The Alison Redford transgressions thread. Update- Redford quits.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I'm kind of in shock that a premier can be brought down by a 45k trip. I feel like anyone worth their salt could have easily navigated through this or blown it off easier.

She wasn't bought down by the dollar figure, its irrelevant that it was 2 bucks or 200 thousand bucks.

She was bought down by the optics of the trip and her handling of it afterwards.

[Troubamaker]

Originally Posted by Dion

This is bad news for the WRP. It gives the PC's a chance rebuild confidence with voters before the next election. With the right person in charge chances are good they could win the next election.

Maybe the WRP would think twice about giving the opposition leader a standing ovation next time. But probably not.

[CaptainCrunch]

Doesn't matter, the WRP is going to be digging doubly as hard now to find out if there are more scandals out there.

[Kjesse]

She was lynched. Maybe she'd do better at a game of mafia scum?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I think that Redford was put in an unattainable situation in which she was destined for failure, her support was non-existent from anyone, no one really had her back at any point in time and frankly the Wildrose played really good (and bad depending on your view) politics in which they portrayed Redford as some sort of maniacal, egotistical person with the most extravagant personal spending in politics. The criticisms against her were almost all personal with little to do with actual policy.

The political analyst on CTV said almost the same thing. Nearly everyone that carried her to the leadership is gone. She had less support within her party than she did without.

Add in her arrogance and her sense of entitlement, and she was in big trouble. One wonders if the PCs will learn their lesson about going with middle of the road candidates this time around.

[Acey]

Nenshi to speak at 6:45, Global will carry it.

[smoothpops]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

She wasn't bought down by the dollar figure, its irrelevant that it was 2 bucks or 200 thousand bucks.

She was bought down by the optics of the trip and her handling of it afterwards.

She should have taken a page from Harper's strategy. Prorogue, read old speeches on accountability, and absolutely refuse to answer any questions. apparently that's how one keeps PC support.

[the_only_turek_fan]

The real loser here might be Smith.

If she goes head to head with someone established and credible, she will probably lose.

First Feaster, now Redford. This is exciting.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Well glad to see her ego still leads the way. The second biggest disaster in Canadian Political history after Kim Campbell.

Good riddance Redford, pay for your own travel expenses now.

do the right thing and dissolve this entitled corrupt government and let the people decide who they want to lead.

Really? Campbell went from a solid majority down to two seats (out of a possible few hundred!!). Redford pulled out a huge win as leader. Not exactly an epic failure there.

She clearly wasn't going to get the backing of her party, and as a result she took the fall. Like her or not (I have a pretty good idea where most of you sit on that scale), she did actually accomplish a fair amount as premier. The infrastructure building including the SW ring road here, the Canadian Energy Plan and her lobbying aggressively for Keystone are highlights for sure. She undertook some nation-building in her short time and that is something we rarely see in politics these days.

[Troubamaker]

Originally Posted by Acey

Nenshi to speak at 6:45, Global will carry it.

"I will be running for the PC leadership"

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Doesn't matter, the WRP is going to be digging doubly as hard now to find out if there are more scandals out there.

This is the laziest politics that there is. If they do this, it will show that the party is an amateur party that doesn't deserve to be in a position of power. If they wanted to do something they could look into the actual policies of the PCs rather than attempt to look for minor spending incongruities and travel arrangements.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Doesn't matter, the WRP is going to be digging doubly as hard now to find out if there are more scandals out there.

Sounds like the sign of some really great leadership...try to bring the other guy down, instead of showing why you you should be brought up.

[Acey]

Smith will "give a short statement and take a few questions," live on CTV stream here.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

This is the laziest politics that there is. If they do this, it will show that the party is an amateur party that doesn't deserve to be in a position of power. If they wanted to do something they could look into the actual policies of the PCs rather than attempt to look for minor spending incongruities and travel arrangements.

The current strategy has the PCs down to 19% in the polls. It may be low brow politics, but it is effective. Like I told Slava - most voters care about sound bytes.

And lets face it, after Stelmach and Redford, the PCs really need to hit a home run on their next leader. Even without digging for scandals, the Tories are going to field a pile of questions and commentary about leadership gulfs and lack of direction.

[Acey]

Smith: "what we witnessed is the clearest indication yet that the PC party simply can't be fixed"

Shots fired.

[Regular_John]

Wow, didn't see this one coming. Can we please have a snap election this time? None of this closed door "leadership race" BS from last time?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Wow, didn't see this one coming. Can we please have a snap election this time? None of this closed door "leadership race" BS from last time?

Won't happen. The PCs will need time to rebuild their war chest after picking a new leader.

Also, it isn't really closed door, as you can buy a membership and vote. However in this case, it will cost actual money to gain the franchise.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The current strategy has the PCs down to 19% in the polls. It may be low brow politics, but it is effective. Like I told Slava - most voters care about sound bytes.

And lets face it, after Stelmach and Redford, the PCs really need to hit a home run on their next leader. Even without digging for scandals, the Tories are going to field a pile of questions and commentary about leadership gulfs and lack of direction.

Yeah but that strategy has a shelf life. People will tune out the noise eventually and it will just appear like the Wildrose is a party of whiners rather than an actual opposition. Legitimately, they have rarely spoken about policy that I can recall, mostly just trivialities like poorly arranged flight itineraries.

[RedHot25]

Interestingly enough, just heard on the news that she is remaining as a MLA...

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Won't happen. The PCs will need time to rebuild their war chest after picking a new leader.

Also, it isn't really closed door, as you can buy a membership and vote. However in this case, it will cost actual money to gain the franchise.

That's the BS to me, they party interest get better served than the public's interest it seems.

Maybe I'm naive here, but the people of Alberta shouldn't have to "buy a membership" to have a say in the leadership of the province. It should be an elected position, but I realize it's not.

But this is my view, like I said, may be misguided.