Only on candidate stands out...

[cowman]

cropduster: No I've never met Hinman or talked to him, but I think what his party stands for, is pretty close to being right?
I actually always supported the goals of the Reform Party and the Alberta Alliance party. In fact I would suggest the Alberta Alliance is the only real conservative party in Alberta? They expouse the principles of smaller government and less taxes on the people? Pretty hard to argue the PC party of Alberta supports those platforms...especially with the latest spending sprees!
There are a couple of things any new premier must address? One is the out of control health costs and the other is the massive drain of equalization payments? Those are the biggies, in my opinion!
I would add I think Morton is the man to protect Alberta from Ottawa! The day when we need a "federal police force" should be gone! Lets let some of the Alberta boys get those police jobs...instead of having some Frenchman try to explain why you got stopped...in broken English!
CPP is a pyramid game that only works as long as the suckers keep putting the money in! A much better solution would be a "made in Alberta" plan...where your money actually goes into a fund that YOU OWN!
We actually should all be thankful for Quebec? Quebec has shown us the way of dissassociating ourselves from Ottawa...and you know the old saying"Whats good for the goose is good for the gander!"
Stephen Harper made a bold statement yesterday about recognizing Quebec as a "nation within a nation"? How soon until he recognize Alberta as "a nation within a nation"?
Quebec is going to run with this one you can be sure! We should be running right alongside them...demanding the same treatment!
How about a bold idea? How about ten "nations within a nation"? Sort of a loose confederation, like the EU, where you are basically independent from the federal government?
The only candidate I see not "doing business as usual" is Morton?
I attended a local ag suppliers customer appreciation dinner a few days ago. It was quite a surprize that of the eight people sitting at the table I was at...all eight said they were voting for Morton! I think he actually is striking a cord with people...they are thoroughly sick of Ottawa/Liberals/Frenchmen! They want a leader who fights back instead of going down to Ottawa to lick their boots? This "vote for the next premier" might just backfire for the PC old boys club!

[ivbinconned]

So copper...your "visit" with Ted did not go well...tell us about it.

Or are you dismissing him with out ever having met him?

[coppertop]

Actually, Ivebin, I asked you to elaborate on your discussions with Ted,particularily regarding his various policy statements. Have you met him, and discussed these issues ?

I HAVE met Ted Morton several times, have discussed several areas of policy with him particulary land use issues. I have attended three of the all candidates forums, and have over the past 14 years met and spoken to all the candidates several time with the exception of Gary. I have a lot of respect for Dave Hancock, he is an extremely bright gentleman, he understands education from front to back, however, he has no strength in rural issues. I am interested to learn what experience Ted Morton has in agricultural issues, seniors housing issues, health care, or for that matter what he knows about rural Alberta. Defending us against Ottawa when there may be no battle is hardly the key reason to select a premier, unless we want one that will start a battle !!!

So, ivebin, now its your turn to tell us what you personally have discussed with Morton, unless of course, you are basing your opinions on Byfields ramblings !!!

[kpb]

coppertop, you've done a lot more work on this than I have--who else do you see in this group as knowledgeable about rural issues? Who would you look at as someone who might have a bit of understanding of the farming community if Stelmach doesn't make it to the second ballot?

kpb

[cowman]

Now I've met Morton, but just a how are you and a handshake. The boy had him for a prof and said he was the "real meal deal".I believe the boy has good sense.
Who has time to meet all the "boys" running for this job? ...Personally I'm not that much of a political junkie! Maybe I need to be a wealthy political junkie from Drayton Valley?
I think Ed Stelmach is probably a pretty decent guy...but come on, he has about as much chance of winning this thing as Jean Chretien?
I believe we have to look outside this narrow "agricultural way of looking at things"? Like is the 2% of agricultural voters going to elect anyone?
My own MLA is endorsing Stelmach....as good as any reason to never support him! This clown(Luke Oulette) hasn't done one damned thing for our area! Red Deer County had the best proposal for the new police academy...did he deliver...NO! In fact it looks like good old Luke took a skate on that one!
The Red Deer Industrial airport required some cash to get international status...where was our "cabinet minister" Luke on that one? This guy is about the most lame excuse for a cabinet minister in any government!
So you can count on it...if he endorses Stelmach...it is a sure bet that Stelmach is a loser just like him! Don't waste YOUR vote!

