The Alison Redford transgressions thread. Update- Redford quits.

[killer_carlson]

I suspect the spring session winds up much earlier than June when it was supposed to, as a PC tactic to stem the bleeding.

[darklord700]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/03/15...-by-tory-execs

"But oh no. Redford says it is “quite interesting” to hear a lot of people telling her she shouldn’t have written the cheque."

Redford talked about the painful $45K cheque she had to cut right after the board meeting. Is there a more apparent evident that she isn't going to change her spots and she just doesn't get it?

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by darklord700

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/03/15...-by-tory-execs

PC party attempts to stave off disaster by cooking up a ‘work plan’ for their embattled leader

Little does she know that she is now on double secret probation.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Dion

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/alber...ting-1.1730911

Standing ovation for Redford...what a joke. Can they possibly be so out of touch?

Reminds me of "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job"

[Tinordi]

Doesn't Redford have another three years before she faces the electorate? That's like the Jurassic era in politics. Makes no sense to step down now.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

Standing ovation for Redford...what a joke. Can they possibly be so out of touch?

Reminds me of "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job"

If its true, what of it, they're politicians, they're worse then NHL GM's in giving coaches votes of confidence. They'll slap you on the back, tell you what a amazing job you're doing and then slide the knife in.

The interesting thing is if the tone changes if 12 to 20 MLA's cross the floor next week.

The PC's are expecting the electorate to be typically stupid with a short attention span. If Alison shuts her pie hole until the next election while giving out big checks to the unions and other special interest groups they'll expect to win again.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The PC's are expecting the electorate to be typically stupid with a short attention span. If Alison shuts her pie hole until the next election while giving out big checks to the unions and other special interest groups they'll expect to win again.

They've learned well. They've been running the show for 40 years, and now this disaster is being blamed on liberals and somehow unions.

They are right. We are stupid.

[Azure]

Well we all know they are stupid. The fact that Redford is even in charge of the PC party indicates that more than enough.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Firing charlebois is interesting.

Apparently not the case??

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/03/15...-by-tory-execs

But Kelley Charlebois, the party’s executive director and not a man on the premier’s Christmas card list, does not get bounced after all.

The people behind the closed doors like Charlebois. They come out and tell the press they like Charlebois.


Redford will not be amused.

[killer_carlson]

Charlebois staying is full of intrigue. Clearly he isnot one of Redford's crew. She wanted him gone yet he stays. He called out a bunch of people for not donating to the party - and Redford is one of those not donating.

This is a fissure that will continue to grow. He will blame lack of fundraising on her, and she will blame it on him.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Charlebois staying is full of intrigue.

This not the best time to deal with your enermy for Redford. Charlebois staying is a sign that Redford is losing power. This will not go away, if and when donation drys up, another revolt will take place.

[killer_carlson]

Let's play another game:

Suppose I am a current or recent PC party member. I've attended a BBQ or two over the years and may have donated some money at some point in years past. Not a lot, but a few hundred bucks.

Your task - should you choose to accept it - is to convince me to donate to the PCs again, and more importantly right now.

Task 2

Same as above, but for the Libs

Task 3

Same as above, but or the NDP

Task 4

Same as above, but for the WR



My answers

Task 1


Honestly, puting aside all partisan politics, I cannot think of ANY sound, reasonable arguments on behalf of the PCs that would draw donors back to the tent. The only one I can think of is for those who hold an IOU, and that is "better donate now or else your IOU is worthless, and we can't cash them all in now"

Task 2

You tried to go to Redford, but she talks out of both sides of her mouth and screwed it up. Come back to our party, we know the message, always have, and will get on with delivering it

Task 3

This is our chance to take official opposition status. The PCs and WR will split the right wing vote and we can grab seats where we take 35 or 40 % of the vote. We can really make an impact and need to seize the opportunity while Redford is still leading the PCs

Task 4

This is our chance. Redford has abandoned and alienated fiscal conservatives and we are approaching Getty like debt. Her own party want her out, and we need to fundraise to get out our message showing tangible solutions to Redford's problem. This will open disgruntled voters to our camp, and put us over the top for next election.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by darklord700

This not the best time to deal with your enermy for Redford. Charlebois staying is a sign that Redford is losing power. This will not go away, if and when donation drys up, another revolt will take place.

Add that on top of MLA's and party executives going totally off script, calling for her resignation, attacking each other and basically saying whatever they want. Someone needs to pull that group together quick and I don't think Redford can. Nobody seems afraid of consequences, the inmates are running the asylum.

