Ralph Klein Says Liberals Will Win Election

[tml12]

Ralph Klein says the Martin government will be re-elected because the Canadian, read: Ontarian, public thinks Harper is too right-wing.

http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?...dd-13e5c3728ff2

Why is Klein doing this? And can this really help Harper seem more moderate? I mean, Ralph really "helped" Harper in the last election...is this another way of him "helping" again?

[shoop]

Gotta love Klein's line *IF* he were a betting man. What a joke!

He is in the casino in downtown Edmonton at least once a week whenever the Legislature is in session. He got drunk off his butt there before going to the homeless shelter and throwing money at the poor dudes and telling them to get jobs.

[tml12]

Gotta love Klein's line *IF* he were a betting man. What a joke!

He is in the casino in downtown Edmonton at least once a week whenever the Legislature is in session. He got drunk off his butt there before going to the homeless shelter and throwing money at the poor dudes and telling them to get jobs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. I think this just demonstrates how annoyed and frustrated with the state of federal Conservative politics.

If he's going to help, let him. Otherwise he should just shut up.

[Canuck E Stan]

Maybe he's usung reverse psychology?.........Na.....what am I thinking,sorry.

[Toro]

He sandbagged Harper before the last election too. Its easier for the Alberta Tories to beat up the Ottawa Liberals than the Ottawa Tories is the theory.

[fellowtraveller]

Part of the problem, he says, is that Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is perceived to be too far to the right.

And that is about all he said.

Is he wrong?

[crazymf]

Gotta love Klein's line *IF* he were a betting man. What a joke!

He is in the casino in downtown Edmonton at least once a week whenever the Legislature is in session. He got drunk off his butt there before going to the homeless shelter and throwing money at the poor dudes and telling them to get jobs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What's your point? When I get drunk, I don't throw money at homeless people. Ralph's the MAN!!!! Besides, they should get jobs. There's no reason to be unemployed in Ralphland unless you don't have a pulse. Maybe it's the leftover eastern bums that came over in '83.

[August1991]

I rarely watch television so I haven't seen Ralph Klein in a long time. I heard him interviewed on Montreal radio today or yesterday because he was in Quebec.

How the heck did this guy ever get elected to anything? He sounded like a blowhard numbskull. (I dunno, maybe he was just having a bad day or something. And who am I to judge so quickly... )

[sharkman]

I can't figure this out, he's a good guy in a lot of ways but then he does this. Being that it's a repeat performance, I wonder if he doesn't get along with Harper or something. Did he ever say bad things about Preston Manning when he led the Alliance?

[fellowtraveller]

I rarely watch television so I haven't seen Ralph Klein in a long time.  I heard him interviewed on Montreal radio today or yesterday because he was in Quebec.

How the heck did this guy ever get elected to anything?  He sounded like a blowhard numbskull.  (I dunno, maybe he was just having a bad day or something.  And who am I to judge so quickly... )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Klein has made a career, a pretty successful career, with his many opponents consistently underestimating him, often badly underestimating him. He has always cultivated an aw-shucks, buffoonish persona, people fall for that and think that is the whole man- then he leaves them in the dust. It has happened countless times in AlbertaHe is of course hated and feared by the media, he treats them like the idiots they too often are and they return the favour.

[Kliege]

Klein is basically telling the truth. Does anyone here really expect their to be anything less then a Liberal Minority government after this election is done?

I didn't think so.

This is what Canadian "democracy" has come to. There is only two choices: Liberals get a Majority or a Minority government thats its there are no alternatives.

