CanPol - Alberta edition

[Asher]

Wild Rose has been around for years, and it's only when they appoint a pro-abort that it gets reported here?

I find that hilarious.

That's fine if you don't want my opinion. I'm still gonna comment on it anyways.

This has **** all to do with abortion. I didn't even know the party's stance on it.

The reason why the party is picking up major steam is the Tories are a cluster****. Alberta has the highest per-capita spending of all of the province and they are completely and utterly wasteful with their money. They are politically inept -- see Stelmach's bus-driver comments that are causing an uproar. Stelmach has the personality of an impotent goat and the party's actions are even driving away the big oil companies.

The Wildrose Alliance is a breath of fresh air in a stale, rancid political scene in Alberta. They are a serious threat. Virtually all of the people I know are going to vote for that party -- pending the quality of their candidate -- next election. And no, it's not 'cause of the gay marriage stance (which is news to me also, but that's irrelevant because even the Tories aren't touching that hot potato)

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm archiving this thread.

Y'all think the Wild Rose are gonna govern AB? Seriously?

[Asher]

Quel surprise.

How on earth would people prefer wild rose to the liberals, NDP, or the PCs? Are the wild rose going to dominate rural alberta? Are they going to dominate Calgary or E-Town?

Is there anywhere at all in AB, that the Wild Rose would be the first choice of Albertans?

Besides, I actually live out west.

You going to play the sandbagger card, fine -- I'll return fire.

Living out west doesn't mean anything if you can't hear what people are saying.

My family has lived in Alberta since 1979 and I've lived there most of my life, and I still read the Calgary Herald daily and am in constant communication with many friends there. I'm very much in tune with the province, far more than you will ever be, and I will be moving back with my SO once the job situation there becomes suitably un-****ed.

[Asher]

I'm archiving this thread.

Y'all think the Wild Rose are gonna govern AB? Seriously?

No one said that you disingenuous douchebag.

Get the **** out of this thread. Lori?

[Ben Kenobi]

This has **** all to do with abortion. I didn't even know the party's stance on it.

Now you know. I figured your end of it would be the gay rights end, that seems more up your alley.

Pro abort + pro gay rights. Absolutely identical to Stelmach and co, except they've got a chick as leader.

The reason why the party is picking up major steam is the Tories are a cluster****. Alberta has the highest per-capita spending of all of the province and they are completely and utterly wasteful with their money. They are politically inept -- see Stelmach's bus-driver comments that are causing an uproar. Stelmach has the personality of an impotent goat and the party's actions are even driving away the big oil companies.

Agreed. Stelmach was a horrible choice of leader, especially considering the other options that were available. I can certainly see the PCs ditching Stelmach.

However, there are plenty of options for the PC party to simply replace the leader and move on.

The Wildrose Alliance is a breath of fresh air in a stale, rancid political scene in Alberta.

Why? They've been around for years, and it's only now, they are considered a 'fresh breath' after years of campaigning? I don't buy it sorry. People who want liberals will prefer real liberals.

They are a serious threat. Virtually all of the people I know are going to vote for that party -- pending the quality of their candidate -- next election. And no, it's not 'cause of the gay marriage stance (which is news to me also, but that's irrelevant because even the Tories aren't touching that hot potato)

Well there you go. I know it's not common knowledge, but that is where Danielle stands on the issue. She's been very quiet on it, and on abortion, and that's why she's here. Lead the party to the promised land, etc, etc, etc.

I'm going to ask you, why do all the people you know want to vote Wild Rose?

[Wezil]

No one said that you disingenuous douchebag.

Get the **** out of this thread. Lori?

I, as the thread starter, asked him to go away. He is not welcome and never has anything meaningful to contribute. Additionally, he knows how I feel about him.

His presence at this point is pure trolling.

[Asher]

I'm going to ask you, why do all the people you know want to vote Wild Rose?

Because unlike you, they've lived in Alberta long enough to see the damage Tory policies have done on the province.

My dad, for instance, is livid with them over the royalty scheme which has forced his company out of the province and directly contributed to many of his closest friends being given pink slips.

They all have reasons, and as someone who has never lived in Alberta and knows nothing about it aside from what it's like to get discretely assraped in a truckstop, you wouldn't understand.

[Ben Kenobi]

You going to play the sandbagger card, fine -- I'll return fire.

You and Harper are part and parcel eastern liberals cut from the same cloth.

Living out west doesn't mean anything if you can't hear what people are saying.

I have plenty of friends out this way who were considering wild rose, some of whom voted in the nominating meeting. All were angry with Danielle, and they feel betrayed. Enough to vote in Stelmach? Probably so. Enough to call for the replacement of Stelmach? Yep. They are disillusioned that all their effort has been wasted.

