2 Wildrose MLAs to cross to PCs

[Minnie]

CC, you make me laugh.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Anyone want to start a political party with me. We'll call it the Angry part. If elected

We promise once a week to turn over a table in the legislature
When Smith stands up to talk we'll all make yaking motions with our fingers while rolling our eyes and yelling "Bwack Bwack Bwack"
Once a week we'll have a toga day where we show up in Toga's underwear optional.
Our press releases will always start with the phrase "What's up b%%ches"

I figure with that platform we can become the official opposition in the next election.

When Smith speaks, a party rule should be to hold up cardboard cutouts of Kevin Lowe's head and throw Oilers plastic cups and diapers across the floor.

[krazycanuck]

Politics in this province have been screwed up since Klein left. Sure he was a drunk who did some stupid things during his time in politics. But he also seemed to actually give a crap about his policies and not so much about his perception. He was more of a guy next door than all of these blowhards in the legislature now.

Plus, this:

[oilyfan]

I miss First Lady

[Slava]

After giving this a little thought, I think you have to afford some consideration to the courage that Danielle Smith showed by folding and crossing. Before you flame me, let me explain why.

First of all, if she actually believes that the point of the Wildrose has been met, then it was somewhat inevitable. Why continue fighting and arguing just for the sake of fighting and arguing? One of the most irritating things about politics is when people refuse to acknowledge their opponents good points or policies under any circumstances. Smith has aggressively broken that mould!

Secondly, this is exactly the kind of love that the centrists could use. Sure, hardcore members on both sides are going to be upset. And yes, they might be upset for a long time. Thing is what option do they actually have? Like even the supporters in this thread who hate it basically either vote Liberal or NDP, or stay home aside from the PC's. There's no doubt that politically this was a position of join them or get destroyed over the coming years. There weren't a lot of bright prospects for the Wildrose, so why prolong the agony?

I know that the actual floor crossing is distasteful, and there are obvious issues with her and her last for power as opposed to principles. I don't pretend to try to defend that, and I think it's deplorable. I just think it's not as black and white as some people are making it out to be.

[Dion]

As part of the "reunification", we dance.

http://www.jibjab.com/view/DR-oH6T5S...b&cmpid=jj_url

[#-3]

I say this as someone who has voted PC in the past but not recently, and never would have voted for the wild rose.

I don't really see what the big deal is with floor crossings, especially with like minded parties. Smith said their goal was to drive out PC leaders & policies that were not representing them as former PCs, now she feels they have someone who represents their views. So in her view her party really has no purpose as an opposition, because she agrees with what the government is doing. Political ambition would be continuing to try and overthrow a government she really has no problem with.

People talk about this as a betrayal to voters. To me our political system betrays voters by not allowing representatives to vote the way that best represents their constituency on every single issue. That is what they were elected to do.

I even feel parliamentary governments should give more consideration to appointing MPs/MLAs from other parties to minister roles if they are obviously the best person for the job. But I understand why both of these things do not happen. The nomination, campaigning, confidence vote, and voter education process would all need a complete over haul to even start allowing MLAs to represent their constituency rather than their party.

[troutman]

It is natural and logical for the right to unite in one party, but Smith and her caucus should only receive those instructions from the membership.

[#-3]

I say this as someone who has voted PC in the past but not recently, and never would have voted for the wild rose.

I don't really see what the big deal is with floor crossings, especially with like minded parties. Smith said their goal was to drive out PC leaders & policies that were not representing them as former PCs, now she feels they have someone who represents their views. So in her view her party really has no purpose as an opposition, because she agrees with what the government is doing. Political ambition would be continuing to try and overthrow a government she really has no problem with.

People talk about this as a betrayal to voters. To me our political system betrays voters by not allowing representatives to vote the way that best represents their constituency on every single issue. That is what they were elected to do.

I even feel parliamentary governments should give more consideration to appointing MPs/MLAs from other parties to minister roles if they are obviously the best person for the job. But I understand why both of these things do not happen. The nomination, campaigning, confidence vote, and voter education process would all need a complete over haul to even start allowing MLAs to represent their constituency rather than their party.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by #-3

To me our political system betrays voters by not allowing representatives to vote the way that best represents their constituency on every single issue. That is what they were elected to do.

