The Toronto Star has run a story on an EKOS Poll showing good growth potential for Dion. I like that. The front runners in the federal Liberal campaign apparently are carrying too much baggage to really grow much on subsequent ballots. It is going to be a cliffhanger Dec 2 in Montreal for the federal Libs on all accounts. But I, like everyone else, am just guessing. Lots of time left and campaigns matter.
Now I wonder if we will see the "baggage issue" develop around the leading Alberta PC candidates. Oberg for sure deserves a serious second look by those who support him or are inclined his way. Albertans are now just starting to pay serious attention and are just begining to understand the implications of the PC leadership campaign for the future of the province and themselves. If they start to get nervous about the "baggage" of the front runners and seek alternatives they will also start to look around in earnest for a rational capable candidate instead of those in the front of the pack. My bet is they land on Hancock.
My friend Will McBeath at Noisefromtheright - active in the Ted Morton campaign - disagrees in his posting today and thinks Hancock is done. Three weeks left and he figures it is all decided. Maybe. But with the one person one vote right up to and including election day - anything can happen. Remeber how "scary" Harper was in the last week of the 2004 election as a result of his vocal social conservative supporters? Could it happen again, this time to Ted Morton? Rememeber how Stephen Mandel became the rational alternative from the baggage laden front runners in the last mayoralty race in Edmonton?
If people begin to realize the rough road some of the "leading" candidates will send us down they may engage and participate. If Albertans want a capable change agent of character, experience and proven capability - Dave Hancock is the obvious alternative.
But politics is never obvious and the wisdom of the crowd that shows up in the dying days of 2006 will decide the nature and nuance of the next Alberta for the rest us. Time will tell.
Seriously, Hancock has really never been in the race. His has little support outside of Edmonton, and even in Edmonton, there are many candidates vying for the same voters. He simply has no momentum.
ReplyDeleteHe will not make the final three. Who is your second choice, Ken?
Dion would be absolutely terrible for the country. Look at your previous post. Canadians really do care about the environment and Dion's stint as environment minister was dismal at best.
ReplyDeleteRe Dion dismal for the environment...give some specifics...otherwise you don't add much to the conversation.
ReplyDeleteGreenhouse gas emissions went up while he was Minister.
ReplyDeleteOkay, he only had 18 months or so on the portfolio and, yes, I even admit he did a pretty darn good job. But let's face it, politics is about optics - the Conservatives can simply use the fact above to bash him over the head with. (or at least say - well, he's certainly not better than us on this issue - look at his recored).
GHG emissions are still going up - even since Harper was elected in January. that does mean he has been dismal for the past 10 months too? GHG emissions will continue under the Harper environmental approach because it is based on intensity....and we are going into consultations again before anything real happens...
ReplyDeleteYou like optics? How about them optics?
Re Dion - go visit his site and consider what he was able to do at the recent international climate change meetings in Montreal. Canada - NO, let me rephrase that - DION - has been a champion of positive environmental action on a local, national and global sense.
Hmmm. Interesting that your a Hancock and Dion supporter (well, I guess not, both are very interested and active on the environment). Are you going to go to the liberal convention in Montreal?
ReplyDeleteWho is your second choice in the PC election Ken? Give us your breakdown.
I am not going to Montreal for the federal Liberal convention. On December 2 I expect to be on the phones and sending emails to everyone I know all over the province to encourage them to vote Dave Hancock on the second ballot.
ReplyDeleteI have 2 second choices right now Stelmach and Dinning. A long time ago one of Dinning's inner circle described me as "having my heart with Hancock and my head with Dinning." My reply was when did logic ever trump emotion everything else being equal?
Stelmach is still my most favorite person in politics.
This race is far from over - Dinning is clearly in first place but second and third is far from decided...and critical to the final outcome too I suggest.