GDT: The Alberta Election 2012 - The Morning After - PC Majority Government

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

It's very close, but it's starting to look like Raj Sherman will narrowly lose in Edmonton-Meadowlark. It raises an interesting question: what becomes of the Liberals? They're left with 3 members, 2 from Calgary and 1 from Edmonton.

The two from Calgary are pretty different from one another, both personally and ideologically... Can they form a functional and effective caucus? What CAN they achieve, without crossing the floor and joining a bigger-tent party?

The Liberal's will probably go the way of the Social Credit and vanish into the political landscape. Raj Sherman was probably the strongest leader that the Liberal's have had in decades and probably had the most compelling story and he couldn't capture the imagination of the voters.

The Liberal's need to look in the mirror, realize that their brand is dead and put the call into the NDP to merge the left.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Oh man, the SunTV fear mongering truly is Fox News-esque

[CaptainCrunch]

My advice, don't watch Sun T.V. they're awful, and this advice is coming from someone on the right side of the spectrum.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

This is hugely disappointing for the Wild Rose Party. They couldn't beat a arrogant corrupt tired party run by a leader who ran a absolutely terrible campaign was awful in the debate and ran on a campaign of fear and hidden agenda accusations.

WildRose needs to seriously go back and rethink some parts of their platforms and sit back and watch the PC's spend this province into a deeper hole.

At the end of the day I had hoped that the voters would punish the PC's, but instead they decided to reward a trainwreck leader and party out of sheer I'm assuming laziness, and obviously while the voters talked a good game about wanting change and a new energy, wanted nothing but the same old same old.

They've basically handed the Conservatives and a free spending Allison Redman a cheque book and no mechanism to stop her.

We're about to get just what we deserve.

Bleh

I think a lot of the voters wanted to punish the PC's or see them punished, just not at the cost of the WRP. They certainly deserved to be.

As for the PC's running on fear, both sides did that. But I think the WRP did a good enough job putting some of the fear on themselves without the PC's help.

It would be very interesting to see what the election results would have been if there was no WRP. Maybe we would have kicked out the PC's to the tune of the Liberals. I think they would have done at least as well as they WRP did.

EDIT: Albertans DID want change. Just not like that.

[CedarMeter]

Who won Highwood?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

This is hugely disappointing for the Wild Rose Party. They couldn't beat a arrogant corrupt tired party run by a leader who ran a absolutely terrible campaign was awful in the debate and ran on a campaign of fear and hidden agenda accusations.

WildRose needs to seriously go back and rethink some parts of their platforms and sit back and watch the PC's spend this province into a deeper hole.

At the end of the day I had hoped that the voters would punish the PC's, but instead they decided to reward a trainwreck leader and party out of sheer I'm assuming laziness, and obviously while the voters talked a good game about wanting change and a new energy, wanted nothing but the same old same old.

They've basically handed the Conservatives and a free spending Allison Redman a cheque book and no mechanism to stop her.

We're about to get just what we deserve.

Bleh

Again we aren't Quebec.

People just couldn't vote for a party and leader with no track record and a group of poor candidates.

20 seats is a stepping stone for the Wildrose Party. Danielle needs to get in there and be a strong opposition. More fundrasing and get more established candidates into the race next time.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

My advice, don't watch Sun T.V. they're awful, and this advice is coming from someone on the right side of the spectrum.

But its fun to watch, its truly high comedy. Fox News is still worse, but Ezra might be the biggest hack of them all.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by kirant

A big thing for the WR will be getting experience in their MLAs. I think this is ultimately the best result for the WR...they are given a chance to learn how to act professionally and to represent their constituents well. If the party ends up being the heir, then it's best to ease them in.

Maybe, It looks like my MLA is going to hold onto his seat so I'm not to upset about that one Conservative win even though I voted against his party this time.

I figure after four years of Allison Smith Albertan's will rally against her incompetence and lazily vote her in again at the next election.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

Who won Highwood?

Smith won it.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The cities demographics are only going to get more progressive. This might have been the best chance the Wildrose will have.

I don't believe that.

The vast majority of voters are uninformed and will vote based on public perception. If the WRP can avoid the pitfalls of having multiple candidates with seriously backwards views in the last 2 weeks of this campaign, they have this election in the (minority) bag.

They will be a major player in the years to come in Alberta, unless the PC party takes a dramatic shift right during the next 4 years, which they won't.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Maybe, It looks like my MLA is going to hold onto his seat so I'm not to upset about that one Conservative win even though I voted against his party this time.

I figure after four years of Allison Smith Albertan's will rally against her incompetence and lazily vote her in again at the next election.

That's basically what I said after Ed's big win last time.

[Lionel Steel]

Well, Wildrose supports get to see what provincial elections have been like for left-wing Albertans for some time now

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

Who won Highwood?

Danielle Smith

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I don't believe that.

The vast majority of voters are uninformed and will vote based on public perception. If the WRP can avoid the pitfalls of having multiple candidates with seriously backwards views in the last 2 weeks of this campaign, they have this election in the (minority) bag.

They will be a major player in the years to come in Alberta, unless the PC party takes a dramatic shift right during the next 4 years, which they won't.

The PCs will make any shift they think they need to keep winning. Ed didn't work out, so they booted him. If Redford swings too far left to be electable next time she'll be gone.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean 3-1 is pretty solid just because you can basically assume 20% of a community are very religious, and Hunsperger is only at 17%.

I see what you are saying but I'm still amazed (in a very bad way) that more than 700 people would vote for such an individual.

[CedarMeter]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Smith won it.

Really, I guess I'm a little surprised.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Leech only losing by 11 points is kinda disappointing.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Again we aren't Quebec.

People just couldn't vote for a party and leader with no track record and a group of poor candidates.

20 seats is a stepping stone for the Wildrose Party. Danielle needs to get in there and be a strong opposition. More fundrasing and get more established candidates into the race next time.

At this point there is no opposition. I agree Wildrose needs to work hard at getting a better quality of candidates for the next election (Danielle I'm waiting for your call)

And Smith has to be up front and center in opposition and remind Albertan's of the monetary cost everytime the PC's spend stupidly.

I just can't believe that you can run an absolutely terrible campaign and basically fall apart in a debate and win an election and win.

Just bizarre.

[PeteLFan]

Smith has such an ugly voice, angers me when I hear her speak.

[Ace]

Is there any chance the nice weather today played a role in the voter turnout (and results)