Oh for sure, but you can't swing a dead cat in Calgary without hitting someone who is ideologically similar to Harper and the rest of the party. They are all more palatable than Anders, yet there he is year after year.
Just seems like there is a little more to it than "he agrees with us, so he stays".
Well, maybe there are the people who you can swing a cat at who identify with harper, but maybe Anders is a guy who Harper identifies with.
Maybe there is 'I vote for this guy because of the colour of his signs and platitudes he uses," but also a "Rob Anders serves an important function as an anchor and truth teller to power of CPC style conservativism."
I mean, really, the most likely explanation isn't that Anders has embarrassing information on Harper being a secret hippie lesbian that has kept Anders in power for nearly 20 years, it's that he is liked by the people who enforce the party rules.
My sense is that if he lost the CPC riding nomination in Signal Hill, he'd simply run as an independent in 2015, claiming to be the true Conservative in the riding - blue signs, etc etc.
Hasn't he been out to some of the Wildrose events and things like that? For some reason I thought that he was at the "victory" party in the last election for example.
I got an email from the Anders campaign asking me to volunteer.
Also, before the vote on April 12, there is a candidates' forum on April 11 at the Calgary French School. I'll try to attend.
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We may curse our bad luck that it's sounds like its; who's sounds like whose; they're sounds like their (and there); and you're sounds like your. But if we are grown-ups who have been through full-time education, we have no excuse for muddling them up.
I recently purchased a membership and will be voting in this. To get a membership you have give a phone number. Since doing so, I've gotten about 6 annoying robocalls from the Anders campaign, none from the Liepert campaign, and the ones I've listened to are full on attack messages.
I think this means Anders knows how the vote count is going and is pulling out all the stops to try to salvage the nomination.
The Following User Says Thank You to Kjesse For This Useful Post:
If everyone to the left of Anders were to be cast out, there wouldn’t be many left. Nor can Anders have it both ways — he cannot be both the brave maverick within the party and the poster boy for it.
Still, Anders is doubling down on this strategy. Not only are the Red Tories plotting to oust him, it’s evolved into a sinister plot involving Liberals — all of which is to somehow benefit Justin Trudeau in the 2015 election.
Even if there are actual Liberals buying Tory memberships, it’s not evidence of a plot to advance the Liberal cause — it’s evidence that they’ve given up. The Liberals don’t stand much chance of winning this riding, so some may be going for the next best thing: someone not named Rob Anders. Otherwise, they’d probably want Anders to stick around. In the 2011 federal election, no other Calgary Liberal candidate got more votes that the Liberal in Anders’ riding.
Reader comment diane marie: Mr. Anders is one of those simple thinkers who believes that everything can be reduced to a black-or-white argument - that, or he thinks that his audience is that simple. I am at a loss to understand how Mr. Anders possesses the intellectual wherewithal to, for example, evaluate legislation. Maybe such skills are not needed in the Harper world. In the cartoonish Rob Anders world, though, there are only two columns: one headed "friends" and the other, "enemies".
I recently purchased a membership and will be voting in this. To get a membership you have give a phone number. Since doing so, I've gotten about 6 annoying robocalls from the Anders campaign, none from the Liepert campaign, and the ones I've listened to are full on attack messages.
I think this means Anders knows how the vote count is going and is pulling out all the stops to try to salvage the nomination.
I've had about the same number of robocalls, a visit from Rob Anders, a phone call from Rob Anders, and a mailer - all attacking Liepert. I've had about two calls from the Liepert team, both just reminding me of the forum on Friday night and the vote on Saturday. Very odd how different they both are.
__________________
We may curse our bad luck that it's sounds like its; who's sounds like whose; they're sounds like their (and there); and you're sounds like your. But if we are grown-ups who have been through full-time education, we have no excuse for muddling them up.
Since my last post I've received two more Anders robocalls. These were not attack ads, but were recorded by people (I didn't recognize their names, one apparently had been an MP) promoting Anders' record lowering taxes and each message mentioned the Harper endorsement.
All I received from the Liepert campaign was an email saying please vote.
My wife and I will be voting tomorrow. Anders has to go.
Also Anders sent out an email yesterday supposedly mourning Jim Flaherty's passing, but instead seemed to be more campaigning.
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my friend and colleague Jim Flaherty. We have lost a great Canadian and one of Canada's greatest Finance Ministers. I want to extend my deepest condolences to his family, especially his wife, Christine Elliott MPP, and his three sons. I was privileged to serve with Jim. We fought three elections together and under his leadership we cut taxes 160 times, resulting in an average tax savings of $3,000 for every Canadian family. My thoughts and prayers and those of all Calgarians are with his family at this time.
Anyway, off to the candidates' debate later tonight. Hope there's some fireworks.
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We may curse our bad luck that it's sounds like its; who's sounds like whose; they're sounds like their (and there); and you're sounds like your. But if we are grown-ups who have been through full-time education, we have no excuse for muddling them up.
We fought three elections together and under his leadership we cut taxes 160 times, resulting in an average tax savings of $3,000 for every Canadian family.
What a ###### to use Flaherty's death as a time to promote himself. Its to be expected though, ever since I met him at the U of C in 1990 he presented as a total #######.
Please post a few tidbits from the debate when you get back. I would have liked to go but my wife is at the game and I'm looking after our baby tonight.
I probably shouldn't have used the term "debate" as it was a forum. And it was mostly boring.
Liepert and Anders each had five minute opening statements, then 90 seconds each to answer the same question posed to them. The questions were submitted by the audience on cards, but were so generic it seemed like they were agreed upon by both men beforehand.
"How have you helped the riding?"
"Give me a specific example of how you helped a constituent."
"What mistake have you made and what have you learned?"
"Would you attend community events, such as barbecues?" (seriously)
There were some more specific questions later, for example asking the candidates for their opinions on the Fair Elections Act.
Then each had a five-minute closing statement. They didn't address each other directly, nor did they have a chance to respond to their opponent's answers.
No real fireworks, and no one in that room would have changed their vote based on what they heard last night. Kinda boring, really. I wish at least they would have provided snacks.
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We may curse our bad luck that it's sounds like its; who's sounds like whose; they're sounds like their (and there); and you're sounds like your. But if we are grown-ups who have been through full-time education, we have no excuse for muddling them up.
A lot of people in the riding might not like Anders but they probably don't care enough to get out, buy a membership, and vote. If Anders can get a higher percentage of his supporters out he could see a win.
In any election, you can be less popular but can still win if you can get out voters. If you have a good strategy and good team to execute the strategy you can win.
I probably shouldn't have used the term "debate" as it was a forum. And it was mostly boring.
Liepert and Anders each had five minute opening statements, then 90 seconds each to answer the same question posed to them. The questions were submitted by the audience on cards, but were so generic it seemed like they were agreed upon by both men beforehand.
"How have you helped the riding?"
"Give me a specific example of how you helped a constituent."
"What mistake have you made and what have you learned?"
"Would you attend community events, such as barbecues?" (seriously)
There were some more specific questions later, for example asking the candidates for their opinions on the Fair Elections Act.
Then each had a five-minute closing statement. They didn't address each other directly, nor did they have a chance to respond to their opponent's answers.
No real fireworks, and no one in that room would have changed their vote based on what they heard last night. Kinda boring, really. I wish at least they would have provided snacks.
According to Anders, the blowhard, he "won the debate."
