Preston for Premier????????

[cowman]

Well if Preston decides to go for it, I would join the PC party and even contribute a few bucks! An honest man in politics is worth his weight in gold!
Of course, once again, I am very biased towards the Manning family due to my up bringing! My great grandfather was a SC MLA under Aberhart. He died before Manning took over but had the utmost respect for the man. My great grandmother worked for SC until she died at 90. Around our house the name "Manning" was right up there beside Jesus Christ!

[cowman]

Emerald: Maybe old Ralph should have stayed on the bottle? Think about it? He lost interest about the time he got weaned!
Don't know much about Stelmach. He seems sort of so-so? Doesn't act like he has a fire in his belly to become leader...just my opinion.
However if he is an honest man, who actually has the interests of the people at heart, then he might be a good choice? I have a problem with Dinning...seems to me he is just a wee bit too much of a slicker? A money man...who actually owns him? Often he is given credit as being the man behind the "Klein revolution" but in fact was more of a yes man than a man of action! Love him or hate him West was the guy who did the dirty work?

[cowman]

cowman, Ed Stelmach is as honest as the day is long and certainly understands the agriculture industry from years of being involved plus being a former minister of AAFRD.
Ed gave up his university education to go back and help his dad on the farm when his eldest brother was killed in an accident.
He is are community minded man, and his family's strong ethnic background will give him the east central vote for sure.

The Peace Region will support Ed over Oberg, and a lot of the rural vote in central AB may go to Ed as well.

I think Ed has some pretty high profile people in his campaign team, but he has said he would not commence his campaign until the premier decided when he was going to step down.

I know one of Dinning's key campaign organizers, and he is aiming for the big business vote, has shown up at the odd agricultural conference etc., but I am concerned about his money background and whether or not he will value rural Alberta or just give lip service to it during his campaign.
I think Oberg won't go anywhere, he would have a better chance of getting more support if the vote was sooner than later because he could capitalize on the events of the past couple of weeks.
Norris has some real PR people working his campaign. Danny Hooper is on CFCW this morning as guest DJ and is extolling Norris's virtues over and over. I don't think Norris has a chance either. I still think that Morton will be the king maker when it gets down in the trenches.

[ivbinconned]

"One thing I do think Preston has is ethics."

This can only be said by ignoring Mannings behind the scenes role in the "stab the back of Stock" process. He is NO team player! It was just months ago that he was starting another "think tank". Maybe no Francis Winsmiers came forward with the bucks.

This can only be said if one does not admit or know of the "build on sand" birth of the Reform movement where imput by "certain" voices where banned from the founding convention!! It was a monumental process of denying reality...more akin to a liberal mentality than that of a principled thinker.

Manning is no democrate, even though he trys to portray himself as a populist. He is more autocratic than most know...that is why Harper parted company with him early on.

With Manning as premier you can count on him folding and conceding to the feds when ever the inevitable raid intensifies. Like Klein he will talk the talk but will never walk the walk.

He will never ever defend Alberta's historical rights in confederation...he is a federalist! In 1987 he knowingly and succesfully DEFLECTED the wests anger and energy down a road that history had shown led to no where. This FACT can not be over stated or ignored.

He has NEVER demonstrated an interest in agriculture or shown sympathy or understanding of it. At the first three conventions, ag workshops where only added at the last minute because of the demands by those attending!!

It would be a colosal mistake...don't be fooled.

[ivbinconned]

I certainly would not support Manning, however, I honestly don't know which of the candidates will be the best to look after Alberta's interests.
Dinning was the guy that encouraged deregulation and that is something I will never forgive him for every time I get my power bill !!!

[wilagro]

Ivbinconned: Gotta agree with U on Manning.

Jeez I had that,(the agreeing with you) that is.

[ivbinconned]

I don’t know why you would be surprised Wilagrow, it has always been an attribute of principled “western libertarian conservatives” to call a spade a spade!!

Unlike diehard liberals and NDP’ers and “Tories” who will turn a blind eye and excuse all blatant evidence of corruption and hypocrisy about their favorite parties!!

Politics is not hockey…we should always hold their feet to the fire.

You know that I have always referred to Klein as a liberal. He can not take all the credit for the prosperity in your province. Much of it, as far as leadership is concerned, must go to Stockwell day, Steve west and Jim Dinning. At this point my choice, if I had one, would be Ted Mortin.

I will try and influence the six kids I have sent to Alberta!! ha

Manning can’t be trusted.

[ivbinconned]

"he is a federalist"

From his own mouth...at the convention...

""When my father was elected to the legislature in 1935 (during the Great Depression) Alberta was $161 million in debt thanks to a railway spending spree by our one and only Liberal administration in the first part of the century. The budget of the province was $15 million, $8 million of that was pledged to debt service. That left $7 million per year on which to run the province, with cash flow insufficient to even meet the public service payroll, let alone provide services," recalled Manning.

"That dark and desperate part of our past should keep us ever mindful in our present affluence of those citizens and provinces less fortunate than ourselves, and energize us in the development of fresh policies to deal with poverty and regional disparities in our time," said Manning to loud applause.""

[ivbinconned]

I like Ted Morton's vision and ideas too,but he isn't well enough known across the province to get the job done.

The old guard of the tory party are urging Klein to stay on regardless of what the vote percentage was, so who knows what he will decide to do.

I can't help but think that if Rod Love was still the mastermind things would have never gotten as out of hand as they are. Love him or hate him, he kept things running on an even keel and if a cabinet minister needed to be given an attitude adjustment it got done in a hurry.

[cowman]

I don't know. Manning had a tough job with Reform? Every wing ding and rebel without a cause joined up...hard to deal with and become something viable?
As far as Stockwell Day...when I was young I worked with good old Stockwell at a packing plant? Quite frankly he was a butt kisser, a rat, and not very truthful! I was always amazed how he later used his "religion" to get a bunch of zealots to hijack the PC nomination in his area! A truly great manipulator of the gullible!