Klein Re-election predictions

[Captain Sensible]

Originally posted by octothorp+Nov 22 2004, 07:37 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (octothorp @ Nov 22 2004, 07:37 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-fotze@Nov 22 2004, 12:22 PM
In my neighborhood I would not be suprised if the PC (Hlady) loses. The liberal dude's signs seem to be on every house in the neighborhood, mind you I am in the hippiest area in Calgary.

Hmmm, you must be in my neighbourhood. Actually, Swann has a pretty impressive resume, not only being a doctor with a tremendous humanitarian record (including missions to Iraq in the last four years), he's also done a lot for the community, including helping to give Sunnyside the only pesticide-free park in the city. I know a guy in the Green Party who was saying that the Greens, NDP, and Liberals were all courting Swann, trying to get him to run for their party.

Overall, it'll obviously be a huge sweep for Klein, but my prediction is 71-9-3 (PC-Lib-NDP)--I'm assuming there's still 83 seats? And a popular vote of 54-30-10, with the Greens and Alliance picking up about 3% each. [/b][/quote]
I know it probably doesn't mean much to anyone, but I can definitely vouch for Dr. David Swann's integrity, honesty and humanity.

I know him quite well; he really does care a lot and I would love to have him representing me.

[octothorp]

Originally posted by Bring_Back_Shantz+Nov 22 2004, 04:52 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Bring_Back_Shantz @ Nov 22 2004, 04:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Well, there is a Alberta Seperatist Party. I don't think they have candidates in most urban ridings, but they're everywhere out in the country.

I don't think that 12 candidates in the whole province can really be considered everywhere. I know you said out in the country, but there's got to be more than 12 rural ridings (Maybe there is only 12). Either way, the seperatists can't really be considered everywhere rural or otherwise with only 12 candidates for 83 seats. [/b][/quote]
Okay Mr Literalist, I was just basing my initial statement on the fact that on the weekend I went 'out in the country' to my parents place, a drive that takes me through four ridings, and I was amazed at the density of Separation Party signs along the drive--it seemed they were 'everywhere'.

Had I thought that anyone would have taken my statement to mean that they had candidates in every rural riding in the province, I'd have rephrased it (and to be honest, I can see how someone might read my statement that way). Given the fact that they have candidates in all but one rural riding south of Red Deer though, I think my generalization is fair.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally posted by fotze@Nov 22 2004, 08:00 PM
I just voted, no id or anything needed.

Ironically, I did need I.D.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I am wondering now is fotze's wife underage, an ex-con, or a mail order bride from Slovaialgiva...

[kermitology]

Originally posted by SuperNilson@Nov 22 2004, 05:45 PM
*Didn't vote* Yeah that's right.

*hides from rock throwers*

Politics are for suckers.

Get out of Canada!

[Fire]

I voted Alliance (though I am a PC supporter) because I would like to see them in 2nd place for the popular vote. I believe the Alliance is the only possible strong opposition in this province.

[Freeway]

I voted Liberal. Derek Smith (their candidate) went door-to-door, explained his ideas clearly, and told us where and when to vote. Nobody else even called our house.

[flamingchina]

no id for me
I voted for the commie party.. (not the NDP

[KevanGuy]

Originally posted by Fire@Nov 22 2004, 07:23 PM
I voted Alliance (though I am a PC supporter) because I would like to see them in 2nd place for the popular vote. I believe the Alliance is the only possible strong opposition in this province.

I did the same thing Fire. The Liberals are dreaming if they think they'll ever do anything substantial here. I'd like to see an upstart grass-roots kind of part like the Alliance make some headway.

[calf]

Originally posted by JiriHrdina@Nov 22 2004, 05:22 PM
A lot of people are criticizing the PC party for how they campaigned this election but in my view that parties that deserve the harshest critcism are the Liberals and NDPs.

You have a party go out there (the PCs) with no platform, no plan, no stance on the issues, and yet they are still going to win a vast majority. Why? Because neither opposition party has proven themselves to be a credibile alternative.

Alberta needs a strong opposition. Right now the Libs and NDP simply are not providing that.

I'm not so sure that the Liberals/NDP deserve the harshest criticism of all. I think they did the best they could based on their limited resources, which isn't enough against the PC machine.

I find it appalling that the PCs were so arrogant that they were going to win that they had no platform, no ideas, no plan - the whole "elect us and then we'll do whatever" approach. The election's supposed to be where the governing party says "this is our plan for the future of the province etc"...and they didn't even come close to that. My opinion, of course, but I think that Klein deserves the harshest criticism.

I personally love what Ralph Klein has done for the province...he's been amazing, but the past month turned me off of him, and I'm hoping enough were like me, and tried to make another party a stronger opposition, just to keep whoever's governing on their toes to actually make progress instead of just letting black gold do all the work.

edit: realized I'm agreeing with you on your basic premise, except for who deserves the harshest criticism...I just needed to vent

[Mike F]

Originally posted by KevanGuy+Nov 22 2004, 07:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (KevanGuy @ Nov 22 2004, 07:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Fire@Nov 22 2004, 07:23 PM
I voted Alliance (though I am a PC supporter) because I would like to see them in 2nd place for the popular vote.# I believe the Alliance is the only possible strong opposition in this province.

I did the same thing Fire. The Liberals are dreaming if they think they'll ever do anything substantial here. I'd like to see an upstart grass-roots kind of part like the Alliance make some headway. [/b][/quote]
Man, Liberal Albertans have no chance of ever having their views represented in the capital.

