Alberta Leadership Race

[Black Dog]

What bad ideas.

Where to start? The provincial police force/pension plan. Getting into the gay marriage thing even though Alberta has no say in it. His bold "democratic reform" initiatives which are neither bold nor reforms. His reckless devotion to private health care. And so on.

On the other hand Dinning is just another song and dance man for the federal liberals. Who would sell Albertans down the road to Ottawa at the drop of a hat.

There it is, folks: the state of discourse in our fair province. "Dinning Librul. Librul bad! Morton smash!"

Sadly, this stuff is par for the course here in Alberta. Don't have anything to say? Invoke the eeeevil OttawaLiberalTrudeau boogeyman (still used to get Alberta kids to eat their vegetables, BTW) and watch the Rutherford-listening Faulknerian Idiot Man-Children of our province run screaming for the pitchforks and torches.

[B. Max]

Dinning caught red handed. His backroom boys are busy going over lists of known liberals and selling them PC memberships. If Dinning isn't a liberal what are his handlers doing with lists of liberals.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/st...044e6fb&k=89258

[Black Dog]

Dinning caught red handed. His backroom boys are busy going over lists of known liberals and selling them PC memberships. If Dinning isn't a liberal what are his handlers doing with lists of liberals.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/st...044e6fb&k=89258

I don't think you know what the phrase "caught red handed" means.

But Mr. Dinning's critics say there's more to it. Alberta's former treasurer, they charge, is actively recruiting non-Tories, dialing up Liberal party membership lists and warning dyed-in-the-wool Grits that if there's one thing they need dread more than another PC premier, it's a hard-right PC premier with a social-conservative agenda. Says one senior Morton operative: "We've heard it from several law firms downtown," where the city's political power brokers dwell, "that Dinning's people are combing through the Liberal party lists and signing them up as Tories."

There's no proof of the accusation, which one of Mr. Dinning's key organizers calls "ridiculous." And a rumour like that benefits detractors accusing Mr. Dinning of being secretly Liberal.

There is on the other hand, ample evidence that Ted Morton will go to of his way to pick fights with the feds.

The question to me is: do we want someone who will work to constructivly address Alberta's most pressing issues? Or do we want Ted Morton?

[B. Max]

What bad ideas.

Where to start? The provincial police force/pension plan. Getting into the gay marriage thing even though Alberta has no say in it. His bold "democratic reform" initiatives which are neither bold nor reforms. His reckless devotion to private health care. And so on.

Why is a provincial police force a bad idea. Why is an Alberta pension plan a bad idea along with his plan to protect traditional marriage and free speech.

Morton's democratic reform ideas are good, as are his health care reforms.

Democratic Reform

Part of Alberta’s strength comes from the involvement of its people in the decision making processes fundamental to running a Government and a Party. That involvement has been diminished and needs to be opened up. Giving Albertans the chance to initiate important discussions and decisions, and Party members full control of the policy process will benefit us all.

A Morton Government will…

Establish fixed election dates and term limits

Embrace citizen initiative and referendums

Create a lobbyist registry

Strengthen the powers of the Auditor-General

Engage party members in Policy Book development

Health Care

How much longer will the debate rage? How much longer will people sit on waiting lists, hoping for a solution? Sure, it takes money to make the system work, but it also takes a courageous approach to innovation to explore new ideas and approaches. We can argue, or we can act.

A Morton Government will…

Supplement existing universal system with private insurance

Reduce wait times; allow private clinics to deliver some services

Ensure Emergency Room accountability

A Morton Government will…

Guide and manage Alberta’s full growth potential with our own pension plan and police force and made-in-Alberta immigration priorities

Defend non-renewable resource revenues from federal raids

Place curbs on harmful judicial activism

Protect freedom of speech and religion via Bill 208 for those who support traditional marriage

[B. Max]

I don't think you know what the phrase "caught red handed" means.

Perhaps I should have said: caught with red hands.

[Hydraboss]

Ted.

[B. Max]

There is on the other hand, ample evidence that Ted Morton will go to of his way to pick fights with the feds.

The question to me is: do we want someone who will work to constructivly address Alberta's most pressing issues? Or do we want Ted Morton?

We want Ted Morton. Someone who will defend Alberta, not sell us down the road to Ottawa.

[Black Dog]

Why is a provincial police force a bad idea. Why is an Alberta pension plan a bad idea along with his plan to protect traditional marriage and free speech.

