tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post115238887685902156..comments2023-09-22T06:22:50.820-06:00Comments on Ken Chapman: What is Happening This Week?kenchapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-5568037005553769182006-11-29T12:46:00.000-07:002006-11-29T12:46:00.000-07:00You guys simply don't understand rural Alberta. T...You guys simply don't understand rural Alberta. They are NOT going to vote for Dinning. Period. <br /><br />I know many individuals from Ed's campaign in his power districts - they are all supporting Ted on their second ballot. They want real change. They do not want a corporate Calgary candidate dictating to rural Alberta.<br /><br />Dinning supporter: please understand that Dinning no longer stands a chance and should step down and support Eddy. If he truly believed in his convictions and truly believed that Morton should not lead, then he would step down. Unfortunately, it's all about Jim. <br /><br />Come Saturday, the results will be:<br />1. Dinning.<br />2. Morton.<br />3. Stelmach.<br /><br />Morton will be close behind Dinning and Ed's supporters will put him over the threshold.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-82191565383428987232006-11-29T11:44:00.000-07:002006-11-29T11:44:00.000-07:00Ken -
Not sure I agree with the analysis here. I...Ken - <br /><br />Not sure I agree with the analysis here. I think this is a class risk/reward tradeoff, and that people will vote to hedge their risk. The danger of Morton outweighs the benefit of Ed (who I agree is suitable, but by no means an outstanding candidate), thus driving votes to Dinning. <br /><br />Thankfully, the vote is Saturday, and not Monday, which eliminates any church pew sermons.<br /><br />--TimG from Texas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-28239296949885440262006-11-28T23:04:00.000-07:002006-11-28T23:04:00.000-07:00Kevin from the country:
"When I say that some of ...Kevin from the country:<br /><br />"When I say that some of Ed's people<br />won't put Jim as their second preference, it's not that they're going to Morton."<br /><br />You're out of touch with reality - the race is now between Morton and Stelmach. Rural AB has lifted this middle finger at Dinning - he's finished.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-30886256539154420082006-11-28T11:23:00.000-07:002006-11-28T11:23:00.000-07:00And I won't be holding my nose when I vote Ed for ...And I won't be holding my nose when I vote Ed for #2. I like him and he'd do a great job. As a Dinning Devotee (thank you for not using "dilettante") I just think Jim would do better as Premier - and I wonder why Jim doesn't get credit for bench strength, for example, when he has 30+ MLAs and Ministers on side.<br /><br />I'm not being simplistic, either, in my view of this "nuanced" last week and the Saturday vote. What I'm suggesting is that in a time of great struggle, people on either side look to strong champions. Clearly that's Jim and Morton for the majority of PC members, based on last week's vote. And based, too, on Jim being named as second preference by the majority of supporters of other candidates, as your friend pointed out. <br /><br />Ed will be seen increasingly as the compromise candidate, but by a smaller number of voters who occupy the vanishing middle ground. That translates into a third place finish, I think, even if in a different context he's a legitimate #1 guy.<br /><br />I'm glad Jim's your #2 guy. Please encourage your friends to consider that as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-88048804367996954512006-11-28T10:10:00.000-07:002006-11-28T10:10:00.000-07:00Hi Kevin From the Country
Anyone who does not ma...Hi Kevin From the Country <br /><br />Anyone who does not mark a second preference is using their ballot to play Russian Roulette with the future of Alberta.<br /><br />This leadership contest is a very nuanced given the results coming out of the first ballot and the "also-rans" support for Stelmach. <br /><br />The final outcome is too close to call and the choices one makes December 2nd will profoundly impact us all. We want change - but a real change of heart and style, not just a "make-over" kind of change. <br /><br />These are "interesting times" so we Albertans best be cautious and reflective so we don't get this Leader/Premier thing wrong. Given the enormous turnout Nov 25 and the buzz all over the province this week, no doubt Albertans have a sense of the import of events of Dec 2nd.<br /><br />None of the candidates is perfect or we would have decided the outcome once and for all last Saturday. <br /><br />We are not talking about having to make a deal with the devil or being stuck with the best of a bad bunch either. Each candidate has ability and skills but they are all very different people and will govern very differently too.<br /><br />There is no coming up the middle candidate in this campaign. To see Stelmach as the compromise candidate is OK for the Morton Zealots and the Dinning Devotees. For them to have Stelmach as #2 is buying insurance against the uncertain vagarities of life. <br /><br />For the rest of us he is easily a first choice. The values choice between Dinning and Morton is being framed as more of the same old-boys club or a fundamentalist republican-lite. <br /><br />The values choice for Stelmach is <br />leadership that is actually humble, progressive, inclusive, capable and a committed Leader/Premier with bench strength who will, as a team, plan and deliver a better future for all Albertan's. <br /><br />Stelmach is not the "nice" candidate - he is to my mind, as capable to govern as the rest of them given the uncertainity of out times. In fact his personal qualities may make him even more capable to govern the next Alberta.<br /><br />He is not the thinly disguised front man for any faction or segment of our society either. He is the "everyman candidate."<br /><br />My Ballot will be Stelmach #1 and Dinning #2.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-33281570380352477902006-11-28T08:13:00.000-07:002006-11-28T08:13:00.000-07:00When I say that some of Ed's people
won't put Jim ...When I say that some of Ed's people<br />won't put Jim as their second preference, it's not that they're going to Morton. They don't want the Menace and they say so, they're just leaving the second spot blank. That doesn't make sense to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-57673977013488258832006-11-28T08:05:00.000-07:002006-11-28T08:05:00.000-07:00I agree with much of what your friend says, Ken, a...I agree with much of what your friend says, Ken, and again I'm impressed by the insight, decency and fairmindedness that characterize many of the exchanges found on your blog.<br /><br />I enjoy the number crunching, reading the tea leaves of voter migration and drop off, but wonder about its usefulness in predicting Ed's finish on Saturday.<br /><br />Two thoughts.<br /><br />One, stuff happens. The news of federal MPs parachuting into Alberta to fight for Morton the Menace can only hurt Stelmach's chances of the all-important second place finish on Saturday, as moderate progressive conservatives move to Dinning as a stop measure. A now vastly more polarized campaign plays to the two front runners on the first ballot, squeezing out the middle ground. Would you agree?<br /><br />Two, the inexplicable thinking of and unpredictable behaviour of the voter. Numbers can paint the picture of the voter psyche in broad strokes, but it's a volatile and fluid picture all the same.<br /><br />Great example, and my second question for you today: I've spoken with a number of Ed's supporters who won't be putting Jim on their ballot as their second preference. Huh? I'm certainly putting Ed as mine, to support him against Morton if Jim doesn't make the one/two cut. Help me understand why Ed's people wouldn't think that way, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com