[Dion]

Disgruntled MLAs ponder next steps

Premier Redford’s ‘work plan’ met with skepticism

However, a smaller group of 10 PC Tory MLAs unhappy with Redford’s leadership talked Sunday night about their options, which include sitting as an independent caucus or presenting their own set of conditions to the premier, according to an MLA who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The MLA — one of two to confirm the meeting — is skeptical about both the substance and potential effectiveness of the party’s idea.

“Do I have any hope in hell getting re-elected in 2016 under a work plan? Not really,” said the politician.

However, a PC board member who spoke Sunday said the plan — which has not yet been finalized — is likely to include demands for greater communication between the premier, party and caucus, and could call for changes to the functioning and staffing of the premier’s office.

It could also set a timeline for the party to see improvement in the polls.

“I think it’s pretty clear Albertans have had her on probation for some time — now we do too,” said the director, who attended Saturday’s meeting.

Mount Royal political analyst David Taras said he’s never heard of a political party requiring a sitting premier to complete a work plan.

“And then what are they going to do? Say, ‘you got a C-plus, here’s more homework?’” he asked.

Taras said it’s the equivalent of being hauled up to the front of the classroom and for Redford, it’s not only humiliating, but politically damaging.

“It’s the indignity of this, the taking authority away from her,” he said. “Who makes the decisions? If she’s not making the decisions, and someone else is making the decisions, then it really is the beginning of the end.”

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...621/story.html

[CaptainCrunch]

there is something definitely broken in that party right now beyond Redford. Instead of taking the chance of recovering slightly with decisive action up to and including pushing Redford at the door what they've basically said is

"We've analyzed the issue from all sides, and we've decided that we need to form a 5 star political action committee to look at the problem and come up with a solution. But until that committee is resolved I can give you a definite probable maybe"

Expect Wildrose to double down and attack the PC Party leadership starting tommorrow. I would also expect a larger defection by the end of the week if the PC's decide that the best action is to ignore this.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Task 3

This is our chance to take official opposition status. The PCs and WR will split the right wing vote and we can grab seats where we take 35 or 40 % of the vote. We can really make an impact and need to seize the opportunity while Redford is still leading the PCs

Interesting game. I generally agree for the Liberals and NDP. For the PCs, it is hard to come up with an argument while Redford is in charge. If they manage to oust her, the new leader can then talk about healing and going new directions, etc. It would be marginally believable if a fiscal conservative were to win the leadership.

But for the argument above, I get what you are saying in terms of the NDP's arguments in this hypothetical, however the only people that such a message would convince are the few die-hard NDP supporters that exist in this province. Wildrose and the PCs owned nearly 80% of the vote last time around. Splitting the vote on the "right" doesn't benefit the NDP at all. For them to have any hope of official opposition status, they would actually need at least 25% of that vote to not only move left, but to bypass the Liberals entirely. Not going to happen. So your argument here is actually a good one for the Liberals to be making rather than the NDP.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

Standing ovation for Redford...what a joke. Can they possibly be so out of touch?

Reminds me of "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job"

SOP, actually.

People hoping for a mass exodus of PC MLAs are probably living in a dream world. They may threaten it internally to try and oust Redford, but it was always a bluff, and I think it got called this weekend. The only thing a mass crossing of the floor would do is cause the government to collapse, and since independents almost never win elections, they would be largely out of a job.

So now that that bluff has been called, and given the party can't actually force her out apparently, it comes down to damage control. The whole "promise to do better" part is Redford's side of that deal, and the impression of support is the rest of the party's. Thus, the standing ovation. They are screwed if they don't appear unified as the next election approaches, and they know it. This is simple self-preservation politics.

That is only the public face of it, however. How many daggers remain unsheathed in the shadows is unknown.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Dion

Disgruntled MLAs ponder next steps

Premier Redford’s ‘work plan’ met with skepticism

“It’s the indignity of this, the taking authority away from her,” he said. “Who makes the decisions? If she’s not making the decisions, and someone else is making the decisions, then it really is the beginning of the end.”

Does anyone else find it odd that an unelected body can strip powers and decision making abilities from a sitting premier?

I find that quite unsettling. I wouldn't mind if the decision came from the sitting MLAs but to come from party brass feels weird.

[killer_carlson]

10 MLAs who met yesterday to talk about walking identified in CBC article.

Young
Brown
Amery
Sarich
Jablomski
Cindy oleson
Generous
Fenske
Ciao
Lemke

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...ucus-1.2575314

Could be more fireworks coming out of a caucus meeting today. Sounds like Young is going to pick a fight.

[darklord700]

Not sure about the rest but Young's defection is obvious and almost certain.