The Alison Redford transgressions thread. Update- Redford quits.

[ken0042]

Can't somebody offer up his seat for a period of time? I seem to recall that's how Brian Mulroney sat as the official leader of the opposition before winning the 1984 election.

[Jacks]

If (when) Prentice wins he will call an immediate by-election, someone will give up their seat right away. Expect a byelection call on Monday or Tuesday. Until then he can still serve as Premier even without a seat in the ledge.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Maybe this is too Machiavellian, but what if Prentice's team is orchestrating all of this in-fighting to give the party an excuse to dump all the scandal-plagued MLAs from the old regime? Everyone knows the Wildrose Party is going to attack him as being nothing more than lipstick on a pig, so maybe he's trying to get ahead of it so he can truthfully claim that under his leadership it's no longer the same PC Party?

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Probably not far off. Shed the liabilities and frame it as a clean break and new beginning.

As Jacks notes, framing the PC's under Prentice as a "new beginning" is only going to encourage the opposition to endlessly make comparisons to when Redford made the same claim. It's going to ring hollow and could actually be counterproductive.

Orchestrating the scandals is an interesting concept, but I am not certain that would be all that wise. For one, it prolongs the controversy which only shortens the time the PCs have to recover. Second, is Lukaszuk the kind of guy you expect to go quietly? Dangerous game to force out someone who could drop bombs on you at the worst times. Third, it would be a tacit admission that the PC party is rotten to its core, which only favours Wildrose and the Liberals in the long run.

Plus, if such a plan were itself to ever be leaked, it would be the end of the party.

[Nufy]

Hee hee...

http://technology.canoe.ca/Gaming/Ne.../21930801.html

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

is Lukaszuk the kind of guy you expect to go quietly?

Nope

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/09...eadership-bid/
Alberta PC MLA writing ‘behind the scenes’ book on ex-premier Alison Redford after failed leadership bid

Just imagine the skeletons he would dig up if the party dumped him.

[Tyler]

Sleaziest of sleaze right there. I expected nothing less from him

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Sleaziest of sleaze right there. I expected nothing less from him

Yes, and such an odd thing for someone who said they want to retain their riding. He'll be lucky to be running as anything other than an independent the way he's headed.

[killer_carlson]

I am not surprised that he is planning on going out in a blaze of glory.

I've said it before that Lukazsuk was a Redford opponent in caucus - likely because he had his own designs on the Premier's chair. But I think the allegations that he was complicit with Redford drove him nuts and he's going to let loose.

He'll be quiet and play the nice role down the stretch. He won't run again for MLA imo.

I think he has his designs on the Mayoral seat.

[calgarywinning]

I think he should sell his book door to door style, like they used to with Encyclopedia's.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I think he has his designs on the Mayoral seat.

Why do you think that? Ive seen that on here before, maybe from you. What signs have you seen from him that makes you think this?

[killer_carlson]

it probably was me who said it.

I think that is the case because he loves the limelight and enjoys being a politician. His time as an MLA is over. he knew that when he announced he would run against Prentice who had overwhelming caucus support.

He also likes being in charge of something. If he were to run for MP he'd be relegated to the back benches (can't see Kenny too thrilled if Lukaszuk bumped Ambrose as Edmonton's MP). As Mayor, he'd be "the" guy.

There was some talk last election about it. He responded with a comment along the lines that he will consider whatever the will of the people will be. To me that means he's at least thought about it. His wife is a global reporter and they are well positioned to be Edmonton's high profile duo.

Edmonton was desperate for their Nenshi and they elected a hardworking Alderman as their Mayor. This guy is a Justin Trudeau want to be. Tonnes of platitudes out of him. But he has no real world experience (elected right out of U of A with lots of students union support) and Edmonton is facing some big issues. The honeymoon period with Iverson has been extended as a result of Prentice's recent comments about supporting cities, but make no mistake, he has a lot to prove in the next year or public opinion in him will suffer.

My bet is that he becomes the PC version of a younger Brian Mason. He'll spend lots of time in the community, shaking hands, smiling, going on a farewell tour. He'll be able to join in the upswing of most Prentice moves, but be able to distance himself from Prentice mis-steps or percieved slights.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Just imagine the skeletons he would dig up if the party dumped him.

Honest question though: Can you take him at his word? It is clear from his public persona flip flop wrt Redford that he will say and do anything that he thinks will help him get ahead. By default, that makes nearly anything he says suspect because one cannot determine how much is truth, and how much is self-aggrandizing spin.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Honest question though: Can you take him at his word?

Hell no, guy is slimy.

Would make for good theater though.

[darklord700]

Isn't the young Don Iveson really popular in Edmonton? Don't think Lukazsuk would stand a chance running against Iveson.

I don't think people are dying to read his memoire. The Redford bit might be interesting but people would have already forgotten about Redford the time this book comes out.

[V]

Yeah, Iveson is very popular up here, and I have to think he's mayor for as long as he wants to be. The SE LRT and Arena project will be his defining moments here in Edmonton, and unless they go poorly he should be a shoe-in for future elections.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by V

Yeah, Iveson is very popular up here, and I have to think he's mayor for as long as he wants to be. The SE LRT and Arena project will be his defining moments here in Edmonton, and unless they go poorly he should be a shoe-in for future elections.

Arena project involves oilers, oilers are no good, hence arena will project will be no good. Can't deny the logic.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Interesting.

Prentice has said the first 10 days after he is elected things will change (or I believe he did - I may be off on that).

Well so far it's been a pretty interesting 5 days.

two unelected cabinet ministers, reversal of the license plate, reversal of the closing of mitchner, whole sale changes to the foreign trade office, demotion of key redford cabinet members, proroguing of the legislature, and selling off of the airplane fleet.

It'll be interesting to see what happens next week.

[Dion]

[killer_carlson]

Arena will be Mandel's legacy, not Iveson's.

Iveson hasn't had an issue yet to be tested, so he's riding the wave right now.

[darklord700]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ed...962/story.html

RCMP is looking into Redford's affair. I will be shocked if anything major is gonna come out of this, however.