“What was I thinking?” A progressive Alberta elector contemplates what he’s wrought by voting “strategically” for the Redford Conservatives. Alberta voters may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Premier Redford. Later today, Alberta Premier Alison Redford will announce whom she has picked to fill her cabinet. As a consequence, today
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David Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Assessing Alison Redford and Danielle Smith: one minute you’re a hero and the next you’re a bum!
Wellington rallies his troops during the Battle of Waterloo. “The nearest run thing you ever saw in your life.” Below: I think you’ve all seen enough photos of Alison Redford and Danielle Smith, so here are Wellington and Harold Wilson. All things being equal, if Alison Redford’s party had emerged
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Shift happens, but not this fast – trying to understand Alberta’s wonky polls
Shift happens: An Alberta pollster runs down the road looking for a crowd of Albertans to survey. Nothing in sight, however. Below: Premier Alison Redford and Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith. Whatever went wrong with those notorious pre-election Alberta public opinion polls, it’s not, as many pollsters now appear to be
Continue readingAlbertans reject retreat
During her concession speech last night, Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith stated that Albertans just needed more time to get to know her party. In fact, that was why Wild Rose lost so surprisingly—Albertans got to know her party. Midway through the campaign, Wildrose was sailing. At 40 per cent
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: It’s election day and Alison Redford’s hole card is all she has left: Is it an ace or is it junk?
Alberta Premier Alison Redford, not exactly as illustrated notwithstanding the Stetsons, has only one good card left to play. Is it an ace, or is it junk? We’ll find out tonight. Below: The real Ms. Redford and Danielle Smith. As Albertans head to the polls today with large numbers of
Continue readingFive of Five: Identity Politics and Some Numbers
The No True Scotsman fallacy often appears in arguments about philosophy or religion. It has some bearing on the change that is about to engulf Alberta. The fallacy would sound something like this in a conversation about Alberta politics: You: No conservative would vote for the Progressive Conservative
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Are candidates’ 19th Century views actually helping the Wildrose Party?
Wildrose candidate Ron Leech explains the Caucasian Advantage to a broadcaster. Nevertheless, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith says he’s a fine man and won’t discipline him. Below: Kris Wells, the man behind today’s “Pray for Alberta” newspaper advertisements. “Social conscience” and human rights issues continue to dominate the final days of
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Peter Lougheed comes down from Olympus and endorses Alison Redford
Former Premier Peter Lougheed surveys the troubled scene in Alberta before endorsing Alison Redford. Some gods may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Mr. Lougheed and Premiers William Aberhart and E.C. Manning. The Big Guy has spoken. And he says: “Vote for Alison Redford.” I don’t mean God. Bigger than
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Go figure! Elections Alberta demands group with no ads on website register for ads on website
A group of typical Albertan soccer moms thinks about whom to vote for. Their rifles are, of course, unregistered. But what about the opinions on their web page? Alberta Chief Electoral Office O. (for Olaf) Brian Fjeldheim. We may not have to register our rifles in Alberta, but folks out
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Why do the Progressive Conservatives exist?
If you wanted a honest conservative choice it’s obviously the Wildrose you should vote for. They’re forthright in their view on conscience rights, creating competition in the health care industry (read: privatization) and their own brand of fiscal conservatism. That’s conservative. If you wanted a honest liberal choice it’s obviously
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Easter Weekend Campaign Update: Apparently 41 years in power makes you stupid!
Alberta’s listless governing Conservatives are getting creamed in the sign battle by the Wildrose Party, and even by the impoverished NDP. Above and below: NDP signs in Edmonton. Below: Yogi Berra, evidently as puzzled about this as the rest of us. We know that being in power for more than
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Danielle Smith can’t toss the abortion furor under the bus along with Jeffrey Trynchy
The crew of the Wildrose lays smoke to obscure their exact position. Below: Jane Cawthorne (Writers Guild of Alberta photo). Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith can pass off reports of her party’s (half) hidden abortion agenda as scare mongering, and she can try to throw the party official who apparently accidentally
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Ambiguous Wildrose abortion statements emerge as NDP support jumps in Edmonton
Wildrose Apocalypse? Abortion chatter sparks new fears about Wildrose as poll shows NDP mini-surge in Edmonton. Below: NDP Leader Brian Mason. Are residents of the Edmonton region, as disgusted with the antics of the long-ruling Progressive Conservatives as other Albertans, starting to have second thoughts about far-right Wildrose Party’s largely
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Wildrose leader openly lays out plan for privatizing health care
Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith in Promises, Promises, the Medical Comedy. The trouble is, it’s not funny. Real Alberta politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Ms. Smith as she really, really appears. There’s not much need for scare tactics by supporters of public medicare: Yesterday the Wildrose Party laid
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Wildrose strategists snarl at media to keep their overextended bubble unpricked
A bubble of Wildrose Party support hovers over Edmonton Journal political columnist Graham Thomson. Actual Alberta political writers may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Mr. Thomson; Dave Cournoyer. Sitting atop an unexpectedly huge bubble of public support with only three weeks to go before Alberta’s provincial election,
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Wildrose offers same old same old as Alison Redford’s fitted up for the Iggy treatment
Former federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff stands in front of the Reform-o-Con propaganda steamroller moments before it lurched forward. Flattened federal politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Dr. Ignatieff; Alison Redford. Does anyone remember Iggy? I couldn’t help but recall former federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff
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 readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Be careful what you wish for: Wildrose may be on cusp of victory in Alberta campaign
Alberta PC campaign tactician Stephen Carter, left, illustrates for Premier Alison Redford and Deputy Premier Doug Horner how he plans to counter recent Wildrose Party gains. Alberta political operatives and their bosses may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: the real Premier Redford, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith and Wildrose strategist
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Alberta Campaign 2012, Day 1: Fear & Loathing on the Shaganappi Trail
The “chicken ranch” proposed for Calgary back in 2003 by Danielle Smith, now leader of the Wildrose Party, may not have been exactly as illustrated. (You didn’t seriously think I was going to post a picture of a house of ill repute, did you?) Also not exactly as illustrated, below:
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
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