April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[Senator Clay Davis]

Oh no doubt the PCs vote buying has been way more egergious than the Wildrose or Liberal attempts at vote buying, but this is one where I'd prefer they just say nothing because its a tactic all parties engage in.

As to seperating, I realistically don't see it happening just like I never saw it happening when I lived in Quebec, but I do think this province is the most likely to seperate from Canada. It would take a crazy series of events but I could definetely see it.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

In this case, the PCs are apparently attempting to bribe the residents of this riding into voting for them, making a promise with direct and singular benefit to the riding if they do so. I would be curious to know if the Wildrose has made a similar promise in any riding.

None that I'm aware of.

She also made the 85.5 Mil promise to MRU, which IIRC is in her own constituency.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by kn

http://www.wildrose.ca/press-release...dollars-again/

I wanted to read the letter, but the link wouldn't work. Whats the situation in Whitecourt and a hospital? Was this in the works before?

More curiously, whats the $86M that they say she has promised for Elbow?

[Senator Clay Davis]

The $86million for MRU as being a benefit to her constituency is a pretty weak argument. For one, it assumes only people in her constituency will benefit from this, when in fact everyone from many corners of Calgary go to MRU, so it benefits more than just her constituency. For another, isn't that how politicians get elected? They promise their constituens to help make their constituency better? Thats why everyone engages in "vote buying", because unless you're going to pledge to make your contituents lives better, why would they vote for you?

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Slava

I wanted to read the letter, but the link wouldn't work. Whats the situation in Whitecourt and a hospital? Was this in the works before?

More curiously, whats the $86M that they say she has promised for Elbow?

The 86 Million is apart of the overal Post-Secondary Education press release - which goes to Mount Royal University.

http://www.votepc.ca/admin/contentx/...d=2455&r=10187

It's in conjunction with new infrastructure to NAIT, Lethbridge College, NorQuest College and The U of C.

[kn]

nm

[Slava]

Wow, the Wildrose is really grasping at straws there. I mean criticizing the Whitecourt situation might be fine, but the MRU situation is completely different.

[Bunk]

Here's the next two or three days of the story on the campaign trail I suspect.

Wildrose’s behaviour bonds aim to nip ‘bozo eruptions’ in the bud
Josh Wingrove

Edmonton— Globe and Mail Update

Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2012 8:03PM EDT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2402792/

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

The 86 Million is apart of the overal Post-Secondary Education press release - which goes to Mount Royal University.

http://www.votepc.ca/admin/contentx/...d=2455&r=10187

It's in conjunction with new infrastructure to NAIT, Lethbridge College, NorQuest College and The U of C.

There has been a lot of confusion around that.

First this:

http://www.wildrose.ca/press-release...n-fiscal-plan/

Then Carter corrected when Scott Hennig exposed it on Rutherford:

https://twitter.com/#!/carter_AB/sta...58074142523392

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Here's the next two or three days of the story on the campaign trail I suspect.

Not sure why, it's about people (like my husband) who lost their bid to be a candidate. People who aren't even running.

[Bunk]

Is this kind of thing common in political parties? I'm not involved in party politics, so I couldn't say.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Here's the next two or three days of the story on the campaign trail I suspect.

Wildrose’s behaviour bonds aim to nip ‘bozo eruptions’ in the bud
Josh Wingrove

Edmonton— Globe and Mail Update

Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2012 8:03PM EDT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2402792/

The weird thing in that story is when Smith admits that there are a bunch of bimbo's running for her and that they have to be tamed before they can speak. In my riding the Wild Rose candidate refuses to participate in any all candidate debates. I would actually like to hear what he has to say, but unfortunately he is unwilling to attend the debates. Therefore I cannot vote for him, as I am not going to vote for someone who does not have the courage to stand behind his ideas.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

The weird thing in that story is when Smith admits that there are a bunch of bimbo's running for her and that they have to be tamed before they can speak. In my riding the Wild Rose candidate refuses to participate in any all candidate debates. I would actually like to hear what he has to say, but unfortunately he is unwilling to attend the debates. Therefore I cannot vote for him, as I am not going to vote for someone who does not have the courage to stand behind his ideas.

