tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post4463489441317501530..comments2023-11-02T06:37:23.839-06:00Comments on daveberta.ca: alberta liberal leadership race endorsements.davebertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06822739409684978316noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-33212292938366950132008-11-24T13:08:00.000-07:002008-11-24T13:08:00.000-07:00Very interesting how few Edmonton endorsements app...Very interesting how few Edmonton endorsements appear on these lists. Is the ALP abandoning the capital city?CounseLABhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02065225910545517276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-39228996769890426302008-11-19T19:22:00.000-07:002008-11-19T19:22:00.000-07:00Actually Norris WAS six, by my count. Dinning, Mo...Actually Norris WAS six, by my count. Dinning, Morton and Stelmach were top 3, followed by Oberg, then Hancock, then Norris. Doerksen and McPherson rounded out seven and eight, with differences of less than 150 votes.<BR/><BR/>But that is irrelevant. Norris had 6,789 votes, so one can reasonably assume he sold more than 6,000 memberships. I worked on Stelmach's campaign and we sold more than 15,000 before Vote 1, and more before Vote 2.<BR/><BR/>There were 144,000 votes cast (roughly) in the second round, so more than that many memberships were sold. At $5 a pop, that was nearly $750,000. If I recall, $2 went to the constituency of sale and $3 went to the party to cover cost of the campaign infrastructure (polling stations, etc.)<BR/><BR/>Mail-in ballot, I can understand some cutoff. But a month?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-7531684512367822412008-11-18T11:50:00.000-07:002008-11-18T11:50:00.000-07:00I voted for Swann in Mtnview and was a fan of Tayl...I voted for Swann in Mtnview and was a fan of Taylor's radio show for years. I think they would both do an excellent job as leader of the opposition. Not Premier material, but neither is Stelmach. <BR/><BR/>Wish Dinning would have won. Alberta would be better off with Jim.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-14129701966403089992008-11-18T10:48:00.000-07:002008-11-18T10:48:00.000-07:00When did Kent Hehr lose his credibility? He's like...When did Kent Hehr lose his credibility? He's likely one of the most effective opposition MLA's and he works damn hard for his job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-25018997092815504982008-11-18T10:15:00.000-07:002008-11-18T10:15:00.000-07:00How did Mr. Swann load Mr. Hehr up on his bike?You...How did Mr. Swann load Mr. Hehr up on his bike?<BR/><BR/>Your facts are wrong. Funny, but wrong.<BR/><BR/>And, regardless of how this turns out, your post is a lot angrier than most Alberta Liberals feel. There's nothing personal about this race, though I can see "Anonymous" individuals are hoping there is. All these guys respect each other and they'll work together regardless of who is leader.Matt Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08123709371556797125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-70014345951648337912008-11-18T09:20:00.000-07:002008-11-18T09:20:00.000-07:00Here's my forecast. Dr. Swann sold the most new me...Here's my forecast. Dr. Swann sold the most new memberships, followed by Elsalhy, and Dave Taylor comes third. Despite the endorsements from former candidates who Cory Hogan et al promised their nominations were secure for the next go, most Calgary liberals will vote for Swann and most in Edmonton will opt for Elsalhy.<BR/><BR/>Taylor will be eliminated first and his votes redistributed. This will provide the drama for an otherwise low key race. How his people marked their ballots for #2 choice will be interesting to watch. I can't wait.<BR/><BR/>Oh and by the way, Kent Hehr lost any credibility he had when he endorsed Taylor over Swann. Swann and Chase supported Hehr, politically and otherwise, and Swann used to drive him around even. Yet, he stabs him in the back and goes with the heir apparent. Kent is an opportunist but lacks political judgement. He will pay for this mistake the same way Harvey Cenaiko and Ron Stevens did when they backed Dinning over Stelmach. It's the nature of the game. I love it. And Dinning was the heir apparent too, LOL!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-15395833874506906222008-11-18T08:43:00.000-07:002008-11-18T08:43:00.000-07:00That poet laureate is extremely respected and very...That poet laureate is extremely respected and very well connected in Edmonton, unlike Calgary perhaps where these things don't register. Plus, you should actually read the endorsement. It was talking about Mo's character and work ethic, not about poetry or art which I am sure Mo gets as well.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, rumour has it Hugh M. and Bridget P. are both quietly working for Mo. How effective they'll be, I don't know!<BR/><BR/>No one from the previous caucus will ever endorse Taylor and this actually says a lot if anyone is paying attention. The guy wasn't a team player and won't likely start now. He scares me and I am not usually easily scared.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-37329709135771278432008-11-18T08:05:00.000-07:002008-11-18T08:05:00.000-07:00Kent Hehr happens to be the Shadow Minister of Jus...Kent Hehr happens to be the Shadow Minister of Justice in the Alberta Liberal Caucus, and crime happened to poll as the top issue in Edmonton and, especially, Calgary all summmer and fall long. Arguing that Hehr only cares about crime is like saying Luke Ouellette only cares about Transportation. Caucuses divide up areas of focus.<BR/><BR/>Hehr just took on Affordable Housing and Urban Affairs: I suspect the Tories will like reminders that homelessness has actually gone up in Lethbridge, Edmonton and Calgary in year 1 of the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness as much as they like hearing they dropped the ball on adequately funding police officers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-62567009895746492612008-11-18T07:12:00.000-07:002008-11-18T07:12:00.000-07:00Let me be the first in this discussion to congratu...Let me be the first in this discussion to congratulate Mo on perhaps the most inane endorsement ever. Edmonton's poet laureate? Are you kidding, Dave? Did his campaign really send that in response to your question? Did I lose a few months and it's April 1 already?