WAP Leadership race down to two... - Page 8 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

peter12 · 10-05-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Dyrholm's Letter to the Calgary Herald:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Po...246/story.html

Understandably, Danielle Smith used to be on the Editorial Board at the Calgary Herald, so all her former colleagues and friends will support her.

When Hannaford launched his drive-by liberal media hit he was well aware that there were only two candidates left in the race, as Jeff Willerton withdrew from the race to support me.

Thus, a comment like the Wildrose Alliance ". . . must choose a leader with what it takes to move the party beyond the church basement and the rod and gun club" is specifically targeted at me.

Hannaford - "liberal media"? LOL.

Haha, what a crybaby. Politics is not the place for guys who cry foul ball at every opportunity.

The Goon · 10-05-2009, 02:01 PM

You have to have a thick skin to run for office. This guy has just hurt himself badly by writing to respond to an editorial.

troutman · 10-05-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Goon

You have to have a thick skin to run for office. This guy has just hurt himself badly by writing to respond to an editorial.

His wife wrote a letter last week too.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Di...933/story.html

To criticize a political candidate, like Mark Dyrholm, for being principled and honest is a sad statement on the media's role in intelligent, respectful debate.

"Fear of social conservatives" comes not from the clear thinking, voting public, but from divisive, biased drivel like this.

Kamala Dyrholm,
Calgary

Kamala Dyrholm Is Mark Dyrholm's Wife

The Goon · 10-05-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

His wife wrote a letter last week too.

Wow. Knowing virtually nothing of his platform (or his opponent's), I would refrain from supporting him simply due to these actions. I'd also surmise he had a hand in his old lady's letter as well.

Cowboy89 · 10-05-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Goon

Wow. Knowing virtually nothing of his platform (or his opponent's), I would refrain from supporting him simply due to these actions. I'd also surmise he had a hand in his old lady's letter as well.

Not only that in the rebuttal article he reaffirmed the reason why Danielle Smith's Libertarian talking points are gaining traction. He's a social conservative. If you don't want a party run by a social conservative then vote for Danielle Smith.

He makes fun of Danielle Smith's stances as 'PC lite' like it should be a negative thing from where he stands. The only reason why people care to look at the WRA is because they liked the PCs circa 1993 & 1997, don't like what became of them and now want an alternative that either moves the PC's back to the the right to stave off the WRA or actually forms government and governs from that stance. He's suggesting that even the PC's in the 90s need to be moved further right. I think I speak for many Albertans when I say "DO NOT WANT."

Resolute 14 · 10-06-2009, 03:55 PM

Dyrholm is getting worse too. I just got a mailer from him where he's attacking Smith right on the envelope. He's desperately trying to paint her as both "PC lite" and a Liberal, then goes on to basically accuse anyone who votes for Smith of being brainwashed by the media.

The entire thing was so pitiful I actually felt bad for him.

Hopefully that is a sign of how things are going for his campaign, lol.

Julio · 10-07-2009, 02:21 AM

Nigel Hannaford liberal? compared to who...Attilla the Hun?

4X4 · 10-07-2009, 08:03 AM

Leadership races are so awkward to watch. They publicly bash each other, and then after one of them wins, they all publicly give the winner their full support.

Ford Prefect · 10-07-2009, 10:00 AM

Dryholm really seems like a politico they time warped out of the 1950s So-Creds. I think his statements and attacks on Smith should all but assure her victory.

Hot rumour ... Ralph Klein is very close to joining the WAP. Not as a candidate, just as a member. If he does I can't help but think his influence and experience would give the party quite a boost. He can maybe even help seal the deal with those 10 MLAs who are rumoured to be interested in crossing over.

Apparently Ralph's goal when he left power was to leave the province in such good shape that even the NDP couldn't screw it up. He's beside himself over his own party managing the feat in such a short time. What has it taken ... 2-3 years. Anyway, I guess the old King of the St Louis is going nuts over what has transpired under Stelmach.

4X4 · 10-07-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Dryholm really seems like a politico they time warped out of the 1950s So-Creds. I think his statements and attacks on Smith should all but assure her victory.

