Next Premier?

[coppertop]

That would be a difficult feat, because the party has not released membership books to the candidates as of yet. Any memberships obtained to date have been from constituency associations.
I attended an all Candidates Forum last week, and in order to get in the door you had to have a current membership, anyone requiring one that particular evening had to purchase one from the local constituency association who were the organizers of the forum. The MLA for that constituency has endorsed a particular candidate but there certainly were supporters of several other candidates buying memberships in order to attend the forum.
The signatures on the nomination papers are going to be very interesting. One candidate had 275 people sign his papers at one single function last week, and potentially each of the signatories will sell memberships.

Things will get more interesting each day. Our community is going to be treated to two candidates this week, and so it goes until the winner is chosen !!

[WRAPper]

I had a thought while reading the posts that have been put here since the last time I posted. Something that appears to be missing in many peoples voting thoughts is the fact that despite we are in fact voting for the "next" premier we are also voting for the leader of the PC's and that leader needs to be able to lead the party and keep the MLA's together working for the betterment of the party and well as their visions for the province. Is this something people are forgetting in this race or am I mistaken?

[coppertop]

WRAPper, the best guess is that at least 50 % of the voters in this leadership will be buying a party membership for the first time, and many will not keep their membership current until its time to select another leader, or they have a nomination race in their own constituency.


There will no doubt be division in the party at the end of this contest, but a good strong leader that has the interest of the party and Albertans at heart will bring the party together. That certainly the voters some serious issues to consider.
It will take a statesman, one that has a history of working co-operatively and leading by example, and it will take the committment to co-operation and solidarity by all the other candidates after the leader has been chosen.

[cowman]

If you remember back to the days when Klein was running for leader, you might remember there was quite a division in support? I'm sure some "instant Conservatives" left the party when Betkowski lost? The fact is Klein came in with a vision and he stuck to it...at least for awhile!
I guess I would be considered an "instant Conservative" in that if Morton didn't get the nod, I'd go back to an Alliance candidate. Actually I'd have a real hard time voting for my current MLA as I believe he is nothing short of an oppotunistic scoundrel!

[coppertop]

cowman, I really doubt if Morton will get the nod. He attracts the far right. Any use I had for him went out the window when he decided he needed to have $1500 a plate fund raisers in BC.

[ivbinconned]

Copper is kind of red...right?

Liberals are always scared of the "far right"...yet here, as usual...refuse to define it!

[cowman]

I will admit I like politicians who advocate smaller government, a return to morals, tough on crime and MOST importantly standing up for our rights against the thieves in Ottawa!
As near as I know Morton does that better than any other candidate?
I don't want another slick talker who promises us good times while cutting deals in the back room!
If this oil and gas boom ever goes in the tank I want a man who can deal with that?
I think Ralph tried but had trouble with all the spendthrifts in his government and the general attitude of many of the voters? I mean in reality, when he tried to introduce some reform to a runaway health care system, every man and his dog set up a howl! The fact is if someone doesn't get some of these "government services" under control...we won't be able to afford them? How much of government revenue is spent on healthcare and education in this province? Where does it end?
Talk about the tail wagging the dog!

[wilagro]

Well cowman, you stick with Morton but I will go with Ed Stelmach. Not flashy, but apparently honest and capable. We don't need some radical running this province...and we definitely don't need some hard drinking, gambling twit either.

About time we had some sensible leadership similar to what Lougheed brought when he first came to power.

[coppertop]

wilagro, cowman etc. Ted Morton is a very smart man but his appeal is mainly to the hard liners who want to see us in a battle with Ottawa, and I, for one, don't think that will be very productive. We don't need to fire the first volley in any territorial battle, we need to work with the feds., and quit shoving our wealth down the noses of eastern Canada.

Wilagro, glad you are supporting Ed. He is a very honest man, and his record speaks for itself. He has conducted himself with integrity through a 20 year political career which includes serving as a county councillor, hospital and school board member etc. before he was elected as an MLA.

Last week at a function in Vegreville there was such a crowd ( 440 people) that the organizers had to go to other venues in the community to bring in more chairs. Of course, that is his home community, but it certainly says a lot about the man. One of his opponents in the race doesn't even live in his home constituency !!

I encourage anyone interested in supporting a particular candidate to try and attend one of the upcoming all candidates forums, there will be at least 8 across the province. It is interesting to watch the dynamics of the candidates and their supporters at these forums. One thing for sure, with Ed you will not get a lot of flash and flair, just common sense, down to earth honesty and committment to Albertans.

[cowman]

Realistically we all know Morton or Stelmach are not going to win? Really it is Oberg or Dinning?
I like Morton. Maybe because I think he will stand up to Ottawa instead of go hat in hand and lick their boots!
Is Morton a radical?...Or a typical Albertan? An Alberta redneck!
In the end the people will decide...or at least the people who lay down their $5!
I don't see the Liberals or NDP ever forming a government in this province...thank God! It always amazes me that anyone in Alberta would want those clowns in power?

[coppertop]

cowman, in the 1992 leadership contest no-one took Ralph seriously but rural Alberta put him in the leaders chair and it can happen again. Dinning and Oberg are running neck and neck so another candidate could finish third, and pull the support from the bottom of the pack.
If Ed wasn't a serious contender you would not have heard the yowling from both Oberg and Dinning when Ed suggested an Alberta pension plan.
I personally think it would be wonderfull if every working Albertan could contribute not only to CPP but an Alberta plan, and the government would also contribute on a pro rated basis depending on the resource revenue etc. If that isn't a way of giving back to Albertans then I don't know what is.

Ted Morton or anyone else who becomes leader will stand up for Alberta, they will have no choice because I doubt if many of the current or future PC Caucus is going to roll over and play dead if another National Energy Policy is ever hinted at by the east!!

[cowman]

Emerald...Emerald...Emerald...Why would you in your worst nightmare want another government social program?
Another worthless pension that the government is just going to claw back?
My old mother gets four "pensions". Widows, Veterans, old Age, and CPP. She doesn't get one damned cent that isn't clawed back!
Now admittedly she has a few bucks and a good income, but the fact is all the BS of "we're from the government and we're here to help you" is total BS!
And believe me girl...from the amount of income tax you are paying...you are going to be keeping the bums in your old age...not the other way around!