My main beef with the provincial police/ pension plan idea is it reeks of misplace priorities. We have a multi-billion dollar municipal infrastructure debt, a clogged health system, people in Fort Mac living in pup tents and he wants to dink around with his own police? For what?

Oh and his "plan" to protect traditional marriage and free speech will do neither because its unlikely to withstand a court challenge. It is also, simply put, total jackassery.

As for the rest: I've been to the man's website already: where do ya think I got the list of his dumb ideas to begin with?

Perhaps I should have said: caught with red hands.

Still wrong. "Caught" implies he was, urm, caught. But, as the article says:

There's no proof of the accusation...

Time to look up the word "caught." And probably the word "evidence." And, while you've got the ol' dictionary cracked, you might want to flip over to "rumour", the mosey on by to "conjecture". I'd also suggest that you look up the word "gullible", but I bet a man of the world like yourself knows full well that the word "gullible" isn't in no dictionary.

We want Ted Morton. Someone who will defend Alberta, not sell us down the road to Ottawa.

Jim Dinning sell us down the road to Ottawa. Jim Dinning will re-write your hard drive. Not only that, but he will scramble any disks that are even close to your computer. He will recalibrate your refrigerator's coolness setting so all your ice cream goes melty. He will demagnetize the strips on all your credit cards, screw up the tracking on your television and use subspace field harmonics to scratch any CD's you try to play.

He will give your ex-girlfriend your new phone number. He will mix Kool-aid into your fishtank. He will drink all your beer and leave his socks out on the coffee table when there's company coming over. He will put a dead kitten in the back pocket of your good suit pants and hide your car keys when you are late for work.

Jim Dinning will make you fall in love with a penguin. He will give you nightmares about circus midgets. He will pour sugar in your gas tank and shave off both your eyebrows while dating your girlfriend behind your back and billing the dinner and hotel room to your Visa card. He will seduce your grandmother. It does not matter if she is dead, for such is the power of Jim Dinning: he reaches out beyond the grave to sully those things we hold most dear. He moves your car randomly around parking lots so you can't find it. He will kick your dog. He will leave libidinous messages on your boss's voice mail in your voice! He is insidious and subtle. He is dangerous and terrifying to behold. He is also a rather interesting shade of mauve.

Jim Dinning will give you Dutch Elm disease. He will leave the toilet seat up. He will make a batch of Methanphedime in your bathtub and then leave bacon cooking on the stove while he goes out to chase gradeschoolers with your new snowblower.

[August1991]

That Jim Dinning sounds like quite a guy. Does he also have one of those cars with all the gadgets?

[Black Dog]

That Jim Dinning sounds like quite a guy. Does he also have one of those cars with all the gadgets?

August, Jim Dinning doesn't even own a car. He steals them from the parking lots of old folks homes.

Also I was so dedicated to finding that little speech (based on the old Good Times Virus hoax), that I missed this bit of comedy:

The question to me is: do we want someone who will work to constructively address Alberta's most pressing issues? Or do we want Ted Morton?

We want Ted Morton.

[Hydraboss]

We want Ted Morton. Someone who will defend Alberta, not sell us down the road to Ottawa.

Jim Dinning sell us down the road to Ottawa. Jim Dinning will re-write your hard drive. Not only that, but he will scramble any disks that are even close to your computer. He will recalibrate your refrigerator's coolness setting so all your ice cream goes melty. He will demagnetize the strips on all your credit cards, screw up the tracking on your television and use subspace field harmonics to scratch any CD's you try to play.

He will give your ex-girlfriend your new phone number. He will mix Kool-aid into your fishtank. He will drink all your beer and leave his socks out on the coffee table when there's company coming over. He will put a dead kitten in the back pocket of your good suit pants and hide your car keys when you are late for work.

Jim Dinning will make you fall in love with a penguin. He will give you nightmares about circus midgets. He will pour sugar in your gas tank and shave off both your eyebrows while dating your girlfriend behind your back and billing the dinner and hotel room to your Visa card. He will seduce your grandmother. It does not matter if she is dead, for such is the power of Jim Dinning: he reaches out beyond the grave to sully those things we hold most dear. He moves your car randomly around parking lots so you can't find it. He will kick your dog. He will leave libidinous messages on your boss's voice mail in your voice! He is insidious and subtle. He is dangerous and terrifying to behold. He is also a rather interesting shade of mauve.

