Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Muta]

If he's interested in provincial, Nenshi should start the Progressive Conservative Party again. Familiar brand with Albertans, a new effective leader, and more right-of-centre / not on the bat#### insane/lunatic side of the spectrum that the UCP is. It will also likely syphon the moderates from the UCP, draining them of quality MLAs (if there are any left in that party).

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Muta

If he's interested in provincial, Nenshi should start the Progressive Conservative Party again. Familiar brand with Albertans, a new effective leader, and more right-of-centre / not on the bat#### insane/lunatic side of the spectrum that the UCP is. It will also likely syphon the moderates from the UCP, draining them of quality MLAs (if there are any left in that party).

Can we also action this plan on a National Level as well?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

The problem is that there is a significant risk - probably a "more likely than not" scenario - that that just turns into another Alberta Party.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Muta

If he's interested in provincial, Nenshi should start the Progressive Conservative Party again. Familiar brand with Albertans, a new effective leader, and more right-of-centre / not on the bat#### insane/lunatic side of the spectrum that the UCP is. It will also likely syphon the moderates from the UCP, draining them of quality MLAs (if there are any left in that party).

All I want is for Nenshi to absolutely wipe the floor with Smith in a televised debate. Going to need a big fat cigarette after that one.

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I am sure this is a coincidence.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/25707994/high-river

That's pretty brazen. I didn't even know she had a restaurant, now I do and guess what it's for sale?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Worse still, the listing describes it as a "very unique" opportunity.

That should be a hanging offense.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

The problem is that there is a significant risk - probably a "more likely than not" scenario - that that just turns into another Alberta Party.

How so? The Alberta Party lost its steam when Greg Clark left. For a new party, they gained 10% of the popular vote in 2015, which is actually pretty good (I voted for them that year). Once Clark (unfortunately) left and the party was invaded by Mandel and former PCs, they lost their identity and momentum. Nenshi actually calling a new party 'the PCs' would have an instant brand value and recognition with a credible leader. The conservatives who 'held their nose and voted UCP' or abstained in 2023 would have a credible option more in line with their own conservative values.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I am sure this is a coincidence.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/25707994/high-river

Don't forget the nice fluff piece written by her friends at Post Media to pump the tires on the sale!

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith works a weekend shift at her restaurant doing dishes

And here's the absolutely hilarious lead-in line:

'Fun fact: my husband and I still own a restaurant'

And oh yeah - authored by the "National Post Staff" so no one person can have the finger pointed at.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Don't forget the nice fluff piece written by her friends at Post Media to pump the tires on the sale!

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith works a weekend shift at her restaurant doing dishes

And here's the absolutely hilarious lead-in line:

'Fun fact: my husband and I still own a restaurant'

And oh yeah - authored by the "National Post Staff" so no one person can have the finger pointed at.

Ah, yes, I've had dealings with this "Mr Staff" before. Complete scumbag

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Muta

How so? The Alberta Party lost its steam when Greg Clark left. For a new party, they gained 10% of the popular vote in 2015, which is actually pretty good (I voted for them that year). Once Clark (unfortunately) left and the party was invaded by Mandel and former PCs, they lost their identity and momentum. Nenshi actually calling a new party 'the PCs' would have an instant brand value and recognition with a credible leader. The conservatives who 'held their nose and voted UCP' or abstained in 2023 would have a credible option more in line with their own conservative values.

I think things are so polarized in this province that at this point there are a lot of voters who would buy the line, from both the UCP and the NDP, that "a vote for the 'New PC' party is throwing your vote away and we need every single vote to stop the evil other guys"... I guess there is a best case scenario where Nenshi does what he did in his first Mayoral race and gains a bunch of momentum to a point where he just sort of "purple waves" his way to a significant position in the legislature, but I honestly think the "best realistic case" scenario for such a venture is about where Greg Clark left off - one to three seats in the legislature and 10-15% of the popular vote.

