I want to write a supportive Blog post in support of Independent Conservative candidate Jim Ford who is running hard in the Edmonton- Sherwood area to replace the retiring Ken Epp. I have been beaten to blog posting on Jim by my friend at FusedLogic.
The nomination shenanigans that have been going on in this constituency seem by some as interference by the national Conservative Party in the local nomination process. I have no comment on that because I have no more information than what I have read in the MSM.
I just want to give some serious support to Jim Ford who is responding to the nomination funny business by stepping up to the plate and running as an Independent candidate. I have known Jim Ford for decades and have come to value him for his goods works in the membership we share in the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party.
He is a man of enormous energy, great wisdom and ability. He has shown courage in the face of adversity and shows a passion to his principles. He has demonstrated admirable qualities of personal integrity. He is no diva. He is a roll-up-your-sleeves kind of guy. I like him because he appreciates the need for a socially progressive role of government while keeping a sharp fiscal pencil to ensure accountability and value for taxpayer dollars. I like and admire Jim Ford as a person and how he stands up for fairness and transparency in politics.
Jim and I have more often to find ourselves on different routes and journeys, but we have always intent on the same goals. We have never disagreed on the overarching need for citizen’s to engage in political participation as the best way to empower our democracy to improve our government and to help improve people’s lives.
I am in Claireview and there is no way that I am voting for Ford. Nominations are simple - those with the most votes win the nomination.
ReplyDeleteI am voting for Uppal.
You and Jim can go fly a kite. There is no way that he can win so your stupid posts are ridicolous to say the least.
You sound desparate and for good reason - you liberals are getting absolutely destroyed! Look at BC - you are going to lose a massive amount of seats! haha suckers
Of course you are voting the party line eric.
ReplyDeleteYou have proven in the hundred or so anonymous comments on this Blog that you have no independent thought.
The Jim Fords of the world strike fear in the hearts of Cons like you - who seem to form the majority of the rank and file membership these days.
You obviously fear your leader and Conserviative party strongmen more than you fear independent citizens with integrity. So things could be worse for you, if they aren't already.
There's a clear disconnect in your thinking here, Ken.
ReplyDeleteYou hate Stephen Harper more than any other blogger in Alberta today. And yet you're backing a candidate, Jim Ford, who supports Stephen Harper.
The sad but true reality is that Ken Epp bred a culture of disengagement within his constituency association during his time as MP. No major fundraisers, no major membership drives, nothing but the low-key minimum to keep the EDA's head above water.
Enter someone who knows how to play the political game and win a nomination. Suddenly the complacency in Sherwood Park isn't good enough and, lo and behold, Tim Uppal wins.
The Parkites may have felt blindsided and wronged, but it was entirely their own fault.
So now we have Jim Ford running as an Independent, but branding himself as a Conservative and trying to link himself to Stephen Harper. Even though he wasn't motivated enough to seek the nomination, he says he supports Stephen Harper and is using that at the doors and in his literature.
Great. But guess what? Stephen Harper doesn't support him and that will translate into absolutely ZERO voice for Edmonton-Sherwood Park if, by some miracle, Ford gets elected.
Add this to the appearance that Ford's campaign is motivated largely by xenophobia, and I think you'll find that Jim Ford is actually the WORST choice for Edmonton-Sherwood Park.
Independent "Conservative" candidates are nothing new in Alberta. In this election there is also one running in Medicine Hat. In the last federal election there was one running in Peace River. We also saw a number of them running in this past provincial election in Calgary. They all have two common threads: 1. They are all unhappy with the results of fairly-won nominations. 2. They have all garnered far more press than their eventual electoral results would have warranted.
The race in Edmonton-Sherwood Park will be no different.
Eric-Saying there is no way that Jim can win is an extremely arrogant view that you have. If you have taken anytime to read any of the newspapers or watched the news regarding this riding you would see that the nomination meeting had some irregularities in it, unfortunatly, seeing your arrogance, I doubt if you ever listen to facts.
ReplyDeleteJim Ford has a lot of endorsements from some heavy hitters in this riding. There must be a reason for 8 out of the 12 members on the board of directors leaving after Tim Uppal was nominated. These very involved, knowledgable conservatives would not leave without having a reason for it.
