Bush's Visit

[Deb]

Hopefully when the President arrives in Canada he is treated with the same respect afforded to any Head of State. Even if Canadians do not agree with him or his stand on Iraq, he is elected by the American People .
Also, it is to be hoped that the protestors shut the hell up and don't cause any incidents that will make for more tension between our two countries. A warm welcome will do wonders for speeding up the opening of the border, so folks that don't like the man should suck it up and either greet him with a smile or stay out of the limelight !!!

[carebear300]

Well said Emerald!!!!!!!! I agree entirely lets hope this is what happens.

[carebear300]

I read in the Edmonton Journal today that the Premier is going to join the other Premiers at a dinner with the President. Lets hope HE doesn't say anything obnoxious !!!!

[cakadu]

You likely got a better chance of shutting everyone else up.

[cakadu]

Unfortunately it seems that way doesn't it ? Hopefully his new Chief of Staff can keep him in check !!!

[les]

I think if Ralph is sober he will be fine.

[cakadu]

Given his recent "Almighty" comments, Mr. Love appears to have his work cut out for him.

[cakadu]

Are you getting a sense that there is a strong possibility that the Premier will step down in a year, or will face a leadership review ???

[Horse]

Isnt it ironic that everyone loves Ralph but they also seem to know that he is just a figurehead and someone else is realy pulling his chain for the past it was Steve West now we are back to rod love I wonder how many of you Ralphites would vote for Mr LOve I would guess not very many.

[Horse]

who do you see as Ralph's successor when he decides to step down ?

[cowman]

Excellent question Emerald! Now I would suspect a good conservative choice would be Gary Mar? After all he's already proven that he knows how to waste vast sums of money and also knows how to take care of his buddies? But then again he's not a Caucasian so little chance of getting elected in good old red neck Alberta?
My own choice would be Ted Morton, but I suppose that is unlikely, as he might actually stand up for Alberta, instead of blustering away at Ottawa while secretly giving them everything they could possibly desire!
I was really amazed that Ralph created a new minister for government efficiency and reorganization? I mean look at this? He creates another level of beuracracy to contain the present beuracracy? This makes sense?
However if his goal was to get a few more jobs for his political hacks and to waste some more money then he certainly picked the right man! Oulette is about as useless as they come...I know he's my MLA! He's awful good at "studying things" and having "meaningful public input" but pretty well useless at anything else. All you'll get from this guy is lots of waste, more government regulations, patronage and platitudes! A do nothing politician for a do nothing portfolio!

[cowman]

scuttle butt in the boondocks is that Jim Dinning is waiting in the wings and has tremendous support among the rank and file PC membership. Gary Mar has embarassed government and it is doubtful if he has a chance at the leadership whenever it happens. Morton might get the support of the 'Conservative/Alliance' party membership and there are a lot of them in rural Alberta. My gut feeling is that the membership will want a leadership review or something within a year, likely after all the pomp and circumstance for the Centennial is over, but the Premier won't be ready to retire .

[cakadu]

I would agree about Dinning - he has been rumoured to be the heir for a while now. Mar didn't do himself any favors over the whole EA and his contract incident, so unless his fortunes change dramatically, I cannot foresee him throwing his hat into the ring. The name of the fellow who got defeated in Edmonton escapes me at the moment, but he was touted as having potential.

Heard today on the news that the WHOLE PC party and it's mandate will be looked at from top to bottom. It would appear as though Ralph is a little bit shaken by the fact that they have fallen to 61 seats from a record 83! For some strange reason he seems to feel it could be the policies and the mandate of the party. Could it be he needs to look just a wee bit closer to home??!?!?!?!

[cowman]

We should never underestimate Ralph Klein! Without a doubt he is a very good politician...maybe the best I've ever seen!
Remember also that everytime he says something that sounds dumb and stupid, he is playing to his base? The good old boy redneck vote! So while the liberal media roasts him the old hillbillies down in the boondocks are saying "Right on Ralph!"
Consider this Ralph Klein got his majority with a minority of the Alberta voters! Who voted for him? The exact same people who agree with him when he says things like shoot,shovel and shutup or the disabled are abusing the system!
The fact is it is going to be very hard to replace Ralph Klein as the PC leader. And while I don't like the provincial tories I worry that the Alliance might be able to split the vote enough so that the Liberals or NDP might get in! If either of those two parties ever get in we are in for trouble...in my personal opinion!
It will start the decline of our province. I would vote for a Ralph Klein or a George Bush,for that matter, before I'd ever vote Liberal or NDP!

[cropduster]

Amen to that Cowman!What`s your take on getting Rod Love back in the director`s chair?