[ivbinconned]

36 million leaves Alberta every day...sucked down the black hole that is Ottawa. You are in a "battle", you just can't see the forest for the trees.

I have not met Ted or any of the others for that matter, nor have thousands. I am however 40 year student of the Canadian and provincial political culture.

Not having met him doesn't excude me from forming a valid opinion.

But you, haveing shown your bigoted view of Morton, based on his birth place, certainly disqualifies you from being taken seriously.

If you think that having met someone immanetly qualifies you to carry the opinions of many then I hope you enjoy yourself as a delegate to the Liberal convention. You qualify...big deal.

I do have a connection to Dinning and clearly he is a liberal, which makes me wonder why your not supporting him.

[cowman]

Ivebinconned: Probably on the second ballot! For myself, personally, there is no second ballot!

[coppertop]

i am fairly sure there will be a second ballot, and as for a candidate that understands rural issues, if Ed doesn't make the second ballot,who knows. Now Oberg SAYS he is a rural candidate but he has clearly shown over and over that he is not a team player so I would be concerned about what kind of a leader could lead if he himself cannot work within a team.

cowman, I don't know if you expect your MLA to just snap their fingers and get money every time or not, we have been waiting for a new bridge over the Saskatchewan River for years. When Ed was the Minister of Transportation we met with him twice, and at the request of our local highway safety committee, of which I was the chairman, he drove out and saw what we were concerned about. He authorized a special study of the bridge and the lack of adequate turning lanes off highway 22, lack of lighting etc. The following year that was addressed, but after our council changed out here they did not keep the issue on the front burner, and a new minister came along, so now the bridge is back to 15 years in the future.

I would suspect that some of what you perceive to be a lack lustre performance on Luke's part may be the difficulty in getting the rest of caucus on side for projects. Our MLA has the same problem all the time. Picture this scenario: A RURAL MLA puts a budgetary item on the agenda in caucus, immediately the Edmonton and Calgary MLA's start to clamor for new overpasses on the Deerfoot or Henday, the half rural half urban MLA's ( eg: Leduc, Stony Plain etc.) will also jump on that bandwagon because a large number of their constituents live or work in areas close to cities. Not much voice for rural Alberta in the PC Caucus, and after the next election the electoral boundaries will have to be adjusted, which will leave Calgary with 1/3 of the MLAs.

If we do not have a premier that understands and will got to battle for agriculture and rural issues, then one industry and one large city will run this province, particulary if the province is wasting valuable time and resources battling with Ottawa.

I hope everyone will buy a membership and vote, rural voters should be out in droves to make sure their voice is heard, not only by the leader but by the rest of government.

[WRAPper]

Oberg will do as much for Ag as he always has which hasn't been much, take a look at his campaign platform it's pretty thin and empty on Ag. Nothing new, mostly empty platitudes.
2nd choice behind Ed is tough when it comes to AG.
I'd say it's a pretty dead heat between Norris , Morton and Dinning they've all had some interesting thoughts. If Oberg wins maybe Hung Pham can be the Ag Minister. Anybody would work with Ed, Doug Griffiths Ag minister if Dinning gets in. Norris would bring back who we've got now. And Morton would bring up someone from Cargill or ADM to run the new division.

[coppertop]

As you said anyone can work with Ed, he has an excellent track record as a cabinet minister and it would be damn difficult to find anything bad to say about his personal conduct or his ability as an MLA/Minister. He has experience, has served as party whip which in itself is no small feat, keeping MLA's in line.

Doug Griffiths is a Dinning supporter, and Horner is a Norris supporter. Mark Norris would need to get elected if he became leader as would Dinning. Now Mark was defeated in the last election by a Liberal so his getting elected in Edmonton might pose a problem.

It is going to be a very interesting day, but one thing for sure, Rural Albertans are a hardy bunch, so if they support a particular candidate I am sure they will get out to vote.