Prentice Quits Fed Conservatives As Next Premier of Alberta?

[Big Guy]

Former federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice will run for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party. It appears that his team has polled the PC caucus in recent days to gauge support, and has been told he should run.

He has begun putting together a campaign and finance team to make the run.

Is this the shining knight in armour for the Alberta PC?

Is this a dagger in the heart of the Wild Rose?

Is this an indicator that Harper is determined to hang on to the federal leadership?

Is Kenney now a shoe in for the next leadership of the federal Conservatives?

Is there a chance that Jim Prentice will fall flat on his face?

[waldo]

gamechanger. I've read a few references to Wildrose leader/party reaction that certainly has the Wildrose speaking of the announcement with a false bravado! I'd think someone with the stature/makeup of Prentice should be able to turn-around the PC (poll based) popularity drop.

I've made past reference to some of Prentice's relatively recent comments concerning energy policy/pipelines and proper engagement with all stakeholders... timed comments that associate with his corporate hiatus, but comments that actually align with his past federal CPC presence. It's truly unfortunate that Prentice chose to engage provincial politics; he might have been a CPC leader alternative that could have truly attracted 'swing voters' back to the CPC fold.

[PIK]

gamechanger. I've read a few references to Wildrose leader/party reaction that certainly has the Wildrose speaking of the announcement with a false bravado! I'd think someone with the stature/makeup of Prentice should be able to turn-around the PC (poll based) popularity drop.

I've made past reference to some of Prentice's relatively recent comments concerning energy policy/pipelines and proper engagement with all stakeholders... timed comments that associate with his corporate hiatus, but comments that actually align with his past federal CPC presence. It's truly unfortunate that Prentice chose to engage provincial politics; he might have been a CPC leader alternative that could have truly attracted 'swing voters' back to the CPC fold.

I agree with what you have said about becoming the CPC leadr. But alberta needs new leadership to get that province back on track or that could hurt the country like ONT is.

[August1991]

I really don't understand Albertan politics except to understand that - when I lived there - 98% of Albertans don't care about politics.

I fear more that Prentice, like Lougheed, can't live outside of "the game". For such guys, life outside of poltics is too boring. (Put Stephen Harper, Joe Clark, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton in the same category.)

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Hoping for good, honest (charismatic?) politicians seems naive. Maybe we should rather put in place clear rules (signposts, traffic lights) for such guys who choose "the game".

We'll never have an honest politician, and it's naive to believe that we'll eventually find one. At best, we can put in place rules so that the (dishonest, egotistical, game-player) politicians act honestly.

Edited May 2, 2014 by August1991

[overthere]

I really don't understand Albertan politics except to understand that - when I lived there - 98% of Albertans don't care about politics.

I fear more that Prentice, like Lougheed, can't live outside of "the game". For such guys, life outside of poltics is too boring. (Put Stephen Harper, Joe Clark, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton in the same category.)

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Hoping for good, honest (charismatic?) politicians seems naive. Maybe we should rather put in place clear rules (signposts, traffic lights) for such guys who choose "the game".

We'll never have an honest politician, and it's naive to believe that we'll eventually find one. At best, we can put in place rules so that the (dishonest, egotistical, game-player) politicians act honestly.

Yes, we understand that you think Albertans are uninformed hicks who don't matter except to pay for your social contract in Quebec.

Your faith in the utter corruption of every politician you encounter is well placed too, given that your Location:Montreal.

[August1991]

Yes, we understand that you think Albertans are uninformed hicks who don't matter except to pay for your social contract in Quebec.

Your faith in the utter corruption of every politician you encounter is well placed too, given that your Location:Montreal.

Hicks?

IME, Albertans were very well informed about subjects that mattered to them. They certainly knew far more about carburetors than I did.

As to this "social contract", Alberta's wealth (let's be honest) is due to the gift of nature; there's alot of oil under the Albertan soil. So the "social contract" extends presumably to a peaceful country where we don't fight over this gift of nature (unlike Nigeria or Syria).

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overthere, I really want to avoid this English vs French, Catholic vs Protestant, West vs East - this Team A vs Team B type of argument.

Yet, corruption in politics? Alberta's recent PM seems as likely to abuse power as anyone in Quebec.

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Let me return to my point: Rather than hope for "honest, charismatic" politicians, maybe we should put in place rules so that dishonest, conniving, egotistical politicians serve the public good.

Rather than hope for oranges, when you have lemons, how do you make lemonade.

Edited May 3, 2014 by August1991

[overthere]

Hicks?

IME, Albertans were very well informed about subjects that mattered to them. They certainly knew far more about carburetors than I did.

As to this "social contract", Alberta's wealth (let's be honest) is due to the gift of nature; there's alot of oil under the Albertan soil. So the "social contract" extends presumably to a peaceful country where we don't fight over this gift of nature (unlike Nigeria or Syria).

-----

overthere, I really want to avoid this English vs French, Catholic vs Protestant, West vs East - this Team A vs Team B type of argument.

Yet, corruption in politics? Alberta's recent PM seems as likely to abuse power as anyone in Quebec.

-----

Let me return to my point: Rather than hope for "honest, charismatic" politicians, maybe we should put in place rules so that dishonest, conniving, egotistical politicians serve the public good.

Rather than hope for oranges, when you have lemons, how do you make lemonade.

Carburetors? You must be 90 years old.

Your relentless condescension is offensive..

As to this "social contract", Alberta's wealth (let's be honest) is due to the gift of nature; there's alot of oil under the Albertan soil. So the "social contract" extends presumably to a peaceful country where we don't fight over this gift of nature (unlike Nigeria or Syria).

I see. When can Alberta expect to get a nice chunk of cash from Quebec for the James Bay hydro power revenue, another 'gift of nature'?. Interest payment on that too please.

Edited May 4, 2014 by overthere

[August1991]

Carburetors? You must be 90 years old.

Your relentless condescension is offensive..

Condescension? I merely meant to say that, IME, people in Alberta were more practical than people in the East.

Of course, it depends where in the East and where in the West.

My call.

When can Alberta expect to get a nice chunk of cash from Quebec for the James Bay hydro power revenue, another 'gift of nature'?. Interest payment on that too please.

Hydro is one thing. Oil something else.

It is costly to build dams, but it is far more complicated to bring power to users. As Albertans are now learning.

As Newfoundlanders have learned, it is one thing to have the resource; it is another thing to sell it, and make money.

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At present, Albertans are benefitting from a high world oil price, but it is difficult to transport this resource to buyers.

Such is Canadian history. (Does it sound condescending if Quebecers and Newfoundlanders remind Albertans of this?)

Edited May 6, 2014 by August1991