The Alberta attitude around this election from what I gather is who needs it and we don’t want it right now. We are busy out here in Alberta and are burned out politically. We have had a year-long PC leadership race, a provincial election and even a few folks are engaged in the Alberta Liberal leadership contest that is currently underway.
The Albertans I talk to, from all political stripes, don’t see the need for this election and don’t understand why Harper ignored his own law to call it early. Some of the Con support is determined to stay home to send a message. That happened to Klein in 2004 where 210,000 PC votes disappeared or went to the Alliance.
Looks like campaigns in all parties in Alberta are having trouble raising money and finding volunteers and there are hardly any campaign signs up. Proof positive we are not really into this election. Indifference in Alberta is only good for Harper. Money should be no problem for the Cons either. They have bags of it and are spending it like an old-style Liberal government…trying to buy the election with attack TV ads.
The Cons are ignoring the Alberta voters this election too. Looks like most of the Alberta candidates are taking their victory in Alberta for granted. The high profile Alberta Cons seem to be doing most of their campaigning for other Con candidates in Ontario. Not at home in their own constituencies. So much for “The West Wants In” spirit of the past founders of the Harper Conservatives!
I wonder if the Cons will pull the same advertising scam taking money from local Alberta candidate budgets and swapping it into the national campaign to advertise for other candidates in Ontario and Quebec. Elections Canada says that is an illegal scheme and the Cons have sued them saying it was a legal maneuver. If the Cons are so confident in their legal position, I see no reason for them not to try the same trickery again this election. In fact if they don’t use this scam again it may be evidence that they are not as confident in the legality of their actions after all.
I was surprised that the nomination meeting held last week to replace Monte Solberg was so poorly attended. In a riding of 105,000 people the Conservtive juggernaut got...wait for it...260 people to vote at the nomination. That is shocking! In a riding where winning the nomination is like winning the election I am surprised by the apathy.
ReplyDeleteHarper can take Alberta for granted. Alberta MPs are working in the battleground ridings to take out liberals - that is what they should do.
ReplyDeleteI'd be upset if I were a liberal because defeat is inevitable. It is simple: Harper is a winner while Dion is a loser. Harper is a bully while Dion is a geek. These are the conclusions Albertans seem to be reaching. Who would you rather lead?
Not to mention that Dion cannot speak English.
The so called "scam" is before the Courts. It is premature to say whether or not it is illegal.
Dion does not practice what he preaches - he is leasing the biggest polluting plane in canada. He's a joke as are the liberals.
Wy wife sent this to me this AM, and...and....I started to tear up. I can understand such female angst......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9vAHT-fW98&eurl=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/09/13/i-ve-got-a-crush-on-harper.aspx
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of Alberta voters do understand why Harper called an election.
ReplyDeleteWhat they don't understand is the blatant hypocrisy of it.
The Conservatives can take Alberta for granted because Albertans, by their votes ad polling results, continue to send the message the they CAN be taken for granted. If more of us showed a willingness to consider voting for an alternative, then the Tories would be motivated to earn our support.
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