I expect Jim will come out and shock the conservative party when he wins the election. Tim Uppal will become a 4 time loser and with that hopefully the conservative party will stop trying to manipulate the system to get him elected.
Anon @ 8:39. No disconnect. I am a democrat not a devotee of any particular partisan propaganda machine of any stripe! I see serious problems with all of the political parties and how they conduct themselves.
ReplyDeleteI support lots of quality candidates who support Stephen Harper and I don't hate anyone. ANYONE! Anger and hate is a waste of energy and always ends up with bad results.
Disagreement and debate and refusing to be duped by negative bullying and belligerence
Ii is my right and duty as a citizen in a free and democratic society to exercixe my rights of free speech and expressionl. Use it or Lose it! That has nothing to do with hate or disconnect.
It is not a disconnect to value the abilities, commitment and contribution of a range of quality individuals who make and take time to apply their skills in serious pursuits in public service for the greater good. The good ones do this at significant personal cost and without any selfish goal of personal gain or power.
I see lots of candidates like that whom I support. I support Jim Prentice and Brent Rathgerber, James Rajotte, Rona Ambrose and Brian Jean because I know them as quality people, not just because they are Conservatives, or not. I support Jim Wachowich, a Liberal, and Linda Duncan an NDP and Jim Ford, an Independent. I support Dion and May and admire Bill Casey in Nova Scotia. I greatly admired the courage, conviction and commitment of former Independent MP from BC, Mr. Chuck Cadman.
Parties are not the way I make up my mind on who I want to govern me and who I will trust with my future. The candidates are my first filter.
Next, the Leaders make a big difference in how I vote. It is not about their charisma or their physical handicaps or looks or manner of speaking. It is about their character, there values and their vision of Canada. I am particularly concerned about how they see the role of government in a modern intercultural, globalized, interdependent and volatile world.
I don't hate Harper. I just don't trust him or respect him. I don't trust him to keep his word. I don't trust him to be full frank forthright and honest with citizens. I don't like how he runs his party, his caucus, his cabinet and relationship to citizens. I don't like his insistance on message manipulation in a command and control top down with the leader as the ultimate authority leader model of politics. I don't agree with his divisive approach to the nation which he does regionally, culturally, economically, socially and even environmentally. He is a divider not a uniter.
The world is a complex place and so are people in thiere beliefs, values and perceptions.
Simplistic "answers" to such complexity like we get from Harper are almost always wrong - especially when they are spun like Harper does - for pure political and personal power purposes.
Anonymous said:
ReplyDelete"Great. But guess what? Stephen Harper doesn't support him and that will translate into absolutely ZERO voice for Edmonton-Sherwood Park if, by some miracle, Ford gets elected."
Guess what Anonymous....Edmonton-Sherwood Park will have ZERO voice irrespective of which 'conservative' gets elected. Our MPs have been invisible and obviously have no clout in Mr. Harper's government. One cabinet minister NORTH OF CALGARY. Harper's stop in Edmonton was (I believe) the only stop he has made that did not involve an actual policy statement...it was only as a sop to his followers. What activity have the Conservatives really gotten behind in Edmonton? In his time as PM, Harper has:
- refused to wear an Oiler jersey at a Stanley Cup final game.
- come for the opening of 'The Maz'.
- shown up for two partisan events.
To my knowledge, that is it. Yet he attends and is involved in events in all other parts of the country. And we in Edmonton and northern Alberta say: fine. We are insane.
Good points Karen. As for ZERO voice, if Edmonton sends a Liberal, a Dipper and an Independent to Ottawa, they will be noticed.
ReplyDeleteIndependent Chuck Cadman was hardly ZERO influence. He brought Harper to his knees on a confidence vote and exposed the Cons conniving on the insurance policy ploy around Cadman's vote.
Too bad Harper decided to use some legal maneuvers and technicalities to delay the Cadman lawsuit on this matter until after the election. It would have made this election really interesting.
Justice and Truth are always trumped by political timing by those who lust for power.
Harper's stop in Edmonton was (I believe) the only stop he has made that did not involve an actual policy statement...it was only as a sop to his followers.
ReplyDeleteBaring in mind some of the disgustingly liberal campaign announcements Harper has been making, the whole country should be so lucky as to be hosting the Prime Minister when he's just rallying followers.