Jim Dinning will give you Dutch Elm disease. He will leave the toilet seat up. He will make a batch of Methanphedime in your bathtub and then leave bacon cooking on the stove while he goes out to chase gradeschoolers with your new snowblower.

Ha!!! I knew this whole rant was a bunch of bullshit! You claim that Jim Dinning will be "...billing the dinner and hotel room to your Visa card", when you clearly stated in line #2 that "He will demagnetize the strips on all your credit cards,..."

You almost had me convinced until I found the hole in your logic! This can only lead me to believe that the rest may not be true as well. Got any links to back up your statements?

[B. Max]

Why is a provincial police force a bad idea. Why is an Alberta pension plan a bad idea along with his plan to protect traditional marriage and free speech.

My main beef with the provincial police/ pension plan idea is it reeks of misplace priorities. We have a multi-billion dollar municipal infrastructure debt, a clogged health system, people in Fort Mac living in pup tents and he wants to dink around with his own police? For what?

Then you will be happy to know Morton plans royalty sharing with municipalities. Morton also plans to make access to health care a reality, where Dinning offers what we have now, access to a waiting list. If someone chooses to live in pup tent that is there decision, it's not up to the government to build them a house. The government never built my house. In some respects we already have the beginnings of our own police force with the sherif's that already patrol some highways. Morton would only expand on that. The pension plan is very important. We are pouring money into the CPP and getting little in return.

Oh and his "plan" to protect traditional marriage and free speech will do neither because its unlikely to withstand a court challenge. It is also, simply put, total jackassery.

It's not jack ass in any sense . Morton is constitutional expert. I suspect it is well thought as far as any court challenge goes and the court of public opinion as well.

As for the rest: I've been to the man's website already: where do ya think I got the list of his dumb ideas to begin with?

Perhaps I should have said: caught with red hands.

Still wrong. "Caught" implies he was, urm, caught. But, as the article says:

There's no proof of the accusation...

Time to look up the word "caught." And probably the word "evidence." And, while you've got the ol' dictionary cracked, you might want to flip over to "rumour", the mosey on by to "conjecture". I'd also suggest that you look up the word "gullible", but I bet a man of the world like yourself knows full well that the word "gullible" isn't in no dictionary.

You should look up the word duped.

[geoffrey]

Again, my vote tomorrow resides with who wins the liberal leadership. Hopefully they pick their leader on an early ballot, say number 3, so I can go skiing tomorrow afternoon.

Iggy win - Vote Morton

Rae win - Vote Morton

Dion win - Vote Morton

Kennedy win - Vote Dinning

Anyone else wins - I emigrate to Iceland or maybe Siberia, I'll leave that for you to decide...

Iggy, Rae and Dion pose a threat to Alberta with their carbon taxologies and socialist tendencies. I don't know how Iggy can appeal to us when he says he wants to be another Trudeau. Ain't going to work. If those boys get elected, I'm voting to protect our interests with firewalls and more independance.

But if Kennedy gets elected, someone that is against the carbon tax and for pro-business measures to bring our economy back to a respectable level... I'm there, let's elect Dinning who will co-operate with Kennedy on building a Canada that respects and treats Alberta fairly.

Let's say I hope I can vote for Dinning.

Stelmach is a useless guy, he just stares at the floor and mumbles in interviews. He's out of his league.

[Canadian Blue]

I'd support Kennedy as well, even consider voting for him, but I doubt the Liberal's will give him the nod.

As for the Alberta PC race, the Liberal convention was probably more of a boost to Morton than anything else. When Liberal's say they are the only "real" Canadian's that simply shows their arrogance to the rest of the country.

[geoffrey]

Especially Iggy's speech where he mentioned his carbon tax and getting Alberta votes within a minute of each other. They just don't get it. The West isn't like Toronto. Carbon taxes don't win you support out here.

Kennedy gets it. The rest don't. The Liberals will be in opposition until that changes or Kennedy is leader.

The Liberals will remain a regional party until they can appeal to Albertans again. The richest city in Canada hasn't elected a Liberal since the '60's. I must say... they really just don't get it.

You can't pretend to be a national party without ANY support in Alberta and practically zero support in Canada's economic engine.

That's why we need Morton to protect us in the case that Kennedy isn't elected tomorrow.