The party that has controlled your parliament for 12 years is about as corrupt as you can go without actually resorting to violence, but I wouldn't put it past them. What is it they say about absolute power? For crying out loud, on top of that they suspended democracy for 9 days when they "unconstitutionally" (Liberal written) refused to call a confidence vote, until after they had managed to bribe party's and individuals. Big shrug business as usual, what do you expect they're all politicians ones as bad as another, right? Besides the Conservatives are stupid, "bigoted", have a "hidden" agenda. Someone needs to hold some salts under your noses to wake you guys up . Do you want to know what the icing on the cake is? You've managed to design a federal government that can tax entire regions of the country without giving them a voice in the federal government. That's taxation without representation. Sorry but I don't think the Conservatives could do much to change that, even if they weren’t stupid. The question is no longer if, it's when will Canada dissolve into it's component parts.

The sooner Canada breaks apart, the better.

[Kliege]

The majority of the electorat in Canada would rather be more afraid of what the ruling Liberal party says that the Conservatives MIGHT do, rather than what the ruling Liberal party actually DOES do.

And so the country is ruled by the aforementioned majority's fear and loathing of a particular political party, inspired and orchestrated by the Liberals and enthusiastically abetted by the NDP and the media.

This has nothing to do with Harper.

Does the the leader of the Conservative Party actually need to be the perfect political figure? It doesn't matter; the liberals and their allies in the NDP and the media will find something wrong, some tiny skeleton, a missed or mumbled word, a gesture, a high-school detention. Preston was too intellectual, Stockwell was too religious, Stephen is too aloof - honest men who are too something to be trusted with the government instead of those petulant, self-centred children and petty (and worse) crooks now in power.

[Kliege]

The print and electronic media say that Harper is scary. The greater number of my my fellow former countrymen catch a few thoughts like this and embed them into psyche. After all, politics isn't as important as the sacred hockey, is it?

Scare a few Ontario residents who vote, and the election is over by the time it gets to the Manitoba border.

It is not very hard for the Liberals to stay in power; badmouth any up-and-comers, drop billions of dollars to assure enough votes to win an election, make a "rich climber" an instant cabinet minister. Somebody gets a real tape that could sink a party? plant the seed. It's fake. Doesn't have to be true. RCMP investigate? Don't be silly. They got some of the money, and put it into a non-Mountie bank account. Lose a non-confidence vote?

Ignore it. The Governor General won't dissolve Parliament; the Liberals fund her regal life style after all.

Will the fifth estate save the country?

Don't hold your nose. The national broadcaster is funded by the ruling party. Jeopardize funding? Nah. The other outlets are ruling party members and minions. Betray your friends? You got to be kidding.

There aren't any Canadian Woodwards or Bernsteins...or any Deep Throats for that manner.

The Liberals have nothing to fear by going to the polls. They have been caught doing some pretty egregious stuff and are still ahead in the polls; the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star say so, so it must be true. And who cares how the Albertans vote? The election is settled by the time the polls close in Alberta, and besides, they're all rednecks anyway.

Cynical?

No just reality. I feel sorry for those that don't realize it.

Inertia, propaganda, corruption, anti-americanism, un-examined biases, and when all else fails, sheer carelessness. Bet Liberal it's always the 'safe' bet.

Thats the Canadian Way.

[Leafless]

I thought Ralph Kline was off the bottle.

I think Sharkman could have a point with a dislike for Harper.

But there is no doubt about it the Charter has dissolved Conservatism and for all practical purposes the Conservatives will be seen 'to far Right' and unfortunately not much can be done about this unless the Conservatives stoop to the level of the Liberals or something is done with the Charter to eliminate the socialistic leanings in favour of the Liberals.

Nevertheless this is no way for Ralph Kline to treat a fellow Conservative especially at a time like this.

UNBELIEVABLE.

[err]

Does the the leader of the Conservative Party actually need to be the perfect political figure? It doesn't matter; the liberals and their allies in the NDP and the media  will find something wrong, some tiny skeleton, a missed or mumbled word, a gesture, a high-school detention. Preston was too intellectual, Stockwell was too religious, Stephen is too aloof - honest men who are too something to be trusted with the government instead of those petulant, self-centred children and petty (and worse) crooks now in power.

