Your blogger with David Swann: Remember, when the author of this blog appears in a picture with a politician, it does not necessarily imply an endorsement. (That’s enough photos with politicians for one week, thanks – ed.) Below: Likely Conservative winner Joan Crockatt, Edmonton Strathcona NDP MP Linda Duncan and
Continue readingTag: Alberta Liberals
CalgaryLiberal: Renewing Raj’s Contract
I’ve been thinking. I want to renew Raj’s contract–for leader of the Alberta Liberals. He has a nose for politics, knows exactly what the party needs to build in terms of organization and skill sets, and he was key to the reason why the party did so well. Rather than
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: A Merger That’ll Never Happen
The left in the province of Alberta will never merge. There are four core reasons for this to be the case. Firstly, the NDP is directly tied, through its organization, its employees (many of whom who work for the federal NDP as well), and other means, cannot get the nod
Continue readingThe Equivocator: 2 examples of awesomeness from the Alberta Liberal Party
I have listened to this song too many times. It is catchy, makes a lot of good points and contains a few delicious puns. Also from the Alberta Liberals: Tory Or Wildrose? This quiz outlines how regressive the Wild Rose Alliance & Alberta PCs really are. It is simple, well
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: One True Conservative Party and Other One True Conservative Party now said in dead heat
A typical Alberta soccer mom contemplates the differences between the province’s two conservative parties. The one on the left has indicated stronger support for public health care. According to the latest poll, Alberta’s election race has tightened significantly, and the province’s One True Conservative Party is now in a statistical
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: On the trail of the party crasher … and where’s Kevin Taft now that the Liberals really need him?
Third (or fourth) party leader Raj Sherman crashes Premier Alison Redford’s party this afternoon. Sheesh! Ms. Redford must be thinking: “Oh butt out, Raj!” Below: Kevin Taft; Dr. Sherman – “Uh oh! Here he comes!” – accompanied by an uncomfortable looking local candidate Bruce Miller. (This photo by David Cournoyer.)
Continue readingIn This Corner: Two good men: Hugh McDonald and Kevin Taft.
Just before we get into full election mode, with all the name calling and accusations and all that stuff that makes politics such a classy profession, I’d like to take a few moments before I launch into 28 days of name calling and accusations to say a few nice words
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Raj Rescues Folks in Rollover
Earlier today Raj Sherman help rescue three people who had rolled off the road on Highway 2 (Calgary Herald). This is one of the reasons why I really like Raj Sherman as a human being: this selfless, service above self attitude he has, where he was on a schedule to be at
Continue readingBlunt Objects: PCs Still Dominate Alberta – For Now
Continuing with 2011’s incumbent-friendly trend, 2012 seems to be pretty incumbent-friendly as well – so far. Nowhere is this more exemplified than Alberta, which will need to go to the polls before May 31st, where the Progressive Conservative’s still dominate the scene and look set for another majority government, at
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Forum poll revealed: With an iPhone and a blog, we can now predict poll results before they’re published!
Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith with the voice of Forum Research Inc. She’s smiling because she likes his answers. Alberta pollsters and politicians may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Dave, about to hang up on another poll. ForumPoll3 by djclimenhaga Forum Research Inc. of Toronto was back in the
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Another sleazy push poll takes aim at high-riding Redford Tories
Is this the party for which you are voting? Pollsters’ representatives call Albertans. Below: Naughty push-pollsters work from their basement boiler room in Calgary. Actual robo-callers may not actually exist as illustrated. ROI’s Bruce Cameron. WRP-PP by djclimenhaga Another squalid American-style push poll, which has all the hallmarks of a
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Alberta Liberals Trend Towards Zero-Seat Finish
There’s a new poll out for Alberta this week, done by the company “Return on Insight” (ROI), which I don’t know very much about but is commissioned by the CBC to do polling from time to time, and have never been particularly crazy with any results. Their topline numbers fit
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Alberta tidbits: Can market-fundamentalist Wildrose Party be trusted to pull plug on high electricity costs?
Contemplating Alberta electricity prices, consumers are usually not as cheerful looking as illustrated. Below: Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith; Edmonton-Mill Woods MLA Carl Benito, former premier Ed Stelmach. Now that the far-right Wildrose Party is poaching Alberta NDP policy, could we trust them to carry it out?Doubtful, but you can hardly
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Oh Raj Sherman, Stop Trying to Get Into the News
Attacking the federal Liberals and Bob Rae over the Northern Gateway Pipeline is not how you’ll boost your poll numbers. You’re flogging a dead horse, my friend. And this comes from someone who agrees with you on the matter. Oh, and media… seriously? Why do you even report this? If
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Lloyd Snelgrove’s Dinner with Danielle: far-right desperation or another Wildrose exodus?
Phone camera photo? Former Stelmach right-hand man Lloyd Snelgrove spotted with Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith in Calgary brewpub! Alberta politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below, the real Mr. Snelgrove (caught without his trademark goatee) and the real Ms. Smith. With election fever gripping the province and the far-right
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Second Forum poll shows Wildrose still soaring: Press 1 if you believe it, Press 2, if you have your doubts…
A Forum Research Inc. spokesperson counts up support for Alberta’s far-right Wildrose Party. Below: Forum President Lorne Bozinoff. Well, that’s one strategy for establishing your polling credibility: If you come up with a poll that other pollsters, bloggers and the usual complainers dismiss as an outlier, do another one that
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Federal Liberal adoption of Alberta Liberal voting rule is sure end badly
Your blogger with Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman. Below: Federal Liberal Leader Bob Rae. If he loses his seat in the next provincial election, will Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada?He can if he wants, if the timing works out. And
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Will only NDP and Wildrose mount full slates to challenge Alison Redford this spring?
Alison Redford: Why is this woman smiling? Why not? Below: NDP Leader Brian Mason: the next leader of the Opposition? Even with Alberta Premier Alison Redford in a mood to tarry just a little and not call an election until after her government has passed its first budget, only one
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Alberta in 2012
Following my Quebec projection a couple days ago, I thought I’d throw out my current projection for the province of Alberta, given that it is most definitely going to have an election called this year. So as you can see, it’s an easy PC victory under new Premier Alison Redford.
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Liberal Convention 2012: The Need For Open Primaries
In 2011 I was on the convention floor in Calgary, Alberta, advocating for the same change that is in front of the federal Liberals today (see constitution document here [PDF]). I spoke of openness, inclusion, the need for a new force in politics, and the empowerment that an open primary
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