[Black Dog]

Then you will be happy to know Morton plans royalty sharing with municipalities.

Which will address some, but not even close to all, of the infrastructure debt.

Morton also plans to make access to health care a reality, where Dinning offers what we have now, access to a waiting list.

Yeah: if I can afford it.

If someone chooses to live in pup tent that is there decision, it's not up to the government to build them a house. The government never built my house.

omfg. They're living in pup tents because there is no housing. If the government wants people to work in the oil patch, they should help address the problems the boom creates. Like, oh, housing shortages.

In some respects we already have the beginnings of our own police force with the sherif's that already patrol some highways. Morton would only expand on that.

By getting adding another layer of bueraucracy. Is there anything wrong with the RCMP?

The pension plan is very important. We are pouring money into the CPP and getting little in return.

And what would we get from an Alberta plan? Face it: things like the provincial police and pension plan aren't being put forward to address pressing neeeds: they're symbolic "fuck you's" to Ottawa. And I'd rather my tax dollars went to address real issues, not meaningless nose-thumbing.

It's not jack ass in any sense . Morton is constitutional expert. I suspect it is well thought as far as any court challenge goes and the court of public opinion as well.

Again: who cares? Surely we have bettter ways to spend our time than put forward meaningless legislation to protect the freedom of people who's freedom is already protected by the federal legislation.

You should look up the word duped.

I did. Found your picture.

Boo-yah!

(Sorry, I'm slightly drunk.)

Let's say I hope I can vote for Dinning.

Vote because of what you think the candidate will do for Alberta, not because you're scared of what some other guy might possibly, maybe, do to Alberta, if they win the leadership and the next election.

[geoffrey]

And I'd rather my tax dollars went to address real issues, not meaningless nose-thumbing.

Do you bite your thumb at me, sir?

I tend to agree. That's why I prefer to vote for Dinning and more of the status quo crap. But in reality, Ottawa with Iggy or Rae or Dion is prepared to launch an assault on Alberta's wealth, we need to be quick to defend ourselves, and in the process, Canada's wellbeing. Morton is the only one to do that.

(Sorry, I'm slightly drunk.)

I think everyone is, including myself, after finding that Iggy didn't suffer from a spoiled ballot crisis.

Let's say I hope I can vote for Dinning.

Vote because of what you think the candidate will do for Alberta, not because you're scared of what some other guy might possibly, maybe, do to Alberta, if they win the leadership and the next election.

Very noble of you, I'm impressed. But who is going to protect us from Iggy's carbon tax and Rae's and Dion's socialist tendancies/Quebec appeasement? Who will protect us from Harper?

Kennedy is the only Liberal leader (or any party leader) I'm comfortable with leading Canada with a passive Alberta premier (Dinning).

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Go Ted Go!!!

Ted will hang a right and take a different path. Knowing where the first one went leaves me to believe that another choice would yield a different result. We need change, that is the long and the short of it. A vote for Dinning is the status quo approach that lead us to where we find ourselves today, with all of the infrastructure problems and funding shortfalls this province has, and the same kind of thinking will simply not provide functional resolution to the issues.

The royalty debate is absolutely key to our future. Morton intends to follow the trail that Quebec carved out which provides the means for clawing back some of the fed taxation levied on our citizens to keep their hard earned dollars in this province. That is a good move that in conjuction with revenue stream reformation and ATB Financial utility can facility fundemental economic change in Alberta. We need to greatly expand our secondary industry. Our productive capacity is severely restricted without the leverage created in secondary industry. Morton is intent upon a path of nation building endeavours and Albertans will forfeit the benefits of that effort if they fail to support him in his bid for leadership of the party and the position of Premier.

Simply put, a strong Liberal leader will ensure that Albertans shy away from the Liberals and at the same time seek a stronger voice against them. Considering that all the hopefuls for the number one job of the Liberals are in fact strong nationalists, this may push Albertans toward Morton and away from Dinning.

[B. Max]

name='Black Dog' date='Dec 2 2006, 12:16 AM' post='159763']

Which will address some, but not even close to all, of the infrastructure debt.

Whether it does or doesn't, that's all there is. Except for the ten or eleven billion a year the feds extort from Albertans and then hand over to Quebec. Which Morton plans to go after.

Yeah: if I can afford it.

Then you won't be any worse off that you are now.

omfg. They're living in pup tents because there is no housing. If the government wants people to work in the oil patch, they should help address the problems the boom creates. Like, oh, housing shortages.

