In preparation for this weekend's incredibly low-key Alberta Liberal leadership announcement, SEE Magazine covers the contest in this week's issue - including an article from yours truly.
As well-intentioned as Mo Elsalhy, David Swann, and Dave Taylor may be, I believe the low amount of interest in this race says as much about the state of political engagement in Alberta as it does about state of any one party. With voter-turnout having dropped in the 40% range in the last election, it is clear that none of our current politicians or political parties are successfully connecting with Albertans on a meaningful level.
With the three leadership candidates only able to attract 6,000 Albertans to participate by taking out Liberal memberships, it is yet to be seen whether any of these men can successfully transform Alberta's official opposition Liberals into a competitive alternative to the long-governing Progressive Conservative establishment.
I will be posting the results of this race as they are released tomorrow (December 13, 2008) at 2:00 p.m. (first ballot) and 2:30 p.m. (second ballot).
Friday, December 12, 2008
seeing the alberta liberal leadership contest.
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13 comments:
Honest comments. Good post.
I almost can't believe that there has been a Liberal leadership race at all...
How are the results to be announced? I don't even know how the actual vote is to transpire.
I appreciate that you will post results. I am interested in how this shakes down.
There won't be a second ballot, Dave Taylor will win outright on the first.
I guess they could still choose to see who all 12 of Mo's supporters picked as their second choice thou.
If anyone is interested, I'll be there on Saturday in Calgary (12:30 to 2:30) and will post updates on Twitter (archiemc) and our blog:
http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/blogs/electionnotebook/default.aspx
-- Archie McLean
Thanks for posting the results for those of us who can't be in Calgary tomorrow.
My bet is Dave Taylor on the second ballot.
Anonymous, Elsalhy will get a lot more votes than 12, but even if he did, that would be 12 more than you would get if you run for anything. Sniping from the shadows and hiding your identity - you're pathetic. I am proud the guy ran and if he doesn't win this time but challenges again for the leadership 4 or 8 years from now, it'll be a slam dunk for him.
I second that, Trish. Some of you guys can be very cruel. Elsalhy, with his $10,000 entry fee (more like a donation really) kept your party afloat and your 3 staff people employed for at least a month and then you add the memberships and donations and stuff and this is the respect he gets? No wonder Albertans don't like your elitism and distrust your people. Give us your money, thank you very much. In return, some of our little people will abuse you and laugh at your expense.
6000! Ha!
The Alberta Alliance had a similar number of members when they had their leadership race.
Losers!
Er, nothing to do with this, don't give a rat's ass. But how do I say what I have to say about that law student's essay on stelmach v. daveberta? Sorry, I'm not a twitter, tweeter, so what do I do to take that vacuous essay to pieces? C'mon daveberta, gimme a blog thingy like this so I can take that pile of fakery apart in front of your audience.
Anonymous 11.46pm: Take your case to the Alberta Law Review I s'pose. I'm sure they give anonymous blog commenters a lot of credibility over there.
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