Which isn't bad, mind you, for a third party... but would Nenshi be interested in that?

[GioforPM]

I suspect UCP owns the rights to the "Progressive Conservative Party" name.

In any event, most conservatives I know, and this includes the "I'm a fiscal conservative but social progressive" types disliked Nenshi for whatever reason. All the oil and gas and support people that run in my circles figured he was a left winger.

[Fuzz]

At best a Nenshi party would do about as well as the NDP did. Not going to win rural ridings.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Worse still, the listing describes it as a "very unique" opportunity.

That should be a hanging offense.

There's probably only one restaurant for sale by a sitting Premier.

I think that takes it from being just regular plain ol' unique to "very" unique.

Because there's not just one, there's "JUST ONE!!!!!1!!!?!"

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

At best a Nenshi party would do about as well as the NDP did. Not going to win rural ridings.

Yeah, not sure if that flips many of the blue parts of Calgary either

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

At best a Nenshi party would do about as well as the NDP did. Not going to win rural ridings.

But what if he named it the the "conservatey conservative party" while maintaining exactly the same policies you would expect from him?

I think there are two classes that make up 90% of remaining UPC voters. Those of the view it all as a team sport, are willing to hand wave away anything long they are owning the libs, to get back at them for how annoying their self righteousness is (it is annoying). And those who haven't scratched the political surface deeper than names and stereotypes in years, and just are ignoring the evidence content to believe that the UPC are the economically responsible adults in the room, in-spite of all evidence.

I think the first group anyone who pisses off the libs stands a chance, but Neshi doesn't.

For the second group if you have conservative if your name and poll well enough to win, you could run Leon Trotsky and they would vote for him to keep those damned socialists out.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

At best a Nenshi party would do about as well as the NDP did. Not going to win rural ridings.

how about an NDP Party with Nenshi as the leader?
not saying he'd ever do it, but maybe that would turn a few Calgary ridings away from the UCP.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

how about an NDP Party with Nenshi as the leader?
not saying he'd ever do it, but maybe that would turn a few Calgary ridings away from the UCP.

I still don't think it would be enough. It might be closer. I think the only real hope is for population to increase enough in cities that it gives them enough power to remove the rural control vote as the number of urban ridings increases. Many years to go.

[D as in David]

Some (many?) think this is the person to keep an eye on as the next leader of the NDP.

https://rakhipancholi.albertandp.ca/

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by #-3

But what if he named it the the "conservatey conservative party" while maintaining exactly the same policies you would expect from him?

I think there are two classes that make up 90% of remaining UPC voters. Those of the view it all as a team sport, are willing to hand wave away anything long they are owning the libs, to get back at them for how annoying their self righteousness is (it is annoying). And those who haven't scratched the political surface deeper than names and stereotypes in years, and just are ignoring the evidence content to believe that the UPC are the economically responsible adults in the room, in-spite of all evidence.

I think the first group anyone who pisses off the libs stands a chance, but Neshi doesn't.

For the second group if you have conservative if your name and poll well enough to win, you could run Leon Trotsky and they would vote for him to keep those damned socialists out.

We have to keep in mind that voters who barely follow politics outnumber people who follow it like a sport (such as those who post in these threads) by a wide margin. Many of those low-engagement voters aren’t particularly partisan. When they decide who they’re casting their vote for, they ask themselves a pretty basic question - am I personally doing better financially than a few years ago, or worse? If they’re doing better, they’ll vote for the incumbent. If they’re doing worse, they’ll vote against the incumbent.

So one of the biggest factors in voting - the economic climate at the time of the election - is outside the control of candidates and their campaigns.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

https://twitter.com/user/status/1667741462623141889


Not just the US. "Acting accordingly" is where I've gone, which is to stop pretending morons can have their minds changed by facts. I'm deeply sorry that offends some of you.

What are all of these facts you keep talking about. Can you list them for us?