Politics

[grassfarmer]

Well farmers_son I definitely would blame the naivety of the Alberta voter. Regardless of which party you support it is stupid to vote any party in continually with this size of majority. Democracy can not work at this level - it is a one party state. There is no way the opposition parties can ever threaten a close vote in the Leg. so what the one party decides is what happens. I find it unbelievable that the party proven to have spied on its citizens (EUB incident), passed Bill 46, encouraged CBM exploitation and fresh water injection in the oil patch, the biggest global polluter (the tar sands)gets re-elected with an increased majority.
A far smarter result for all Albertans would have been a Conservative majority of 45 or so - then democracy can happen. Maybe with another couple hundred years under it's belt AB will learn what a democracy is and how it works.
As the joke goes - Alberta remains the longest running right wing dictatorship in the western hemisphere with the exception of Albania.

As far as agriculture goes we will wait and see but I don't expect any favorable changes. This is the regime that brought the two US packers to Canada, has supported their captive supply situation
and still beef producers vote for them - incredible. There seems to be a lack of understanding among voters as to cause and effect.
I take it that f_s is not joking when he suggests Doerkson for AG minister. But understand how this works - if he is elected this is not a triumph for the might of ABP who have been able to get "their man" in. It will be a decision by Cargill and Co to oust Groeneveld in favour of new choice. If you don't believe in the power coming from Cargill find out who's helicopter Stelmach was loaned during his leadership election campaign.

[gcreekrch]

Trade you straight up for the NDP we're probably going to get next time around here!

[poorboy]

There should only be two political parties in any election. If you look at the US election it is a battle between republicans and democrats. Nothing to keep splitting the vote like we like to do in Canada with 3 parties in every election.

In the latest Alberta election if you look at the votes in each riding there were several places that total votes for 2nd and 3rd place added up to more votes than the first place got.

3 parties is like a yes, no or maybe vote. It should just be yes or no.

[coppertop]

grassfarmer, I know whose helicopter and fixed wing aircraft was utilized during the leadership campaign. It came from a long time personal friend and supporter of Ed Stelmach, and was a donation to the campaign, much the same as the bus was.

Other leadership candidates had goods and services donated to their campaign as well.

I think Jack Hayden would make an excellent Municipal Affairs minister and if he gets the not then Arno won't because there won't likely be two ministers from adjacent constituencies and Hayden definitely has the experience and qualifications coming from years as a municipal councillor, President of AAMD C etc.

Ed will not forget rural Alberta in his cabinet....but he has a lot of rookies in caucus and very few of them have the experience to take on a cabinet portfolio right out the starting gate.

Edmonton will definitely have a larger role in Cabinet and likely Calgary as well, Lord knows we don't need to sob sisters, Mandel and Bronc whining lack of representation in cabinet again.

I look for Iris to be in Cabinet, Danyluk ( maybe Ag Minister ???), Snelgrove, Horner, Lindsay, Knight, Hayden, perhaps Broyce Jacobs from Taber/Warner, although he lacks personality.

Morton may end up in Environment or Energy, but maybe Education....who knows. I am looking foward to hearing who is appointed and see just how far off the mark I am !

[grassfarmer]

Personal friends of Stelmach they may be Coppertop but they are also part of Cargill's captive supply feedlot portfolio and as such clearly have an interest in influencing who the next ag minister is.
I'm intrigued that a couple of weeks ago you were stating that Groeneveld was too able an MLA to remain at agriculture. Now he doesn't get a mention on your list. Even farmers_son states "I think George Groenveld will be lucky to hold onto any portfolio, certainly not Agriculture" so what has changed??
Why is he suddenly seen to be doing a poor job or unlikely to get a portfolio? Or are the knives out because of his work with the B4 group - which is likely contrary to the wishes of the big packers?

[coppertop]

As I indicated before grassfarmer, ministers very seldom keep the same portfolio after a general election. The reason for it is that after an election there are new faces, and the Premier has to select his cabinet from all groups represented to give each fair representation. George may stay in Agriculture but he may go to another porfolio.

When you look at the logistics of running any election campaign, either for the leadership or a provincial election, travelling across the province can pose a problem....and if you think that Ed was the only party leader travelling courtesy of campaign donors you are wrong. Even the candidates that travelled with their own mini vans were filling the tank with cash from donations.

[per]

Odds of friends donating to your campaign are pretty good Grassfarmer. If they were enemies you would have even more reason to be concerned. Convincing the electorate to vote for your guy takes lots of friends and each and every one of them donates something, time, money and some influence on their friends. To bring about the change that you want you need to convince your friends and neighbours to donate time, money and effort. Is that corrupt? No, it's just a lot of work. You might want to cultivate some friendships with people that have helicopters. As far as Groeneveld is concerned he had a higher than average turn out and a huge majority. Someone must think he is OK.

[coppertop]

George has been a solid minister, he laid down the law to the beef industry organizations last fall, telling them to unite and come to him with a plan they all agreed upon,to assist the livestock industry, and that ticked off poor old ABP. Ed may decide to leave George in that porfolio for that exact reason, he will not be controlled by industry..
As for campaign contributions, many people I know routinely contribute to candidates, even if they personally didn't suppor that candidate during the nomination process, they do support the party.

Today the Liberals are blaming their loss of seats on the lack of funding to run a campaign....the local Liberal candidate had ads on CFCW every few hours, and the PC candidate had none, so go figure !!

[Bez]

Jesus H Christos!

You guys kwitchyerbitchin!!!!!

You have never lived until you have lived under a Dalton M'gintee government. Or those dammed Kebekers that have the feds wrapped around their wallets.

Be glad you have what you have and trust me if you did not have what you have - you would want it back within minutes of losing it.

Start following what is happening to your east and west and be glad you sit where you do.

Sheesh!

The part of this damned country that actually works for a living wishes they had your government.

The remaining two thirds of the socialistic bastards that live in this country want you to change governments so they can **** your women, steal your children and sell your businesses.

Funny part is - many of you are too damned stooooopid to even see it. Get your heads out of your arses boys.

Beware of what you ask for - you may very well get it.

Bez

[coppertop]

Well said Bez !!!