I'd rather be voting for leaders than followers.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by #-3

I don't really see what the big deal is with floor crossings, especially with like minded parties.

I'm guessing you wouldn't feel that way if more than half of the PC caucus crossed the floor to the Wildrose. Wildrose MLA's were elected by people who didn't want the PC's in government, there is no justification for them to join the PC's. If they had a shred of courage they would have sat as independents and then tried to win a PC nomination in the next election. This is simply an example of pigs at the trough on both sides.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Wildrose MLA's were elected by people who didn't want the PC's in government, there is no justification for them to join the PC's. If they had a shred of courage they would have sat as independents and then tried to win a PC nomination in the next election.

Isn't that an assumption? Ideally they were elected because they represented the ideas that the majority of constituents felt were most important. Though in practice I'd guess most people do vote for the party rather than the person, but I blame that on the system.

I have less of an issue with the crossings themselves, I have more of an issue with almost no opposition, but that's nothing new in Alberta.

What I really want to know is what the quote was from Smith I heard on the radio.. something like it's the opposition's job to take out the government, to take out the Premier, and she didn't want to take out this Premier, was that it? The quote sounded like a 4 second soundbyte that summed the whole problem with her.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by #-3

People talk about this as a betrayal to voters. To me our political system betrays voters by not allowing representatives to vote the way that best represents their constituency on every single issue. That is what they were elected to do.

Well, unfortunately, that's just the way our system works. More often than not representatives have to tow the party line on important votes and this is the way it's been for quite some time now. Fixing the system is an entirely different issue IMO.

Given the way the system works isn't really a surprise to anyone, what about the voters that voted for an MLA that they felt best represented their constituency? Only to have said MLA cross the floor to another party with a different set of values..

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by photon

What I really want to know is what the quote was from Smith I heard on the radio.. something like it's the opposition's job to take out the government, to take out the Premier, and she didn't want to take out this Premier, was that it? The quote sounded like a 4 second soundbyte that summed the whole problem with her.

That explains a lot, given the party mantra the last little while pretty much started and ended at "Send the PC's a Message." Was hoping for a little more than "we're not the PC's" but it never seemed to reach that point.

Cheap attempt to save face IMO. Like she's saying she ousted 2 Premier's and we finally got a good one so the message was sent and now she can move on..

[FlamesAllTheWay]

From the Government of Alberta website:

The role of the Opposition is to criticize government activity, propose improvements, and present itself to the public as an alternative to the party in office.

lol, so much for that

[Harry Lime]

Maybe we should start a grassroots movement to install a democracy. It's beginning to feel like Alberta is being set up as Putin's fallback retirement position.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by photon

Isn't that an assumption? Ideally they were elected because they represented the ideas that the majority of constituents felt were most important. Though in practice I'd guess most people do vote for the party rather than the person, but I blame that on the system.

It's not much of an assumption. Many if not most of the Wildrose supporters were made up of ex-PC supporters who'd had enough of the PC's. People who voted for them purely based on their platform were still not wanting the PC's. Personally I don't have a problem with most of the PC's policies and generally like Prentice but feel that the party needs a purge of the backroom rot, cronyism and corruption that accumulates after decades in power.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by FlamesAllTheWay

Well, unfortunately, that's just the way our system works. More often than not representatives have to tow the party line on important votes and this is the way it's been for quite some time now. Fixing the system is an entirely different issue IMO.

Given the way the system works isn't really a surprise to anyone, what about the voters that voted for an MLA that they felt best represented their constituency? Only to have said MLA cross the floor to another party with a different set of values..

Well I think the Wild Rose floor crossers are arguing that the PCs have shifted towards their value since the change in leadership, so they see no point in having a party centered around the idea that the PCs have lost their way.

And I do know that is how our system works, but that is not how it was intended to work, so I was just complaining about how our system is broken.

[c.t.ner]

I don't take any credit for the image, but it is perfect.

[Jacks]

Andrew Coyne:

In any province the opposition will from time to time take over a government. But only in Alberta will you find a government taking over the opposition