2 Wildrose MLAs to cross to PCs

[RedMileDJ]

http://recalldanielle.ca

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by 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.

The courageous thing would be to resign. The sleazy thing would be to cross the floor.

[RedMileDJ]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

http://recalldanielle.ca

From the site:

Smith used to support MLA recall – the right for voters to force a byelection in a riding.

“I think if you set the bar high enough when somebody has truly demonstrated an abuse of the public trust, it gives them a mechanism to be able to fire their representative midstream rather than have to wait for the next election.”

– Danielle Smith, CBC News, November 19, 2014.

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/cal...tory/1.2840882


This was on November 19th. 30 days later she jumps ship.

Hey Danielle, let's test this out, eh?

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by 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.

100% this, thank you.

Genius move by Prentice though.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Knalus

The courageous thing would be to resign. The sleazy thing would be to cross the floor.

Crossing the floor is always sleazy in my opinion. I would either resign or sit as an independent if it were me, but I'm probably too ethical to actually get elected (or at least that's the line I feed myself!)

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by Slava

Crossing the floor is always sleazy in my opinion. I would either resign or sit as an independent if it were me, but I'm probably too ethical to actually get elected (or at least that's the line I feed myself!)

I agree, if she truly doesn't believe in the purpose of the Wild Rose party anymore, or believes that the reasons her constituents voted her as their representative do not aline with what the Wild Rose party can accomplish now, she is totally in her right to resign as leader of the Wild Rose, but she should sit as an independent until next election. Despite what convention says, the people vote both for the party and the person, and while she still has the mandate to represent the peoples wishes, she doesn't have the right in my mind to align her constituents with a new party without their expressed mandate. Sit as an independent, join the PC's for next election and see if the people will vote for you as a PC.

[troutman]

Don Braid @DonBraid
Smith’s move? Yuck. Never saw that in 42 years of writing about politics. Column http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/braid-how-could-smith-do-that-to-her-party … #ableg #wrp #pcaa #yyc #yeg


rick bell @sunrickbell
At this time of night I sit back realizing rarely has a political story disgusted me to the degree today's did. #ableg #wrp #pcaa #calsun

Strong words, since Bell is perpetually disgusted about everything.

[RedMileDJ]

Originally Posted by troutman

Don Braid @DonBraid
Smith’s move? Yuck. Never saw that in 42 years of writing about politics. Column http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/braid-how-could-smith-do-that-to-her-party … #ableg #wrp #pcaa #yyc #yeg


rick bell @sunrickbell
At this time of night I sit back realizing rarely has a political story disgusted me to the degree today's did. #ableg #wrp #pcaa #calsun

Strong words, since Bell is perpetually disgusted about everything.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/12/17...ty-in-the-back

[CaptainCrunch]

Somehow this makes me believe that this was Smith's intent all along. Become a disgruntled Conservative, rise to lead a right side opposition part and force some change to the Conservative and then return as the conquering hero.

You could see at the end of those by election disasters that there was no fight left in her. She managed to negotiate some minor changes to the Conservatives and secure herself a position that she might not have ever gotten if she had crawled up through the PC party.

As much as we deny it, this is a major win for Smith. She can claim that she's the one that forced reform on a corrupt PC party and was responsible for the end of Stelmach and the end of Redford two left leaning conservative leaders.

[killer_carlson]

I think Smith was wounded after the by-elections, but the death blow for her was the disasterous humiliating vote at the AGM where the group of radicals voted down the equal rights motion on the table. That came out of left field and undermined her speech from the day before. She was done right there. And quite frankly were a lot of other people as well (and rightfully so).

Still doesn't lead to the crossing the floor aspect for me though. Need a lot more convincing on that.

But let me also say this:

Despite Prentice having virtually all of the PC caucus endorse him, he still looked through his options and thought so "highly" of his bench strength that he appointed 2 from outside of politics to big ministries, and then looks to have brought over a number of opposition members who will also get shuffled into cabinet. That says a lot about what he thought he had to work with.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I've said it previously but I'd like to see Manning align himself with the WRP. I think that he is the type of big name conservative and leader that the WRP would need in order to challenge Prentice.

Manning is backing the defection according to the Herald so I don't think that will happen.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I think Smith was wounded after the by-elections, but the death blow for her was the disasterous humiliating vote at the AGM where the group of radicals voted down the equal rights motion on the table. That came out of left field and undermined her speech from the day before. She was done right there. And quite frankly were a lot of other people as well (and rightfully so).

I think this was the true catalyst. After this vote, she realized a lot of the members were too socially conservative to appeal to Albertans and it would be an ongoing struggle with most in the party.

That being said, who could the Wildrose elect as leader that would stand a hope in a general election? I'm going to bet the remnants are going to get a Rob Anders clone (or worse, Anders himself) and are going to disappear soon after.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I think Smith was wounded after the by-elections, but the death blow for her was the disasterous humiliating vote at the AGM where the group of radicals voted down the equal rights motion on the table. That came out of left field and undermined her speech from the day before. She was done right there. And quite frankly were a lot of other people as well (and rightfully so).

Evidently a good call on your part:

http://globalnews.ca/news/1734544/vo...anielle-smith/

[nik-]

Yet she was putting herself up for a leadership review instead of coming out and owning this as the reason. If this was it, she would have received way less backlash.

The timing on this is too late to be believable, it sounds like damage control. ANY sort of public rebuke on this ahead of time would have made this a more reasonable excuse. Yet there was nothing.

[Flash Walken]

One of the biggest farces in all of this in my opinion is the argument Prentice presented.

That, because of the economic climate and uncertain nature of the times, conservatives needed to come together.

You've been in power for 40 years. If Alberta is on unsteady economic footing due to international oil prices, isn't that your fault? Shouldn't you have forseen fluctuations in oil prices and planned accordingly, instead of overvaluing the budget estimates?

Seems so disingenuous and contradictory to the 'fiscal conservative' narrative.

How does bringing in the official opposition strengthen the international price of oil?

The whole thing is so obviously anti-democratic and corrupt.

I'm surprised Prentice is receiving as little flack as he is.

Maybe though, that's the reason? Smith is a lightening rod for criticism. If she's being given the Finance portfolio, maybe Prentice is looking for a scapegoat already for next years budget.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nik-

Yet she was putting herself up for a leadership review instead of coming out and owning this as the reason. If this was it, she would have received way less backlash.

The timing on this is too late to be believable, it sounds like damage control. ANY sort of public rebuke on this ahead of time would have made this a more reasonable excuse. Yet there was nothing.

I can accept this as being the reason for splitting from Wildrose. But she can't really say "I left because I disagree with Wildrose position on inequality" and join a PC party that was just as much in favour of similar inequality. Prentice's backpeddling wasn't because he felt his party voted wrong, but because Albertans were outraged.

[troutman]

Smith coming up on WR 77 at 4:45 - should be good times.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

http://recalldanielle.ca

I'm curious how many people have signed this, but can't find that info on the site. Boo!

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by troutman

Smith coming up on WR 77 at 4:45 - should be good times.

Masterful dodging there.

[Dion]

Recap for those who missed it?