Ed Stelmach resigning as Premier

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

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

Prentice has made it pretty clear his political days are over.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by 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.

I don't think there was much doubt that the PCs would still win the next election, but a good leader would be the difference between a majority at 45-50 seats and one at 50-55 seats. Even with a new leader, I expect there will be a much larger opposition.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Prentice has made it pretty clear his political days are over.

That's why it is wild speculation. I think him appearing on the scene could give the PC's a boost.

Perhaps he'll pull a Favre and come out of retirement for it?

[Bertuzzied]

BEST NEWS EVER!!!!!!

Can't you just step down now though?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by First Lady

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.

I doubt it. Look no further than this thread....people just never liked Stelmach and once he is out of the picture the new leader can rebuild that support I think.

I'm not saying this is the best thing....I've made my leanings pretty clear here and this isn't great news for voters like me either!

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by troutman

Craig Conroy is on waivers . . .

Darryl Sutter is available too!

[octothorp]

As much as I didn't like Ed, none of the other parties have really put out much beyond an anybody-but-Ed approach thus far. For the WRA and Alberta party, I am really eager to hear them articulate their visions in more detail. I still see a disconnect between Danielle Smith's moderate social conservatism and the views of typical WRA supporters. It would be very interesting if hardcore social conservative Morton became leader of the Tories and there was room for the WRA to become the moderate conservative party of choice.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Slava

I doubt it. Look no further than this thread....people just never liked Stelmach and once he is out of the picture the new leader can rebuild that support I think.

I'm not saying this is the best thing....I've made my leanings pretty clear here and this isn't great news for voters like me either!

It would take an incredible, dynamic leader. Is there one? Or even hope of one?

Their own MLA's are hugely split to both sides of spectrum. I wouldn't be surprised to see more defections from the PC's. Ones who don't want to go down with the ship.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Slava

I doubt it. Look no further than this thread....people just never liked Stelmach and once he is out of the picture the new leader can rebuild that support I think.

I'm not saying this is the best thing....I've made my leanings pretty clear here and this isn't great news for voters like me either!

Yeah, the entire election campaign - which began today - will be all about the PCs throwing Stelmach under the bus against the WRA, Liberals, NDP and *snicker* Alberta party arguing the issues are deeply ingrained in the PC party.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by octothorp

As much as I didn't like Ed, none of the other parties have really put out much beyond an anybody-but-Ed approach thus far. For the WRA and Alberta party, I am really eager to hear them articulate their visions in more detail. I still see a disconnect between Danielle Smith's moderate social conservatism and the views of typical WRA supporters. It would be very interesting if hardcore social conservative Morton became leader of the Tories and there was room for the WRA to become the moderate conservative party of choice.

What makes you think there is "a disconnect between Danielle Smith's moderate social conservatism and the views of typical WRA supporters"?

Who or what is a typical Wildrose supporter?

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Source+...553/story.html


Hastily announced press conference in Edmonton.

As I said to a party insider at the time he was put into power, he was the weaker compromise after the party couldn't decide on either of the two stronger candidates, the guy the other two sides thought they could use as their proxy to power.

Just the wrong guy all along.

Cowperson

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by Slava

I doubt it. Look no further than this thread....people just never liked Stelmach and once he is out of the picture the new leader can rebuild that support I think.

I'm not saying this is the best thing....I've made my leanings pretty clear here and this isn't great news for voters like me either!

I think you're probably right unfortunately. While I don't like Stelmach, I don't think him stepping down will magically make everything better. The Conservative party has been in power too long and become too complacent, and have too many poor quality MLAs that got into office solely because of the party they ran for. But a lot of people will see a new leader, think everything will be different, and go back to automatically voting for the candidate with the word "Conservative" next to their name.

I believe the best thing for the Conservative party would be for them to lose an election and do a major housecleaning. Long-term I'd really like to see a situation where there are at least 2 parties with a credible chance of winning any given election, to prevent the governing party from getting too complacent.

[cKy]

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??

Jim Dinning is my girlfriends uncle.

I still wouldnt vote for him even if i could.

[burn_this_city]

The royalty regime was fine before the changes he brought in. All the changes did was drive away investment in the oil patch. Its cute when people who don't work in the industry say it didnt go far enough. Of course not, because you arent getting something for nothing.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

T....... something for nothing.

... And your chicks for free....

[automaton 3]

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.

There was a sizable "anyone but Dinning" movement last time, particularly in Edmonton/rural Alberta. Dinning would have to find a way to diffuse that to have a good shot.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

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

I've always seen that as a bogus argument used to support lower royalty rates. The pie is, was and will always be the same size.

The REAL differences that comes from an increased royalty rate......the rate in which the resources get exploited, and the dollars brought in for the resource.

And no, I don't advocate killing the oil patch......but I also don't see the need to give up all the resources as quickly as possible.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

I've always seen that as a bogus argument used to support lower royalty rates. The pie is, was and will always be the same size.

The REAL differences that comes from an increased royalty rate......the rate in which the resources get exploited, and the dollars brought in for the resource.

And no, I don't advocate killing the oil patch......but I also don't see the need to give up all the resources as quickly as possible.

How is the pie the same size? When projects are cancelled due to economics? This is the same drunken philosphy of the Stelmach gang that don't realize theres other places you can get oil from. We became less competitive than almost every other region in the world. We pump the most expensive barrel of oil. This isnt Saudi where it costs $2 a barrel to bring the oil to market. The amount of initial investment required to get our barrel to market is more than anywhere else in the world.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

There was a sizable "anyone but Dinning" movement last time, particularly in Edmonton/rural Alberta. Dinning would have to find a way to diffuse that to have a good shot.

I wonder if living the last 4+ years under "anyone" did anything to diffuse that?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

As I said to a party insider at the time he was put into power, he was the weaker compromise after the party couldn't decide on either of the two stronger candidates, the guy the other two sides thought they could use as their proxy to power.

Just the wrong guy all along.

Cowperson

Except he was elected by what essentially a popular ballot. You might be thinking of Dion.

Stelmach was the statistical blip caused by a strange run-off system.