I think you'll find that what Canadians dislike about these men is something they all have in common.... The represent the ultra-right CPC party (or constiuent components) that advocate right-wing tight-money policy that does not benenfit most citizens....

[Montgomery Burns]

Dear Mr. Klein,

Will you please STFU?! :angry:

[shoop]

I don't know if this is such a big deal at all. Basically he was telling the truth.

Wasn't the big story in the 2004 election that the Conservatives were on their way to victory until the electorate (i.e. middle-ground Ontario voters) saw them getting ready to govern and asked them to step back.

This is not a bad thing Klein has done.

Maybe those persuadables who chose the Liberals at the last minute will pick the Conservatives at the last minute this time around and we will finally get a new government in Ottawa.

I liked McKay's reaction to it. Something about duct-taping Klein's mouth...

[Yaro]

Ya I have to agree, I don't think this will hurt the conservatives at all. If this reduces the perception that they may very well form government then that can only help them. One of those, elect nobody situations.

[FTA Lawyer]

I rarely watch television so I haven't seen Ralph Klein in a long time.  I heard him interviewed on Montreal radio today or yesterday because he was in Quebec.

How the heck did this guy ever get elected to anything?  He sounded like a blowhard numbskull.  (I dunno, maybe he was just having a bad day or something.  And who am I to judge so quickly... )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm going to go to bat for Ralph Klien here...

He is a bit of a blow-hard but while he may be unrefined he is hardly a numb-skull. His appeal in Alberta is that he's an honest politician. I know, I know, nobody really thought there was such a thing but King Ralph is the real deal.

Many people have criticized his policies, his comments, his actions...and often not without good reason. But at the end of the day, all Albertan's want is not to be lied to. In fact, that may be a very common thread across a country which doesn't have that many common threads from one region to the next.

What voters are really saying when they call Harper scary is that they are not sure he is being honest. Rather than try to disconnect from his old days in the NCC, he should have done a full-out Q&A on it...told people why he wrote things he wrote (because he was a lobbyist...it was his job), and explained fully that in his new role as leader of the CPC he has a completely different mandate to serve.

For Canadians, it's not really about a politician's personal views...no one really pushed that hard for Martin to say what he personally thought about gay marriage...they just need to know that the politician will put his personal views secondary to the good of the country and will act in a way that is consistent with what he or she has promised to do.

Klien coasted to one of his largest majority governments in the midst of severe cuts to health, education, and all other social programs...why? Because he told voters that was what he was going to do in the previous campaign, and after being elected, he did it.

And it is largely due to this conviction and principled behaviour that Alberta is in the financial position it enjoys now over a decade later.

As some have eluded to on this board, Klien was asked a question by a reporter and he told the truth...no spin, no bull-shit, no equivocations, no pretention...just the truth as he sees it.

And THAT is why he is in the middle of a national firestorm??????????????????? We should criticize him because he didn't puke out some polished, politically tactical bunch of rhetoric about Liberal corruption????????

Rather than his sound-bite about duct-tape, Peter McKay should have said, "Ralph's a brutally honest guy, he doesn't hide things...that's why he and Mr. Harper and the rest of the CPC get along with him so well...I happen to disagree with him, and I'll put my money on a CPC gov't, but I can't fault him for his opinion..."

I can only hope that voters outside of Alberta...and particularly in Ontario...aren't so foolish that they will punish the CPC and Harper for being associated with a Premier who doesn't tell lies just because they sound better on the evening news.

And more importantly, I hope (although I fear terribly this is just a pipe-dream) that the entire gang of fools in federal politics would take a lesson or two from Klien about just being forthright with the people they are supposed to be serving.

FTA Lawyer

[fellowtraveller]

I think you'll find that what Canadians dislike about these men is something they all have in common.... The represent the ultra-right CPC party (or constiuent components) that advocate right-wing tight-money policy that does not benenfit most citizens....

