Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Yikes]

Originally Posted by Hatter

I’m ashamed to admit I voted for the Wildrose when Danielle Smith was the leader of that party years and years ago. Fool me once.

Maybe I was completely ignorant, but I can’t believe she was this much of a nutjob back then. The floor crossing gamble was silly, but at least the government at the time didn’t seem like they were absolutely inept. Why are Covid vaccines even a discussion anymore? Most people got them, and the ones who didn’t are back to life as normal after a brief interrupt. Let’s move on. We have real issues in this province to fix.

Kenney stunk and it seems Smith is significantly worse.

Did the classic Lougheed PC’s just completely disappear?

Smith's plan M after the UCP circus might be to corral the rural "attitudes" and form a new Provincial party, thus securing the paycheck she needs badly.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

I'm not being flippant, but I think some of it is, well, death.

We saw some commentary at the start, "its a 70-80 year old, they've lived a good life", or "it doesn't matter anyway, they were going to die soon from something else", or "well, they shouldn't have gone out, they should just stay at home", "should a hospital bed go to that old person or person with pre-existing issues, or to a younger etc person", etc.

it's age adjusted though. are you saying after vaccines became available that republican seniors stayed or became more focused on the common good 'oh well I had a good life, better die to keep a bed free' than their dem counterparts?



sorry if I'm misreading your point

[T-Dog]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

One thing the anti-vaxxers, anti restriction, Danielle Smiths of the world can never seem to explain is how they would deal with the increased infecting rates and hospitalizations of following through with their freedom policies. I think it's a pretty big failure of those in media to grill them on that. The science, and capacity of our system was pretty clear that they couldn't handle that. "OK, so we have on mask requirements, no vaccine requirements, and no restrictions on gathering sizes. Reality dictates our hospitals would be overwhelmed, staff would not be available to work due to sickness...how would you navigate that?"

I've yet to hear an answer, because there isn't one. So it's disappointing they get away with repeating the same tragically disastrous ideas, and sometimes get the general public to nod along and think "ya, we did go to far..." as if Jason Kenney would have had more restrictions than absolutely necessary for survival.

Easy, they don’t think Covid is a thing or think that it’s grossly exaggerated. They think the restrictions aren’t needed in the first place and everything will just be ok. If you do get Covid it’s your issue.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by looooob

it's age adjusted though. are you saying after vaccines became available that republican seniors stayed or became more focused on the common good 'oh well I had a good life, better die to keep a bed free' than their dem counterparts?



sorry if I'm misreading your point

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I posted that chart, but my commentary was not on it.

Rather it was in response to someone's - Fuzz's? - question re: what do anti-vaxx/freedom convoy think is the solution, in the sense of what happens to our hospitals etc? I.e. this point - https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpo...postcount=2338

My speculation a bit is that just accepting death, essentially. We saw that here in Alberta a bit at the start, didn't the Premier start alluding to that, only to get chastized? I.e. the thought that "its only affecting old people, who were going to get sick/die anyway/have a lived a good life", or "well if you have a pre-existing condition, just stay home, sucks to be you".

Its just speculation on my part. The other one is also what someone just posted - i.e. its fake/no big deal/my body can easily recover/its less than the flu/etc.

I don't know, I don't get why people can have the courtesy and respect for others, but my point was just speculation to Fuzz's question, and not at all specific to that chart.

[RedHot25]

Lol

https://twitter.com/user/status/1581322780347617283

[TorqueDog]

Now guys, let's just wait and see what she does. Just because she's said irredeemably stupid things in the very recent past doesn't mean she's going to continue to be stupid now.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Lol

https://twitter.com/user/status/1581322780347617283

sigh


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Eugenics_Board


how long do we have to 'give her a chance' for?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by T-Dog

Easy, they don’t think Covid is a thing or think that it’s grossly exaggerated. They think the restrictions aren’t needed in the first place and everything will just be ok. If you do get Covid it’s your issue.

So just ignore facts and science. Perfect plan. I'd love to watch all her stupidity backfire, if it didn't mean the deaths of all those who could not be cared for, covid or otherwise. Having Smith in power is really just accepting that you are OK with needless death so selfish people can be selfish. Anyone voting for her should really understand that direct relationship, and not get to upset when it happens to one of their loved ones. When you punch yourself in the face, don't be to upset when it turns out to hurt a lot.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Lol

https://twitter.com/user/status/1581322780347617283

The last residential school in Alberta closed in 1997.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Barnes

The last residential school in Alberta closed in 1997.

Wikipedia says 1988.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Wikipedia says 1988.