<BR/><BR/>Just a couple more things - Mark Norris was not number six - that was Victor Doerksen. And, did the candidates sell 6,000 new memberships or 2,000? Either way, the ALP appears to be in more serious trouble thsn I thought. I'm pretty sure that there were constituencies where the PCs sold 6,000 memberships in their leadership race in 2006.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-16289574558090919542008-11-17T23:07:00.000-07:002008-11-17T23:07:00.000-07:00The membership sales were cut off early because of...The membership sales were cut off early because of the mail in ballot format. They are using mail in ballots to reduce the cost. They literally don't have money to spend. Not many $30,000 oil company donations coming into the Liberal coffers after the royalty review.<BR/><BR/>Unlike the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberals and PCs in Alberta depend more on corporate donations than individual donations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-82031221393112850592008-11-17T22:35:00.000-07:002008-11-17T22:35:00.000-07:00I too was surprised by how early the membership sa...I too was surprised by how early the membership sales cut-off was. Just as I did my research and picked a leader I thought I could support (my choice was Swann), I found out it was too late to buy a membership.<BR/><BR/>So much for growing their party. This is the worst excuse for a leadership selection process ever. The new leader will have no mandate to lead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-33405015732219072092008-11-17T22:33:00.000-07:002008-11-17T22:33:00.000-07:00Kent Hehr, and this is not a comment on his disabi...Kent Hehr, and this is not a comment on his disability, has been a terrible MLA so far. His constant harping on gun crimes in Question Period was an embarassment. He would ask the exact same thing three times in a row, day in and day out all through the two sessions so far. I understand gun crime was a major issue for him, given how it has affected his life, but there are other important things going on in Alberta. Why Taft lets Hehr have the second set of questions every day blows my mind. Being a good MLA means persuing more than just your own pet issues...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-83780340487904536622008-11-17T22:15:00.000-07:002008-11-17T22:15:00.000-07:002 sitting MLAs running: Taylor and Swann2 sitting ...2 sitting MLAs running: Taylor and Swann<BR/><BR/>2 sitting MLAs endorsing: Hehr (Taylor) and Chase (Swann)<BR/><BR/>5 sitting MLAs not endorsing: Taft (not endorsing, duh), Blakeman, Pastoor, MacDonald, Kang. <BR/><BR/>As House leader Blakeman is unlikely to endorse. Will Pastoor, MacDonald, or Kang throw their support behind someone?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-33652972927400670042008-11-17T21:14:00.000-07:002008-11-17T21:14:00.000-07:00I've yet to hear a good reason why membership sale...I've yet to hear a good reason why membership sales were cut off so soon (a month before the vote).<BR/><BR/>Isn't one of the side benefits of a leadership campaign to energize the base and sign up new members? In the Calgary Herald, a spokesperson was quoted as saying the ALP had 4,000 at the start of the campaign, and over 6,000 by the time membership sales were cut off.<BR/><BR/>Mark Norris - contender number SIX in the PC leadership race - sold more memberships than the entire current membership list, if the above numbers are accurate.<BR/><BR/>At $10 a piece, the sale of 10,000 memberships would raise $100,000, money that would be welcomed to reduce the party's debt.<BR/><BR/>Jeez, even as a loyal PC, the operational decisions of the ALP frustrate me. If they were worried about an outside group hijacking their process (which would be completely unfounded), cutting sales off a month before is hardly protection against it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-91822588529774824672008-11-17T20:50:00.000-07:002008-11-17T20:50:00.000-07:00Agreed. Interesting how few former/current Liberal...Agreed. Interesting how few former/current Liberal MLAs are endorsing anyone. For someone at a relative disadvantage by not currently having a seat, interesting that Moe has two of the 2004 MLA vintage, while Taylor has none.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-10661618258298646752008-11-17T18:28:00.000-07:002008-11-17T18:28:00.000-07:00Barry Pashak endorsed Nancy MacBeth when she ran f...Barry Pashak endorsed Nancy MacBeth when she ran for the Liberals in 1998.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-55888015424676282522008-11-17T18:14:00.000-07:002008-11-17T18:14:00.000-07:00Whatever, Barry Pashak was always a bit of a wing ...Whatever, Barry Pashak was always a bit of a wing nut.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05981296362335774054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-55896278777902291862008-11-17T15:34:00.000-07:002008-11-17T15:34:00.000-07:00It's a big tent in the Taylor Campaign.It's a big tent in the Taylor Campaign.Matt Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08123709371556797125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-74762697477221475892008-11-17T14:51:00.000-07:002008-11-17T14:51:00.000-07:00A former NDP MLA endorsing Dave Taylor. Intriguing...A former NDP MLA endorsing Dave Taylor. Intriguing.<BR/><BR/>I note that not many former MLA's are publicly supporting the candidates in this race.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10290429.post-13184841579791145202008-11-17T13:42:00.000-07:002008-11-17T13:42:00.000-07:00It's been a fairly low profile race. Thanks for po...It's been a fairly low profile race. Thanks for posting this Dave. The winner of this race is going to have an uphill battle to fight. <BR/><BR/>Good luck to them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com