WAP Leadership race down to two...

[Bownesian]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Our online memberships and contributions have been humming since 4:30 yesterday.

...not humming enough to pay someone to update your website with the news.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Bownesian

...not humming enough to pay someone to update your website with the news.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by Bownesian

...not humming enough to pay someone to update your website with the news.

Well have you seen the help they hired? She's cute, but....

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Azure

Why is it a lot to ask? Women are just as capable as men in MANY things, including running a political party.

We don't live in the 15th century anymore.

Put me down as a sexist bigot. I think men far excel at politics. That said, the pack of men we have leading Albertan political parties are a bunch of sniveling, spineless fools. I am quite excited and interested to see how Danielle Smith seeks to take them on.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Sorry, I wasn't offended and I didn't mean you specifically. I was describing the general attitude on CP towards the NDP and its supporters. I simply don't think a political party (or its supporters) with a following consisting of 1/5 of Canadian voters should be dismissed so readily.

I doubt very much the NDP has the backing of 20% of Canadians. Certainly they had an excellent showing in the last election, but you have to question how much of that vote is opposition to the Liberals as a result of support for the NDP. The moustache sure has done a wonderful job of rebuilding the party following the disaster that was McLaughlan and McDonough though, that is for sure.

Provincially, the NDP speak for a small minority of Edmontonians, and that is it. The party is a virtual non-entity in this province, and that is unlikely to change.

[Kjesse]

I'm pleased that Smith beat Dryholm/Chandler.

Like Smith, I'm a libertarian and believe that government should play a more limited role in peoples' lives.

It will be interesting to see if Dyrholm sheds himself of Chandler. I would think that he realizes now that having Chandler behind him was more of a hindrance than a help. Chandler may have campaign infrastructure in place but his style invites disdain. I kept the mailing I got from the Dyrholm campaign as a comedy piece. The pamphlets I received were obviously written with mostly input from Chandler and very much follow his fear-mongering, over-the-top style.

Even more interesting will be to see how Smith fares in the public eye now that she holds the reins of the party. Her time as a school trustee was an unmitigated disaster, and some of her Calgary Herald columns will now invite closer scrutiny.

Smith's work really begins now. I'm pretty sure most Albertans would like someone other than Stelmach to be premier, which gets Smith's foot in the door. Smith needs to set up riding associations and get quality candidates in place.

For the first time since I can remember (having been born in 1972) I see a potential alternative to the PCs in Alberta's provincial politics.

EDIT:

Stelmach kind of reminds me of the "I'm a PC" guy. Maybe her first commercial could be her saying, "I'm a WRAP", and someone playing Stelmach as the "I'm a PC" guy. Those could be some very funny commercials with Ed doing his normal stumbling and bumbling.

[killer_carlson]

nationally the NDP would be thrilled if they had 20% of Canadians.

In Alberta they would be thrilled if they had 10%. Their tactics last election to not-so-distance themselves from the ultra-negative campaign of the Alberta Federation of Labour is a new low for Alberta politics. If it had been up to me, I would have denied them official party status.

[bcb]

Points for the WAP to consider:

1.) An NDP vote in Alberta is a wasted vote. If you have lefties on this board leaning toward you, it's a good chance people think your party is serious

2.) When you find your candidates, ensure you recruit further down the road than the corner church

3.) Danielle, whether or not you like public servants or not, I don't know. But if you keep the wage cut threats to a minimum, I may actually vote for you.

4.) Libertarianism, at least to me, means that just because a pastor in, for example, Three Hills doesn't drink alcohol on Sundays, doesn't mean it has to become official party policy

5.) Don't lecture us on who should stay home to raise the kids, or how great homeschooling is. It's not your business.

6.) Tell your candidates to avoid the following issues:
-evolution/creationism
-guns
-abortion
-corporal punishment for young offenders
-Alberta separation

[Azure]

Originally Posted by bcb

6.) Tell your candidates to avoid the following issues:
-evolution/creationism

Isn't there some sort of law in Alberta where teachers have to inform parents if they teach evolution? Because if thats the case, it should be reversed, which would require attention from the WRA.

-guns

Won't happen. Again, there are obvious problems with guns and gun legislation right now. Ignoring or avoiding the issue isn't going to happen. Nor would it help.

-abortion

Along with gay marriage, this is a federal issue. Hopefully the WRA treats it like this.

-corporal punishment for young offenders

Again, I think this is a federal issue. Not that it shouldn't be addressed.

-Alberta separation

Don't you think we're long past Alberta separating?

If anything, Smith should talk about securing stronger provincial powers.

[FireFly]

We're so very excited about the outcome! The support has been overwhelming and a new wave started as soon as the results were announced.

Originally Posted by The Special One

I don't think this party is as right-wing as people are making out. I heard their new leader on the radio on Thursday and she sounded very reasonable. Pro-choice, pro-gay rights, anti-government spending. In short, the perfect social liberal, fiscal conservative. She's got my vote in the next provincial election.

The vote numbers being as strong as they were, it's hard to say that we're socially conservative when the socially conservative candidate got TROUNCED.

When will they come up with candidates for the next election? (sometime in late 2012 or very early 2013 I'm assuming). To be taken seriously as a political party they must somehow raise the funds to compete in all 83 ridings.

Once the office staff catches up on some stuff, (man are they slow and disorganized! It can't be that hard to process 5000 memberships in a week! What a bunch of morons!) we'll be sending out letters and emails to members advising of the status of their Constituency Association and what's the required next step. A lot of people have already expressed interest in running in the next election so I don't think it will be that hard to get candidates in all 83 ridings. I think it's very important that Danielle interview all the nominees so she knows what she's getting as she will need to have an idea who she wants in Cabinet should it come to that. She's a smart lady. I'm sure she'll have excellent candidates in all the ridings. We hope to have all the CAs up and running by the end of the year with candidates selected either late this year or early next and then it's on to campaigning!

It'll be interesting especially now to see what happens at the PC leadership review in November.

[bcb]

Originally Posted by Azure

Isn't there some sort of law in Alberta where teachers have to inform parents if they teach evolution? Because if thats the case, it should be reversed, which would require attention from the WRA.



Won't happen. Again, there are obvious problems with guns and gun legislation right now. Ignoring or avoiding the issue isn't going to happen. Nor would it help.



Along with gay marriage, this is a federal issue. Hopefully the WRA treats it like this.



Again, I think this is a federal issue. Not that it shouldn't be addressed.



Don't you think we're long past Alberta separating?

If anything, Smith should talk about securing stronger provincial powers.

That's the point. Individual members should avoid providing personal views on issues they can't change. It only hurts the party as a whole. Just ask the Federal Conservatives