Either way, she was born in 1971.

[powderjunkie]

Never mind apartheid, the iron curtain, or present day China


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Roughneck]

Sterilization Act wasn’t repealed until 1972.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

One thing the anti-vaxxers, anti restriction, Danielle Smiths of the world can never seem to explain is how they would deal with the increased infecting rates and hospitalizations of following through with their freedom policies. I think it's a pretty big failure of those in media to grill them on that. The science, and capacity of our system was pretty clear that they couldn't handle that. "OK, so we have on mask requirements, no vaccine requirements, and no restrictions on gathering sizes. Reality dictates our hospitals would be overwhelmed, staff would not be available to work due to sickness...how would you navigate that?"

I've yet to hear an answer, because there isn't one. So it's disappointing they get away with repeating the same tragically disastrous ideas, and sometimes get the general public to nod along and think "ya, we did go to far..." as if Jason Kenney would have had more restrictions than absolutely necessary for survival.

She would just let them die. It would be like Brazil.

[b1crunch]

nm

[Dion]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Lol

https://twitter.com/user/status/1581322780347617283

Maybe Smith needs someone to proof read her statements. Clearly she doesn't give any thought to what she is sayin and then has to spend time, better spent elsewhere, doing damage control. She learned zippo from her days as the Wildrose leader.

[Fuzz]

The populist playbook

Populists like Premier Smith succeed when they are able to do three things:

1. Convince a dominant group they are being marginalized.
2. Convince that group they are in "the silent majority."
3. Convince the broader public that the group is both a victim and too dominant to challenge.

The first two moves appear contradictory. How can someone be both disparaged and part of the mainstream?

Smith's day-one comments feed into myths about the lack of power held by rural libertarians in this province. In a very real sense, they have prime seats around the cabinet table, and they have enjoyed over-representation in the legislature throughout the province's history. How can they then be alienated from power?

Populists overcome this contradiction by persuading folks they are less powerful than they are, are being "left behind" by forces beyond their control, and are victims of "the system" run by a "corrupt elite" against the interests of "the real people."

The populist playbook is less effective when people recognize the game for what it is: a deceptive attempt to elevate the grievances of a small yet dominant community over all others by framing them as the interests of "the common people."

The playbook also fails when voters realize the prevailing norms they've been sold by populists are both out of step with public opinion and unable to meet the challenges of the day.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...617059?cmp=rss

[RedHot25]

We just need to give a chance. Words are clearly misconstrued and she really meant...

https://calgaryherald.com/news/polit...box=1665869736

In a post from early March, which no longer appears on Smith’s public feed but was captured and posted elsewhere online, and later reported on by independent media, she linked to an article that appears to imply Ukraine and NATO had shown aggression in the lead-up to Russia’s invasion. Smith’s post goes on to say Ukraine may need to adopt a more neutral stance to remain independent.

The article she linked to came from a website that has been criticized as promoting disinformation coming out of Russia. A second post, which also no longer appears on Smith’s feed but was captured by journalists and posted elsewhere, linked to a report from Fox News’ Tucker Carlson questioning if the United States had been funding secret Biolabs in Ukraine where weapons are being created. That story has since been debunked by several fact-checking sources.

Lukaszuk, who helped raise millions to support Ukraine, said Saturday that Smith’s online posts are heartbreaking. He said the premier has shown support for his efforts to assist Ukrainians, but the posts show she held different beliefs when posting online.

“To read what she actually says behind the scenes is heartbreaking. Duplicitous, would be the understatement of the year,” said Lukaszuk. “The world community under United Nations agrees that Russia is the unprovoked aggressor — that Russia is engaging in war crimes.”

When asked for comment on her posts, the premier’s office responded with an email referring back to comments Smith made this week regarding her support for Kenney’s initiatives around Ukraine. Her office did not respond to requests asking for confirmation if the premier had deleted posts.

[Fuzz]

Any reporter, pundit, politician, or sandwich artist that says "Danielle Smith is incredibly well spoken and intelligent" instantly loses all respect from me. Calling her "intelligent" tells me you do not understand the meaning of the word.

[Major Major]

She's an utter train wreck.

The fact that she deletes and walks back statements though is going to drive the "my core value in life is owning libs" crowd crazy.

For many people, being a delusional whack job is fine for a political leader so long as it dismays others. But to be those things and also be spineless must be a pretty big turn off for them.

Deleting your crazy #### and walking back your dumdum moments is cowardly. Just own who you are and you will maintain the respect of morons which may be enough to keep you in your seat, Danielle.

Idunno, what do you think Yoho?