Ed Stelmach resigning as Premier

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Great question. I would bet most people that say they hate him can't give any solid reasons why. I am not saying that to pick on people but I think a lot of people just follow the crowd when it comes to politics.

I am saying most people. I am very sure their are some bright people here you have a clear understanding of why Stelmach is a bad premier.

Note: I put myself in the category of not being able to give 5 solid reasons why Stelmach is a lousy premier. But he is. LOL

I only have one significant beef with Stelmach.....his (apparent) total lack of leadership. There are a number of things that happened under his watch that he had all the power necessary to control.

1. The initial royalty changes. I don't think it went far enough. Even after changes were put in place, we still weren't getting (imo) a fair share. Can't seem to give it away fast enough.

2. Backtracking on the royalty changes. It took almost no business pressure to force a collapse of the plan, resulting in a dramatically scaled back version of the changes.

3. Health Care is still a mess. Over-funded, under-managed and wait times continue to escalate (I could argue skyrocket). This was one of Ed's big focuses. The "Superboard" sure worked out well, didn't it.

4. There is still no long-term plan for managing Alberta's resource wealth, nor is there a plan for turning it into long-term (ie. 200 years) success/sustainability.

5. The environmental message. I'm just gonna say it......the tar sands (and area) are a frakkin' mess. It doesn't even matter if we're destroying the Earth or not, we're not even attempting to bullsh*t the rest of the world.

6. He is the leader of the most complacent and lazy political party in Canada.

I keep hearing what a nice guy Ed Stelmach is. Guess what? I could give a frakk. I would trade 100 Stelmachs for 1 Danny Williams in heartbeat (Danny pun!). I voted for a PREMIER, not an friend.

[Slava]

The WRA might have just moved to the "careful what you wish for" side of the equation. If there is a strong leader from within the PCs (and after a highly publicized and interesting leadership race) this has to hurt the Wildrose.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

YAY!!!

Stupid Farmer never should have been the premier..

You're just pissed that he didn't respond to your requests to see your purple cobra.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Slava

The WRA might have just moved to the "careful what you wish for" side of the equation. If there is a strong leader from within the PCs (and after a highly publicized and interesting leadership race) this has to hurt the Wildrose.

"If he said tomorrow he's leaving in a few months, we'd instantly bounce up 20 points, even without knowing who's coming next," says one [Tory] veteran

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Br...#ixzz1C4oyiVnX

[getbak]

This seems like a good time to make the announcement. The last election was in March 2008, so the next election will likely be either this fall or next spring. This gives the PCs a chance to hold a leadership convention this spring/summer and for the new leader to put together his strategy for the next election.

The only question is whether this was his choice or if it was forced upon him.


So, does Dinning make another run at it? Bronco? McIver? Higgins (ha ha ha)? Who are the front-runners from Edmonton?

[Frequitude]

I wonder how cozy Dinning is as Chancelor of the UofC. Come on big guy, still plenty of time for another run.

It would sure be nice to have a fiscal conservative running a province that should be crapping cash.

[JBR]

3 pages and no dancing Olli?

Confused...

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Slava

The WRA might have just moved to the "careful what you wish for" side of the equation. If there is a strong leader from within the PCs (and after a highly publicized and interesting leadership race) this has to hurt the Wildrose.

But here's the question......who is that person? I have no doubt that the PCs will find a decent candidate, but not one that the WRA (and others) will be particularly fearful of.

If there was a (truly) powerful candidate in Alberta, we'd probably already be reasonably well acquainted with them. Dunno.....

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

1. The initial royalty changes. I don't think it went far enough. Even after changes were put in place, we still weren't getting (imo) a fair share.

Hmmm, I am interested to see what other people think about this/the royalty structure as well. I wonder what the overall public sentiment is.

[Frequitude]

Also, a leadership race is by far the best thing for the PCs. Just like last time it would become a defacto Premiership race, with the ensuing provincial election a foregone conclusion. It would pretty much guarantee another term of PC dominance.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

If there was a (truly) powerful candidate in Alberta, we'd probably already be reasonably well acquainted with them. Dunno.....

Craig Conroy is on waivers . . .

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

1. The initial royalty changes. I don't think it went far enough. Even after changes were put in place, we still weren't getting (imo) a fair share. Can't seem to give it away fast enough.

Please elaborate. 50% of a little pie is a lot less than 30% of a big one.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

But here's the question......who is that person? I have no doubt that the PCs will find a decent candidate, but not one that the WRA (and others) will be particularly fearful of.

If there was a (truly) powerful candidate in Alberta, we'd probably already be reasonably well acquainted with them. Dunno.....

I don't know, but when you get a new leader you definitely have a honeymoon period and that is a huge issue going into an election.

Someone else pointed at Dinning...while I can't say I'd be falling all over myself to vote PC, the reality is that he would be pretty attractive to a lot of voters.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

I wonder how cozy Dinning is as Chancelor of the UofC. Come on big guy, still plenty of time for another run.

It would sure be nice to have a fiscal conservative running a province that should be crapping cash.

Jim Dinning could definitely compete for my vote. That said, he's a year (maybe less??) into a new job that he seemed pretty darn excited about.

Seriously - would you trade a work site filled with college chicks for one filled with Yvonne Fritz or Iris Evans??

[getbak]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Seriously - would you trade a work site filled with college chicks for one filled with Yvonne Fritz or Iris Evans??

If you're not a pervert.

So, me? No, I wouldn't. Dinning? I don't know.

[Frequitude]

Sadly, it will probably be Ted Morton's race to lose.

[Ashartus]

Whether royalty rates are too high, too low, or just right (I'm not an economist so I don't know the answer there), the continual tinkering and adjusting was a huge problem and had an economic effect - wells that were going to be profitable enough to drill one day weren't the next, and vice versa, resulting in a lot of companies holding off on drilling activities due to uncertainty.

The breaking of contracts also really annoyed me. The Stelmach government broke their royalty contract with Suncor, tried to get out of funding contractually obligated wage increases to teachers, etc. Whether they were good contracts or not is irrelevant - breaking them reflects really poorly on the government.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Jim Dinning could definitely compete for my vote. That said, he's a year (maybe less??) into a new job that he seemed pretty darn excited about.

Seriously - would you trade a work site filled with college chicks for one filled with Yvonne Fritz or Iris Evans??

Interns my good man, interns.

[Bigtime]

Any wild speculation that Prentice will leave his job at CIBC and make a run for it?

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

The WRA might have just moved to the "careful what you wish for" side of the equation. If there is a strong leader from within the PCs (and after a highly publicized and interesting leadership race) this has to hurt the Wildrose.

Possibly. However, I think most people will realize the problems go far beyond Stelmach. Yes, he is the leader, but the entire caucus let things go downhill even though they had the power to do the right thing for Albertans.