Have you tried calling or emailing?

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Is this kind of thing common in political parties? I'm not involved in party politics, so I couldn't say.

I don't know how common it is (I've haven't been involved in other parties) and I'm not sure how effective it is either. We have several failed nominees who won't be getting their bonds back. Guess $1000 is drop in bucket for some.

[kn]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

The weird thing in that story is when Smith admits that there are a bunch of bimbo's running for her and that they have to be tamed before they can speak. In my riding the Wild Rose candidate refuses to participate in any all candidate debates. I would actually like to hear what he has to say, but unfortunately he is unwilling to attend the debates. Therefore I cannot vote for him, as I am not going to vote for someone who does not have the courage to stand behind his ideas.

Full disclosure. I intend to vote Wildrose and I have donated to the Party. But this practice infuriates me to no end. The actions of Jim Hillyer in the last federal election were disgusting. I can understand warning and even training your candidates to avoid hypotheticals and "gotcha's" that the media can create but to avoid engaging with Albertans that you want to represent? That leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I *really* hope Solinger shows up to the all-candidates debate on Wednesday or I will be torn...

[Senator Clay Davis]

Yeah forcing your own people to ask permission before speaking to the media doesn't speak well to Danielle's leadership. She can't trust her people enough to not say something stupid? That just doesn't sound good to me. If you're trying to convince people you have nothing to hide, acting like you have something to be afraid of if they don't speak to pre-approved media choices isn't a good way to convince people of that.

Also loved this quote

Another Wildrose candidate, Don Koziak, once kicked off a failed mayoral bid in Edmonton by declaring light-rail transit to be a dirty mode of transportation – cities should just widen roads instead, he said.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Have you tried calling or emailing?

In short no, I do not understand why the candidate will not just show up at the debates.To email me back (or have someone in his office email back the party talking points) would not be the same as appearing at a debate. There are two more debates coming up, rumour has it the wildrose guy will not appear at the one on the 17th, but will appear at the one on the 19th because the rural papers in my riding go to press on the 18th.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

In short no, I do not understand why the candidate will not just show up at the debates.To email me back (or have someone in his office email back the party talking points) would not be the same as appearing at a debate. There are two more debates coming up, rumour has it the wildrose guy will not appear at the one on the 17th, but will appear at the one on the 19th because the rural papers in my riding go to press on the 18th.

Mind sharing who it is? You can message me if you prefer.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Mind sharing who it is? You can message me if you prefer.

http://www.cochranetimes.com/Article...aspx?e=3530860

That is an article that talks about the candidate. The key quote is this one:

“He has a head shaving for cancer event that day,” she said, adding Copithorne will attend a forum in Banff as well as a Meet and Greet in Bragg Creek and Morley during the remainder of the campaign."

The Banff debate is after the rural paper deadlines, it is the debate on the 19th. The Canmore debate is on the 17th. I can understand one scheduling conflict, having worked for politicians before, but 3 scheduling conflicts to miss 3 debates seems like it is something that is orchestrated. Especially considering that I am pretty sure Smith was in Cochrane during the day and was off to another riding by the evening.

[Tiger]

I really don't know what I'm going to do in this election. Wildrose had my vote, but did everything in their power to make me not vote for them. I just finally watched the debate and in my opinion, which may not be others, I think Smith was by far the worst in the debate. She didn't have anything important to add in any discussion, and constantly went off topic to try to slam the PCs. Slamming others in a debate is not what I'm interested in, I want the person to outsmart someone in a debate. Unfortunately Smith lost my vote with how poor she did and how it showed they lack any real plan. I believe they hope to get into power and hope the natural gas prices go up by their fourth year so they can give out huge 'dividends' and buy votes for the next election.

I've never voted for anything other than PC before, but the Liberals and the NDP seem to have the only real plans and the PC and wildrose or just in a fight with each other which is hurting both of them. Liberals currently have my vote.