Alberta Provincial By-Elections - Fall 2014 Editions

[Frequitude]

The rearward looking attack strategy employed by the Wildrose will never resonate with Albertans. We have an entrepreneurial spirit that values vision, sticking to that vision, and building something. We don't care much about the past, we care about the future. Until they realize that, they will never grab more that the far right edge of the spectrum.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

The rearward looking attack strategy employed by the Wildrose will never resonate with Albertans. We have an entrepreneurial spirit that values vision, sticking to that vision, and building something. We don't care much about the past, we care about the future. Until they realize that, they will never grab more that the far right edge of the spectrum.

I don't know, I mostly just want the government that is best for oil & gas. I think we kind of do care about the past here otherwise we wouldn't be allergic to the Grits.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by saillias

I don't know, I mostly just want the government that is best for oil & gas. I think we kind of do care about the past here otherwise we wouldn't be allergic to the Grits.

LOL, true. Though that probably fits into another Albertan value that we'll trust you from the start but if you f*** us over then good riddance.

As for where the forward looking nature comes from, its probably partly due to the fact that we as Albertans don't have much history yet combined with the fact that times are good so we don't care much about the less good parts of the good times.

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Of course she realizes that. As you say, it is just political spin, and it certainly isn't uncommon. i.e.: Dion, Layton and Duceppe tried to sell the so-called "62% majority" when they attempted their coup in 2008.

So, the Wildrose plan to change the Alberta political landscape is to practice politics as usual and pander to rural Alberta.

How are they different than the PC's?

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Plett25

So, the Wildrose plan to change the Alberta political landscape is to practice politics as usual and pander to rural Alberta.

How are they different than the PC's?

They aren't really. That's their problem.

I could be wrong here, but I take from this post that you're a Wild Rose supporter? If so, your post embodies exactly what is wrong with them. Stop mentioning the PC's. Start acting like they don't exist. Don't tell us how the PC's are dumb or how the Wild Rose is better. Just tell us what the Wild Rose wants for Alberta and let us decide for ourselves if its better, worse or indifferent.

(If you're not a WR supporter than I appologize)

[Dion]

"I have to take responsibility in the result," she said, referring to the shocking shutout inflicted by the governing Tories. "I want my caucus to know and our members to know that I respect their decision on this."

Smith told reporters at the party's campaign headquarters that she decided to voluntarily seek a review of her leadership after it was questioned by political analysts in the wake of the party's disappointing performance in the four byelections.

Smith wouldn't say what level of support she was seeking after getting 90 per cent approval in her last review, but she said jokingly she hoped it was more than the 77 per cent that former Tory premiers Ed Stelmach and Alison Redford received before they were forced out.

"Seventy-seven per cent seems to be the kiss of death," she noted.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...838/story.html

[ben voyonsdonc]

I think the Wildrose is a bit gunshy (although they don't seem afraid of guns) when it comes to policy because they are afraid of alienating people by looking either too extreme or too moderate.

The Wildrose relied largely on the lack of popularity of the PCs to lift them up. Now they are going to have to pick themselves up on their own because they are going to have to go head to head with an apparently competent PC party leader in Prentice. I believe Smith is capable of doing this but I'm not sure she has the team around her to pull it off.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Plett25

So, the Wildrose plan to change the Alberta political landscape is to practice politics as usual and pander to rural Alberta.

How are they different than the PC's?

You're deluding yourself if you think any party is different from any other in this respect.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

Interesting, I thought that Chima was looking to jump on the federal Liberal bandwaggon? Given that the Alberta Party and Provincial Liberals don't really get along, I'm not sure that would help him in that respect.

My sense is that "was" means "before Kent Hehr announced that he will". Hehr's entry likely changed things for Chima.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Dion

The PC's win all ridings with 44% of the vote. Not a resounding vote of confidence from the voters.

Freaking brutal when 44% of the popular vote wins you 100% of the seats. We need proportional representation in a bad way.

[killer_carlson]

Don't know who the WR leadership candidates might be, but these are my thoughts:

1) rob Anderson is smarter than his pitbull rep. He is a person of conviction and I think Rob means what he says
2) shayne Saskiw was Gold Medalist at u of a commerce, silver medalist u of a law. Tax lawyer before being an MLA. Don't know if he has leadership aspirations.
3) Heather Forsythe is not running again to my knowledge
4) Bruce Rowe is actually a solid guy from the times I've met him.

I think some of their staff and leaders need to be looked at. The endorsement of Anders by Hinmen was a real head shaker, amongst others

[GP_Matt]

I have met Shayne a few times and think he has a lot of potential.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Don't know who the WR leadership candidates might be, but these are my thoughts:

1) rob Anderson is smarter than his pitbull rep. He is a person of conviction and I think Rob means what he says
2) shayne Saskiw was Gold Medalist at u of a commerce, silver medalist u of a law. Tax lawyer before being an MLA. Don't know if he has leadership aspirations.
3) Heather Forsythe is not running again to my knowledge
4) Bruce Rowe is actually a solid guy from the times I've met him.

I think some of their staff and leaders need to be looked at. The endorsement of Anders by Hinmen was a real head shaker, amongst others

They're all nobody's, thats the problem. You can be a big name in the WRP camp and you will only attract votes from those that are already card carrying WRP members. You need someone people have heard of outside of the party to have any shot at winning. You need your Peter Lougheed that can take the party from nothing.