Unless you can show that someone is forcing them to live in tents then they choosing to do so. There are camps up there they can live in them. Some business wanted to put up a big camp right in Macmurry but I believe the town turned them down.

By getting adding another layer of bueraucracy. Is there anything wrong with the RCMP?

There is nothing wrong with RCMP. But if we are forced to separate we will want our police force.

And what would we get from an Alberta plan? Face it: things like the provincial police and pension plan aren't being put forward to address pressing neeeds: they're symbolic "fuck you's" to Ottawa. And I'd rather my tax dollars went to address real issues, not meaningless nose-thumbing.

Ottawa has been saying FU to Alberta for years. It's long past time we turned the tables on them.

Again: who cares? Surely we have bettter ways to spend our time than put forward meaningless legislation to protect the freedom of people who's freedom is already protected by the federal legislation.

If it were protected there would be no need.

[geoffrey]

We have the resources to tell Ottawa to shove it on things like carbon taxes and unfavourable changes to provincial welfare (ie. equalisation). We might not always be in such a favourable position, we need to take this chance to tell Ottawa it's our way, or we're out. Simple as that.

Quebec has done it since the beginning. In Stephen Harper's own words:

"It is time to look at Quebec and to learn. What Albertans should take from this example is to become "maitres chez nous."

The Liberal election today shows me Eastern Canada isn't interested in working with Alberta or the West in general. It's time we send them a clear message that it's not going to work that way anymore.

I voted for Morton.

[Hydraboss]

Voted Morton. Time to firewall the hell out of the province.

I'm watching CTV, and when it came down to the final two, the camera was following Dion and Robertson and his cronies uttered the phrase, "Is Dion turning into Jean Chretien before my eyes? Yes, that is Jean Chretien from 25 years ago!"

Time for Alberta to seperate. Now. Vote Morton and protect the province until the Alberta Alliance can mature enough to take us the hell out of this country.

[Hydraboss]

Jesus! The CTV crew just stated over and over that Dion and Chretien go fishing together all the time to talk politics.

Nothing can save this province if the Liberals win the next federal election.

[Black Dog]

I hate the T

[Black Dog]

I hate the Tories, and I'm sick of the polarization of Canadian politics. And I think the PC leadership selection was a process befitting a 3rd world banana republic. But goddamn, if I didn't cheer when I saw Ted Morton in 3rd.

BTW geoffery: Dion is on record as oppossing a carbon tax. So where do you get the idea that an "all out assault on Alberta's wealth" is iminent?

[geoffrey]

I hate the Tories, and I'm sick of the polarization of Canadian politics. And I think the PC leadership selection was a process befitting a 3rd world banana republic. But goddamn, if I didn't cheer when I saw Ted Morton in 3rd.

If your sick of the polarization of Canadian politics, maybe it's time we ask Ottawa to give us a little more fair representation. Compared to Quebec, we have no power (the West in general), and that's a big issue.

BTW geoffery: Dion is on record as oppossing a carbon tax. So where do you get the idea that an "all out assault on Alberta's wealth" is iminent?

Dion has said he would like to introduce a variety of industry-wide polluter-pay taxes, the revenue from which would be plowed back into the respective sectors to help pay for clean technology and emission controls.

Link here.

Depends on his definition of pollution. If it's pollution as in the toxic cloud that hangs over Southern Ontario and causes cancer and asthma, sure. If it's pollution and smog from Quebec smelting, then sure. If it's pollution of groundwater and soil from mining in the maritimes, sure.

But I have a funny feeling in the typical Liberal fashion that they will target their taxation of industry in Alberta's direction. They've followed the 'screw the west, we'll take the rest' Trudeauism since the 60's, hence their non-election in Calgary since then. It doesn't make much sense to tax Ontario and Quebec when Alberta is just rolling in money and they'll never vote for you anyways.

I see the danger, you'd be blind not to.

Dion is incrediably weak in Quebec. He's going to need to push an anti-Alberta agenda to get votes there, Quebecois LOVE attacking Alberta, you here it all the time from Duceppe and Bosclair, 'oh those damned oil companies, making money! polluting! Alberta makes too much, we don't get enough' blah blah blah.

A carbon tax on Alberta would be a ticket to great electoral success in Quebec. I was just wondering who was going to do it first, Dion or Harper the way things are going now.