Some have spoken about Alberta as being a permanent wasteland for Liberals.
I disagree - and here's why.
Richard Nixon and his Southern Strategy.
In a generation Nixon took the American South from being a wasteland for Republicans to being their base. Now, the way he did it - pandering to race and class - is repugnant but the point I am making is that a major turnaround is possible. But it will take a long time and will require great effort.
Sheila Copps has spoken of the inactive Riding Associations in Alberta and she is right there must be a focus there. We also need to find the issues that drive Canadians in the regions we are not winning in (e.g. Alberta) and then we have to address those issues. Respect for Canadians and the issues that matter to them is the key.
We can turn this around but it will take time.
12 comments:
Your analogy begs the question, what values do Albertans and Liberals share that one doesn't find "repugnant" in the other? For that matter, what values do Liberals share with Canadians not living in the three urban areas of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal? According to you, Nixon had to change his party's policies to match the values of the voters he needed. What Liberal policies will you put forward that Albertans will like? Will your party stop attacking the oil sands? Limit taxes? Support a Federal state that respects the constitutionally separate powers? Abandon 'social justice'?
How on earth do you expect to counter the drumbeat of big money and profits?
I know it was Christmas recently but we still can't "wish upon a star" and nice them into voting submission.
Environment is not important when it competes with our paycheck. Desire to give back the federal system which put so much in over the years is non-existent.
Alberta is a rock star, it has lots of cash, and it's citizens don't need liberal "help" from us. Give them freedom.
Not sure how that can be accomplished. The basic description of Liberalism right now is bigger govt, bigger taxes and less individual freedom, right or wrong its what's holding the LPC back right now. And, there's a certain Ontario Liberal Premier right now that is not exactly helping to dispell that myth. I tend to agree with The Rat, any Liberal inroads made west of Quebec will have to be by a party thats less Liberal. Hate the cliche but, the LPC like the Ontario Liberals have run out of other peoples money to spend.
Wow. Always love to hear comments from either the right wing lunatic fringe or those that haven't or don't live in Alberta. The siege mentality of Albertans has been fostered through decades of political spin. Alberta has the LARGEST per capita bureaucracy in North America. We have the LARGEST amount of legislation passed by executive fiat without legislative discussion and debate in the British Commonwealth. Disagreement is considered as being un-Albertan yet the same power brokers and media types have no qualms in telling others what to do. We sell the oil rights for pennies all the while claiming that it's good for Alberta. Our provincial government has spied on opponents at public hearings while claiming that they're an open and transparent government. Hell, we even had a provincial minister bragging to US oilmen that we virtually give away our NON-renewable resources for a song. In Ottawa we have a BORROW and SPEND, so-called conservative government composed of career politicians that have rarely, if ever, had a 'real' job in their adult lives. The current federal government is the least open and transparent government on the history of Canada. They've brazenly lied in Parliament. They've been found in contempt of Parliament. They've either lied about or really do not understand the history and values of various government institutions and practices. They bully the opposition and the bureaucracy. They ignore trivial little things like facts and scientific research. Yet the fringe falls back on the myth of big government, tax & spend Liberals and howling for freedom.
Talk about drinking the koolaid. Albertans are way more progressive than the media and the lunatic fringe would have you believe. What you hear is the meme that the political puppeteers would have you believe. There is a receptive audience and an opportunity for progressive views in Alberta and hopefully, those views can be represented by Liberals.
CuJoYYC, you're the one who's been drinking tainted koolaid. Progressivism is dead in AB and that's the way we like it.
Imo, Libs blew their chances for a generation with the Coalition of Losers.
You were going to sell the West out for the separatists seats, just to cling to power.
You're in the dumpster now,
don't look to the West to save you.
Liberals can't be trusted.
Oh and if you think our new Premier is a sign of the times in Alberta,
red redder Redford got voted in by progressives.
The rest of us Cons stayed home,
we are voting Wildrose.
The moment Kinsella endorsed her,
I signed up with Wildrose and gave generously, and many Albertans have done the same.
Social Justice means giving Progressives the keys to the wallets of every Canadian and allowing them to RAPE the people and to give their friends fat jobs.
How many people in the government could make a dollar in the private sector?
None. Look at Layton. That mooch lived a capitalistic lifestyle yet was a hardcore communist.
Look at Dalton McGuinty. other than be a MOOCH his whole life, what he done to create wealth for Canadians? Nothing. He only spends other people's money.
Even Stephen Harper. He is living like a millionaire yet couldn't survive one day in the private sector.
The government is only for people who can't make it in the real world.
They need to mooch to live a lifestyle only hard working honest people should get to enjoy.
Once the Second Revolution in America begins, it will spread to Communist Canada.
Wilson is right. The deal made by Liberals with sepratists was repugnant. It was disloyal.
No one can or will defend it.
"Anonymous said...
Wilson is right. The deal made by Liberals with sepratists was repugnant. It was disloyal.
No one can or will defend it."
But I suppose the deal Mulroney made with the separatists was okay?
I can't believe that I agree with anything that "anonymous" said but …
"Even Stephen Harper. He is living like a millionaire yet couldn't survive one day in the private sector."
Stephen Harper - career politician, control freak, petulant micro manager and egomaniac
John Baird - career politician and boisterous Harper acolyte—obviously some form of compensation
Peter MacKay - career politician carrying on the family business which is drinking from the public trough
Stockwell Day - career politician - Too bad Stockwell didn't clear his conscience—before being put out to pasture with the other dinosaurs (double entendre intended)—by repaying the $792,064 in taxpayer funds that the Government of Alberta paid to settle a defamation lawsuit brought against him due to his abject inability to comprehend even the basics of our judicial system. That would, at the very least, be a good start at the redemption he so desperately seeks.
Jim Flaherty - career politician and deficit king as finance minster
Tony Clement - career politician and head minister of pork-barrel politics
Jason Kenny - career politician who doesn't know the definition of impartiality in the media (or elsewhere)
Pierre Poilievre - career politician and SMUGNESS personified
Rob Anders - career politician, occasional napper, Roid boy and a BIG TIME BIGOT
NONE of them are "Here for you" but they are entitled to their entitlements. NOT!
CuJoYYC..................
Every single politician lives not to serve the people , but to serve himself and his friends.
That's it.
Liberal, conservative, PC, Ndp, bloc.
All politicians are corrupt crooks.
I don't know how they sleep at night.
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