do you mean train wreck like destroying investor confidence by increasing royalties only to reverse your decision after causing huge economic damage or more like a train wreck of constant spending scandals while racking up billions upon billions of dollars debt for your children to pay off?

I view a comment like that as akin to someone on the Titanic refusing to get into a lifeboat because they aren't sure it's safe.

[killer_carlson]

It won't be a trainwreck - or if it is it won't be near as bad as what Redford is doing now.

The WR have some very capable MLAs. Saskiw for example was Gold Medalist at U of A commerce, and Silver Medalist at U of A Law. He was a tax lawyer prior to entering politics.

I kind of like the idea that people with those kind of smarts are in govt.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

It won't be a trainwreck - or if it is it won't be near as bad as what Redford is doing now.

The WR have some very capable MLAs. Saskiw for example was Gold Medalist at U of A commerce, and Silver Medalist at U of A Law. He was a tax lawyer prior to entering politics.

I kind of like the idea that people with those kind of smarts are in govt.

That's one guy. You can find one or two good people in any party, regardless of their politics. Along with him and a few other good, smart people though you have guys like my MLA Jeff Wilson. He couldn't answer any questions during the election campaign and is simply not very good in general. I'm convinced he won by chance, and adds virtually nothing of substance that I've seen.

Thats not just sour grapes or partisanship either. Our prior MLA was brutal, and in all honesty there was one good candidate out of the 4-5 people running. By good, I don't mean that I liked the policies I mean they were well spoken and could answer questions about their platform.

[CaptainCrunch]

Even if Redford walks the plant (arr matey), Wildrose has found something that works and will keep digging hard with the gut feeling that the entitlement department doesn't stop with Redford, they'll also look for any other scandals that Redford is a part of and use it to paint the whole PC party as out of control.

I've always felt that if a party leader in power steps down that it should automatically lead to a dissolving of the government and an election, as a voter we should have the right to decide who runs the government not take a back seat to what is basically a party controlled political appointment.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Slava

That's one guy. You can find one or two good people in any party, regardless of their politics. Along with him and a few other good, smart people though you have guys like my MLA Jeff Wilson. He couldn't answer any questions during the election campaign and is simply not very good in general. I'm convinced he won by chance, and adds virtually nothing of substance that I've seen.

Thats not just sour grapes or partisanship either. Our prior MLA was brutal, and in all honesty there was one good candidate out of the 4-5 people running. By good, I don't mean that I liked the policies I mean they were well spoken and could answer questions about their platform.

I think the point really is there's only one record to speak of that we can evaluate without it being pure speculation.

And that record is clearly not very good at all.

After that you can't seriously evaluate any of the other parties because none of them have formed government (yet).

[Slava]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

I think the point really is there's only one record to speak of that we can evaluate without it being pure speculation.

And that record is clearly not very good at all.

After that you can't seriously evaluate any of the other parties because none of them have formed government (yet).

I can evaluate candidates who have out their name forward for election just fine thanks. I can definitely evaluate sitting MLAs whether they're in government or not. I don't have to give everyone a chance to govern just to see how capable they are... I really have no idea where your going with that.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Even if Redford walks the plant (arr matey), Wildrose has found something that works and will keep digging hard with the gut feeling that the entitlement department doesn't stop with Redford, they'll also look for any other scandals that Redford is a part of and use it to paint the whole PC party as out of control.

I've always felt that if a party leader in power steps down that it should automatically lead to a dissolving of the government and an election, as a voter we should have the right to decide who runs the government not take a back seat to what is basically a party controlled political appointment.

I would prefer to see the leader chosen by a vote of the remaining MLAs from across the political spectrum.

Once in power, I don't like the idea that the card carrying members of the party in power get to pick the new leader of the province without allowing votes from the rest of the province. I don't really like that the party can remove the leader for that matter either.

Leading up to elections it is fine but after the election the power should rest solely with the elected MLAs.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

any word on this hastily called caucus meeting today?

Redford was supposed to be in Saskatchewan to meet with Brad Wall, but CHED reported that the Sask premier's office is saying meeting cancelled. CHED also reporting that all ministers cancelled press and interview commitments this morning because of a "meeting". Understanding is that it is a caucus meeting.

Apparently Redford dialed into the meeting instead of flying to Sask.

She has lost her credibility and standing if she is to scared to go on a plane at all now.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

I'd rather vote Liberal before I voted for the Wild Rednecks... My god, can you imagine them in power.... Yikes.

This province will be a wonderful place once again.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Slava

I thought that this was pretty funny actually. Oh no...she's not a nice lady. Does anyone actually care about that?

I'm very interested to see if there is a mass exodus here though. I think that there has to be more than just Webber ready to leave the caucus?

I thought his personal comments were in poor taste. There was no need to to slag her as a bully and such.