I think they should just go ahead and separate from the rest of Alberta to stop the Conservatives from stealing all their money and spending it on programs they're opposed to

[calf]

Originally posted by Mike F+Nov 22 2004, 09:23 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike F @ Nov 22 2004, 09:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

I did the same thing Fire. The Liberals are dreaming if they think they'll ever do anything substantial here. I'd like to see an upstart grass-roots kind of part like the Alliance make some headway.

Man, Liberal Albertans have no chance of ever having their views represented in the capital.

I think they should just go ahead and separate from the rest of Alberta to stop the Conservatives from stealing all their money and spending it on programs they're opposed to [/b][/quote]
Majority rules man, majority rules

And what programs are the Conservatives spending money on?
And what happens when because of oil, you no longer have to pay provincial taxes? Can't whine then now, can you?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally posted by Thunderball@Nov 22 2004, 05:40 PM
I think thats why people have to give the Alliance a real look... hopefully they get at least 3 seats tonight to give them something to work from.

Give them some time to fine tune, and they have the teeth and the ideologies to really give the PCs a run... don't forget they aren't even 2 years old.

Ugh - I read through my local Alliance candidate's literature and was left with a real bad taste in my mouth. Lots of "Family Values" and Christian Coalition I-Love-Jesus type stuff that makes me think of the worst parts of the Republican party. Wasn't sure about their stance on seperation and what not but I didn't want to dig further and find out.

The little Infant mortality stunt they pulled last month didn't help my image of the party as a whole. Beat on the PC's for bad healthcare - that's fine and one of my beefs with the PC's - but to go off on a tangent on infant mortality? Act like professionals and sell your message better, not sensationalism.

The whole thought of them as a voice for opposition - I understand this but getting someone more conservative than the PC's is not necessarily the direction I want to counterbalance the PC's with. If the Alberta Liberals were smart, they'd rename the party, the name alone is an anchor dragging them down.

[browna]

Someone should tell ( r ) Edmonton the Stanley Cup playoffs are over....so far a bunch of red ridings are leading up there.

Still a comfortable PC majority.

[RedHot25]

A counter:

http://www.cbc.ca/albertavotes2004/

[RedHot25]

I've been out of alberta now for 6 month - 3/4s of a year...when did Brian Mason become NDP Leader, and good ole Raj power resign/quit?

[flamingchina]

about 6 months ago.
I'm just amazed at how much the CBC really talks about the liberals.
ahh well.
Why doesn't edmonton vote PC?
They get no graft and there mad.
Of course, the fact no one else get's it either is immaterial...
and the alliance split the vote, if they weren't around, it would be moe like 70-9-4

[Sylvanfan]

The Alliance seemed to have some support in my neck of the woods with the leader Thorsteinson running in my riding. Still they're views are even further right of what the Torries are, and Mr.T (it's easier to type) run a pretty harsh attack style capaign. The signs are there for the Torries to be toppled next election when Klein steps down. I've been saying for a few weeks now that it has to be a very moderate Right Wing leaning pary, but one that places more emphasis on social issues and the environment. Of all the parties in this election Social Credit seemed to be the closest to that ideology. If they can start assembling a war chest for the next election and find a charasmatic guy (Ralph Klein 1980 mayors race in Calgary type) than they might just be able to make some inroads. I noticed the NDP really focused on the young generation this campaign with lot's of college student types running in Central Alberta. I wonder if these kids will stick with the commies when they get out of college get jobs and realize that paying taxes isn't much fun.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

I voted PC but I was pretty close (like sitting at my voting booth deciding) to simply spoiling my ballot. Mostly because I like where Alberta is going and i'm not going to vote for change for the sake of voting for change, but I hate to see such collossal majorities occur anywhere for such an extended period of time. Encourages things like less accountability, among other things.

I read somewhere the Alberta Liberal Party will never go anywhere until it changes it's name because it will always be associated with the federal Liberals. This is true, I think.

I spoiled my Senate ballot though, I really don't think anything the Senate does matters at all and it doesn't matter who we try to elect anyways. They should think about replenishing an old growth forest somewhere, what a waste of paper...

[Shawnski]

Originally posted by KevanGuy+Nov 22 2004, 09:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (KevanGuy @ Nov 22 2004, 09:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin-Fire@Nov 22 2004, 07:23 PM
I voted Alliance (though I am a PC supporter) because I would like to see them in 2nd place for the popular vote.# I believe the Alliance is the only possible strong opposition in this province.

I did the same thing Fire. The Liberals are dreaming if they think they'll ever do anything substantial here. I'd like to see an upstart grass-roots kind of part like the Alliance make some headway.[/b][/quote]
Here is something that I sent to the CBC. Part of it (bolded) got read on the telecast as one of their e-mail readings.

When will Albertans learn that starting (and voting for) ANOTHER right wing party will only cause grief in the long run. Federally, it has caused the right wing voters to loose an effective role in Ottawa by helping the Liberals to easily jog to a win several elections in a row.

This splitting of the right now rears its ugly head in Alberta. Votes going to the Alliance party have directly helped Liberal candidates win seats they should not have won had the Alliance not participated.

Four effective parties are too much. Left, middle, right. Take your pick. Two rights definitely make a wrong.....in elections.

Shawn Smith
Calgary, Alberta.

Splitting the right cost the seat in my riding. I now have a Liberal representing me. Had the Alliance (right, right wing) vote gone PC, I would have a PC representative.

Careful how you view your "secondary" support status. Sometimes it gets that second spot into number one....