Hot rumour ... Ralph Klein is very close to joining the WAP. Not as a candidate, just as a member. If he does I can't help but think his influence and experience would give the party quite a boost. He can maybe even help seal the deal with those 10 MLAs who are rumoured to be interested in crossing over.

Apparently Ralph's goal when he left power was to leave the province in such good shape that even the NDP couldn't screw it up. He's beside himself over his own party managing the feat in such a short time. What has it taken ... 2-3 years. Anyway, I guess the old King of the St Louis is going nuts over what has transpired under Stelmach.

Join the club, eh?

Slava · 10-07-2009, 10:24 AM

I think that the 10 MLA's considering the move are waiting to see who the new leader is, and what the policies are going to be?

Ford Prefect · 10-07-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

I think that the 10 MLA's considering the move are waiting to see who the new leader is, and what the policies are going to be?

No doubt, but it probably won't hurt if Ralph is part of the WAP team.

Resolute 14 · 10-07-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

I think that the 10 MLA's considering the move are waiting to see who the new leader is, and what the policies are going to be?

Not just what the WRA's policies will be, but also how the PCs are going to look after the leadership review. It is very, very unlikely, but if the vote is such that Stelmach feels compelled to resign, most of those MLAs might stick around.

Beyond that, there are a lot of things in private business that are politically motivated. MLAs looking for good private sector jobs might be concerned about alienating the powers that be.

Slava · 10-07-2009, 11:28 AM

If the WRA faces an influx of PC members and PC MLA's (maybe faces is the wrong word here and that word should be "experiences" instead) then on has to wonder what really differentiates them from the PC party at that point?

Resolute 14 · 10-07-2009, 11:47 AM

Because every single PC MLA thinks the same on every issue?

Slava · 10-07-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Because every single PC MLA thinks the same on every issue?

C'mon Res you know the tagline "Liberal, Tory same old story!"

Cowboy89 · 10-07-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

If the WRA faces an influx of PC members and PC MLA's (maybe faces is the wrong word here and that word should be "experiences" instead) then on has to wonder what really differentiates them from the PC party at that point?

Well ultimately what's at stake here is a battle for the traditional PC votership. The PC party moved left, and the traditional voter base didn't. The popular support for the WRA reflects those that have had the PC party tent move left of their stance. Those MLAs, members et al that leave the PC party now or in the not so distant future will ultimately be signalling the same thing. In reaction to this the PCs have to choose whether or not they want to stop the leakage and buck back to the right or to continue to pursue their movement left.

It would be a huge miscalculation on the part of the Liberal braintrust to believe that this current dissatisfaction with Stelmach translates into more support for the same old Liberal causes, because in the eyes of those leaving the PCs for the WAP, the PCs are starting to look red.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 10-07-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Well ultimately what's at stake here is a battle for the traditional PC votership. The PC party moved left, and the traditional voter base didn't.

In large part I agree--this is essentially turning into the same battle for the heart of the PC party that took place between Dinning and Ted Morton a while ago.

Where I disagree is with the statement that the PC party "moved left." They didn't move "left," they moved "incompetent." There's a big difference. If Stelmach were proving to be an even adequate steward, this conversation wouldn't be happening.

Resolute 14 · 10-07-2009, 11:58 AM

Moved incompetent is a good way to describe it, but their plan of "spend your way out of it" is typically viewed as a Liberal attitude, and the relative positions on fiscal conservatism would likely be the greatest difference between the two parties at this point.

Slava · 10-07-2009, 11:59 AM

I agree with you on the part about the Liberals and their reading of this situation. They weren't able to beat the Tories in any situation where the WRA was not a factor, so an enlarged opposition party on the right doesn't necessarily bode well for them.

I guess my pondering here is more about the fact that the current influx has a lot to do with the positioning of the WRA as being very different from the PC party. Does that advantage begin to erode when you have PC's putting their stamp on the party? for example if Boutillier (probably spelled wrong!) moves over I would say that is great for the WRA. If Ron Liepert comes over though....I would say that is not good at all (based on the article in the Herald this morning amongst other things).