The Alison Redford transgressions thread. Update- Redford quits.

[mariners_fever]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

cbc reports she has paid it back and announced it with a tweet and a press conference where she took no questions.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...trip-1.2570414

I'm guessing the back bench pushed back against her and she had no choice.

Called it.

[taco.vidal]

I wonder if the $45,000 came from her own pocket or if we have another case similar to Senator Duffy's loan?

[automaton 3]

Too late for that Alison. It is crystal clear that your caucus forced this and I suspect you still don't think that you did anything wrong.

The wheels must already be in motion to turf her as soon as the opportunity presents. There is no way the PCs take her into another election as leader.

Is it wrong for me to want to see the cheque? I just don't trust her at all.

[killer_carlson]

Edmonton sun claims unconfirmed reports that some MLAs walk tomorrow in any event.

Braid in the Herald thinks that MLAs will want to hear what their constituents say. Also this PC Exec meeting this weekend will be interesting according to Braid.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I presume you didn't think he was canadian because he lives in Singapore.

You got it.

[Jacks]

The knives are out.

Backbencher says he will quit as Redford repays South Africa trip cost
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...430/story.html

But late Wednesday, backbench MLA Len Webber — a former PC cabinet minister who is seeking a federal Tory nomination in Calgary — confirmed he will cross the floor Thursday to sit as an independent.
The 53-year-old Calgary-Foothills MLA said the premier’s announcement to pay back money for the South Africa trip was just “just too little, too late.”

“I think that it’s just something that she’s pressured into doing,” Webber said, accusing the premier of having a sense of entitlement.

“It doesn’t mean anything at all, and I don’t think she should be the person who leads the government. We need to find someone else to replace her.”

[RedHot25]

Its already starting?...10:15pm tonight:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...436/story.html

But late Wednesday, backbench MLA Len Webber — a former PC cabinet minister who is seeking the federal Tory nomination in Calgary Confederation — confirmed he will cross the floor Thursday to sit as an independent.

The 53-year-old Calgary-Foothills MLA told the Herald that the premier’s announcement to pay back money for the South Africa trip was just “just too little, too late.”


“I think that it’s just something that she’s pressured into doing,” Webber said in an interview, accusing the premier of having a sense of entitlement.


“It doesn’t mean anything at all, and I don’t think she should be the person who leads the government. We need to find someone else to replace her.”

[RedHot25]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion...920/story.html

The MLA for Calgary-Foothills said he hopes his departure will start a “domino effect” that will drive Redford out of the premier’s office.

Asked if it’s likely that other MLAs might abandon Redford, another MLA said: “Very possible.”

And yet another member said the repayment “is not enough — it’s too late.”


“First she said she didn’t know anything about the cost. Then she blamed her staff. T


Then she said she was sorry. Now she pays it back.


“What are we supposed to think?”


This member added, though, that public opinion over the next few days could decide if Redford stays or goes.

Despite Webber’s view that Redford simply isn’t good enough, there’s still a core of admiration for Redford in her caucus, even among those who were ready to abandon her to save the government.


“Intellectually, she’s quite brilliant, and she has done a remarkable job of turning this province in the direction it needed to go,” says another MLA.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...125/story.html

MLAs, with an estimated 20 members potentially on the brink of leaving the caucus to sit as independents.


One MLA who has been wrestling with the idea of leaving caucus said he was “shocked” by Redford’s decision to repay the money but that it was still touch and go in what it meant for her leadership.


Thursday’s caucus meeting “will be interesting. I need to absorb this,” said the member, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Jacks

The knives are out.

Backbencher says he will quit as Redford repays South Africa trip cost
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...430/story.html

Stand by your leader!!! She'll lead you to victory again....

[Mr.Coffee]

Redford should go for sure. Anytime your leader is pulling the extravagant expenses thing and then shuffling around after the fact lying about not knowing about it or playing coy, like I wrote earlier she's either an idiot or unethical, but either way not fit to be our premier.