My family has lived in Alberta since 1979 and I've lived there most of my life, and I still read the Calgary Herald daily and am in constant communication with many friends there. I'm very much in tune with the province, far more than you will ever be, and I will be moving back with my SO once the job situation there becomes suitably un-****ed.

You've been saying that for years. I will make a bet straight up with you now, that you will never go back and stay in the east.

My family has been in BC since the 50's. My grandfather was born in AB, in a homestead up by Grande Prairie country. My other grandparents were both from Saskatchewan. The only one who came from the east is my grandmother who came from Ontario.

They had a chance. With Danielle, they have to displace the PCs of AB. I don't believe that will happen.

[Krill]

Now, if Dale had deleted BKs' account, he'd have been universally praised...

[Ben Kenobi]

Because unlike you, they've lived in Alberta long enough to see the damage Tory policies have done on the province.

I have a different perspective. The vast majority of my friends have moved there to work. There are simply far more opportunities in AB than in BC. Yes, Stelmach hasn't been the greatest, but it's a damn sight better than here.

My dad, for instance, is livid with them over the royalty scheme which has forced his company out of the province and directly contributed to many of his closest friends being given pink slips.

As he should! Stelmach has been horrible. What is there that couldn't be changed through the leadership of the PC Party?

They all have reasons, and as someone who has never lived in Alberta and knows nothing about it aside from what it's like to get discretely assraped in a truckstop, you wouldn't understand.

You are right, I've never lived there. My two best friends are Calgarians, and intend to stay there, even though they are from here.

[Asher]

You and Harper are part and parcel eastern liberals cut from the same cloth.

You're so ****ing stupid that there's nothing left to say aside from chastising you for being so ****ing stupid.

You've been saying that for years

If you haven't noticed, THERE ARE NO JOBS OUT THERE IN ALBERTA RIGHT NOW. There haven't been for several years. WHICH TIES BACK TO WHY PEOPLE WANT TO OUST THE TORIES.

Unlike you, I have skills to be gainfully employed. For this reason, I go where I'm wanted and where I'm paid well. To get a software job right now in Alberta is virtually impossible, and if you do get one the pay is ****.

My SO is a chemical engineer, so you'd think there would be lots of opportunities in Calgary for that, but there's not. The big oil companies are pulling out, they're not hiring new grads.

Until that improves, I am not moving back.

[Ben Kenobi]

If you haven't noticed, THERE ARE NO JOBS OUT THERE IN ALBERTA RIGHT NOW. There haven't been for several years. WHICH TIES BACK TO WHY PEOPLE WANT TO OUST THE TORIES.

It ties back to Stelmach. Honest Ed. If Ted Morton had been appointed, you would not be talking about a slowdown. Ted Morton is the man you want, not Danielle.

Unlike you, I have skills to be gainfully employed. For this reason, I go where I'm wanted and where I'm paid well. To get a software job right now in Alberta is virtually impossible, and if you do get one the pay is ****.

Now now, no need to get catty. I can see why Toronto liberals live in TO. They feel at home there. You are happy there, why not admit it to yourself? TO is not all bad, I would never live there, but then I have different values.

My SO is a chemical engineer, so you'd think there would be lots of opportunities in Calgary for that, but there's not. The big oil companies are pulling out, they're not hiring new grads.

Until that improves, I am not moving back.

Hey I hear you. I would have left here a year ago, but life got in the way. Seriously, TO seems better for you both jobwise, and lifewise, so why not stay there?

[notyoueither]

NYE -

Pretty much. Stelmach is terribly unpopular and the province has a tradition of turfing long sitting governments every few decades. By political cycles it may be that time again.

I also heard the new Wild Rose (do they have a short reference name? ie Tories, Grits) leader is a very good communicator.

Yes, she is.

Stelmach's problem is he doesn't have the charisma to put off the reckoning as Klein did.

I don't know if we will see a repeat of the past. There could be some vote splitting in the cities with the Liberals coming up the middle (the NDP in some ridings). The province is a lot less homogenous than it has been in the past, and there are some more clearly defined lines between urban and rural, North and South.

[notyoueither]

Hardly surprising.


When is the next vote and will the Conservatives replace their leader before then? Would it even matter?

Stelmach just got the job, so that is unlikely. I think he has three or so years to go on his mandate.

Nothing is clear at this point. The Liberals could be the next government in Alberta not named PC.

[Fake Boris]

Ben, I wouldn't trust you to accurately describe the weather.