Alberta PC's way out front

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm not so sure. Europe for one is having a tough time reducing the debt, deficit or size of the public workforce. They might talk about delivering more efficient services, but they hardly ever talk about doing that AND cutting costs.

Obama ran on the idea of changing things but IIRC he never actually talked about cutting costs or balancing the budget.

And you don't think that local politics, and resistance from large segments of society to such drastic cuts (which have been proposed by nearly every government in Europe) has anything to do with the slow pace of change? Not to mention the possible economic and social side effects of laying off tens of thousands of civil servants?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Makarov

And you don't think that local politics, and resistance from large segments of society to such drastic cuts (which have been proposed by nearly every government in Europe) has anything to do with the slow pace of change? Not to mention the possible economic and social side effects of laying off tens of thousands of civil servants?

Pretty sure the the size of the US government has been dropping for a while now, and unemployment seems to keep going down despite that.

Either way, that is exactly my point. The baby boomer generation has spent years creating massive debt and deficits, and suddenly we're now at the point where governments have to promise MORE or they won't get elected.

The US can talk all day about cutting the debt/deficit, but at the end of the day unless they cut welfare programs and the military, nothing will matter. And that will never happen while the baby boomer generation has so much say-so when it comes to elections.

Hell, the Conservatives talk about changing OAS because of future costs that we won't be able to handle, and suddenly seniors are outraged. Why? Because we should burden ourselves with even more debt just to support them?

The hilarious part is how they demand those services, but don't want to pay more taxes. Alberta is a prime example of that. Record budgets, but very low tax rates. That can't work forever.

[First Lady]

Check out the poll on this PC candidate's website.

http://jansen.votepc.ca/default.cfm

How well will PC candidates do in the upcoming spring election?

80 - 87 Seats
70 - 80 Seats
Less than 70 Seats
Mine for Sure

[Resolute 14]

That's the kind of arrogance that makes anyone except for the NDP a better choice than any PC candidate.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Check out the poll on this PC candidate's website.

http://jansen.votepc.ca/default.cfm

This says a lot about the PC mentality. They think or know that they have this province in the bag. Pride goes before a fall.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by darklord700

This says a lot about the PC mentality. They think or know that they have this province in the bag. Pride goes before a fall.

Great. The WRA supporters have decided there's not enough ridiculous over-reaction and hyperbole on the OT Forum, so they've trying to make this thread more like the "Trade Rumours" thread.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Great. The WRA supporters have decided there's not enough ridiculous over-reaction and hyperbole on the OT Forum, so they've trying to make this thread more like the "Trade Rumours" thread.

Says the hypocrite who posted this:

Originally Posted by longsuffering

It's baffling to me how otherwise intelligent people are so eager to throw their support behind our province's version of the ultra-conservative wing of the Republican Party. Gingrich and Santorum would feel at home in the WRA.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Says the hypocrite who posted this:

I DID give you credit for being otherwise intelligent ......

[Jacks]

Lovely

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2352188/

As a Progressive Conservative bus rolls around Alberta with Alison Redford’s face on it, you’d be forgiven for assuming an election campaign is formally under way. Or that this month’s budget – ads for which run regularly on radio stations – has been passed. Or that government money has been steered entirely clear of political party business, as laws in other provinces require.

But none of this is the case in Alberta. With her first election as party leader looming, Ms. Redford’s government is spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on campaign-style events.
..........
There was $100,000 spent on a recent cabinet tour of the province – after several similar tours last year and a leadership campaign in which Ms. Redford zigzagged the province herself for eight months. Critics say it amounted to a whistle-stop campaign tour.Then there was a caucus retreat to Jasper, a mountain getaway that opposition members say amounted to a campaign planning session. Taxpayers footed that bill, too, about $70,000.
And then there’s the $360,000 in government money Ms. Redford’s office says will be spent to buy advertisements promoting her budget on the radio.
..........
Ms. Redford’s staff declined comment Monday, but last week in a committee debate she rejected the criticisms of Mr. Sherman, saying “it’s not about advertising; it’s about communicating and dialoguing with Albertans.”

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Lovely

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2352188/

Puke! This whole ridiculous concept of voting in a new premier by holding a PC leadership contest should be banned when it results in the activities seen by Ed (royalty gongshow) and Allison (campaign tours). It is the spirit of entitlement that drives me nuts.

[killer_carlson]

I'm concerned that the robocall scandal is going to affect the perception of any recorded announcement from any candidate this election, or any push polling.

In my riding this will affect the only guy who has a shot at unseating b. mason because as a guy in a wheelchair in a riding of walk up apartments and condos and sidewalks without wheelchair accessible curbs, he definately needs to use the phones to unseat b. Mason.

He needs more money though. Anyone hate the ndp and want to donate to a guy who works his butt off and has worked in the riding for 2 years now?

[Azure]

Holy crap, they are more arrogant that I figured.

Go anyone else but the PCs.

[First Lady]

This is an interesting development; give it a read. Do you think Redford did this backtracking on her own or did her caucus do it behind her back?


Calgary Herald, Don Braid: Redford will wear this retreat from her health inquiry promise

[Ducay]

Look familiar?




Its this type of mentality that has half the US sound like ######s. Taking cues from the Tea Party is not the way to win votes in Alberta; I'll pass on right wing extremism. They're literally trying to gain votes by trying to pull a Tea Party move that is causing nothing but havok in the states.

[Jacks]

McGunity in Ontario promised not to raise taxes too, does that mean the Ontario Liberals are "right wing extremists" who are trying to pull a "Tea Party"

The Wildrose has little or nothing in common with the US Tea Party from what I've seen. Feel free to show how they are connected.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by First Lady

This is an interesting development; give it a read. Do you think Redford did this backtracking on her own or did her caucus do it behind her back?


Calgary Herald, Don Braid: Redford will wear this retreat from her health inquiry promise

When you have a character like Stephen Carter as your Chief of Staff, this kind of baloney is what you get.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/10/07...th-peace-visit

[Resolute 14]

Only a complete idiot would equate "we won't raise taxes" with the Tea Party.

Politicians have been promising not to raise taxes since taxes were invented.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Look familiar?




Its this type of mentality that has half the US sound like ######s. Taking cues from the Tea Party is not the way to win votes in Alberta; I'll pass on right wing extremism. They're literally trying to gain votes by trying to pull a Tea Party move that is causing nothing but havok in the states.

I like how there is a period at the end of "No Tax Hikes", and yet they still felt the need to throw "Period!" at the end of their little sign.

Personally, Comma! I hope that this new grammar catches on! Exclamation Point!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

When you have a character like Stephen Carter as your Chief of Staff, this kind of baloney is what you get.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/10/07...th-peace-visit

While I don't think that this particularly relevant, I'm still going to needle you anyway. Did you have the same feelings about how bad of a hire he was when he worked for the Wildrose Party?

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Look familiar?

Its this type of mentality that has half the US sound like ######s. Taking cues from the Tea Party is not the way to win votes in Alberta; I'll pass on right wing extremism. They're literally trying to gain votes by trying to pull a Tea Party move that is causing nothing but havok in the states.

Originally Posted by Makarov

I like how there is a period at the end of "No Tax Hikes", and yet they still felt the need to throw "Period!" at the end of their little sign.

Personally, Comma! I hope that this new grammar catches on! Exclamation Point!

LMAO Good point. Period.

Originally Posted by Slava

While I don't think that this particularly relevant, I'm still going to needle you anyway. Did you have the same feelings about how bad of a hire he was when he worked for the Wildrose Party?

Yes. Both times!!

Apologies to Carter. Love him as a person, but he just wasn't a good fit for us.