UCP Leadership Election

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

I think the UCP has already hit it's high mark with the 60% poll in August and it'll start losing support as time goes on. The problem for the UCP is that it's been a blank slate for a lot of people. For example if you support Doug Schweitzer and think the UCP will be the #newblue you'd probably vote that way, if you think it should be more socially conservative then Jason's your man and you'd vote UCP. If you love Brian Jean and think he's the man of the people than the UCP is your party.

But that blank slate ends on Saturday and with a leader officially in the driver's seat it's going to start having an identity and a lot of that will be who wins it. I don't for a second doubt that the UCP will be Jason Kenney's and the party will have to wear the baggage he brings to the party and cash some of the cheques his campaign has been writing to get support during these leadership races.

Don't get me wrong, Kenney has been a machine at motivating his base and is an amazing campaigner for leaderships, but what motivates his base isn't the same thing that motivates a vast majority of voting Albertans and he'll have to prove that he can attract many Albertans who haven't been paying attention and provide a platform that's better than "NDP BAD!". Kenney is also incredibly awkward when it comes to answering media questions outside of his bubble of support.

I think over the next few months you'll see the gap between the UCP and NDP starting to shrink and probably the amount of undecideds starting to rise.

I think a lot of people are underestimating the broad conservative majority.

Kenney is going to win in a landslide.

[Jeff Lebowski]

So UCP is a Reform-Alliance party. Gotcha.

[White Out 403]

One on hand, I'm glad Kenney won because he's such an extreme right winger who will pander to old and rural voters that it may allow the NDP to keep governing as an actual centrist party.

On the other hand, there's a lot of really angry old white people all across Alberta who prob can't wait to hear Kenney whipser is bull#### sweet nothings into their ears and vote for this huckster. Him as the AB premier is a truly depressing though, where as I could have lived with Doug.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I think a lot of people are underestimating the broad conservative majority.

Kenney is going to win in a landslide.

I don't know. At this point it's effectively a two party race, and a lot of Albertans might prefer what we have as opposed to a regressive, smarmy, career politician (just my unbiased opinion). This is exactly what the NDP wanted. If a party gets some momentum or tries to fill in the center then maybe, but if it turns into one against the other all bets are off.

[PepsiFree]

Well that’s one less vote for UCP.

Hopefully the Alberta Party can make something of themselves, but that seems extremely far fetched.

It’s really a shame.

[the_only_turek_fan]

I love how you guys think that only old white guys can be conservatives. So ludicrous.

On top of that Jason Kenney is deeply involved with many cultural communities all over the country.

He also provided safe haven for many GAY IRANIAN men.

The desperation is going to be fun to watch.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I love how you guys think that only old white guys can be conservatives. So ludicrous.

On top of that Jason Kenney is deeply involved with many cultural communities all over the country.

He also provided safe haven for many GAY IRANIAN men.

The desperation is going to be fun to watch.

Who said only? Are you really going to deny that his bread and butter, tho, isn't old white folks?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yeah, Schweitzer never had any more of a chance than Michael Chong did. 2019 is going to be a tough decision.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know. At this point it's effectively a two party race, and a lot of Albertans might prefer what we have as opposed to a regressive, smarmy, career politician (just my unbiased opinion). This is exactly what the NDP wanted. If a party gets some momentum or tries to fill in the center then maybe, but if it turns into one against the other all bets are off.

Jason Kenney was instrumental in getting Harper a majority in a nationwide election.

He is going to be playing on home ice in 2019.

Can you please give me an example of one extreme right wing idea that is being floated by the UCP?

[jayswin]

nm

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Yeah, Schweitzer never had any more of a chance than Michael Chong did. 2019 is going to be a tough decision.

Not for me. Barring a "unite the centre" merger of the Alberta Party and the Alberta Liberals in the next ~18 months, Kenney being selected UCP leader guarantees that I will hold my nose and vote strategically for the NDP, a party I never thought I'd ever vote for.

And yet here we are.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Bootsy

Kenney it is , the results:
Jason Kenney - 61.1%
Brian Jean - 31.5%
Doug Schweitzer - 7.3%

Damn, UCP is now out as an option. We know who Kenny is and what he stands for socially. We don't need that garbage in Canada in 2017. Oh well, I was hoping for a strong opponent next election.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Not for me. Barring a "unite the centre" merger of the Alberta Party and the Alberta Liberals in the next ~18 months, Kenney being selected UCP leader guarantees that I will hold my nose and vote strategically for the NDP, a party I never thought I'd ever vote for.

And yet here we are.

I hear you... but I just don't think I can vote for the NDP. I guess it's going to be a matter of the UCP convincing me that I can hold my nose and vote for them in spite of my reservations, or more likely just voting for the Alberta Party, who are closest to me ideologically. I get that it's probably a waste of a vote, but that's only true if people continue to vote strategically, as I'm pretty sure there are quite a few Albertans out there who are in the same boat as us.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Can you please give me an example of one extreme right wing idea that is being floated by the UCP?

Jason Kenney.

*rimshot*

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Jason Kenney was instrumental in getting Harper a majority in a nationwide election.

He is going to be playing on home ice in 2019.

Can you please give me an example of one extreme right wing idea that is being floated by the UCP?

How about Kenneys desire to out gay kids in school?

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I think a lot of people are underestimating the broad conservative majority.

Kenney is going to win in a landslide.

Not under estimating the massive conservative leanings of the province at all. The UCP will be formidable and will dominate the rural seats, but it doesn't take much to look at the last few elections on a provincial and municipal level and see that when it comes to voting, the provincial cities tend to lean to the progressive side of things. With redistribution the cities will determine where the province votes and most importantly the 25-40 age demographic will be the largest voting block in the province.

[GaiJin]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

How about Kenneys desire to out gay kids in school?

How about Notley desire to take over parenting from the parents?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Not for me. Barring a "unite the centre" merger of the Alberta Party and the Alberta Liberals in the next ~18 months, Kenney being selected UCP leader guarantees that I will hold my nose and vote strategically for the NDP, a party I never thought I'd ever vote for.

And yet here we are.

A guy like Matt Grant would be a perfect guy to start this unite the centre movement. People like him and the fiscally conservative, socially liberal red tories from the PC days could unite a lot of people in this provnice, especially in the cities.

I believe there is a huge 'market' for this kind of political product in this province. There were probably some great municipal contenders that lost out (Gregg Miller) that seemingly could stand as potential MLAs. Once there was a critical mass or recognizable, good candidates it could be done.

I hope it isn't wishful thinking. I hope there are people thinking along these lines.

[northcrunk]

It doesn't really matter who the UCP picked. The NDP is not going to win another election here.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

It doesn't really matter who the UCB picked. The NDP is not going to win another election here.

This is true.