Doesn't benefit most citizens? Not true. Alberta is enjoying good times for two reasons: some extra dough related to resources, and the reorganization of education and healthcare in the province.

You think it is all due to a windfall? Chew on this: Alberta takes in a total of $13 billion in resource revenue, and contributes a net $11 billion to Canada. You better pray that Klein keeps doing what he has been doing. That $11 billion annually helps keeps the country afloat.

Klien coasted to one of his largest majority governments in the midst of severe cuts to health, education, and all other social programs...why? Because he told voters that was what he was going to do in the previous campaign, and after being elected, he did it.

And it is largely due to this conviction and principled behaviour that Alberta is in the financial position it enjoys now over a decade later.

Exactly. Well said. He has made many mistakes too, but in balance he has done a good job. More importantly and oh so rarely , he has made difficult decisions without cringing, and stayed the course to the essential objective That is what I want from my leaders: tell me what you intend, then get on with it.

It is unimaginable that Paul Martin would do this - they've handed out something like $20 billion in the last week, ll plucked from the air or perhaps a bodily orifice. That isn't leadership, that is weakness.

[Biblio Bibuli]

Dear Mr. Klein,

Will you please STFU?!  :angry:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You'll be sorry you ever said that. Now that Ralph has set the Ontarians up, his next most likely move will be issuing a challenge to the Ontarian voters, saying something like "I'll eat my hat (cowboy boots, saddle) if Ontarians prove me wrong."

They'd LOVE to see that, and it'll show at the ballot box.

[Black Dog]

He is a bit of a blow-hard but while he may be unrefined he is hardly a numb-skull. His appeal in Alberta is that he's an honest politician. I know, I know, nobody really thought there was such a thing but King Ralph is the real deal.

Many people have criticized his policies, his comments, his actions...and often not without good reason. But at the end of the day, all Albertan's want is not to be lied to. In fact, that may be a very common thread across a country which doesn't have that many common threads from one region to the next

Ralph is telling the truth. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Ralph: "Are you calling me a liar? Are you calling me a liar?"

Yes sir, I am.

And more importantly, I hope (although I fear terribly this is just a pipe-dream) that the entire gang of fools in federal politics would take a lesson or two from Klien about just being forthright with the people they are supposed to be serving.

Ralph actually governs a lot like the federal Liberals. There's no government in this country (including the feds) that is less accountable to its citizens and more secretive in how it makes its decisions.

Take the recent talk over the surplus as an example: Ralph explicitly said how much money the government has, and what it does with it, is the government's business, not the opposition's, and by extension, not the people's. There's a real populist sentiment for ya...

[Biblio Bibuli]

Take the recent talk over the surplus as an example: Ralph explicitly said how much money the government has, and what it does with it, is the government's business, not the opposition's, and by extension, not the people's.  There's a real populist sentiment for ya...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ralph said that in an answer to those who complained about him giving $400 to each man woman and child in the province.

Should he have asked the people if he can give it to them?

[Freshinit]

I thought Ralph Kline was off the bottle.

I think Sharkman could have a point with a dislike for Harper.

But there is no doubt about it the Charter has dissolved Conservatism and for all practical purposes the Conservatives will be seen 'to far Right' and unfortunately not much can be done about this unless the Conservatives stoop to the level of the Liberals or something is done with the Charter to eliminate the socialistic leanings in favour of the Liberals.

Nevertheless this is no way for Ralph Kline to treat a fellow Conservative especially at a time like this.

UNBELIEVABLE.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I saw him just last night at dixons pub in SE Calgary. He polished off a few pints.

[newbie]

And it is largely due to this conviction and principled behaviour that Alberta is in the financial position it enjoys now over a decade later.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You give him too much credit. It doesn't take a genius to watch the profits flow out of the ground. Any alcoholic high school drop-out could run Alberta. And as far as what Ralph said, it's probably the wisest thing he's ever said.