The overarching problem, is the province went from Social Credit to PC and has never looked back; PCs came to be because the SC was too rural and conservative, yet somehow, WRP thinks the next step in the evolution of our politics is to become more conservative. Doubt it. Lefties have a better shot at winning if they can ever get their act together and merge. They'd take most of Edmonton pretty easily and a good chunk of Calgary, and you'd see PCs become the "conservative" option and WRP eventually fall off the map.

[MarchHare]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...dent-1.2821248

Wildrose MLA Joe Anglin has quit the Wildrose Party's caucus and will sit as an independent.

Anglin is the MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre.

His resignation from caucus comes after the PC Party swept four recent byelections, despite suggestions voters were tired of the party and could turn to the Wildrose.

Anglin wrote a lengthy explanation on his Facebook page of his decision to quit the caucus, saying the party has been detracted from its original mission by internal fighting between "ideologues and pragmatists."

"This party was founded on the principles of a grassroots democracy. It is now infested with an unelected backroom weed that is choking off the grassroots movement," he wrote.

Anglin says Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith was set to put forward a motion on Sunday to have Anglin kicked out of the caucus.

He says he feels the party mismanaged his nomination process last June as well as the recent byelections, and that something needs to change.

While expressing his respect for Smith as a person, Anglin said he does not respect the people advising her and wants to see the party address its problems.

And here's his Facebook post:

I have written the Speaker of the Assembly, the Hon. Gene Zwozdesky this morning and requested that I be seated as an independent MLA, effective immediately.

It is no secret that I have been a round peg in a square hole in the Wildrose Party. I speak my mind. I bring different experiences and a different point of view to the caucus than my colleagues. This has never been an issue for me: a strong party is made stronger by a variety of opinions. A party that wants to govern a province as big and diverse as ours must be a big tent.

I also believed then - as I do now - that a change of government was one of the most important policies of all. On that point, we were united in our common cause: constructing a real alternative to the Redford government.

Unfortunately, that unity wasn't destined to last. Behind closed doors, the party has increasingly lost focus on its original mission of creating a true grassroots party. It has been caught up in a civil war between ideologues and pragmatists, with staff, volunteers, and even MLAs being placed into and forced out of positions with alarming frequency. As a result of poor management and infighting, there will be a motion today by my leader, Danielle Smith, to have me removed from caucus. To be honest, this is upsetting but not surprising. It was clear by the way the party executive mishandled my nomination process last June, and by the way they mismanaged the past four by-elections something needs to be corrected.

The Wildrose Party is now at a crossroads. The Party’s interference in local constituency matters and its lack of respect for the democratic process must be corrected if this party is to continue. While I am proud to have worked with my caucus colleagues, and share in their many accomplishments, the party and its leadership are in crisis.

This party was founded on the principles of a grassroots democracy. It is now infested with an unelected backroom weed that is choking off the grassroots movement. I still have the highest regard for Danielle Smith as a person. She is intelligent and thoughtful, but in saying this I have little respect for the people advising her. Ultimately the leader bears the responsibility for addressing these problems.

There is however a silver lining to this cloud. We have seen in just this last week the support Albertans are willing to give on the promise of new management. The Wildrose Party could take a page out of that playbook!

I stand for better government before party politics. Always have, always will! I will serve my constituents, champion the values I hold dear and try to improve our government.

Edit: is the bolded portion him calling on Danielle Smith to resign or be forcibly replaced?

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

I have met Shayne a few times and think he has a lot of potential.

Shayne is also cousins with Daymond Lankow.

No Joke.

[c.t.ner]

Wow. I know a week in politics is a long time, but I don't think anyone last week expected the Wildrose to be down an MLA by today. To be honest I thought they would have stolen a seat and would be championing stealing a PC stronghold, not under a leadership review and dealing with a turmoil within the ranks.

[Dion]

Wildrose MLAs call to nix leadership review for party boss Danielle Smith

Sunday, in a unanimous vote for which Smith wasn’t in the room, her fellow Wildrose MLAs decided they want the leadership review withdrawn.

“Caucus members are united in their support of Danielle Smith and are confident that she is the best choice to continue to move our party forward into the next election,” MLA Rob Anderson said in a written statement.

In the same statement, Smith said she’s humbled and honoured to have the backing of her peers.

“Our focus will now turn to the upcoming fall legislative session and the important work we need to do on behalf of Albertans,” Smith said.

“We will continue to hold the government to account and present positive alternatives that put Albertans first.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/11/02...danielle-smith

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Dion

Wildrose MLAs call to nix leadership review for party boss Danielle Smith



http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/11/02...danielle-smith

Thank god, I hate when democracy gets in the way for political parties. She is doing such a great job snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, she might as well keep going.

[Bigtime]

Was the WR caucus worried that the leadership review would bring forward any "opponents" to Smith and cause further unrest?

[Ducay]

For a relatively new, "grassroots" political party, there sure seems to be a lot of backdoor politics and internal issues. Anglin leaving is a pretty big deal for a party that hasn't even held power yet, let alone any significant number of seats.