We didn't elect her so she could fly all over the fataing place for poor reasons unrelated to the benefit of the province.

[pylon]

I am very glad that she is getting the same ride any politician would get, not special treatment or latitude because she is he first female premier. I have been waiting for that card to be dealt, and thankfully it hasn't. I believe part of this is because her biggest rival is a woman. I met this woman at a function once, and the entitlement, snobbiness and queen poop of turd islandesque attitude of her when she was mingling was mind blowing. I was immediately turned off.

The only was I can vote PC again, is if her own party ousts her, and replaces her with someone that can be trusted, be it a man or a woman. I certainly won't be able to vote Wildrose with their bigoted and homophobic past. So what does that leave? Marijuana party I guess.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by pylon

I am very glad that she is getting the same ride any politician would get, not special treatment or latitude because she is he first female premier. I have been waiting for that card to be dealt, and thankfully it hasn't. I believe part of this is because her biggest rival is a woman. I met this woman at a function once, and the entitlement, snobbiness and queen poop of turd islandesque attitude of her when she was mingling was mind blowing. I was immediately turned off.

The only was I can vote PC again, is if her own party ousts her, and replaces her with someone that can be trusted, be it a man or a woman. I certainly won't be able to vote Wildrose with their bigoted and homophobic past. So what does that leave? Marijuana party I guess.

So I assume you never voted for the PC's after Ralph vowed to use the notwithstanding clause to veto the requirement to register same-sex marriages then?

[Northendzone]

Wonder if she can steer the ship in a straight line until the next election, or does she really get good at shuffling her feet while at the podium and perhaps shedding a crocodile tear or three......

I'd like to think that over the next while a credible person steps forward to either push her out of her own party, or cause voters to think something other than blue in the next election...

[c.t.ner]

Webber's departure probably has more to do with his own Federal political ambitions within the Federal Conservatives than making a personal stance on merit.

That being said, your average Joe voter isn't going to see it that way and the Party brain trust knows that. The average voter are going to see MLAs abandoning ship. I think we'll see that the pressure from within the party will be far too strong for Redford not to step down within the next two months.

It's going to be an interesting few weeks.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by LanceUppercut

So I assume you never voted for the PC's after Ralph vowed to use the notwithstanding clause to veto the requirement to register same-sex marriages then?

That was a long time ago, attitudes towards same-sex marriage and couples has changed a lot in the last 15 years. The Wildrose party had a candidate make a "burn in hell" comment like 2 years ago.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

That was a long time ago, attitudes towards same-sex marriage and couples has changed a lot in the last 15 years. The Wildrose party had a candidate make a "burn in hell" comment like 2 years ago.

Isn't the point that people and parties can evolve? It has been 9 years since Ralph vowed to use the clause by the way. Bad vetting of idiotic candidates by a rookie party should not automatically tar and feather them till the end of time. By that logic, 7 years from now it will be perfectly acceptable to vote for the Wildrose?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Wonder if she can steer the ship in a straight line until the next election, or does she really get good at shuffling her feet while at the podium and perhaps shedding a crocodile tear or three......

I'd like to think that over the next while a credible person steps forward to either push her out of her own party, or cause voters to think something other than blue in the next election...

I wouldn't be surprised if she steps down as leader of the party in the coming weeks. Her image is forever damaged and it might be best for the party if they found someone else to guide the ship. The party can't be happy with the elephant she has created and how it has distracted the party and Albertans to the good things the party says they have done.

[Slava]

She probably will step down, which is not a great thing for the Wild Rose or any other opposition party. Of course it depends who replaces her, but they don't have the easy target if that happens.

I also think it will be interesting to see how many, if any go to the Wild Rose or any other party. I wonder just how deep that rift is between the two.

[Rathji]

It is true that the WRP just removed the auto-majority card from the deck.

They will have to work at it now, but it is still very obtainable.

[crazy_eoj]

This is turning out to be the second PC party leader who will be removed from office before sitting an entire term and/or losing an election.

How can anyone trust the PC party anymore, they don't even trust themselves!